Aid beyond borders

CEBU, Philippines - The loss of life , suffering and misery   wrought by super typhoon Yolanda     have touched the hearts of many people around the world. The cities, provinces and towns   in the Visayas region are clearly   in need of help and many nations and non-government organizations have rushed to provide it.

As of now, over 23 countries have reached out to help   the Philippines, spearheaded by the United States of America, which aside from the humanitarian assistance also gave military aide.   

Other countries that extended their help are Australia, Belgium, Canada,China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and   United Kingdom.   The European Union     and international organizations and institutions   such as   the United Nations World Food Program, UNICEF, Red Cross, World Vision, Doctors Without Borders and others have also   sent staff and supplies as quickly as possible.

With Cebu City as the staging grounds for relief efforts, I have become familiar with   the valiant and laudible efforts of some of these organizations, one foreign and two local.

Following the devastation brought by Supertyphoon Yolanda to the Visayas region last November 8,France immediately sent a humanitarian team from the French non-government organization  Action Internationale Contrel a Faim (AICF)  accompanied by 16 civil security officers and   two officers from the French government’s Crisis Center based in Paris. They arrived in Cebu last Saturday, November 16, on board an airbus plane chartered by EADS, a   European company specializing in aerospace and defense.40 French firefighters likewise   arrived a few days later   also coming from France, on special duty.

The initial French assistance of 10 tons of relief goods was   augmented with   100 tons of equipment, that   included water purification systems, material for shelter,and medical kits. This assistance will be followed by subsequent phases of French aid in the coming weeks.

Manny Osmeña, founder and chairman of Manny O. Group, and   Tony Meloto, founder and chairman of Gawad Kalinga   have   forged a partnership to respond to the needs of the victims of typhoon Yolanda   who lost loved ones, their homes   and livelihood.

Both institutions   are committed to rebuilding the   communities with livelihood programs in Leyte, Samar and Cebu with a pledge of up to P20 million.   Through the   “Yolanda Rebuild Program” of the Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, the Manny O. Group   promised     to donate 80 percent of its room revenue proceeds during   a “special sale” for room certificates purchased between November 15 to 24, 2013.These certificates are valid till  May 31,2014.

Meloto said, “The partnership of Gawad Kalinga with Mövenpick Hotel Mactan, is a celebration of hope – that we can rise together from the worst of calamities through miracles of solidarity.”

For his part, Manny Osmeña was elated that he shares the same philosophy with Meloto.   “For a business to be sustainable, everybody has to progress, the company, the community and people”.     He further stated that   “after the Yolanda Rebuild Program, they   will look into a long-term and   sustainable solution in helping each other do their   part in rebuilding the nation.”

Crew Asia, a   Crew Agency based in Cebu that   supplies Filipino Crew exclusively to the Mega Yacht Industry and has a data base consisting of over 500 candidates with yachting experience, also extended their helping hand by visiting Cebu’s northern town  of Hagnaya, Bogo,   and distributed buckets of rice, canned goods, candles, lighters, medicines and vitamins. Spearheading the program was Alan Mill Irving and his wife Lisa. They were assisted by volunteers of   Crew Asia staff Inday Sia, Shiela Calunsag and     Windell Simeon. Employees of Marco Polo Hotel, and GCMA (Genius Creation Mastermind Alliance – Cebu chapter) also donated assorted canned goods.   Financial aid also came from yacht crew of other nationalities, yacht captains, yacht owners and Filipino yacht crew who have not been affected by the typhoon.

Once again, in times of calamities and catastrophies of life, we remove our   barriers and think as one race and respond accordingly.   We forget about skin color and creed, differences among us, and start helping the people who are in desperate need of help. (FREEMAN)