If you haven't heard the Philippines is in a state of calamity. Typhoon Ondoy or Ketsana caused destructive floods which affected more than 450,000 and killed almost 300 Filipinos. Damages to infrastructure and agriculture are estimated to reach 4.79 Billion pesos!
Oh but wait there is more...another tropical storm is predicted to hit the Philippines by October 2 so the nation needs as much help as soon as possible. At this point, the Philippine government is overwhelmed so it is up to us to mobilize and contribute to the massive relief operations. Please act now and lend us a hand. Help thousands of displaced people by bringing them relief!
Did you know that $10 can get you 10 meals? $1 is equal to 47 Pesos so even if you give a dollar you can already buy one person a good meal. Imagine that...
Click here if you want to start helping right away: http://bayanihanspirit.chipin.com/typhoon-ondoy-victims
Believe me, it is tough to lose your home or have it damaged by a natural disaster. My family was one of those affected (posting photo collage of the home I grew up in the Philippines below). Our whole first floor and fours cars were submerged. Needless to say we lost so much but at least everyone is safe. A lot of other people I know like my uncle and best friend had their own Typhoon Ondoy stories. I am just thankful that everyone I care about made it through. Others are not so lucky and worse they do not have the support nor the resources to get back on their feet.
This is why I have decided to set-up The Bayanihan Spirit Relief Fund for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Bayanihan is a local term which refers to a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. This time the objective to give back. I would love for you to join me in this important cause. Give what you can with a generous heart. Be it $5 $10 $20...you can help make someone's life a little dryer...a little warmer...a little bit better.
So please take a little more time to find more info about our cause here: http://bayanihanspirit.chipin.com/typhoon-ondoy-victims. I hope that you can repost this widget or link to your own network so we can start spreading some hope around =)
Over the course of the next few days I will be posting updates on our efforts. I know a lot of bogus sites are floating around. As a Filipino abroad with family and friends affected back home, one of the main reasons for building the site is to effectively and efficiently consolidate funds for the victims. I am currently in contact with various organizations and institutions so I will be posting specifically where your contributions will go. I want to make sure that funds will be used properly and get to those who are really in need. If you have any questions or inquiries please feel free to email me directly at bayanihanspirit@gmail.com. Also, follow us at www.twitter.com/bayanhihanspirit for quick updates.
UPDATE:
This is the alumni group that I will be partnering up with http://www.thewomenofateneo.org/ TWA is an all women alumni group from Ateneo de Manila University which I am a part of. TWA is working closely with the University to help Flood Victims in the Philippines. Depending on how much money we are able to raise the funds will go directly to existing efforts to help Ondoy Victims. Since I come from this university and I know most of the people in TWA I trust that they will do a good job with the funds. Also, Ateneo is located near the places where the flood hit the worse which is Markina and Rizal.
Here is what Ateneo has done so far:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=152051264336
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/youth/09/29/09/pinoys-flock-ateneo-help-ondoy-victims
http://www.ateneo.edu/index.php?p=2274
