MANILA, Philippines - Although not of Ondoy-esque proportions (thank goodness) the heavy and consistent rains over the past couple of days have certainly displaced thousands of individuals and families. Even if we are better prepared this time around with evacuation centers and information dissemination, the monsoon’s unpredictability continues to cause damage and renders most roads to smaller barangays and districts un-passable. It is not recommended that private citizens go out themselves to deliver rescue and relief goods, as this may result in more injuries, and even fatalities, but there are ways you can help. The easiest, of course, is through monetary donations but if you’d rather volunteer your services or donate goods, there are many ways you can do it without risking your own life and leaving the professionals to do it with safety a priority.
As of this writing, here’s a shortlist of what you can do to help:
What To Give
Items for packed goods:
• Bottled water
• Rice (bigas)
• Packed noodles
• Crackers and chips
• Milk and juice
• Canned goods
• Vitamins or medicine
• Clothes
• Tarpaulins
• Mats or rugs
• Blankets
• Medical Equipment (bandages, gauze, betadine, antibiotics)
Drop-Off Points
• Angel Brigade Headquarters
2/F Franck Provost Building,
120 Jupiter St., Bel-Air Makati
Donations accepted 24 hours.
Tel .nos. (02) 897-0383 or (02) 897-0307
Other depot areas for Angel Brigade include:
• Franck Provost Salon
Molito Complex, Madrigal Avenue,
Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa
Donations accepted from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m..
Look for Jane or Carla.
Tel nos. (02) 772-3284 or 772-3286
• Urban Ashram High Street Branch
3rd Floor, Active Fun Building,
9th cor. 28th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Donations accepted from 9a.m. - 5 p.m..
Look for Martin or Trisha.
Tel. no. (02) 869-YOGA (9642)
• Urban Ashram Kapitolyo branch
Suite 302, 3 Brixton Street,
Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Donations accepted from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m..
Look for Mandy or Angelo.
Tel. no. (02) 661-YOGA (9642)
The organizers behind Megatent and Corinthian relief operations are accepting donations fro 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gerry Peñalosa Boxing Gym, Libis on top of Causeway restaurant. Canned goods, drinking water, and old clothes are welcome.
Bigger organizations such as the Red Cross are also accepting goods. To get more details log on to redcross.org.ph/donate.
Food Donations
1) Chef Roland and Jackie Laudico are offering their kitchen and culinary skills to prepare hot meals for evacuation centers. Ingredients and items needed:
Raw Foods:
• Raw pork, chicken or beef
• Rice (bigas or sticky)
• Vegetables
• Garlic
• Onion
• Ginger
• Salt and pepper
• Soy sauce
• Vinegar
Containers:
• Biodegradable plates
and containers
(the ones for take-out)
• Big paper bags or
Orocans to help
transport food
• Plastic utensils
Items can be dropped off at: Bistro Filipino Restaurant (please enter through the back) 3rd Avenue, Net Square Bldg Bonifacio Global City (across McDonald’s) contact nos. 0917-8002433 or (02)856-0541.
2) Brgy Soup Kitchen is now accepting ingredient donations: whole chicken (chopped), 1/4 sticky & 3/4 regular rice, large eggs, patis, & ginger. Please drop off at PenPen Restaurant. Directions can be found online at Foursquare.com.
3) Binalot Fiesta Foods is now accepting food pledges of P50 and up. Proceeds will be used by Binalot to prepare and distribute food to people and areas who are immediately and desperately in need. You can choose from any of their “Pledge packages” and “order” as many as you want with different payment options by visiting Binalot's Facebook and Multiply pages.
Still want to help? Re-post, re-tweet and share information responsibly. There’s a lot of garbage out there, don’t let it already add up to mess the rains have made. Good luck to everyone and happy helping!