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HONG KONG, China – The destruction from the super typhoon prompts Filipinos all over the world to help survivors.
In Hong Kong, the 180,000-strong Filipino community hold relief operations and raise funds to send back to the Philippines.
Natashya Gutierrez files this video blog.
Across the ocean, here in Hong Kong, thousands of overseas Filipino workers also grieve the devastation left by typhoon Yolanda. They too do what they can to help their fellow countrymen rise up and start anew.
Hong Kong has a Filipino population of 180,000. As soon as reports of the storm’s aftermath came in, they mobilized, shocked by the massive damage brought by the super typhoon.
Donation call outs are plenty, with communities working together to repack relief goods. At St Joseph’s church, volunteers pack 187 boxes of food, milk, and clothes in just one day.
ROSE PINEDA, DOMESTIC WORKER: Kahapon po ay nagko-collect po kami ng mga donation. Lahat ng mga OFWs, individuals at may mga employers din po na nagdala ng mga donasyon dito. So the whole day po, nagpa-packing po kami kahapon.(Yesterday we collected donations. All the OFWs, individuals and the employers sent over donations. We were packing the whole day yesterday.)
Remittances increase in just 2 weeks, as Filipino donors, 95% of whom are domestic workers, contribute cash. Metrobank says donations have reached P1 million – a hefty amount considering most of them earn an average of only P21,000 a month.
Even wealthy Filipino businessmen host expensive dinners and galas to fundraise for victims.
ALFREDO VALENCIA, GENERAL MANAGER, METROBANK: Kaya ginawa nga nitong mga Pilipino, mga OFWs natin, kahit kami, kahit na yung Philippine consulate talagang on the following day, may tawag agad ng meeting ang Philippine consulate about kung ano ang maitutulong natin sa mga kababayan natin especially sa Tacloban. (On the following day, the Philippine consulate set up a meeting for us Filipinos, OFWs about what we could do to help our countrymen, especially in Tacloban.)
The Philippine Consulate says its never seen anything like this — referring to both the typhoon and the response.
Despite the sadness, relief efforts here offer a ray of hope, a reminder that the bayanihan spirit of the Filipino is alive regardless the distance.
Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler, Hong Kong.
– Rappler.com
The Long Road to Tacloban
A Rappler team is headed to Tacloban City, Leyte by land. The 24-hour trip will take them through provinces most heavily devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Follow their story here
Help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan). Visit Rappler’s list ofongoing relief operations in your area. Tell us about your relief and recovery initiatives, emailmove.ph@rappler.com or tweet us @moveph
Visit rappler.com/typhoon-yolanda for the latest updates on Typhoon Yolanda.
Want to help? Read these:
- #ReliefPH: Victims of Typhoon Yolanda need your help
- #YolandaPH (Haiyan): Filipinos worldwide heed call to action
- Why Paypal may lock Haiyan relief accounts
- Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan): Aid, donations for international community
Other ways to help out:
- #YolandaPH Person Finder: Looking for friends, relative in affected areas?
- Help map cell signals in areas affected by Yolanda
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