Solicitation letter

September 28, 2009

Dear Kababayan;

Our motherland, the Philippines was struck by a historic typhoon last September 26, 2009 putting over 26 provinces under a state of calamity. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) released that the historic 85 kph typhoon “Ondoy” surpassed the highest 24-hour rainfall in June 1967 in Metro Manila. The 15^th tropical cyclone entered eastern Luzon Island from the Pacific Ocean Saturday afternoon leaving over 300,000 people affected. As of September 28, 2009 the rising death tolls already reached 140 and there are people still missing and injured people in need of medical attention. Migrant families express their concerns and worries towards their families and friends devastated by the calamity.

The National Alliance of Filipino American Youth, SanDiwa is the youth arm of a bigger alliance, NAFCON, the National Alliance of Filipino Concerns with member organizations in over 13 major states in the United States. These two alliances in collaboration with all its member organizations, individuals, allies and related coalitions are currently nationally coordinating relief actions to facilitate support and aid to the victims of the calamity. NAFCON is a partner organization of MIGRANTE International who are also coordinating typhoon “Ondoy” relief with other regions in the world such as in the Asia, Middle east, Eastern Europe, Australia, Canada, South America and NAFCON is its official partner here in the United States and North America.

We are asking for your kind support in making sure that we provide immediate relief to the victims by donating any of the following: food, medical supplies, clothes, blankets and other basic necessities to be sent back to the Philippines. Monetary and in kind donations can be dropped off at sites listed below. Checks can be made out to “Philippine Forum” a non-profit founding member organization of NAFCON, which will send the funds directly to MIGRANTE International in the Philippines, a migrant workers’ alliance directly helping the victims in the disaster relief efforts. Please put “Ondoy Relief” on the check’s note or directly go to Peso Account: Migrante International Bank Account Number: 001993-0728-14 or US Dollar Account:  Bank Account Number: 1994-0218-06 Bank of Philippine Islands Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman Quezon City, Philippines. The first wave of monetary donations will be directly sent to MIGRANTE International in the Philippines on October 3, 2009. The first wave of relief goods will be sent on October 13, 2009. All updates will be posted on www.bayanihan4ondoy.wordpress.com including all donors, sponsors and all other updates.

To further discuss all other issues concerning all Filipino immigrants in United States today, on behalf of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), we would like to extend our invitation to you and the members of your organization to attend NAFCON’s Conference scheduled for October 24 at the United Methodist Church 100 Maryland Avenue, N.E. Washington DC 20002 from 9AM to 7PM. As you know, NAFCON is committed to advancing our rights and welfare, celebrating our culture and history, and building unity among Filipinos living and working in the United States.

These Filipinos were evacuated and displaced with the number of casualties ever growing to proportions unheard of in Metro Manila with whole shantytowns engulfed by the floodwaters in mere hours. The onrushing water spared none. Both affluent and poor families displaced leaving whole communities in chaos and untold amounts of property damage. With around 4 million of Filipino migrants in United States, we want to ensure that our donations safely and securely be provided to the people in the Philippines. NAFCON guarantees 100% of proceeds will go directly to the people and communities in dire need. Thank you very much for all your support and let us once again relive the spirit of bayanihan and together let us try all our efforts to ensure that our families and friends get the support from our kababayan right now. Maraming Salamat po!

Sincerely;

Fr. Benjamin Alforque

National Chairperson of NAFCON, The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns

OFFICIAL DROP OFF SITES and CONTACT INFORMATION:

NAFCON (Nat’l Alliance for Filipino Concerns)/SANDIWA Nat’l Alliance of Fil-Am Youth are now receiving relief donations (clothes, blankets, medical supplies, monetary). For general questions please call Anne Beryl (516)9011832.

Official Webpage: http://www.bayanihan4ondoy.wordpress.com

New York

NY/NJ drop-off @ BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY 11377. Open Hours: Monday –Friday 11 AM – 8 PM and Saturday & Sunday 12-6 PM. Please Contact; Yancy Mark (347)8670330 or Jonna (646)5787390 or email filipinocenter@gmail.com if you would like to help.

Stony Brook University; please contact Jun Rose (646)7503489.

FIND District III college organizations: Please Contact Patricia Dayleg (patricia.dayleg@gmail.com) and Isabel Marie Gomez (isabelmariegomez@gmail.com).

BKPNewYork are also specifically collecting children’s books to the Philippines: Please contact Frederick (646)6417183 or email Frederick@bkpny.org

New Jersey

For donations in New Jersey please contact: (201)621-3156-Yves Nibungco or (917)476-7855- Nick Cordero

Sinugba Cafe 561 Westside Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07304

Casa Victoria 691 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306-2803.

Kalusugan Coalition:  Call 2016534600 for office hours. 591 Summit Avenue Suite 412 Jersey City, 07306. Corner Summit & Newark Ave.

NAFCON Midwest
Fellowship for Filipino Migrants-FFM
PO Box 901 Glenview, IL 60025-9998
ffm4outreach@gmail.com Nerissa (224)3816888

Los Angeles

Please contact Kuu Hilo (818)395-9207. You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN’s “BALSA” (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)

San Francisco/Bay Area

For donations in San Francisco/Bay Area, Please contact Ryan Leano (626)534-4971. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at these sites. Checks can be made out to “Lakasdiwa,” a non-profit organization that will send the funds directly to MIGRANTE International in the Philippines, a workers’ organization directly helping the victims in the disaster relief efforts. Please put “Typhoon Ondoy Relief” on the check’s note.

Filipino Community Center
4681 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94112

Liwanag Kultural Center
Hillside Park Clubhouse 222 Lausanne Ave. Daly City‎, CA‎ 94014
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30-6:00 and Wednesdays 3:30-8:00

Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership
Attn: Armael Malinis, AnakBayan-East Bay
310 8th Street, Suite 215 Oakland, CA 94710

Stanford’s Pilipino American Student Union (PASU) is also collecting donations to be sent to the Philippines to help victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana). If you would like to make a donation, please contact AV David at avhdavid@stanford.edu or (650) 491-4561.

Portland, Oregon

Contact Portland Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines through Claire Oliveros portlandchrp@gmail.com. You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN’s “BALSA” (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan).

Please contact Consuelo Rivera at welorivera@yahoo.com or call at (503)7299449.