BY RICHARD FORD – Bucket collection in Sydney’s train stations, proceeds from community concerts and merchandising for Typhoon Haiyan appeal netted at least $50,000 which were sent directly to contacts in Tacloban and Ormoc cities in Samar and Leyte provinces in the Philippines.
The Alliance for Philippine Community Orgnisations or APCO under its president Mr Jhun Salazar, APCO immediate past president Dr Cen Amores and volunteers manned collection teams in major train stations in Sydney’s Western and South Western lines.
APCO’s fund raising drive also received vast support from South West Sydney’s Vietnamese community.
The initiative by APCO and its affiliate organisations put them on track to raise much needed funds for the victims of the Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda as known in the Philppines which hit the Visayas last month of November. More than 5,700 people have died and some 1,100 still unaccounted for,.
The Rail Stations covered were from the City Circle to Penrith, and thanks must go to the Management of Sydney Trains to the approval to collect monies for this work granted by Sydney Train management. Dr Cen Amores made the request, with the commitment to reporting of amount raised to Michael Tarrega, Manager Community Relations & Events, Sydney Trains. Dr Amores also coordinated the fund raisin.
APCO mad the fund raising on the following train stations and their respective dates, as follow: Lidcombe – 21 Nov, Strathfield,- 22 Nov, Parramatta – 26 Nov, Burwood – 27 Nov, Liverpool – 28 Nov, Bankstown – 29 Nov, Penrith – 2 Dec, Cabramatta – 3 Dec, Fairfield – 4 Dec, and Campsie – 5 Dec.
Volunteers at train stations included Mario Aisa, Joven Estigoy, Annie Marquez and Marcus Rivera. Donation collectors were: Richard Ford, Larry Perez, Ligaya Zappala, Dian Ford, Glorina Papaioannou, Cora Perez, Pet Storey, Danielle Gumabay, Anne Luksa, Marx Canoy, Barth Dichoso, Daisy Wright, Ruben Amores, Ferlin Babac, Ela Babac, Nhu Tran and her mom, Thi Thu Hong Nguyen, Thi To Huynh, Thai Hai Dang, Dory Meissner, Josephine Brown, Rose Lay, Annie Marquez and her boyfriend, Keith, Cora Paras and Cen Amores.
They included musician buskers who performed in behalf of the Typhoon Haiyan appeal.
Donation collectors and Sellers of Philippine-made products at Fairfield Multicultural Festival on 1st December for the Typhoon Haiyan Fundraising included: Emma Braceros, Emylee Tuzon, Ellen and Manny Padilla, Edna Voros, Dian Ford, Richard Ford, Ligaya Zappala, Cora and Larry Perez, Glorina Papaiannou, Ruben, Cen and Brillo Amores
Attendees who appealed and collected cash donations at Western Sydney Community Forum’s 30th anniversary and AGM were Glorina Papaiannou, Linda Trinidad , Roberto Sacilloto and Cen Amores. Attendees who appealed and collected cash donations at Sydney Alliance meeting were Glorina Papaiannou and Cen Amores.
Nhu Tran of Kapit-bahayan Coop, prepared the poster in Vietnamese language appealing for cash donations and displayed at Cabramatta and Bankstown train stations whilst up of the fundraising corner at all 10 train stations were jointly done by Ruben and Cen Amores assisted by Brillo Amores.
Meanwhile another APCO project pertained to receipt and packaging of relief goods. Those who turned up at the working bee for the purpose include: Pet and Ron Storey, Emma Braceros, Danniele Gumabay, Marx Canoy, Barth Dichoso, Richard and Dian Ford, Ligaya Zappala, Lina Bautista, Josephine de los Reyes, Amor Ramos, Delia Purisima, Mita and Sunshine Batongbacal, Nards Purisima, Jhun Salazar, Brillo and Raphael Amores, Amores, Dodong Capulong and a visitor named Marissa.
Volunteers who picked up relief goods from donors’ residences include: Marx Canoy, Brillo, Cen and Ruben Amores, Joe Caballero.
Relief goods drop off points include the residential addresses of the following: Melanie and Francis Balagtas, Prima West, Jhun and Sarah Salazar, Mariam McCauley, Daisy Cumming, Jo Bonto, Ron and Pet Storey and Ruben and Cen Amores.
In related development, Mrs Daisy Cummings spearheaded the fund raising project by Plaza Filipino Inc. (an affiliate of APCO Inc.) in association with the Association of Filipino Australian Accountants, Concerned Citizens for Over 50’s, Global Ilocanos Australia Inc, Mindanao Ethnic Dance Group and Sedgwick Housing Co-operative Limited.
The following volunteers who joined Thursday 22nd November at Town Hall: Jimmy and Myrma Lopez, Lina Bautista, Czarina Noriega, Jo Bonto, Violy Escultura, Ed Escultura, Cleo Baltazar, Josephine de los Reyes, Julie Teodoro, James Quinto, Flor Chadler, Dian Ford, Richard Ford, Rose Lay, Nita Still. The amount raised was $8,046.45. Also the following Thursday 29 November at Central: Jimmy Lopez, Cleo Baltazar, James Quinto and Flor Chadler, for a half day monies raised was $816.60 making a total of $8,863.25 raised at both Town Hall and Central.
The APCO’s All Stars Charity Concert was held at All Saints Liverpool Catholic Church Hall on 23rd November, in cooperation with the Visayan Association of Australia Inc, Fil-Oz Liverpool Inc, Maharlika Inc, Kapitbahayan Cooperative, Ltd, Plaza Filipino Inc, Sedgewick Housing Cooperative, Flagcom, UST Alumni Association of Australia, Global Ilocanos and Club Filipino Illawarra, Inc. The raised amount of $4,636 plus, will go towards APCO’s HEAL (Humanitarian Emergency and Livelihood) Project, particularly to provide cash and relief goods to those badly effected by the Typhoon.
A marathon packing of relief goods was held on Sunday 8th and and Tuesday 10th December at APCO’s President Jhun Salazar’s house with the presence of Sarah Salazar, Dian Ford, Ligaya Zapalla, Mr and Mrs Joey Buaya, Alisha Buaya, Mr and Mrs Jhun Gamo and Josephine Brown. APCO sent more than 135 big boxes (about 80 Kilos each) directly to the victims.
Special thanks should go to the Vietnamese Community in Australia (NSW Chapter) actively supported by APCO. These include: Street Fundraising: Saigon Place, Bankstown, Saturday, 7 December and Cabramatta Plaza, Sunday, 8 and also Fountain Plaza, Canley Heights, 8 December 2013. Report and photos by RICHARD FORD.