Volunteers packing relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan at the Philippine Embassy in Doha yesterday. Kammutty V P
DOHA: Two 40-foot container vans of food, medicine, blankets and toiletries, among others, would be sent to the Philippines today as part of a massive donation drive for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
The Philippine Cultural Attache, Richard Billedo, yesterday said the shipment would be via Qatar Airways.
Over 100 volunteers helped sort and pack donations at the Philippine Embassy yesterday. They came from the Brazilian, American, Canadian and other communities.
“We wanted to help out just like what we do back in our country. We need as many people possible to help because this is an important cause,” said Juliana, from the Brazilian community.
The campaign by the embassy through the United Filipino Organisations in Qatar (UFOQ)started six days ago and continues until November 22.
“In the past days, most donors were from other expatriate communities and donations from the Filipino community started to pour in yesterday,” said Billedo.
The donations, he said, would be received by the Philippine National Red Cross, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee.
About cash donations, UFOQ Chairman Jhin Tabuzo said they expected more than QR20,000 as some individuals and organisations had made pledges.
The amount would be sent this week, not only for typhoon victims but also victims of the Zamboanga crisis and the earthquake which devastated Bohol recently.
Relief materials will be accepted in the next few days as some courier companies here have volunteered to ship them for free.
The UFOQ, Tabuzo said, has proposed the establishment of a general fund to help distressed overseas Filipino workers and other needy Filipinos.
He urged the Filipino community to be united in extending help for victims of the catastrophe.
“To the Filipino community members, this is the time to show our unity. I’m calling all organisations to be proactive and get involved with the projects of the UFOQ. To other expatriate communities, thank you,” he said.
Meanwhile, top Filipino artiste, Anne Curtis-Smith, enthralled the community with her ‘Annebisyosa, No Other Charity Concert’ yesterday at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) last night.
Curtis-Smith, a multi-awarded actress, is the first Filipino artiste to feature in a concert at QNCC. She was joined by Filipino guest performers Ronnie Liang and Jimmy Marquez.
Part of proceeds will be donated to victims of Haiyan. Curtis-Smith has also pledged to donate part of her talent fee.
She staged the original Annebisyosa concert in the Philippines in December 2011 to mark her 15th year in show business. That concert was a phenomenal success, which prompted her to stage the ‘Annebisyosa No Other Concert World tour’.
As its inaugural event, organiser, L’Arc en Ciel, chose to bring the act here because of Curtis-Smith’s charisma and appeal.
The concert here was successful as Filipinos enjoyed it.
It also featured Doha’s top Filipino talents as front acts, including young singers Christine Magadia and Edgar Gian Bernardino.
Other performers were singers Carlo & Joyce, the Beats & Bytes and Extreme Dancers and The Cyclone and Stereo Hearts bands.
The organisers vowed to provide Filipinos here with more high quality entertainment in the future.
The Peninsula
