~Urges public to support~
The Filipino Community in St. Maarten is raising funds to assist victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which Philippine officials said has left some 10,000 casualties in its wake and millions displaced.
The small Filipino Community in St. Maarten have opened a special dollar account at Windward Islands Bank (WIB), where kind hearted persons in the community can show their love and compassion by donating any amount to help victims. The account number is: 80312508.
Filipino Community President Ferdinand M. Odoño is calling on the community to lend their financial support to assist victims.
In addition to the special relief account; the Filipino Community will also be sending out letters to businesses requesting emergency aid donations.
Experts said Yolanda is one of the biggest in typhoons in the history of the world, much more devastating than hurricane Luis, which wreaked havoc in St. Maarten in 1995 and Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans, United States in 2005.
Philippine officials have estimated that casualties will surpass the 10,000 mark. Many were evacuated prior to the storm but, due to the unimaginable force of this super storm evacuation centers were damaged and flooded forcing evacuees to seek shelter on rooftops leaving thousands exposed to the elements. Many of these persons unfortunately perished, Odoño said.
The number of casualties continues climb to ever growing to proportions unheard of in the Philippines. Everyone was affected: the affluent as well as the poor have been displaced leaving entire communities in chaos, incalculable property damage and entire cities almost wiped out, he added.
The Filipino Community said whatever is donated will be rushed to assist victims. Monetary donations is preferred as the fastest means to send help that is desperately needed given the distance of the Philippines from St. Maarten. Donations collected will be sent to the Philippines Red Cross.
"From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for considering our plea for help on behalf of the victims," said Odoño.
Persons interested in donating can contact any member of the Filipino Community Foundation directly: President Ferdinand M. Odoño tel: 553-1129 or email: od******@ya***.com; board members Jovito Hermoso tel: 581-0898 or email: **@ac****.com; Marlon Gueriña tel: 586-2695 or email: ma************@ya***.com or Gilda Jandongan tel: 586-2453 or email: gm********@ya***.com.