Quake-hit New Zealanders help Typhoon Sendong victims

MANILA, Philippines - The people of New Zealand, who recently had their share of deadly earthquakes, have come together to help victims of Typhoon Sendong which left thousands of people dead and displaced hundreds of people in affected areas in Mindanao. 

Parishioners at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church located in Takapuna, Auckland raised some P51,000 and sent the money to the Kapatirang Claretiano Inc. (KCI), a Security and Exchange Commission-registered foundation undertaking relief and education projects in Mindanao.

“We are deeply touched by the selfless act of the people in Auckland to rise above their own tragedies to help Filipinos in need in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and affected areas in Mindanao,” said Paul Polintan, a former Claretian priest and now vice president of KCI.

Last December, KCI partnered with the peace and education advocacy group Kristiyano-Islam (Kris) Peace Library to raise P13,000 for the purchase of medicines, water, clothing, and other basic necessities of Typhoon Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

“We thank St. Joseph’s Parish priest Fr. Phil Sullivan and our very own Filipino priest Fr. Carlo Carmelo Constantino Cruz for leading this humanitarian undertaking in the community of New Zealanders and fellow Filipinos in Takapuna,” said Armand Dean Nocum, KCI president and Kris Library founder.

The group came up with this decision after Cagayan-based KCI member Toto Zerrudo revealed that although the flood victims are already having enough share of relief goods, temporary shelters, medicines, and other basic needs, not much has been done in terms of helping thousands of affected students return to normal schooling.

KCI officials asked people in Manila to donate old books and textbooks for children and schools that were affected by the flood. KCI and Kris Library, in cooperation with the Claretian Missionary Fathers (CMF), a religious order founded by Saint Anthony Mary Claret, have established three libraries in Claret Mission Centers (CMCs) and day care centers near a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stronghold in Zamboanga Sibugay; and in a resettlement area for Typhoon Ondoy victims in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Nocum said that those who wish to donate cash to the KCI-Kris Library cause may do so by depositing in the bank account of Paul Barbasa Polintan at the Bank of Philippine Islands with current account number 3945-8037-53 (BPI Greenhills West branch, San Juan City). 

Donors of books, clothing, and school supplies may drop them off at the following Kris drop-off points: Kris Peace Library office, No. 9, Doña Isidora Street, Don Antonio Heights, Diliman Quezon City; Dean & Kings Legal PR and Communications Marketing firm, Suite 300, Kimvi Realty & Dev’t Bldg, 1191 Maria Orosa St., Ermita, Manila (telephone number 3393732, cell phone number 09228169510 — look for Jess/Rose). You may also visit http://www.krislibrary.com/contact-us.html for the map or call 352-2313 and 313-8732 for directions.