Association raises $23k for Filipino families (Update)

The Association of Filipinos in Bermuda, a registered charity, has raised over $23,000 and has made its initial distribution of the funds raised in equal portions to 3 charities, namely: Philippine Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services and Operation Blessing.

In its effort to fulfill its commitment to assist the families of Filipinos in Bermuda who were directly affected by Typhoon Haiyan, officers of the Association met with these Filipinos yesterday and presented them funds to assist in providing basic needs to their families and to assist them in relocating their families to different parts of the country. Some of these families have lost their relatives and/or had their properties totally damaged and some have not yet heard from their loved ones. Relief has been slow in reaching many of these affected areas due to the magnitude of the situation and the Association is assisting them relief from the burdens of this horrible disaster. Tears were shed as some of them are still in mourning for the loss of their relatives and many are unsure about the future of their families. After the meeting, these Filipinos felt some reassurance that support is being provided to them by their fellow Filipinos and by the Bermudian community.

The Association's next fundraising event is this coming Sunday, November 24th, 5 pm at the St. Paul's AME Church in Hamilton City. A full Thanksgiving Dinner will be provided by Pizza House at the cost of $20 per person. Donations are also welcome. A short entertainment will be provided by the Association dancers and singers. After that, other fund raising events are planned in the coming weeks.

The Association would also like to remind the public that they are not sending containers full of used clothing at the moment due to the logistics of organizing this. The immediate need is for food, medicine, and temporary shelter, and the best way of fulfilling this is through the on-site charity organizations currently providing relief for the survivors.

For more details and information, please visit the Association's Facebook page or by email at [email protected] or by telephone no. 591-5225

In addition to making a $100,000 donation to disaster relief efforts in the Philippines, Western Union is also offering no-fee money transfers from the Caribbean to the Philippines, until November 30.

“Members of the Philippine diaspora make their way to the Caribbean to earn a living and send money back home. On a day-to-day basis, our services help them to offer an economic lifeline. In times of adversity, we simply cannot stand by. Now is when that lifeline becomes even more important,” said Sean Mason, Caribbean Regional Director at Western Union.

No-fee money transfers will be available from the Caribbean to the Philippines including payout at retail outlets—as they reopen or cash-to-mobile as cellular networks come back online.

Western Union has also set up a no-fee Payments contribution account benefitting the American Red Cross, to support international relief efforts in the Philippines. Donors can contribute by making a no-fee Payments transaction at participating Western Union Agent locations, directed to the account, up to US$5,000.

Donors will need to complete the blue section on the Western Union form at retail locations, using the company name “American Red Cross” and the code city, “REDCROSS DC.”  Please write in, “Disaster Relief” as the account number.