Dear readers, I’m postponing my post on the reader survey and giveaway winners to make this short announcement.
Thank you to everyone who asked about my family in the Philippines; they are safe and sound, and live far away from the worst hit areas. Although I’m far from home, I monitored the news as super typhoon Yolanda (known internationally as Haiyan) destroyed the Visayas last Friday.
The reports of death and devastation that began to trickle in over the weekend were heartbreaking, and they’re not over yet. I can’t even begin to imagine how the people of Panay, Samar, Leyte and the other afflicted areas can begin to rebuild their lives.
The Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), formed by private corporations and NGOs after Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, accepts donations for the rebuilding of Bohol, Cebu and Zamboanga via its Brick by Brick campaign online.
Gawad Kalinga accepts donations online for its Operation Walang Iwanan.
These are only a few of the many options for aid; I’ve chosen organizations that Marlon and I support, and that accept online donations. It’s also important to me that any help I give, or ask others to give, reach the people for whom they were intended; these are organizations that I trust (wala akong tiwala sa mga kurakot, sorry!) to make sure help gets through.
This article from Rappler and this one from CNN list more organizations mobilizing resources for the victims of Yolanda.
Pinoy friends, I hope you and your loved ones are safe. Bangon, Pilipinas!
Thank you so much for this, Deepa! I’m in Austin, Texas, and we had a terrible flood a few weeks ago, though on a much smaller scale compared to this. When I read about the lives lost yesterday, I thought of your family immediately and I couldn’t sleep last night. It’s easy to feel helpless when you’re so far away, but this gives me a small way to help. I’ll continue to pray for everyone there, and please keep us posted.
Thank you so much, Catherine.
I am very happy to hear your family is safe, Deepa. It is both terrifying and heart-wrenching and I’m thankful for the opportunity to help.