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Filipino Expats Raise Money
for Typhoon Victims

DUBAI — Cash donations from the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates reached Dh18,618.75 for the typhoon hit victims in
the Philippines.

This follows a couple of days of campaigning where drop-off points for clothing and other in-kind donations were set up during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Filipino Community (FILCOM) organisations at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.

Of the amount, Dh11,375 from the employees of Parsons and McDermott was sent cash on Tuesday night through the Land Bank while Dh6,653 was sent to GMA Kapuso and another Dh590 was remitted through Land Bank.

Consul General Benito Valeriano, who presided the meeting with Robert Ramos, chairman of the FILCOM Overall Organising Committee, told Khaleej Times that the in-kind donations can now be brought to the Philippine Overseas Laboru Office (POLO) in Abu Hail area in Deira every Thursday to be shipped to the Philippines by Friday.

He said LBC Cargo has offered free sea freight to in-kind donations on two Fridays (October 2 and October 9) and Manila Express by air for the free air freight of 500kg. “The Walk for A Cause in Safa Park on October 9 will be pushed through at 7:30am,” he added.

Ramos said drop-off points for in-kind donations — preferably — clothing, blanket, medicines, canned goods and other food stuffs are being set up in different areas.

For those who will donate food stuff, medicine and clothing among other things, FILCOM will collect these at various drop-points on Friday October 2 between 3pm and 8pm. Donations will be collected for shipping on the same day, he said.

Ramos reminded everyone that due to the strict policy of airfreight procedures, liquid and pressurised products are not acceptable. “Medicines, in small quantity only, is acceptable. Priority items will be food items.”

He said all cash donations whether group or individuals may be remitted directly to the following beneficiary of their choice using a remittance centre preferably Al Rostamani.

According to him, FILCOM in its effort to make a summary report of all donations to the Philippine Consulate, is requesting donors to send a copy of their remittance slip via e-mail at mercedes.macalalad@yahoo.com / elsafahrer@yahoo.com.

“Let your donation be counted to encourage other people to do the same for the victims of typhoon Ondoy,” he said.

Filipino Woman Denies
Online Blogs

The woman, who was vilified by the Filipino community for allegedly posting “offensive” remarks on Facebook in relation to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy on Tuesday denied any knowledge in the posting of malicious statements under the account names Jacque
or Jackie.

In her official statement circulated through emails and in social networking sites, the woman said she issued this clarification to clear her name in the controversy which elicited anger and ill-wishing remarks from fellow Filipino bloggers in such sites as Facebook, Friendster, Multiply and others.

The controversy started on September 27 during Typhoon Ondoy when a blog reportedly from the blogger Jachy and Jacque commented that it was a good thing she was in Dubai and that what happened to the people back in Manila were results of their
being sinners.

Minutes after, all the social networking sites, particular Facebook and Friendster were flooded with angry and ill-wishing remarks against the blogger under the name Jacky and Jacque.

lily@khaleejtimes.ae