Typhoon aid
overwhelming

Hawaii Filipino organizations and the Philippines Consulate General have been flooded with offers of help for victims of last week's tropical storms that killed more than 700 people and displaced 200,000 people from their homes in the northeastern provinces of the Philippines.

At this point, monetary donations should be made to the American Red Cross, said state Rep. Felipe "Jun" Abinsay (D, Kalihi-Kapalama), chairman of the newly organized Hawaii Fil-Am International Disaster Coordinating Committee.

Filipino community representatives will discuss launching a local relief effort at a meeting tomorrow. But Abinsay said they have not yet established a method of collecting donations locally and ensuring delivery to the devastated areas.

"There has been a tremendous outpouring of support," said Abinsay, who chaired a Monday meeting of 50 people at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. "At this point we are focusing on monetary donations."

"The Philippines government is asking Filipinos all over the world to respond," he said. "They need medicine, eating utensils and blankets."

Contributions of canned food and blankets have already been left at the consulate, said Consul General Rolando Gregorio.

One airline has offered 5,000 used blankets, said Abinsay.

But the logistics of shipping the needed goods to the Philippines are still being explored.

"There's a past history where container loads were stuck in customs, there was pilferage and it was lucky if anything reached the victims," said Leo Gozar, president of KATHA Tagalog Assembly.

"How sure can we be that money doesn't go into someone's pockets?" commented Jo Farina, president of the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity.

Danny Villaruz, president of the Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, recalled the local effort for victims of a typhoon in August 2001. "We raised $12,000 and deposited the money" in a Philippines bank.

"It's easy to bring people together when they understand the purpose," said Abinsay. "Hopefully this time we will create a permanent committee that will be organized to respond the next time there is a calamity."