How Can We Help?

I did not want to blog about the grimness of the onslaught made by the typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) to my home country, Philippines, last Saturday (26th September 2009). It is too heart-wrenching for me to recall and post photos of the sufferings of my kababayans. I couldn't help but cry with them for their tragedy when I watched video clippings and photo slideshows of the aftermath from youtube and facebook.

Instead, what I want to focus on in this topic is about how to give help in rebuilding the lives and homes of those affected.

The recent event is one of the rare moments wherein the rich and the poor leveled on the same ground. Everyone needed help and everyone is extending help.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia.org) Typhoon Ondoy as it leaves the Philippines
So, how can we help?

It doesn’t matter where we are in the globe. We can help our countrymen thru any of the following 4 ways, as long as we are able.

1) Be a rescuer. If not possible in the flesh, do it thru the use of technology. You may call, send SMS or email to the following agencies to ask help for those who have yet to be rescued, if you heard of any (or worst, bodies to be recovered):

NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATING COUNCIL (NDCC): +63 2 9125668, 9111406, 9115061, 9122665
NDCC Help hotlines: +65 734-2118, 734-2120
NDCC Email: ndcchelpdesk@gmail.com
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD: +63 2 5276136
AIR FORCE: +63 908 1126976, +63 28535023
METRO MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MMDA): 136
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS: 143, +63 2 5270000

2) Donate in cash or kind. Send your donations only to the legitimate donation centers. Many are taking advantage of the situation and giving false accounts and information for their own benefit.

DSWD-NCR: +63 2 734-8622, 734-8642

WORLD VISION FOUNDATION: +63 917 5594272
For $ donations, BPI: USD acct #4254-0050-08

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS: visit their site HERE for various ways to donate

Akbayan: 63 2 4336933, 4336831

UNICEF: 63 2 7581000, 7581442
Metrobank account: UNICEF C/A 066-7-06631209-3

CARITAS
Domestic Cash Donations can be deposited through the following CARITAS MANILA bank accounts any branch nationwide:
Banco De Oro: Savings Account No. 3970006958
BPI: Savings Account No. 3063-5357-01
Chinabank: Savings Account No. 103-3099715
Metrobank: Savings Account No. 175-3-17506954-3
RCBC: Savings Account No. 3-000-90221-6
UCPB: Savings Account No. 128-162208-7
Security Bank: Current Account No. 0141-019452-001

For overseas donors, please deposit your donation to Caritas Manila-BPI Dollar Saving Account No. 3064-0033-55 or PNB Dollar Savings Account No. 108566600025

For US based donors who want tax incentives, you may course your donations through Ayala Foundation USA 255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 428, Redwood City, CA 94065, USA

ABS-CBN SAGIP KAPAMILYA: +63 2 4132667, 4160387
Bank: Banco de Oro, Mother Ignacia branch
Acct name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Acct no.: 5630020111
Routing code for international cash donations: BNORPHMM ABS-CBN Branch

GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION: for cash and cheque donations
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (METROBANK)
Peso Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 3-098-51034-7
Dollar Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 2-098-00244-2
Code: MBTC PH MM

United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB)
Peso Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 115-184777-2; 160-111277-7
Dollar Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 01-115-301177-9; 01-160-300427-6
Code: UCPB PH MM

Banco De Oro (BDO)
Peso Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 469-0022189
Dollar Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 469-0072135
Code: BNORPHMM

Philippine National Bank (PNB)
Peso Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 121-003200017
Dollar Savings
Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 121-003200025
Code: PNB MPH MM

3) Be a volunteer. Go out and help in packing food and clothing for our displaced kababayan.

WORLDVISION FOUNDATION: +63 917 5594272
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS: +63 2 5270000
AKBAYAN: +63 2 4336933, 4336831
ABS-CBN SAGIP KAPAMILYA: +63 2 4132667, 4160387
GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION: +63 2 9317013

4) Pray for the victims. Let us do this on top of the above.