Multicultural Council raises $9K for Leyte victims

Multicultural Council raises $9K for Leyte victims

The Canadian Multicultural Council Asians in Ontario (CMCAO) raised over $9,000 for the Philippine mudslide victims in a fundraising dinner held last March 5, 2006 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. CMCAO is an umbrella organization of over 20 Asian Canadian organizations representing at least 16 Asian countries.

On February 17, 2006, an entire mountainside collapsed and covered an area of 9 sq. km of Guinsaugan, Leyte with mud and boulders. Of the 1,857 population, only 152 bodies were recovered, over 1,000 were missing and presumed dead including 205 elementary school children with only 410 survivors. These survivors along with about 2,400 from nearby villages were left homeless.

CMCAO immediately responded to the tragedy and decided to hold a fundraising dinner for the mudslide victims. Manmohan Singh, President of CMCAO commended the Fundraising Committee members – Sid Ikeda, Dr. Ming-tat Cheung, Henry Lee, Haroon Minhas and Joe Chen for their efforts, during the cheque presentation to the Leyteno Association of Ontario (LAO) at its Board meeting last March 11, 2006.

Witnessing the cheque presentation, Consul General Alejandro Mosquera expressed his thanks on behalf of the Philippine government and the Filipino Canadian community in Ontario to the CMCAO and those who helped in the fundraising efforts.

In accepting the cheque, LAO President Pempe Saavedra thanked CMCAO for their generosity and was grateful for their trust and confidence in handing over such a big amount to the Association for its planned post rehabilitation project in Leyte. LAO is raising $50,000 to build at least 30 houses and artesian wells which will be called Ontario Village.

The fundraising effort of CMCAO was in coordination with its member organizations which include: the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre which also donated the venue, the Chinese Cultural Centre of GTA, Korean Canadian Cultural Centre, National Association of Indo-Canadians, Malaysian Association of Canada, Macao Club Toronto Inc., Canada Sri Lanka Association of Ontario, Laos Association of Ontario, Vietnamese Association-Toronto, Thai Society of Ontario, Pakistan’s Effort, Afghan Association of Ontario and the Philippine Independence Day Council. MPP Mario Racco and Vaughan Councilor Sandra Racco also supported the event along with Buddha’s Light International and Toronto Resident in Partnership.
During the event, Korean Airlines donated a business class airline ticket to Asia which was successfully auctioned off by Steve Yu’s Sebang Travel Agency for $2,800.

(PRESS RELEASE)