From: PCG-SF: Cultural Section
Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Subject: LTR-563-2009 6th Letter from Consul General Marciano Paynor, Jr. re. Appeal for Assistance to Victims of Typhoon Ondoy

Dear Colleagues,

Attached for your information and dissemination is the 6th Dear Kababayan Letter on the in kind donations including used clothing for the victims of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng; and the establishment of the DOF One Stop Shop to process all donations at customs.

Thank you very much.

Lyn Sesante
Cultural Officer

* * * * *

FUNDRAISING

EVENTS IN VALLEJO:

1) Rally to support typhoon victims on Sunday Oct 18 3 - 6 p.m. at Seafood City Lobby and breakfast brunch happening that morning 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Filipino Community Center on 820 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo. Contact Eloise Scott 707.642.5643 or Norma Placido 707.643.8057

2) Filipino American History month activities. The state (& nation) are starting to celebrate the month of October as Filipino American history month - the first recorded landing of FIlipinos was on October 18, 1587 on a Spanish Galleon at Morro Bay on the coast of California. We have FREE activities this weekend at our local musuem:

Vallejo Celebrates Filipino American History Month:

For more information on the events listed below, contact Mel Orpilla 707.477.1159 / Belle Santos 707.477.4361 / Lionel Galiste 707.334.1646.

Saturday, OCTOBER 17
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, will hold “Free Family Day” on Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. celebrating Filipino American History Month. Documentary videos featuring local Filipino experiences, panel presentation on “Growing up Brown in V-Town”, and presentation by Larry Asera on “Five Generations – From Sakadas to the Boardroom.”

10/17 SCHEDULE:

10-11 a.m. Video presentation:

Remember Our Manongs (Elders), Sonoma County’s Filipino History (DVD) - This feature length documentary film explores the history of the earliest Filipino immigrants in Sonoma County. Mostly single young men, they began arriving in California in the 1920s. The manongs’ (elders) story is one of tenacity and endurance coupled with an extraordinary sense of community. In the film, their inspirational story is told by surviving family members, descendants of former employers, and other key figures in Sonoma County. Sponsored in part by the California Council for the Humanities, the film was produced in 2008 by a core team of mostly Filipina Americans impassioned with the determination to ensure that the manongs will always be remembered.

11-12 “Five Generations – From Sakads to the Boardroom” by Larry Asera

The grandson of one of the Filipino immigrants who first settled in Hawaii in 1906 and then migrated to California in 1925, Larry, dubbed as the energy czar of Vallejo, has accomplished many “firsts” for a Filipino in America in the fields of politics and business. He will present his research on his family history that spans multiple generations.

Noon – 1 p.m. Growing Up Brown in V-Town Panel

Marian Argonza Escobar Hopwood
Lala Llacuna
& more……

Here it is.

_____

LETTERS

TO “MANONG” BEN MENOR, from Gerome Vizmanos
Date: Monday, October 12, 2009, 5:07 PM

Hi Manong,

It’s been a while since we’ve last seen each other. I’m writing from Manila, where I reside half my time doing business. Unfortunately the Philippines is going through a tough time with the recent Typhoons. I’ve spent the past couple of weeks helping and coordinating relief efforts.

Note: Gerome is one of Ben’s former high school students. He made this slideshow as a personal tribute to the typhoon victims, accompanied by the song popularized by Charice, “Note to God.” No copyright infringement intended.

_____

RESOURCES YOU CAN USE

Disaster Coordination Tool by disaster-tool.appspot.com
From Noemi Dado, on Facebook

Google Disaster Tool - to edit make sure you’ve logged-in your Gmail account, type in area & select option/s for the report

Click here for the link: http://maps.google.com/maps/mpl?moduleurl=http://disaster-tool.appspot.com/mapplet.xml

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

_____

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….

FYI - This is what a little over $10 can do according to dear friend and Director of Development for WE INTL. PHILIPPINES, Geni Psinakis :

A little over $10 = one LARGE relief bag with:

4 kilos rice
10 assorted canned goods
8 bottled water (500mL each)
8 packs of noodles
4 cans milk (317mL per can)
1 bar of soap
4 packs of crackers

A relief bag of this size will last one family of 4-5 members for 2 days! Think of what $20 or more can do!

All proceeds will be going to WE INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES. Please take the time to view their website and see why they have been chosen to donate the funds through them. They are personally known and are trusted like family. Know that 110% of the assistance donated will most certainly get to the victims. Not to say that any other organization won’t, but WE INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES…is trusted wholeheartedly.

For those who cannot make it but would like to donate, please go to:

http://www.weinternational.org.ph/typhoon-ondoy/

Also, the seriousness of Climate Change will be addressed. Most know what it is, but do not realize its severity…especially in third world countries wherein there is a lack of understanding due to the lack of educational support for the poor and language gaps of understanding. This needs to change today. Help make green education and proper sustainable urban planning and design development a reality in third world countries (such as in the South East) to enable adapting to the climate changes that the earth has already began to experience.

WE ENCOURAGE DONATIONS OF GOODS AS WELL….PLEASE REFER TO THIS LINK TO KNOW WHAT IS URGENTLY NEEDED AND ACCEPTED: http://sanfranciscobayarearelief.com/pdf-download.php

If you each brought 2-4 canned goods…that would certainly help!
Imagine, if 400 guests brought 4 cans of pork and beans and/or spam, that would be 1600 canned food items!

_____

Madrigal Singers Concert on Oct. 24, 2009, A Special Benefit for Philippine Typhoon Victims

Cecille Hontiveros, a member of St. Gregory’s Parish, sent this for general distribution.

* * * * *

OTHER EVENTS

FOR OCTOBER 20, 2009, Tuesday - A Concelebrated Mass for the Typhoon Victims will be held at the St. Augustine Church, 3700 Callan Blvd., South San Francisco, CA, at 7:00 pm. See details in the flyer below.

* * * * *

RESOURCES YOU CAN USE

From: nanette@filipinovillage.com
To: nanette@filipinovillage.com
Sent: 10/14/2009 1:56:16 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Kababayans Unite for Relief

Dear Friends,

As we unite to help our country in need, please post your events and upcoming fund-raisers in www.FilipinoVillage.com . If we can help you communicate to the public, we can better pool together our bayanihan efforts! It’s a 2-min process. Click here to see how: http://filipinovillage.com/events.asp

Maraming salamat and good luck to all our undertakings for our country!

Nanette D. Alcaro
President
Archipelago 7107, Inc.
www.FilipinoVillage.com
www.Fil-AmYellowPages.com

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

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

_____

PHOTO RELEASE
Philippine Consulate General
447 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94108
415-433-6666 ext. 313 (public information section)
*www.philippineconsulate-sf.org

06 OCTOBER 2009

San Francisco, California - Upon instructions from PCMB Chairman and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa, the Philippine Center Management Board issued a resolution allocating the amount of US$5,000.00 as a corporate donation to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines. Photo shows PCMB Business Manager Roberto de Lara handing the check donation for the National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Philippines (NDCC) to PCMB Vice Chairman and Consul General to San Francisco Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. Also in the photo are Deputy Consul General Wilfredo Santos, Consul Alfonso Ver, Police Attache Edwin Erni, PCMB Director and DOT Director Rene de los Santos, and Ms. Rosalie Say representing PCMB Director and DTI Commissioner Josephine Romero. END

_____

OP-ED
By Laymon Jones and Alice Bulos

The President and The Congress of the United States should do what is right for the Philippines, its ally, at a time of extreme calamity.

This is a call for the President of the United States to direct the Secretary of State to immediately send the Undersecretary of State for East Asia and the Acting Director of the USAID to the Philippines to make an assessment of the damages of the typhoon in the Philippines. They should be instructed to report to the President, Secretary of State and the Foreign Affairs Committees in Congress how the United States can render assistance in terms of aid for recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The Philippines has been our ally in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. President Roosevelt drafted Pilipinos into the Philippine Army and thousands died in the inhumane Bataan Death March and throughout the duration of World War II. The civilian population was brutalized by the occupation forces of Japan. In Manila alone, over 100,000 Pilipinos died as the Japanese forces were being defeated by allied forces.

After the recent natural disaster, Asia’s oldest democracy is suffering the loss of over 1.5 billion dollars of infrastructure and 3.2 million dollars in agriculture crops. The statistics verify that over 5,000 homes, schools and buildings have been destroyed and approximately 700,000 people have been evacuated or displaced. The total effected population is estimated to be 2,254,915. The government has already expended over a half a billion in American dollars for recovery and relief operations but this is still not enough. More assistance is needed before recovery can be accomplished.

Billions of our tax dollars have been expended since 9/11 to assist countries that are antagonistic to the United States in order to build their infrastructures of roads, schools, and water and sewer systems. In return for our generosity, the people of these countries kill our soldiers and terrorize our citizens. Pakistan has received billions more to prop up a government that repays us with ingratitude and complaints when we kill the terrorist that they ignore. We certainly understand the rationale of these actions and there is no doubt that these actions are necessary to protect the national security interests of our country, but we should not treat our ally, the Philippines, worst than we treat our enemies. All of our allies deserve more of our support not less since they promote and achieve peace and stability to their part of the world. An ally like the Philippines has expended blood and treasure and deserves the very best of our resources in times of great calamity.

It is noted that the US Embassy in the Philippines has expended to date $100,000 for the relief and recov ery efforts of the typhoon. Wells Fargo’s employees have already contributed $100,000 to the victims of the typhoon. The USAID has expended $404,496 and will be making available $1,000,000 to the Philippine Government and non-profit organizations in the coming days for recovery and relief purposes which is commendable. The United States Department of Defense has also provided equipment, transport, logistics support and 3,000 troops to participate in relief projects, as well $4,000,000 of medical supplies which is at this point the largest dollar amount of assistance from the United States government. The Philippine government and its people are grateful for the assistance provided by our government but it is less than the amount expended by our government to foreign countries that have killed or maimed our sons, daughters, husbands and fathers who are fighting against terrorism in their countries.

Today an ally like the Philippines relies on the continued aid and generosity of the United States and we call upon our government to increase the aid to the Philippines.

Laymon Jones, Chairman of Inspire Hope Institute, Oakland, California and Alice Bulos, former member of the Federal Council on Aging, appointed by former President Bill Clinton. Email: laymon@laymonjones.com

* * * * *

FUNDRAISING

Everyone’s a Hero

From: Tricia Garcia, TEAM LBC
Date: Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Subject: YOU’RE INVITED: EVERYONE’S A HERO FUNDRAISER

I would like to invite everyone to a fundraising event on Thursday (details below). All cash donations will be given to ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya. Cash donations will serve as cover charge. The lounge will be donating $1 for every drink purchased. Hope you guys can make it.

Fundraiser to support the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines

Start Time: Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 8:00pm
Location: Level 236 (Formerly Azuli Lounge)
Street: 236 South B St.
City/Town: San Mateo, CA

BE A HERO ON THURSDAY!!!

Please join us as we try to raise funds for the rehabilitation of Manila and it’s surrounding areas affected by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana). Watch live bands, enjoy drinks, and be a hero to the Philippines.

Lineup for the evening:

Richard Fianza
Kapakahi (www.kapakahimusic.com)
Basti Artadi with The Beerhouse Gypsies

Isabel Lozano

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.

___

ADDITIONAL NOTES

FROM: BAMBI RODRIGUEZ
Date: Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: Meeting to Coordinate Local Typhoon Ondoy Relief Efforts

Hi Viki (and everybody else),

I talked to you last Wednesday about PAL being involved in the relief efforts. Below is the info you can add to our resources and others can take note of.

I was just wondering, since you mentioned Facebook, maybe you could form an official account for this group so information will be facilitated more easily? It would help disseminate information not only among us but also to other interested parties.

Thanks for all that you continue to do. Mabuhay ang pusong Pilipino :).

Bambi

FYI, if your group or any individual would like to donate relief goods for the victims, you may send or drop off the donations to SFO Philippine Consulate Office, 447 Sutter St., 6th Floor, San Francisco,CA 94108.

As of right now, listed below are the items acceptable to donate:

Non-perishable food
Medicines (not expiring yet)
Blankets only (no clothings)
Cash In-Kind or Checks payable to SFO PhilConsulate

Contact Person: Lyn of SFO Phil Consulate (415) 433-6666

_____

From: PCG-SF: Cultural Section
Date: Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 1:36 PM

Dear Ms. Dietz,

The Philippine Consulate General/Philippine Center Management Board is accepting donations in cash and kind daily including Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am -4:00 pm. Official receipts will be issued.

The Drop Off area is at 447 Sutter Street 1st Floor San Francisco Ca 94108. For your information and dissemination please. Thank you very much.

Lyn Sesante
Cultural, Community Relations and Public Information (CCPI) Section
Philippine Consulate General, San Francisco
447 Sutter Street, 6th Floor,
San Francisco, CA 94108 USA
Tel. No.: (415) 433-6666 ext. 314
Fax No.: (415) 421-2641
Email: ccpisfpcg@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.philippineconsulate-sf.org

_____

FROM: DEPUTY CONSUL GENERAL FRED SANTOS
October 1, 2009

These are the two initial press releases issued by the Consulate on the relief effort.

During the meeting held last Tuesday at the consulate, Consul General Paynor committed the Philippine Consulate General to serve as the secretariat for the proposed organization that will coordinate the ongoing relief effort. We have reserved also the ground floor of the Philippine Center in San Francisco as a drop off area for the collection, packing, and sending of the relief goods.

Another meeting will be held next Wednesday to discuss the organizational structure of the proposed organization. Committee heads for political, fundraising, media, health, and donation points were selected before the meeting broke up.

Typhoon Ondoy, Philippine Consulate-SF Press Release 09302009 - ZSF-515-2009 Press Release 1

Typhoon Ondoy, Philippine Consulate-SF Press Release 09302009ZSF-515-2009 Press Release 2

Typhoon Ondoy, Philippine Consulate-SF Press Release 3 10022009 LTR-504-2009

Typhoon Ondoy, Philippine Consulate-SF Press Release 4 10022009 LTR-507-2009 Dear Kababayan - Priority Reli…

* * *

FROM JACQUI CONCLARA, TEAM LBC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patricia G. Garcia
Tel. No. (650) 876-0410; 1-800-338-5424, ext. 3024
Email: tricia@teamlbc.com

LBC OFFERS FREE PADALA SERVICES FOR IN-KIND, CASH DONATIONS TO ONDOY VICTIMS

In-kind donations will be distributed to typhoon victims by LBC Hari ng Padala Foundation; cash donations remitted to ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya project

South San Francisco, Calif., October 1, 2009 – Donations of relief items to victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) can now be shipped for free through LBC Mundial Corporation (LBC USA), Hugo Bonilla, the company’s president and CEO, announced today.

As an international company servicing the padala needs of Filipinos worldwide, LBC joins in the global efforts to provide assistance to families in the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Ondoy.

All donated items coursed through LBC USA will be sent to only one recipient in the Philippines, LBC Hari Ng Padala Foundation (LHPF).

LHPF will in turn distribute the goods to various non-profits that are conducting relief efforts in the affected communities in Metro Manila and Luzon provinces.

“As of October 1, all LBC branches in the U.S. are now drop-off points for in-kind donations to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines,” Mr. Bonilla said.

This development follows the partnership inked last September 29 between LBC USA and ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya for cash donations.

In addition to waiving service fees for cash donations remitted directly to the Sagip Kapamilya project, LBC has decided to offer its sea cargo services for free after LHPF has committed to sorting and distributing the donated items coming from donors in the U.S.

“Before deciding on offering this free service, we wanted to make sure there is one non-profit recipient in the Philippines who will take on the daunting task of sorting the big volume of donated items,” explained Mr. Bonilla.

Rules, Box Sizes

All donated items must be boxed and sealed in standard-sized balikbayan boxes. LBC will not accept open boxes or unpacked items.

Donors in California, Oregon, Washington State, Nevada and Hawaii can only use the 24×18x18 box size while donors in New Jersey, New York, Illinois and Virginia can only use the 28×18x17 box size.

In Saipan, only box size 18×20x22 is accepted while LBC in Canada’s British Columbia will only accept the 18×18x30 box size.

All boxes must state the shipper’s name and address. Consignee information is as follows: LBC HARI NG PADALA FOUNDATION, c/o Jose Garcia with address LBC HANGAR, General Aviation Center, Domestic Airport Compound, Pasay City.

Preferred items

Donors are encouraged to send the following items: canned goods, rice, clothing, footwear, towels, blankets, cookware, utensils and other daily consumables.

For a list of the LBC branch nearest you, please visit www.lbcexpress.com or call 1-800-338-5424.

* * *

FROM AYALA FOUNDATION USA
Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 4:52 AM

Excerpts from the email newsletter

Even as we brace for another storm, we continue to feel the generosity and support of donors everywhere who want to help the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Today, October 2, 2009, we received, $ 12, 202.97, bringing the total amount raised to $59,504.86.

We are still accepting donations!

Please send in your donations by clicking on http://af-usa.org/donate_now_form.asp . Look for “AF-USA Typhoon Relief Fund” in the box marked “Donations For”.

You may also send your checks to:

Ayala Foundation USA
255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 428
Redwood City, CA 94065

AF-USA has decided to waive its 5% service fee for all Typhoon related donations starting today, October 2, 2009 until end of October 2009. AF-USA is a 501c3 organization. As such, all donations coursed through AF-USA are tax deductible in the US.

In this time of tragedy, let’s all summon the spirit of bayanihan that has carried us through in our darkest moments.

* * *

FROM LILLIA RIVERA, SACRAMENTO, CA
in an email received from Jose Florencio Lapena
October 1, 2009

UPCM mobilization for Ondoy survivors among UP Manila partner communities

Sunday, September 27, 2009 2:01:07 AM

Dean Alberto Roxas has asked Dr. Josie Isidro Lapena to coordinate the UPCM relief efforts, which will begin tomorrow morning at the Paz Mendoza Hall (there are no classes, so we can all pitch in).

Collection, repacking and distribution of the items will be coordinated from the COME office. The parking spaces adjacent to the rear entrance of Paz Mendoza will be utilized for deliveries and deployment.

Kindly contribute the items already mentioned by Dr. Ian Gomez:

ready-to-eat/no-cook/easy-to-prepare food
drinking water
mats
blankets
towel
children’s clothes
slippers
babies’ needs
toiletries

_____________________________
CHRISTIAN F. GOMEZ, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Family and Community Medicine
College of Medicine - Philippine General Hospital
University of the Philippines Manila
+632.522.9231
http://elsalvadordelmundo.blogspot.com

GAWAD KALUSUGAN - The Health Program of Gawad Kalinga
Building healthy communities, Building a healthy nation
http://www.gawadkalusugan.org
Email info@gawadkalusugan.org

* * *

FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK

October 5, 2009
From: Lorna Dietz
Editor, FWN Magazine 2009

A portion of the Gala Night Celebration on October 30, 2009 for the “The 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S. Award™” at the FWN’s 6th Filipina Leadership Summit, Claremont Hotel & Spa in Berkeley, CA will be donated to Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) victims, designated specifically for women and girls’ organizations. Since this is an early announcement, please watch out for more details. In the meantime, we encourage you to support and attend the event — to honor these deserving women. The final 100 List will be released after October 30, 2009.

To-date, there are sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact Lorna Dietz at LornaDietzPR@gmail.com or Marily Mondejar, FWN’s President, at Marily@FFWN.org for more information.

Filipina Women’s Network’s 6th Filipina Leadership Summit, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2009

* * *

IN THE NEWS

Foreign donations tax-free if they come from accredited groups,govt says
10/05/2009 | 03:08 PM (Philippines)
Source: GMA News

Foreign donations — whether from governments, non-profits, and Filipinos based abroad — are exempt from Philippine taxes as long as the donors and recipients are accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

This was announced by the Department of Finance (DOF) days after a report said that the country’s tax bureau will tax private donations.

The DOF is in the process of cutting the processing time for the release of donations to 24 hours from four to five days, the agency said in a statement.

Documentary requirements have also been reduced “to the barest minimum,” the statement said, adding that most of the paperwork will be rendered after the release of relief goods.

More than 2,500 organizations are accredited and registered with the DSWD, it added.

“Please inform us right away if anybody from the Bureau of Customs asked for any tax and duty payment on these imported relief goods from any organization,” the DOF said. - GMANews.TV

* * *

OTHER SOURCES FOR UPDATES

FilipinoVillage.com

FilipinoVillage.com is our Global Filipino Village Online. This is where Filipinos connect and help fellow Filipinos. This is the resource and community center where you can reach Filipinos all over the world.

Nanette and her group provide a wonderful service to our worldwide Filipino community. They can be reached at We@FilipinoVillage.com.

_____

From: Deborah Clearwaters
Date: Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: For Sun., Oct. 4 in San Francisco, Asian Art Museum “Filipino American History Month Celebration * FREE admission courtesy of TARGET Stores
To: Lorna Lardizabal-Dietz

Thank you for helping us get the word out Lorna!

FYI, all donations at the museum on Sunday will go towards typhoon disaster relief in the Philippines.

All the best
Deborah

Deborah Clearwaters
Director of Education and Public Programs
———————————————-
Asian Art Museum
Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture
200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
www.asianart.org
_____

From: Jose Pecho, NaFFAA Region 8 Chair
Date: Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Subject: Sincere Appreciation to One and All…

Dear Kick-Off Celebration & Academy of Sciences Teams, Sponsoring Supporters and Volunteers:

I wanted to express a big thank you to all who made last night a smashing success. We had planned for an intimate event with about 120-150, I think we were close to having almost twice that with 250+ guests. The only downside for the bigger than expected attendance was not having enough food for all. My sincere apologies for those of you who didn’t get a chance to eat some of the wonderful food donated by Mercury Lounge, Gold Ribbon Bakeshop, Subway Sandwiches, Haliya Wines, VuQo, Inc and Zebulon Restaurant. We thank them for their generosity and spirit of giving in such difficult economic times.

The Academy of Sciences is a venue our community certainly won’t forget. The ambiance created an elegant and glamorous evening, highlighted by the showcasing of the Philippine Coral Reef. From the moment discussions began with the Academy in planning our event to the final volunteers leaving last night, it was first class treatment all the way. We are honored and humbled by your support and partnership. A special thank you to Executive Director, Dr. Gregory Farrington, Chief of Staff and CFO, Allison Brown for her welcome remarks, Dr. Meg Burke, Director of Education for her enthusiasm and support, Dr. Terry Gosliner, Sr. Curator for the Coral Reef and Bart Shepherd, the Sr. Curator for the Academy for their wonderful stories of how it all happened. Meg and Terry, thanks for honoring us with the wearing of beautiful “Barongs” to the event. A special, special thank you to David Nemoyten, Sr. Event Coordinator, who handled our event from start to finish and who guided us every step of the way. Our community is grateful to the entire Academy Team!

Also, thanks to Suzanne Kavert of Best Beverage Catering for working with us to ensure our event happened.

Our sincere gratitude and thanks to our volunteer crew, for without you, our event wouldn’t have been such a success:

Norman and Mariluz Ragasa, our Event designer http://mariluzdesign.com/, who created wonderful designs and helped create the elegance of the evening.

Michelle Caabay-Brokstein, of Jux.ta.pose www.jux-ta-pose.net who took the bull by the horns and ensured we got things done. Thanks to hubby Mr. Brokstein for running around and helping the team.

We even have to have a special shout out to Wade the Chef, who works at the Academy and lent and huge helping hand with food and table presentations.

Derric Gargaritano and Jinni Bartolome for helping with the finishing touches, as well as the Jazz Band who set the mood for the Coral Reef!

Lastly, thanks to the Kick-off Celebration Team of Al Perez, Rich Pio Roda, Emile Deguzman, Esther Chavez, Dennis Normandy, Hydra Mendoza, Keesa Ocampo and of course our very own Lisa Ang!

Always at your service…

Sincerely,

Jose Pecho

Please see October 2-5, 2009 updates here.

Updates from the 12 regions of NaFFAA will soon be found at our national website, http://NaFFAA.org.

Posted in Facebook, from Joy Martinez:

“Something inspiring: Caught on TV- Man rescued in a rubberboat asked, “28 na ba ngayon?” Cameraman: “Opo, 28.” Man somberly replied, “Bday ko na pala.” Rescuers who were paddling hard turned to him in surprise before slowly singing, …”happy birthday to you…” Even in the midst of devastation the Filipino spirit never ceases to acknowledge and celebrate the gift of life.”

Posted in Facebook, from Mary Anne Alcordo-Solomon:

“To the dollar earners, your $1=PHP48 can buy 4 cans of sardines or 3 cans of corned beef or 12 packs of noodles or 3 kilos of rice.”

* * *

From Lorna Dietz, Regional Vice Chair of NaFFAA R8 / NaFFAA Online Coordinator, regarding monetary donations:

We’ve received several inquiries on how everyone can help if they reside outside the Philippines. I collected some information from my Facebook account. The information will most likely be expanded soon after our coordinating meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, especially regarding donation centers for goods. Please check in often.

Philippine National Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx

9/30/2009 - Update from Bing Branigin, NaFFAA Region 2, thru Louie Pawid & Dennis Mendiola. “Fil-Am donations for Typhoon Ondoy effort now possible through PAYPAL at give@redcross.org.ph.”

Most urgent needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water

Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

American Red Cross - 1-800-435-7669 (posted by Joseph Francia, GMA Pinoy TV)

http://newsroom.redcross.org/2009/09/28/typhoon-ketsana-ondoy-in-philippines-and-vietnam/

Quoted - The American Red Cross is monitoring the situation and remains in communication with our Red Cross partners in the area. Although there hasn’t been an appeal for international assistance, the American Red Cross is prepared to mobilize support, including relief supplies, trained personnel or financial assistance if necessary.

Ayala Foundation USA - http://www.af-usa.org/donate_now.aspa>

GMA Kapuso Foundation - http://www.kapusofoundation.com/donate
(credit card donations)

ABS-CBN Foundation - www.abscbnfoundation.org

From Keesa Ocampo, ABS-CBNi - US donations can be sent to: ABS-CBN Foundation,150 Shoreline Dr.Redwood City, CA 94065

Heartbridge International Foundation’s List of Contact Persons (for information) in the USA - http://02c3ec5.netsolhost.com/breakingnews.html

Xoom.com is offering fee-free money transfers to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)
- You can donate to the relief efforts by visiting Xoom.com and entering the coupon code “HELPONDOY” to make a fee-free money transfer donation to the Philippine National Red Cross. This special coupon code is valid until Friday October 9, 2009. Source: http://rfonline.holy-order.org/guild-news/119-operation-ketsana-xoom-free-transfer-to-philppine-national-red-cross

- From Yvette Tan, via Twitter on 9/30/09: RT @wwwgmanewstv: Breaking News : iRemit waives remittance fees for Ondoy victims: Starting October 1, Wednesday.
http://bit.ly/18cvu7

* * *

Please go ahead and forward, download, print, or embed this important letter from the Philippine Consulate General’s office in San Francisco. The contact information re: donations to the Philippine Red Cross and donations-in-kind is also found here.

LTR-484-2009.Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) - Message From Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor, San Francisco

* * *

FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY COORDINATING MEETINGS:

If you are from the San Francisco Bay Area, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Region 8-Northern CA, will be co-coordinating a meeting with other Fil-Am organizations & healthcare professionals — to discuss the aid/assistance process on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at 7:30pm at the 5th floor Social Hall, Philippine Center Building (where the Philippine Consulate is located), 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94108. Your contact persons will be Viki Bamba (former NaFFAA R8 Regional Chair) & Dr. Carmelo Roco & Bernadette Roco.

PLEASE COME!

Thank you.

Lorna Dietz
NaFFAA R8 Vice Chair
on behalf of Jose Pecho, NaFFAA R8 Chair

* * *

From: Greg B. Macabenta
Date: Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Subject: TYPHOON ONDOY DEVASTATION
All NaFFAA Officers and Members,

The devastation in Metro Manila caused by Typhoon Ondoy - which brought one month’s worth of rain in only 12 hours - calls for a humanitarian response from all of us in the US. The devastation is severe. While the hardest hit are the areas of Quezon City, Pasig and Rizal, the water rose as high as 7 feet in the Sukat Area in Paranaque where I have a home. Mercifully, everyone in the house is safe. But the casualties and fatalities in Metro Manila continue to rise.

We urge everyone to help and to pass on this appeal to your respective networks.

To those who would like to donate cash or goods, our suggestions are as follows:

1. Work closely with your local Philippine consulates which are coordinating relief operatiions.
2. Or course your donations through Ayala Foundation USA or the Philippine National Red Cross.

Those of you who have homes or relatives in the affected areas may, of course, find alternative means to help.

We do not advise that NaFFAA itself should receive donations for this calamity. We do not have the resources and the infrastructure for delivering these to the victims. However, we urge every city, state and regional chapter to get organized so that they can efffectively urge donations and channel these to the proper relief agencies.

We will keep you posted on developments as they come, including contact numbers of the proper relief agencies.

Thank you very much. Let us pray for the victims and generously help.

Greg B. Macabenta
National Chair, NaFFAA

* * *

From Lorna Dietz:

HERE IS A YOUTUBE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING THE DEVASTATION. TAKEN FROM MANOLO QUEZON’S BLOG, The Daily Dose.

FROM THE BLOG, PEDESTRIAN OBSERVER.

* * *

FROM SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

MESSAGE FROM RUDY ASERCION, WEST BAY PILIPINO MULTI-SERVICE CENTER (and NaFFAA Region 8’s City & County of San Francisco Chair):

WEST BAY CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO KEEP CENTER OPEN TILL 10PM DAILY TO COLLECT DONATIONS. VOLUNTEERS WELCOME. DONORS MAY DEDUCT CONTRIBUTIONS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME… TAX UNDER SECTION 501 (c) 3. FILAM COMMUNITY INVITED TO DROP OFF FOOD, CLOTHING OR CHECKS AT 175-7TH STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA.CALL 415 431-6266 FOR INFORMATION.

* * *

PLACES TO VOLUNTEER

Charisse Aquino, a San Francisco and Manila-based FilAm anthropologist & adventure tourism entrepreneur, updated her Facebook with some vital comments:

9/30/09, evening in Manila - Eusebio Gym in Pasig needs volunteers. Imagine, 3 volunteers for 300 evacuees. 1:100. Kawawa.
9/30/09 evening in Manila - Evacuation centers need Portalets, please pass! And more kids getting sick, please ask all your doctor friends to volunteer their time, and ask the pharmacies to donate more medicines

Charisse asked for an updated listing of places to volunteer in Manila (Facebook). Here are some of the responses.

9/30/09 - From Izah Morales: Here’s the website of DSWD. Department of Social Welfare & Development, http://vrplus.dswd.gov.ph/

9/30/09 - From Izah Morales: Evacuation Centers, list of verified relief centers
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173288/list-of-verified-relief-centers-for-ondoy-victims
But re: Pasig, you can go there in the Municipal Hall of Pasig. The evacuation center is right beside the Municipal Hall.

* * *

UPDATES FROM JOY MARTINEZ (CEBU), ONE OF THE PHILIPPINES’ FOREMOST ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNERS & GREEN ARCHITECTURE ADVOCATES:

9/29/09, Cebu - Dear friends from New York - NEW YORK: Disaster Relief drop off center @ Pandayan Center, 406 W40th St. Between 9th and 10th Aves. New York, NY 10018 or call 212.564.6057. CALIFORNIA: donate at branches of Island Pacific Supermarket, and they’ll ship it to the Philippines.

9/29/09, Cebu - With more than 100K people in shelters, stagnant water, I’m fearing an outbreak of disease that we need to address NOW! My brother in Philhealth is willing to provide coverage for affected families and medicines but needs sponsor partners. Sample: Sponsor gives P60k, Philhealth gives coverage to 200 families and P30K worth of meds. Please call Jam @687-4956 or email mwbacareza@philhealth.gov.ph.

9/29/09, Cebu - For friends abroad, here’s another way to help…thank you for your kindness to our kapwa Pilipino. The World Food Programme at https://www.wfp.org/donate/ondoy

QUOTED:

A donation of:

- $18 provides a family with rice for 2 weeks
- $90 feeds 5 families for 2 weeks
- $180 feeds 10 families for 2 weeks

And if you are capable of going that extra mile, $18,000 will provide 1000 families with rice for 2 weeks.

Joy Martinez is sending updates from Cebu via Facebook, where the first container of donated goods has been loaded on an Aboitiz shipping vessel tonight (September 29 in Manila at 10:30pm), bound for Manila. Please email Lorna Dietz at NaFFAANorcal@gmail.com if you want to be connected to Cebu-based volunteer efforts.

* * *

UPDATES FROM YVETTE TAN, GlossMania of Twitter

9/29/09, Manila - RT @ageofbrillig: RT @giboteodoro For those who can’t get through NDCC Rescue Hotlines. They now have a text/call line: 0917 733 4256

or from the US, 0-11-63-917-733-4256

National Disaster Coordinating Council’s website: http://ndcc.gov.ph/home/

* * *

OTHER LINKS WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION (DONATIONS TO MANILA FROM OVERSEAS):

MoonGirl - http://moongirl.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/donating-to-manila-from-abroad/
MoonGirl has collected a lot of information — from Australia, Europe, to the US, where citizen volunteers have made their homes “temporary donation centers.” Thank you to Joey Alarilla for informing Luna about our website’s updates from San Francisco, CA.

Click on LINKS at the Comments section below.

* * *

UPDATES FROM USA-BASED FRIENDS: Please contact them directly and let them know that NaFFAA Region 8 referred you to them. Thanks!

Southern California

BisayaBulletin.com

From: Bisaya Bulletin
Date: Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Subject: Relief Convergence for Typhoon “Ondoy”

Let’s all converge in helping our brothers and sisters in Northern Philippines affected by typhoon “Ondoy”. BisayaBulletin.com invites everyone to join in our collective effort to donate relief goods and bring them to a designated place in Los Angeles, CA (specific location to be determined in separate email).

Join us in packing and sorting your donations on October 10, 2009, Saturday between 9am - 3pm. We have arranged a Manila forwarder offering free freight for your donations and goods bound for Manila. Items will be picked up by 3pm so please plan to come early. Let us all collaborate and be instruments in helping our country in dire need. Please forward this information to all.

Suggestions for donations:

Sack of rice
Balikbayan Boxes
Rubber Slippers
Alcohol
Soap and Toiletries
Medicine
Cotton
Bandages
Noodles
Canned Goods (ready to eat)
Clothes, Towels and Blankets

Note: Details on Venue will be emailed upon determination***

Regards,

www.bisayabulletin.com
“from our little visayan corner to the global community”

___

Charina Vergara Carrera, through Facebook
Contact: Cha.Carrera@gmail.com

9/30/09 - REPOSTING FROM PETE AVENDANO: We’re doing a fundraising concert on Sunday at St. Genevieve Church in Panorama City for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. The concert is going to be free but we would like to ask for donations. All monetary donations will go to help our kababayans who were affected by this calamity.

9/30/09 - Relief goods (clothing, beddings, blankets, and canned goods are accepted at ANY ATLAS cargo location (including Atlas outlets with Seafood City, http://www.seafoodcity.com)
___

Prosy DeLaCruz, through Facebook
Contact: DeLaCruz.Prosy@gmail.com

9/30/09 - Your donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000 until October 6, 2009, if we succeed, we will have donated Php 10 million to the Typhoon Ondoy families and directly to the children through UNICEF. I donated $150 and it was doubled. If you donate, send an email to TyphoonOndoyDonationAcctg@gmail.com — report the amount and organization you donated to. I volunteer to tally every night.

* * *

USEFUL INFORMATION

HOW TO DISINFECT WATER:
Source - From Clorox FAQ.

You can copy and paste this section and send it to your relatives and friends in the Philippines.

Q. Can Clorox® Regular-Bleach be used to disinfect water?

1. Remove suspended particles by filtering or letting particles settle to the bottom.
2. Pour off clear water into a clean container.
3. Add 8 drops of Clorox® Regular-Bleach (not scented or color-safe) to one gallon of water (2 drops to 1 quart). For cloudy water, use 16 drops per gallon of water (4 drops to 1 quart).
4. Allow the treated water to stand for 30 minutes. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat and wait another 15 minutes. The treated water can then be made palatable by pouring it between clean containers several times.

___

FROM YVETTE TAN, VIA FACEBOOK (Via Joelle Jacinto and Oli Reyes)

Reposting: Message from a doctor - For people whose houses have been submerged:

1. Make sure you use CLOROX for dirt and not just Lysol to kill molds.
Then 2. Spray/Fumigate against mosquitos, otherwise there will be an outbreak of dengue & cholera may follow. Please pass.
(Note: Earth-friendly MESSY BESSY or PLANTEX is better than Clorox.)

Please forward this to your family and friends in the USA and beyond: You can make a TRUE difference wherever you live, even if this CALL TO ACTION is happening in San Francisco, CA! Your act of signing the online petition can help solidify your citizen voices in making sure that this does not happen in your community. JOIN US! Click here for the online petition or copy and paste - http://bit.ly/2kxjN

On June 30, 2009, at 5:00pm, the Filipino American community and friends organized and participated in a rally by the steps of City Hall (Polk St. side) to show their solidarity in supporting Filipino non-profits in San Francisco, all of which were not included in the allocation of close to $9-million of City funds for disadvantaged families. For example, Executive Director Rudy Asercion says, “West Bay serves the poorest of the poor of SOMA (South of Market) including after-school tutorials, financial literacy and healthy lifestyle programs as well as life skills training.”

This rally was organized to pressure the members of the Board of Supervisors, as well as, Mayor Newsom to reconsider funding them.

These valuable non-profits who serve the most disadvantaged members of our community not funded were West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service, Philippine Senior Center, Family Resource Network, South of Market Clinic and South of Market Employment Center.

For more information, email Rudy Asercion, Executive Director, West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center at rudyasercion@gmail.com or call 415 724-0641 or, Jose Pecho, Chair, Region 8, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) at jose@jpinvests.com or 925.286.6607.

Credits: Photos by Grace Esteban, “shortening of online petition’s URL” by Baylan Megino.

June 29, 2009

June 30, 2009 - Solidarity Rally to Include Filipino Community in San Francisco’s Funding for Non-Profit Ag…

SUBJECT: Urgent! On Tues., June 30, 2009 - Join Emergency SOLIDARITY Rally to INCLUDE Filipino Non-Profits FOR FUNDING in San Francisco * Sign Online Petition * Write a Letter * Make Our Citizen Voices Count!

Hello, friends! Here is an urgent message from our NaFFAA Region 8 (Northern CA) chair, Jose Pecho, that I have revised for a “simple as 1-2-3 call to action!” Please join us in making a resounding voice for our Filipino community!

Lorna Dietz
NaFFAA Region 8 Vice Chair & NaFFAA Online Coordinator

P.S. I know that you haven’t heard from me for a while. I’m busy with the details for the forthcoming 6th Global Filipino Networking Convention that will be held in Cebu, Philippines this Oct. 9-11, 2009. Sponsoring national organizations are: NaFFAA, NAITAS, and FPACC. Everyone is welcome! You can now register online at http://6thGlobalCebu.com.

*

Dear Friends!

Please join us and pass on to concerned members of our community against the exclusion of Filipinos in San Francisco! Our apologies for cross-postings!

To print, forward, download, and view the POSTER/FLIER for the Solidarity Rally, click on the SCRIBD document above.

Call to Action: (1) Join the Solidarity Rally; (2) Sign the Online Petition to support the Citizen Voices from the Filipino communities in San Francisco; and (3) Write a letter to the Mayor & Board of Supervisors of the City & County of San Francisco (scroll to #3 below to copy/paste letter).

1. SOLIDARITY RALLY

When: Tuesday, June 30, 2009
What Time: 5:00 pm
Where: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
What to wear: Wear WHITE CLOTHES, WHITE SHIRTS, ANYTHING WHITE!
What To Bring: Homemade placards and signs; if you have bull horns, please email me asap at Jose@JPInvests.com!

Why: The Filipino American community and friends are urged to attend the rally by the steps of City Hall (Polk St. side) to show our solidarity in supporting Filipino non-profits in SF, all of which were not included in the allocation of close to $9-million of City funds for disadvantaged families. This rally is to pressure the members of the Board of Supervisors, as well as, Mayor Newsom to reconsider funding them.

Those valuable non-profits who serve the most disadvantaged members of our community not funded were West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service, Philippine Senior Center, Family Resource Network, South of Market Clinic and South of Market Employment Center. All who will attend the rally should wear “white” and bring your own homemade placards.

For more information, email Rudy Asercion, Executive Director, West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center at rudyasercion@gmail.com or call 415 724-0641 or, Jose Pecho, Chair, Region 8, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) at jose@jpinvests.com or 925.286.6607

2. PLEASE SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION!

Please sign the online petition and passing it on to all your friends, families and list serves for their signatures.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-west-bay-and-other-filipino-non-profits-in-san-francisco

Best Regards,

Rudy Asercion
Executive Director
West Bay Pilipino Multi Service
175 7th Street * San Francisco, CA 94103 * Tel: 415 431 6266 * www.westbaycenter.org

3. WRITE A LETTER TO MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM & MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Please encourage everyone to get the word out about sending this email. If you do not reside in the City and County of San Francisco, you are most welcome to add your personal introduction, for example:

“In the light of my volunteer work in/with the Filipino community, especially in (write the name of your city or county, state), I am coming forward to assist my brothers and sisters in the City and County of San Francisco whose citizen voices and valuable contributions, I believe, have been ignored.”

THE LETTER: (copy and paste to your email)

Dear Mayor Newsom and Members of the Board of Supervisors, City & County of San Francisco:

50,000 people of Filipino descent in the City and County of San Francisco (8% of the population), half a million in Northern California and 2.2 million in the State must surely mean something to city, county and state governments – because these translate into significant taxes paid, jobs created, business generated, services rendered and votes cast.

However, these vital facts seem to have been completely overlooked in the allocation of funds from the $9 million NOFA Family Resource Center Initiative (2009-2010 RFP) for non-profit service organizations in the City and County of San Francisco. Of the 23 non-profits recommended for funding, there was not one single Filipino organization included.

The application for funding submitted by West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, which has been providing direct services to disadvantaged Filipino families in San Francisco for 40 years, was overlooked by city administrators, along with four other Filipino non-profits that had sought funding, namely: Philippine Senior Center, Family Resource Network, South of Market Clinic, and South of Market Employment Center.

We demand that this oversight be rectified; otherwise, it will amount to a gross injustice and a case of discrimination against the Filipino community. There is extreme urgency here as a decision of the Board of Supervisors is set for this Wednesday, July 1.

As tax payers, voters and contributors to the social, economic and political fabric of San Francisco, we demand that the application for funding of West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, Philippine Senior Center, Family Resource Network, South of Market Clinic and South of Market Employment Center be reviewed and their fair and rightful share be allocated to them.

We look forward to your positive response to this very important matter. We shall attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on July 1 when you champion the cause of the Filipino community.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Name:
Your signature: _________________________

WHO TO SEND YOUR EMAILS TO: (copy and paste all the email addresses below, and put in your email’s TO: section)

gavin.newsom@sfgov.org, Michela.Alioto-Pier@sfgov.org, John.Avalos@sfgov.org, David.Campos@sfgov.org, David.Chiu@sfgov.org, Carmen.Chu@sfgov.org, Chris.Daly@sfgov.org, Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org, Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org, Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org, Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org, Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org,

MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO: GAVIN NEWSOM
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: ALIOTO-PIER, Michela; AVALOS, John; CAMPOS, David; CHIU, David; CHU, Carmen; DALY, Chris; Dufty, Bevan; ELSBERND, Sean; MAR, Eric L.; MAXWELL, Sophie; MIRKARIMI, Ross;

*

Background Information:

50,000 people of Filipino descent in the City and County of San Francisco (7% of the population), half a million in Northern California, and 2.2 million in the State must surely mean something to city, county and state governments – because these translate into significant taxes paid, jobs created, business generated, services rendered, and votes cast.

However, these vital facts seem to have been completely overlooked in the allocation of funds from the $9 million NOFA Family Resource Center Initiative (2009-2010 RFP) for non-profit service organizations in the City and County of San Francisco. Of the 23 non-profits recommended for funding, there was not one single Filipino organization included.

The application for funding submitted by West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, which has been providing direct services to disadvantaged Filipino families in San Francisco for 40 years, was overlooked by city administrators, along with four other Filipino non-profits that had sought funding, namely, Philippine Senior Center, Family Resource Network, South of Market Clinic and South of Market Employment Center.

We demand that this oversight be rectified; otherwise, it will amount to a gross injustice and a case of discrimination against the Filipino community. There is extreme urgency here as a decision of the Board of Supervisors is set for this Wednesday, July 1.

We count on your support and would like to ask you to pass this on throughout your network. We need to show those in power not to exclude our non-profits and that the tax paying members of our community demand fairness in the allocation of these funds.

Sincerely,

Jose Pecho, Chair
Region 8, Northern California
National Federation of Filipino
American Associations
http://NaFFAAR8.com, http://NaFFAA.org

* * *

SOME COMMENTS FROM THE ONLINE PETITION:

Jun 30, 2009, Raelynn Acosta Hickey, California

I am proud to be a Filipina American born, raised, living and doing business here in San Francisco. My grandfather was in the US Army in WWII as were many of my friends grandfathers. The Filipino American community has had a LONG history here in San Francisco and historically has not gotten the respect, recognition & help it richly deserves from City Hall. Frankly speaking, our community has been screwed by City Hall! The main reason the Filipino community is so large in Daly City is because Filipinos were displaced from San Francisco by City Hall through redevelopment. Where is our Manilatown! Where is our Jewish Museum or our Museum of the African Diaspora? Now you want to cut funding to South of Market nonprofits that offer services to low-income Filipino American children and seniors! If you are trying to push the face of our community in San Francisco out of SOMA (because that is what you will are doing by cutting the funding to these nonprofits) then put us back near Kearny Street or back in the Fillmore Japantown area. As far as I’m concerned, services for our community have been bought and paid for thousands of times over by all the Filipino Americans who have helped and continue to help build San Francisco through their sweat and their taxes. I demand that Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Board of Supervisors not STEAL what little funding our community gets. These services have been bought & paid for not only through taxes but through REDEVELOPMENT CONCESSIONS not only in SOMA but all over San Francisco. Do the right thing, please don’t renege on the deals that mayors and supervisors made with our community before you came to City Hall.
_

Jun 29, 2009, Delia Rapolla, California

As a Filipino American with many relatives that live in San Francisco and the Bay Area, I feel it is very important that organizations such as WestBay and other non profits in San Francisco serve a large number of residents that needs services provided by these organizations. To completely exclude these organizations from receiving monies allocated for community agencies is an irresponsible action that is a detriment to the future of all San Francisco residents.