Grassroots giving for typhoon victims: Non-Filipino communities raising funds
Grassroots giving for typhoon victims: Non-Filipino communities raising funds
By Dyan Ruiz
Many are looking to help victims of Typhoon Yolanda, which tore through the Philippines central islands on Nov. 8. But some are wary of donating to large charities because of their administrative costs, wondering how much will go directly to the typhoon victims.
One option in Canada is to give to Sagip Migrante, a Philippine-based non-governmental organization (NGO), which is supported by worldwide chapters of the migrants rights advocacy group, Migrante International.
“The donations support grassroots communities that are affected in Leyte, Banay, Tacloban, and Ormoc,” said Migrante Canada President Chris Sorio at their press conference on Nov. 15, 2013. He said donations are being coordinated on the ground by BALSA (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan, or “People’s Cooperation for the People”), the disaster relief arm of the Philippine advocacy group, BAYAN.
Sorio encouraged donations through Sagip Migrante because, “I think what we’ve seen in the past is that the small towns or the small areas– the grassroots communities– are not really serviced or helped at all during this kind of disaster,” he said in an interview with The Philippine Reporter. He said hard-hit areas outside of Tacloban City where most of the international media attention has focused on, aren’t getting much relief assistance.
Migrante staffers have already set up a soup kitchen in Cebu and are also distributing bags full of rice, canned meat and water. They have done long-term relief programs for past natural disasters. For more details on how to donate go to migrante.ca.
Part of what motivates the group to organize on a grassroots level is what Sorio called the “the lack or inept response of the Aquino government to this kind of disaster.” As such, Migrante Canada announced they’re entering a period of mourning until Dec. 10, Human Rights Day, to highlight their solidarity with the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and decry the Philippine government’s response.
A Toronto resident who has family in Capiz and Aklan, Ma Ruth D. Fernandez, reminded those in attendance who will be benefiting from the donations. Her home there and the houses of her sisters were “broken” from the storm surge. The images and experiences of her relatives brought back traumatic experiences of the typhoon she survived in 2008.
“At the time the flood was like Tacloban. The water is like up here,” she said gesturing to above her head, her voice cracking. “I really feel so sad, every day watching the news because I personally experienced the situation.”
The press conference was held at the SEAS Centre in East Chinatown, a community organization with family and settlement services. It kicked off their fundraising campaign on behalf of Sagip Migrante. “We trust Migrante. That’s the main thing,” said Program Director Richard Lee about why they chose Migrante over other charities like the Red Cross, who they donated to in the past. “It’s always our preference that the money goes directly to the victims,” he said.
SEAS set up donation boxes in all its other offices in Markham, North York, Scarborough, and Regent Park, and is encouraging those within the Chinese-Canadian community to donate through Sagip Migrante via coverage of the press conference in Ming Pao, the largest Chinese newspaper in North America. Lee said many of their clients have expressed interest in donating.
The Vietnamese-Canadian community is also getting involved in fundraising efforts. The Vietnamese Association, Toronto is hosting a screening of the documentary film “Bolinao 52” about boat people who were rescued by Filipino fisherman on Sun. Dec. 1 at 1pm at 3585 Keele St.
Efforts by other communities include all-you-can-eat Italian restaurant, Frankie Tomatto’s in Markham donating all of its sales on Fri. Nov. 29 to typhoon relief.
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