ASSOCIATED PRESS The Philippines thanked the U.S. military yesterday for its help after storms left more than 1,000 people dead and hundreds missing. Here, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo shook hands with U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Kenneth Glueck at Villamor Air Base in Manila. Local relief efforts are scheduled today at the Filipino Community Center.

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Philippines donations
welcome at rally

The Filipino Community Center in Waipahu will have a rally today to gather donations for those affected by tropical storms that slammed the northern and eastern regions of the Philippines.

On Thursday, the Aloha Medical Mission, the Queen's Medical Center and DHL Worldwide Express teamed up to send about $10,000 worth of antibiotics and other medical supplies to Quezon Province in the Philippines, which was badly hit by the storms.

The four storms hit between late November and earlier this month, causing landslides and floods and leaving thousands homeless. More than 1,000 people are dead, and hundreds more are missing.

The FilCom rally for donations will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center in Waipahu.

The center is asking for monetary donations made out to the FilCom Center and in-kind donations, including blankets, canned foods and clothing.

For more information on the rally, call the FilCom Center at 680-0451.