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Oct. 13-14, 2009 - Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) Disaster Relief Updates from San Francisco
Please check the previous postings for October 2009. This posting will be updated. Please check in again. Thank you.
October 14, 2009
BREAKING NEWS!
From Dexter Ligot-Gordon, former NaFFAA National Youth Chair (on Facebook): Rep. Speier’s H. Res 800 passes House, offers condolences to typhoon victims in the Phlippines, urges administration to maximize relief efforts.
(Editor’s note: Please scroll below for details about the Filipino Community Forum with Congresswoman Speier that will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.)
From: Megur, Alyson
Date: Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Subject: Speier Philippines Resolution passes House
For immediate release
October 14, 2009
Speier Philippines Resolution passes House
WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 800, authored by Congresswoman Jackie Speier (San Francisco/San Mateo County), expressing its deepest sympathies for residents of the Philippines in the aftermath of recent natural disasters.
“The historical and cultural links between the Philippines and the United States run deeper than any flood waters.” Congresswoman Speier said in her speech on the House floor. “I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 800 to show our friends, the good people of the Philippines, that - as they stood with us in World War II - the American people stand with them at this, their time of greatest need.”
Speier introduced the resolution after two monster storms hit the Philippine archipelago in close succession, killing more than 600 people and forcing millions from their homes. “House Resolution 800 recognizes the hardship caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma and salutes the resilience and strength of the Filipino people,” Speier said. “My resolution also urges the United States government to continue providing emergency relief, logistical support and financial assistance and to work with Philippine officials and non-governmental organizations to improve disaster preparedness programs to mitigate the heartbreak, havoc and loss of life that could be caused by future storms.”
The Resolution passed by unanimous consent, with both Democrats and Republicans speaking in support.
A list of aid organizations helping those affected by the tragedies in the Philippines and American Samoa, as well as a video of Rep. Speier’s floor speech this afternoon, can be found at: www.speier.house.gov.
Mike Larsen
Communications Director
Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier
211 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3531
(202) 957-4340 (press only)
mike.larsen@mail.house.gov
www.speier.house.gov
* * * * *
COORDINATING MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY FORUMS
Philippine Disaster Relief Coalition
Everyone is welcome to attend these coordinating meetings.
From: Marivic Bamba
Date: Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Subject: REMINDER: Philippine Disaster Relief Coalition meeting, WEDNESDAY, 7PM AT GROUND FLOOR
Hello all — Just a friendly reminder about our meeting this Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7pm at the FIFTH FLOOR (Social Hall) of the Philippine Consulate/Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA.
All Committees should be prepared to give a brief report on their respective activities. The Fundraising Committee has been meeting the past week and this week to finalize the details of the November 28 concert and telethon. A report will be given during the meeting.
Also a few highlights from the last meeting:
1) Consul General Paynor gave the following donation guidelines:
-Clothing donations are prohibited under Philippine Law;
-Donations to DSWD are tax-exempt (although the Office of the President is still paying the taxes)
2) Our group is now named Philippine Disaster Relief Coalition (PDRC)
3) Fundraising Committee is planning a major Live Concert and Telethon on November 28 with Martin Nievera as host. Other celebrities will be tapped and more details will follow.
4) Committee reports:
-Political Committee is hard at work lobbying various elected officials and government agencies;Committee is renamed to Government Relations
-Donation Points is renamed Operations Committee
-Media Committee will publicize activities of PDRC
See you on Wednesday, on the GROUND FLOOR of the Philippine Consulate, 447 Sutter, at 7pm.
Many thanks, Marivic (Viki)
_____
Community Forum with the Filipino American Community & Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Please click here for House Resolution 800.
Media organizations seeking to speak to Congresswoman Speier prior to - or after - the vote should contact Mike Larsen in Rep. Speier’s office at (202) 225-3531.
Alyson Megur Stamos (from Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s office) invited you to “Forum with Filipino Community Members” on Saturday, October 17 at 11:00am.
Alyson says, “Hope you can make it this Saturday to South SF. Please feel free to invite anyone you think would be interested. Looking forward to seeing you there!”. (Note from NaFFAA Region 8 Media Group: Please forward this message!)
Event: Forum with Filipino Community Members
What: Informational Meeting
Start Time: Saturday, October 17 at 11:00am
End Time: Saturday, October 17 at 12:30pm
Where: Joseph A Fernekes Recreation Building
781 Tennis Drive, South San Francisco, CA
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=152795472314&mid=13f036bG29aa2740G3c76717G7
Thanks,
The Facebook Team
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From: PCG-SF: Cultural Section
Date: Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Attached is the 5th Dear Kababayan Letter signed by Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr., for your information and dissemination, please. Thank you very much.
Lyn Sesante
Cultural Officer
* * * * *
A BLOGGER SPEAKS ABOUT HER FAMILY’S STORY OF SURVIVAL
October 14, 2009 (6:58 p.m., San Francisco)
This just came in from Odette Keeley, the blogger who shares her family’s story of survival in Cainta, Rizal. Odette is the Chief of Staff of New America Media, the first and largest collaboration of Ethnic News Organizations.
By Odette Keeley, Oct 14, 2009 4:58 PM
As Tropical Storm Ketsana’s–“Ondoy”in the Philippines–destruction made headlines all over the world on Monday, Sept. 28th, I could not reach my family in the Philippines. Power and phone lines were down in Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces where my family lives, and cell lines were clogged.
My sister in Los Angeles, “Ate” Reby, had only gotten a text message from my mother the night before: “Reby, pinasukan ng baha yung bahay. Lubog yung kotse. Kami ng daddy na-stranded sa bubong…” [Floods entered the house. Our car is submerged. Your father and I were stranded up on the roof].
Reby and I thought it unimaginable that they would be trapped on our own roof, which tops a 2-story house on the highest point of the subdivision. Finally I reached my sister Jocelyn and in subsequent conversations with my mother, both of us often breaking down in tears, we were able to piece together their terrifying tales. For the first time since any typhoons hitting the Philippines, my family found themselves in Ground Zero, as if they were in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
Continue reading here.
* * * * *
LETTERS
We received this email from Benito Miranda in Southern California. We copied the email’s contents “as is” so there might be some typographical errors. Spain is sending quite a substantial amount of Euros to help out the Philippines.
From: Miranda, Benito M
Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Subject: Letter from Ana Ugarte, Philippine Ambassador to Spain
Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2009 15:31:02
Subject: Letter from Ana Ugarte, Philippine Ambassador to Spain
My dearest Kababayans,
I arrived in Spain to assume my position as Ambassador of
the Philippines to Spain last July 23, 2009. I was told that
technically I could perform my duties as Ambassador however
I wasn’t a full fledged ambassador until I had presented my
credentials to the King. That big day was scheduled on Sept
28, 2009..The activities I attended during the weeks that
lead up to this day have been significant. These included:
my courtesy calls to the Spanish Ministers of20Foreign
Affairs, A visit to the Feria de Madrid for the gifts fair
& meetings with its directors, a visit to the Madrid
Stock Exchange & meetings with its directors, a visit to
the Museo Naval of San Sebastian where I was the VIP visitor
of their ongoing exhibit of the Basques in the Pacific,
attendance of a Filipina nun receiving her temporal vows in
Burgos…
During this little time I realize how genuinely the Spanish
love the Filipinos… They have a sincere “cariño” for our
country and people that is in describable and I have received
NOTHING BUT PRAISES. Our OFW’s are treated with respect and
in many altercations with Spanish authorities are ALWAYS
given the benefit of the doubt. Their childlike enthusiasm
for our country & people is fascinating and most heart-warming. ..
The concern & expression of sadness I have received for
the victims of Typhoon Ondong is beyond belief…The embassy
continuously receives calls from people asking where to send
donations. This morning I was called by the Directora de la
Agencia de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo to
officially give us notice that Spain will be sending 1M Euros worth of aid
to the Philippines. A cargo plane will be departing tomorrow from the military
base at Torrejon. I asked if I could attend to witness the departure and to
personally thank those numerous NGO’s involved with the operation…
Spain is the largest donor of development and emergency aid to the
Philippines in all of Europe. Yet our kababyans do not know this.
We do not see Ambassador Luis Arias photo kissing babies or handing over
emergency kits to those in need. Spain remains under the
radar and does not seek publicity and yet all of their good
will remains unnoticed and on the contrary is always the
butt of criticism by our politicians.
Spain needs proper public relations and I write this hoping
that my friends can assist me in helping a country that
deserves a better image.=2 0I am open to your suggestions. ..I
would like to send press releases and pictures of all our
activities.. Please forward them to your contacts in the media…
Que os parece?
My day with the King was one of the most exciting days of my life….
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas… .y que…Viva España!!
Un abrazo muy fuerte…
Ana
* * *
FUNDRAISING
FROM Isabel Lozano, Charleston Pierce and other Special Friends
WHEN: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7:00pm
WHERE: TEMPLE, San Francisco
540 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA
FOR MORE INFORMATION: raisinghope.ph@gmail.com
We need to come together as beacons of light, lenders of love, and providers of sanctuary for those less fortunate than us. Disaster has struck undoubtedly due to the climate changing effects of global warming and the realities of a third world country’s unpreparedness to deal with it.
We know many have perished, are missing and that there are those who are in pain, homeless and stricken w/ typhoid from the flood waters of the South Pacific typhoons in Manila and don’t even know it. Then there’s us living here in a land rich with wealth where the worst worry is “where are we going to eat next with our reduced paycheck?”, and not “when are we going to be able to get something to eat?”
Please come out and support the cause by joining us on this very special evening- ’cause IT IS REAL, it’s LIVE, and it is VERY MUCH NEEDED. Your contributions as well as attendance could literally save lives and bring hope to those who need it most.
COST: Only $10 at the door. Please donate more if you would like to and if you can….
Oct. 7-9, 2009 - Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) Disaster Relief Updates from San Francisco
To read Oct. 2-5 updates, click here.
To read September 30 updates, click here.
This posting is updated as fast as we can humanly possible. Thank you for your patience.
IN THE NEWS
MEDIA ADVISORY / OCT. 9 BENEFIT FOR VICTIMS OF TYPHOON KETSANA
Updates from Keith Kamisugi (through Odette Keeley of New America Media):
The highlights:
Tonight, Friday, October 9, 2009 - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m.
* Senator Leland Yee, Assemblymember Jerry Hill, S.F. Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, AC Transit Board Member Joel Young, S.F. City College Board Member Steve Ngo and Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Marciano Paynor, Jr. are expected to attend.
* Proceeds will be donated to ABS-CBN Foundation for the typhoon victims.
* Event chair Keesa Ocampo will be available on-site for interviews.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Assemblymember Fiona Ma, S.F. Dist. Attorney Kamala Harris, S.F. Board of Supervisors President David Chiu Serve as Honorary Co-Hosts of Oct. 9 Benefit for Victims of Typhoon Ketsana. Honorary co-hosts also include S.F. Assessor Phil Ting, S.F. school board vice-president Jane Kim and member Hydra Mendoza; more than 20 community organizations part of event coalition.
SAN FRANCISCO (Revised Oct. 9, 2009) - A coalition of community leaders and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area have teamed up to help raise awareness and funds on behalf of more than 700,000 people displaced as a result of the floods that inundated 80 percent of Metro Manila in the Philippines last week. Typhoon Ketsana (known in the Philippines as Ondoy) claimed the lives of hundreds of Filipinos in the worst such calamity in the region’s history.
WHAT: Benefit for Victims of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy)
WHEN: Friday, October 9, 2009 - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Lot 46, 46 Geary Avenue, San Francisco, Calif.
WEB: http://hapihour.org/ondoy - for radio/audio, BayAreaBenefit.org should be used.
EDITORS: Event chair Keesa Ocampo and other organizers are available for interviews.
The event will be hosted by Aimee Allison, host of KPFA’s Morning Show with featured DJs Chief Xcel of Blackalicious, DJ Big Rich, DJ Romeo and peformances by Kristine Sinajon, Gabe Bondoc and Patrick Landeza.
The “Benefit for Victims of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy)” is supported by a number of elected officials serving as honorary co-hosts, including U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Board of Equalization Chair Betty Yee, Senator Leland Yee, Assemblymember Fiona Ma, Assemblymember Jerry Hill, SF. Mayor Gavin Newsom, S.F. District Attorney Kamala Harris, S.F. Assessor Phil Ting, S.F. Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, S.F. Board of Education Vice-President Jane Kim, S.F. Board of Education Member Hydra Mendoza, AC Transit Board Member Joel Young and S.F. City College Board Member Steve Ngo. Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Marciano Paynor, Jr. is also an honorary co-host.
Community organization partners for the event include: ABS-CBN Foundation-USA, Asian American Bar Association, Asian American Journalists Association, SF Chapter, Asian Business League, Bay Area Asian Pacific American Legislative Staffers, Bliss Entertainment, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Citizen Hope, Clubworks, DineForChange, Drink for a Cause, Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Santa Clara, Filipina Women’s Network, Filipino American Arts Exposition, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, hapihour.org, Inspire Hope Institute, Kaya: Filipino Americans for Progress, Manilatown Heritage Foundation, National Federation of Filipino-American Associations, Philippine American Press Club USA, Philippine Consulate General - San Francisco, San Francisco Fil-Am Jazz Festival Community, San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee, Soulciety.org and Young Filipino Professionals Association.
Organizers are requesting a $20 donation at the door. Proceeds will be donated to the ABS-CBN Foundation, which has served over 100,000 families to date. Advance tickets available, as well as complete event and contact information, at http://hapihour.org/ondoy.
Version 10/09/09
_____
From: Jacqui Conclara
Date: Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Subject: URGENT: FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:
Dear Friends in the Fil-Am Media,
Please find attached the latest press release on LBC’s Typhoon Ondoy Project. Starting October 8, LBC can no longer accept donations containing used clothing in behalf of the Typhoon Ondoy victims.
Sincerely, Jacqui
Jacqueline P. Conclara
Coordinator, Marketing Dept.
LBC Mundial Corporation/LBC Foundation
363 East Grand Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Tel. No. (800) 338-5424, ext. 3040
Fax No. (866) 647-3561
www.teamlbc.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patricia G. Garcia/Jacqueline P. Conclara
Tel. No. (650) 876-0410; 1-800-338-5424, ext. 3024/ext. 3040
Email: tricia@teamlbc.com; jacqui@teamlbc.com
ACCEPT DONATIONS OF USED CLOTHING FOR ONDOY VICTIMS
South San Francisco, Calif. – By virtue of Republic Act (RA) 4653, which was passed in 1966, LBC Mundial Corporation (LBC USA) can no longer accept donations of used clothing in behalf of the victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) beginning October 8.
LBC was informed of this directive from the Philippine government only last October 7 at a community meeting at the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in San Francisco.
The meeting, organized by local Filipino community leaders, was held to discuss fundraising activities for the families affected by typhoon Ondoy.
“Used clothing as donations is prohibited under Republic Act No. 4653, thus the Bureau of Customs can seize/apprehend said importation,” stated a letter to the community from Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr.
The letter further explained that “donations in kind (except used clothing) shall be exempted from custom duties and taxes provided that these are directly addressed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.”
LBC wants to apologize to all individuals and Fil-Am organizations that have shown their solidarity to their “kababayans” affected by the flood.
“We understand and appreciate how much time and effort were spent by Filipinos in the U.S. to gather these donations of used clothing. We are all heroes to Ondoy’s victims. Unfortunately, we need to follow the law and the directive from Malacañang,” said Hugo Bonilla, LBC USA’s president and CEO.
Alternatives
Meanwhile, LBC will still continue to provide free sea cargo and money remittance services to other in-kind and cash donations to the typhoon victims.
Cash donations sent through LBC USA will still be remitted to the Sagip Kapamilya project of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.
According to the PCG in San Francisco (PCGSF), the Department of Social Welfare and Development has released a list of priority relief items for the typhoon victims.
These includes: food, non-food, mats, blankets, flashlights, emergency lamps, tents, generators, water container, hygiene kits (bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, laundry soap, feminine napkins) baby diapers, and slippers.
The PCGSF also released a separate list of priority relief needs from the Department of Health.
These includes medicines for wounds, the common colds, skin diseases, diarrhea, typhoid fever and cholera as well as intravenous supplies, and other medical supplies and equipment.
_____
Typhoon Ondoy - Congresswoman Jackie Speier of 12th District Introduces House Resolution 800
_____
For the complete slideshow, click here.
PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Consulate General
447 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94108
415-433-6666 ext. 313 (public information section)
*www.philippineconsulate-sf.org
San Francisco, 07 October 2009 – The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) donated several boxes of canned goods, noodles, candies, and other food items as part of their humanitarian assistance to victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines.
SFPD Captain Eric Quema, a Filipino American and one of the ranking police officers in the Bay Area, handed over the donations to Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. today at the consulate.
The donations from the SFPD included food items given by Captain Quema, Inspector Milanda Moore and other personnel of the Special Investigations Division as well as those collected from Lt. Louis Espinda, Sgt. Ray Cruz, Officers Dizon and Gummo and police personnel from the Bayview Police Station.
Consul General Paynor, Jr. welcomed the donations from the San Francisco police force as “indicative of their concern for the situation in the Philippines.”
“We have a number of Filipino Americans in the San Francisco Police Department who still have families and relatives in the Philippines. Their and their colleagues’ immediate response to the call for humanitarian assistance for the flood victims will add to the on-going relief effort being undertaken by the Bay Area Filipino American community,” he said.
Captain Quema is one of the founding members of the SFPD Police Exchange Training Program (PET) with the Philippine National Police (PNP). The program, conceptualized nine years ago by SFPD officers with Filipino ethnicity, has now expanded to include other police officers from San Francisco’s culturally diverse communities. Under the exchange program, the SFPD and their PNP counterparts share best practices on key areas as counter-terrorism, defense and security, and law enforcement. END
_____
FROM THE AYALA FOUNDATION USA’S E-BULLETIN
October 6, 2009
AF-USA is waiving its 5% service fee on all donations for Typhoon Ondoy until the end of October 2009!
10/5/2009
Ayala Foundation USA
Some of the biggest and most prestigious names in the world of business are listing Ayala Foundation USA in their employee giving and corporate matching programs. Chevron, AmGen, Microsoft and PG&E are just some of the companies that have listed AF-USA as another vehicle by which their employees can spread the fire of volunteerism.
Continue reading here.
_____
From: FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
FWN 100 Selection and Gala Awards Host Committees
Date: Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Subject: Invitation to the Awards Gala (Oct 30) honoring The 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S.
Greetings!
URGENT APPEAL: Women and girls in the Philippines need your support - many of them single mothers and shelters for domestic violence, rape victims and survivors - affected by the typhoons that recently hit the Philippines - the worst in 40 years.
Filipina Women’s Network has collaborated with Feed the Hungry to ensure women, girls and the shelters are not neglected. To donate, please go to http://feedthehungryphil.org and indicate on your donation “FWN Women & Children Fund Disaster Relief”.
Maraming salamat!
The FWN Board
_____
Oct. 2-5, 2009 - Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) Disaster Relief Updates from San Francisco
See September 30, 2009 updates here.
October 2, 2009
We are documenting the latest information that we received from our reliable sources and contacts. Please confirm whatever you get here. We do our fact-checking as quickly and humanly possible. We have also been advised that as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, there are certain words and actions we cannot use/do, such as “lobbying,” “political,” “political endorsements” and “political fundraising.” Thank you. - Lorna Dietz, NaFFAA Region 8 Vice Chair
* * *
From: Jose Pecho
Date: Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Subject: Only $100,000 from US Government for Victims of Typhoon Ondoy
Dear Friends:
NaFFAA in conjunction with other community organizations will seek the support of US Senate and Congressional leaders to provide the Philippines, Asia’s oldest democracy, more emergency and humanitarian aid.
An amazing $100,000 has been provided the Philippines by the US government. In comparison the European Commission in the Philippines has provided over $2 Million in assistance. Below my signature line, is an article providing assistance information from countries who have pledged or donated to help the typhoon ravaged portion of Manila.
There are 4 million Filipinos residing in the US. If each of us pledged $10 each, it would raise a whopping $40,000,000! This amount would make a bigger impact than any government or country could do and would go a long way toward helping the 800,000 families displaced by this catastrophe.
We hope to provide further information in the days ahead on how you personally can help. Please go to http://naffaar8.com for further details.
Sincerely,
Jose Pecho, Chair
Region 8, Northern California
National Federation of Filipino
American Associations (NaFFAA)
http://naffaar8.com
By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 21:33:00 10/02/2009
Filed Under: Foreign Aid, Foreign affairs & international relations, Ondoy, Weather
MANILA, Philippines—Donations for the relief and recovery assistance in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ondoy” from the international community has reached over half a billion pesos, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo reported to President Macapagal-Arroyo that donations from various governments have reached P566 million as of Oct. 2. The National Disaster Coordinating Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine National Red Cross and other agencies have been authorized to receive the donations, which will greatly complement the government’s efforts.
“The Philippine Government is deeply appreciative of our international partners’ swift response to our call for aid. The DFA will work with the NDCC, DSWD, PNRC and other agencies to ensure that these donations reach our distressed kababayans as soon as possible,” Secretary Romulo said.
Ondoy, which whipped Manila Saturday, caused severe flooding in the metropolis and nearby provinces.
The government said nearly 300 people died from the disaster, which also displaced hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.
The European Commission in the Philippines has allotted 2 million euros (P138 million) in urgent relief funding, the DFA reported. The Embassy of Spain in the Philippines has ordered the release of 150,000 euros (approximately P10 million) for food aid, while Spanish organization Accion Contra el Hambre donated 250,000 euros (approximately P17 million).
The Swiss government also issued CHF250,000 (approximately P11 million) to support emergency related operation which will be funded by the Swiss Red Cross to the Philippine National Red Cross. The French Foreign Ministry has earmarked initial 10,000 euros (P690,000) to the Philippine National Red Cross as its initial contribution.
Germany is providing 500,000 euros (roughly P35 million) in emergency humanitarian aid for the victims, which will be placed at the disposal of German humanitarian aid organizations The combined European aid reached P254 million.
Aside from the European partners, other countries like the US and Canada sent financial assistance to the victims. The US government donated US$100,000 for relief efforts, while Canada pledged Canadian $5 million (approximately US$4.7 million).
China pitched in US$100,000 check donation; US$10,000 to the PNRC; while Chinese firm Huawei donated US$30,000. Singapore raised US$30,000 and a further US$20,000 in seed money to jumpstart a donations drive by the Singapore Red Cross.
The Republic of Korea has donated emergency relief assistance in the form of rice, tents, medical supplies and other essential items worth $300,000 coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development. A Korean company, OCI Company Ltd., also donated $50,000 through the Philippine National Red Cross.
The Japanese government is sending $220,000 worth of relief goods to the Philippines. Australia pledged Australian $1 million (approximately US$879,000) to support response and recovery activities.
The UN World Health Organization has launched earlier a $42,000 relief fund. The UN World Food Programme has also stepped up its efforts to provide immediate relief to the typhoon victims.
Basic necessities such as food, clean water, shelter, clothes, and medicines were in short supply in many communities and evacuation center.
A delegation of UN workers is set to arrive in Manila on Saturday to help in the relief and rehabilitation operations. UN WFP executive director Josette Sheeran said the organization will have a three-month emergency operation to bring food and other assistance to people affected by Ondoy.
See a similar news article here.
* * *
SAN FRANCISCO COORDINATING MEETING SCHEDULED
FROM: VIKI BAMBA
October 1, 2009
Hello all — Thank you all so much for taking the time to meet last Tuesday evening at the Philippine Consulate. It was truly a strong showing of unity, compassion, and generosity. Many of us are involved in a myriad of relief efforts and the consensus of the meeting was that we, as well as the flood victims, will benefit from consolidating and streamlining our charitable efforts. This will save us valuable time/resources, avoid re-inventing the wheel, and duplication of efforts. Also, all agreed that this tragedy/disaster was an opportunity for our community to unify and harness our talents/skills to assist the flood victims. Moreover, we hope to create a formalized emergency response system and infrastructure to address future disasters, emergencies, and calamaties.
In an effort to move forward with such objectives, discrete tasks were discussed and division of labor identified.
There may be more steering Committees that will be formed along the way so stay tuned.
Overall Coordination: Marivic Bamba
Co-Coordinator: Bernadette Roco
Everyone is encouraged to participate, all your ideas are welcome…so please don’t be shy. Many of the members are already working hard at their respective tasks. Mark Grafilo of KAYA, Chair of Political Committee, has sent out notices on advocating support from USAID.
By the way, we urge all members to join Facebook as it is an effective media tool to publicize our activities and notify all of upcoming activities.
As we resolved at the meeting, we will be meeting EVERY Wednesday at 7pm at the Philippine Consulate, 5th floor Social Hall.
See you all next Wednesday, October 7, at 7pm. Please check with the Reception Area since the meeting venue might change. It might take place in the first floor, 447 Sutter Street.
Mar. 12, 2009 Press Release: US Department of Veterans Affairs Now Accepting Claims
For our Filipino World War II Veterans:
Here are the related entries on this website. The information you are looking for could be there.
Where you can find the Claim Form and the Frequently Asked Questions - Click on Feb. 23, 2009: Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund - Form 21-4138(CF), Statement in Support of Claim
The first press releases:
Click on Feb. 19, 2009: Update on Filipino WWII Veterans Benefits from the US Embassy in Manila
Click on Feb. 20, 2009: Updates for Filipino American WWII Veterans’ Lump Sum Benefits
The End of the Rescission Act - Click on Feb. 18, 2009 in San Francisco: Candlelight Rally To Commemorate The 63th Anniversary Of The Rescission Act
PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Consulate General
447 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94108
415-433-6666 ext. 313 (Public Information Section)
www.philippineconsulate-sf.org
12 March 2009
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced that it is now accepting claims by WWII Filipino Veterans for cash payment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 in various locations in Manila. Claims must be submitted by 16 February 2010.
VA and the Embassy of the United States in Manila have provided locations in the Philippines where Veterans can apply immediately. The list has been posted at http://manila.usembassy.gov.
To receive information by mail, United States residents may call 1-800-827-1000. Philippine residents may call 632-528-2500 (within Metro Manila) or from outside Manila at 1-800-1888-5252. In addition, Filipino Veterans may request information via email at https://iris.va.gov.
The VA Regional Office in Manila will process all claims for this benefit. Therefore, US residents should mail the application to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Office, PSC 501, FPO AP 96515-100.
VA also announced that payments do not affect other benefits Veterans may be receiving.
Feb. 20, 2009: Updates for Filipino American WWII Veterans’ Lump Sum Benefits
Thank you to Eric Lachica of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. for this update that he posted at the Filipino American Network yahoo group.
This press release came from the US Department of Veterans Affairs:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2009
Congress Recognizes World War II Service
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a new benefit for Filipino Veterans who aided American troops in World War II — a cash payment authorized through the newly enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Claims are now being accepted from Filipino Veterans eligible for one-time payments of $9,000 for non-U.S. citizens and $15,000 for Filipino Veterans with U.S. citizenship. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to begin making payments as soon as possible.
VA and the Embassy of the United States in Manila have announced locations in the Philippines where Veterans can apply immediately. The list has been posted at http://manila.usembassy.gov. To receive information by mail, United States residents may call 1-800-827-1000. Philippine residents may call 632-528-2500 (within Metro Manila) or from outside Manila at 1-800-888-5252. In addition, Filipino Veterans may request information via email at https://iris.va.gov.
The VA Regional Office in Manila will process all claims for this benefit. Therefore, U.S. residents should mail the application to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Office, PSC 501, FPO AP 96515-100.
Extensive outreach is planned to alert World War II Veterans throughout the Philippines. Claims must be submitted by Feb. 16, 2010, a year after the bill’s signing.
The payments do not affect other benefits Veterans may be receiving. The VA regional office in Manila currently provides approximately $15 million monthly in monetary benefits to Veterans residing in the Philippines. About $8 million of this goes to Filipino World War II Veterans or their survivors each month.
Rodel Rodis Feted At Green Room Testimonial
by
Lorna Dietz
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Two former San Francisco mayors, along with more than a dozen current and former Trustees and the current and former Chancellors of the San Francisco Community College, joined more than 400 guests to honor former City College Trustee Rodel Rodis for his 18 years of service to City College of San Francisco in a testimonial dinner held at the Green Room of the Veterans War Memorial Building on January 27.
Former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos spoke about his desire to empower the Filipino community when he appointed Rodis to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in 1987, making Rodis the first Filipino American to be appointed to a major commission in San Francisco. After a year on the commission, his fellow commissioners elected Rodis president of the commission in 1988 and re-elected him again in 1989.
While president of the SFPUC in 1989, Rodis sponsored a resolution transferring 15 acres of SFPUC land (the South Balboa Reservoir), right across the main campus of the City College of San Francisco, the most congested campus in California, over to City College. While in the process of transferring the land to City College, a vacancy occurred on the College Board in January of 1991 and Mayor Agnos appointed Rodis to the vacant post.
President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
Thank you to Chicago Tribune for providing the full text of President Obama’s inaugural speech. We are chronicling the complete text in our website as a reminder for our NaFFAA members that whether we agree to agree or agree to disagree, without a doubt, President Obama’s presidency is a huge and significant milestone in our quest for “The Impossible Dream” — our political empowerment in the US.
First of all, here are the 44 Presidents of the United States of America.
From ChicagoTribune.com: Click here for the videos of the swearing-in ceremony and the videos of his inaugural speech (in three sections).
President Obama’s Inaugural Address
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
FilVOTE & Elections: Balitang America Features Filipino Americans’ Debate - Obama or McCain for President?
Thank you to Rodel Rodis for alerting us about the YouTube videos that TFC’s Balitang America uploaded for interested viewers who missed its featured “Presidential Debate Night” discussion among Filipino Americans about their choices for the next President of the United States.
NaFFAA has a very strong FilVOTE program.
Formed as a non-partisan program, NaFFAA’s FilVOTE not only aims to register Filipinos who are American citizens, but to make sure they go out and vote. In the 2004 presidential elections, only 594,000 Filipino Americans voted - a decline of 7 percent because 122,000 registered voters did not cast their ballots. “Potentially, there are 715,000 Filipino Americans, or 40 percent of our total number, who can be mobilized to go to the polls,” says Gloria Caoile, co-chair of FilVOTE. “But we need to register them if they haven’t done so and educate them on issues that directly affect our community so they will appreciate what’s at stake, especially for our children and families.”
Many of NaFFAA’s leadership showed up for this televised discussion sometime in mid-October, 2008.
Something to think about: When there are more Filipino Americans who take the time to speak out about what matters to them, political leaders listen. When more Filipino Americans mobilize its own communities to “rock the vote,” they allow their influence and affluence to shine brightly in the arenas of public opinion and legislative decisions.
Note: Any listed titles after people’s names are for identification purposes only.
Balitang America: Debate Night Part 1
Balitang America’s studio audience talk about the election after watching the 3rd and Final Presidential Debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.
Balitang America: Debate Night Part 2
A studio full Filipino Democrats, Republicans, and Undecideds comment on the Presidential debate, and talk about who they’ll vote for.
“How many of you think that race is a very strong factor among the Fil-Am community in making a decision in this election?” Gel Santos-Relos asked the audience.
Balitang America: Debate Night Part 3
One Filipino Republican, Rudy Asercion, and One Filipino Democrat, Rodel Rodis, duke during a special Balitang America Debate watching party shortly after the 3rd and Final Presidential Debate.
Special guest star in this segment is Ed Navarra, aka NaFFAA Region 3’s chair.
Rudy Asercion is NaFFAA Region 8’s City Chair for San Francisco (Member, American Legion War Memorial Commission) and Rodel Rodis is one of NaFFAA’s founders (Member, Board of Trustees, City College of San Francisco).
Congratulations to Greg B. Macabenta, NaFFAA’s new National Chair!
After Greg Macabenta’s election last Saturday, September 27, 2008, as NaFFAA’s new national chair, which took place during the 8th NaFFAA National Empowerment Conference at the Westin Seattle, we gathered some information that will help us understand the mind-set, focus, direction, and agenda of our new NaFFAA national leadership.
Rozita Lee was re-elected as NaFFAA National Vice Chair. Ian Purganan was elected National Youth Chair. Our congratulations to them!
Joining our NaFFAA R8 team in Seattle was our new NaFFAA R8 Youth Chair, Jenab-i Pareja. We are very excited to have Jenab-i on board (more on him later). We bid “Good luck” to former youth chair, Caroline Iwamoto, who has started her college freshman classes somewhere in New York.
We found a YouTube video that features Greg B. Macabenta and his spouse, Gigi, at the 2007 Pistahan Festival, an annual gathering which is held at the prestigious Yerba Buena Gardens in the heart of downtown San Francisco, California. Listen closely to what Greg says.
Click here to go directly to creativeconceptsintl’s youtube link.
On October 1, 2008, Greg Macabenta replied to interview questions from Asian Journal. Here is a transcript of Greg’s responses.
1. What is your Vision for NaFFAA as the new national chair?
I was asked at the “debate” between me and Ernie Ramos, shortly before the election, how I would “forge a new direction” for NaFFAA. My response was that we still needed to achieve our original directions, namely, the socio-economic and political empowerment of the Filipino community in America.
When the need for NaFFAA was discussed at the planning meeting in Salinas that resulted in the first National Filipino American Empowerment Conference in Washington DC in August 1997, we all agreed that important events were happening in America that our community had no hand in shaping; that we were mere bleacher viewers rather than participants; reactors rather than pro-actors.
After 11 years, we are still struggling, but through NaFFAA, our community has gained a seat at the table in Washington DC and in many other state and city fora where once we were mere onlookers. But we still have much to do - as the Veterans Equity battle on Capitol Hill illustrates. We may lose this one again.
2. What do you think are the challenges you will face as NaFFAA’s national chair?
Why do you think it has taken long for the mainstream to recognize the significance of FilAm community/organizations?
The first challenge that we all face as community workers and volunteers is to persuade the greater number of our community to become more involved, to care more about the issues that affect all of us in the long term but only a few of us in the short term. It is the short term impact that most see, which is one reason for not being involved (”Doesn’t concern me anyway!”, they think).
If we have so much difficulty getting our own people to appreciate the importance of NaFFAA, is it surprising that the American mainstream has not recognized us enough?