A Special Report by Arnel G. Ramos

F ilipinos are well known when it comes to handwork, ingenuity and most of all understanding and generosity, especially in times of great needs. These are the traits that Overseas-Filipino workers (OFWs) really treasure and are proud of – even at the foreign countries where they work.

Once again these traits need to be proven to the world that even in the most horrible event in life, the Filipino people can depend on their Overseas-Filipino workers (OFWs) without fail.

The Philippines is now under a huge test when disastrous typhoon Ketsana (local Typhoon name Ondoy) hit Manila and nearby provinces resulting huge flooding and loss of hundreds of human lives. Hundreds of thousands of families fled their homes, millions (in pesos) of properties were destroyed.

The Filipino Digerati Association (Digerati) is an organization that is not only advocating for the free skills’ upgrading of less-fortunate Filipinos living in the UAE but also fully supports our country and fellow Filipinos. Once again, it wants to show the true spirit of Bayanihan and Damayan through sharing of our abundant blessings.

All proceeds will be collected and deposited to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official bank  account (as per instructions of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, which are reproduced below).

Fundraising in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

M eanwhile, Sir Dr. Lito L. Astillero of the Knights of Rizal and the PPP-Riyadh announced that all community organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are moving very fast to send relief items to the typhoon-and-flood victims. The three PPP Chapters in the KSA are doing their best to help in alleviating the sad plight of our kababayan who became victims of this natural calamity.

To view the website of the PPP, please click on this link, http://www.partidongpandaigdigangpilipino.org/

T he Filipino Digerati Association (Digerati) further advises the OFWs who are living in a flat, or a Filipino group of officemates, or groups of neighbors or simply groups of friends to please assign someone who can organize the collection and account them properly as we will post it on our website for transparency. Upon the hand over of the donations, please check your name and mobile number and the amount given for accuracy. Your AED 1/- will help Ondoy’s victims a long long way.

Editor’s Note: Here are the latest article and photos about the Philippine Floods from TIME magazine:

Philippine Floods: Why Wasn't Manila Prepared? - TIME

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1926646,00.html?xid=thepage_newsletter

If you are a member of any Filipino organization duly recognized by the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi or Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, please try to contact the leadership of your group so you can forward you donations directly to your organization.

Or you may directly deposit it to DSWD account. We will update this site concerning their bank account details for remittances. 

If you are going to channel your donations through Filipino Digerati Association, your donations will be posted on our web from time to time for details and updates. A scanned copy of the deposit slip would be posted as well on 18th October 2009.  

Please always check your donation from http://www.dpinoy.org/news/help-and-donate-ondoy-victims.

“Together we will win”

Total Collection in PHP AED27,200.52

For donations, please call or SMS the following numbers:

Arnel     050-4231511

Justino  050-6967001

Lina      050-5284646

Lani      050-4951831

Granel   050-5253147

Arlene   050-4785771

Lilian     050-6845897

Jane      050-6255671

Will       050-9146427    

Zhey     050-7071798

Jennifer 050-4781598

Tina      050-5502482

DFA issues Guidelines to Foreign Service Posts on Assistance from Overseas Filipino Communities for those affected by Typhoon ‘Ondoy’

September 28, 2009 by DFA-PISU 

PR-767-09, 28 September 2009

In the wake of the trail of devastation left by Typhoon “Ondoy,” Philippine foreign service posts have received inquiries from Filipino community groups and individuals overseas on how they could extend assistance to their fellow Filipinos in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon who have been affected by the heavy torrential rains and widespread flood caused by the typhoon.

The Philippine Consulates General in Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Dubai, in particular, have been contacted by their respective Filipino communities which have expressed willingness to give donations to the victims of the calamity and started to mobilize community members, in line with the spirit of pagtutulungan and bayanihan.

In response to their queries, the Department of Foreign Affairs issued on Sunday a circular to Philippine embassies and consulates general on the mechanics of processing of donations from foreign sources, per the guidelines of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), specifically Administrative Order No. 53, Series of 2003 (Omnibus Guidelines in the Management and Processing of Donations) (http://www.dswd.gov.ph/images/articles/AO53.pdf).

Donations in cash for the typhoon victims can be deposited to the DSWD’s bank account, the details of which may be found in the DSWD’s website www.dswd.gov.ph.

The DFA is closely coordinating with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the DSWD on how assistance from Filipino communities overseas may be best harnessed to aid the flood victims. # # #

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

- Source: http://dfa.gov.ph/?p=8862 (DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS)