Filipinos all over the world are moving as one to come to the aid of those who suffered from the devastation wrought by two of the most destructive storms to have struck the Philippines in several decades, organizing donation drives to help in the relief efforts. In Kuwait, a number of Filipino community organizations have mobilized and appealed for donations in cash or kind, for the benefit of victims of typhoons “Ondoy” (Ketsana) and “Pepeng” (Parma) that slammed into the greater Manila area and most of northern Luzon, leaving death and destruction in their wake, and countless homeless and hungry. The Philippine Amateur Basketball Assn-Kuwait or PABAK, led by its president Rod Cerezo, was able to collect several boxes of clothing and other goods donated by members of participating teams, their families and friends as well as cash donations from the crowd, during the opening last Friday, Oct 4 of the 22nd Conference basketball tournament at the Kuwait Sports Club for the Disabled in Hawally.

Some seven boxes of new and used clothes were immediately shipped to Manila the following day, Saturday by Ramtron Cargo, a local Filipino cargo forwarder who committed to ship all donations free of charge.
Likewise, other organizations like FBC or Filipino Badminton Committee, Club Ilonggo, Filipino Sailors Club, Filipino Cultural Club, Filipino Practical Shooting Club (FPSC), Filipino Tennis Association (FTAK), Filipino nurses in Jahra hospital, individuals like Manny Choco of BPI, John Aquino of Starbucks coffee, Rufina Aming of Ibn Sina hospital, Evelyn Bayoneta and Christina Te Tan of Sheikha Hessa Abdulrazak (Al Sabah hospital) Cardiac Center and many other good Samaritans, have pitched in to help.

Contributed
Some Filipinos working in beauty parlors also reported that many of their customers have contributed to the effort, donating clothing and other goods after reportedly hearing in the news, of the calamity in the Philippines; one parlor in Riggae has reportedly collected almost a van-full of donated clothing.
Even non-Filipino entities like Singapore Airlines have offered to help in the effort and have committed to fly relief goods to Manila also free of charge and allocated a cargo pallet that could accommodate approximately 2,500 kgs for the purpose, during a recent meeting by airline officials with labor officials and Filipino community leaders, at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office at the Philippine Embassy in Jabriya.

All those who would like to donate clothing (new/used) and canned goods and other items that could be of use to the calamity victims may drop them at the Philippine Embassy in Jabriya or with Fr. Ben Barrameda at the Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Kuwait City. Those who are unable to bring their donations to the above-mentioned drop-points, may contact the following numbers: 6660-8009, 9719-7268 and 6668-6954 and ask for Boie Dublin, Dr Chie Umandap or Rod Cerezo to arrange for pickups. Cash donations can be sent direct either to the Philippine National Red Cross or to any of the charitable organizations in the Philippines helping in the relief efforts through special accounts specifically set up for the purpose; which are regularly flashed on either ABS-CBN’s TFC (The Filipino Channel) and GMA Channel 7.

Arab Times