By Ben Cal
MANILA, Nov. 21 (PNA) -– They maybe far away from home but Filipinos in the United States have their hearts full of compassion for their countrymen upon seeing on TV the needy victims of supertyphoon “Yolanda” that they chipped in USD 10,000 during a fund-raising in the State of Maryland.
“It was a sight to behold, seeing both our ‘kababayan’ (countrymen) and Americans digging from their pockets or issuing checks for the typhoon victims in the Philippines,” Grace Valera, co-director of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), said during a long distance call to the Philippines News Agency on Thursday.
Valera said the USD 10,000 is in addition to the USD 2,330 it collected earlier from various donors, including a donation of USD 1,500 from MHC.
The fund-raising, dubbed as “Tulong sa Pilipinas Mula sa Puso” (Help to the Philippines from the Heart)” was held at the Michael Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.
“A million thanks to all our donors/volunteers/MHC envoys/partner organizations like the Fil-Am Ministry of St. Michael for their precious efforts and generosity. Rest assured that all donations received will be properly accounted for and will reach the intended beneficiaries,” Ms. Valera said.
“We are reaching out to friends, countrymen, organizations, institutions, etc. to help the victims who are in dire need of help,” she said, adding that “every minute counts for their survival so we try to explore all possible channels to help and do our own share within our bounds no matter how physically far we are from them.”
“Inspired always by our MHC’s mission of bringing people together to foster a culture of unity and service, we enjoin everyone to continue ‘living a life that matters,’” Valera said.
MHC, a non-profit non-government organization (NGO) which is based in Washington, D.C., is always at the forefront in extending help to Filipino immigrants in the United States. (PNA)