Covid19 Victims in the Philippines

Please give me few minutes of your time to explain about this charity works.

In the past, I've done charity work for the needy folks in the Philippines. We set up a scholarship program - along with two of my closest friends (based outside of Philippines). We ran the scholarship program for almost 3 years - to financially support the ‘cream of the crop’ students from a former high school. They were the poorest, but most talented students who were top of their class.

The Philippines is a third-world country where the gap between poor and rich is HUGE. On 5th April, We started this charity project (#MayamanChallenge – spearheaded by Idol #FLM) - PART 1 - to give away relief goods - a bag of rice and cans of sardines (the staple diet in the Philippines) to desperate and needy families.

Initially, we were joined by several closest high school friends whom we asked to help financially. We all put money in and were able to give away 100 relief packs (8kg of rice and 4 x sardines). We distributed these to our needy batch/year classmates. These are families severely affected by the effects of Covid-19 - most of whom lost jobs or were unable to work due to the lockdown in place.

It was a success, so I did not stop there. I initiated PART 2 of this charity project - to give away another 100 relief packs (5 kgs of rice and 3 x sardines). The target group was other alumni from our former high school. Again, this was a success; and Brett actually donated some money too.

PART 3 was generated during the Covid-19 crisis when a huge, disastrous fire devastated Tonsuya - an area near my birthplace - leaving 104 families, already struggling financially from Covid-19, homeless. For the 3rd time, I asked my original friends/co-sponsors for help. In short, we were able to raise funds to assemble 140 relief packs towards helping all the families affected by the fire (3 kg rice and 2 x sardines).

To date, I have managed to give away 340 relief packs, but I wish to do more - PART 4 - this time, to give away as many relief packs as the raised funds will allow. There has been a second local fire, in Tanza. We have talked to local community leaders and been granted permission to contact the victims. I have spoken on video call, and my volunteers have been to site, to meet the 60 devastated families. They are all temporarily staying in local school buildings until they are given the ‘green light’ to start rebuilding their homes and lives.

The lockdown is still in place and SAD TO SAY, THAT AS WE SPEAK, the number of Covid-19-positive victims is STILL ON THE RISE. As a matter-of-fact, the gym area at a high school has been temporarily converted to accommodate hospital tents for Covid-19 patients in the area.

I would like to say thank you to you guys in advance - I know post Covid-19, here in New Zealand, it is very hard financially, but let me say, we are still very lucky as we are a kind-of rich country with a welfare system to help - COMPARED to the Philippines where the word ‘WELFARE’ DOES NOT EVEN

EXIST - no work = no pay = no medical insurance; you will die – so indeed, poles apart.

Again, THANK YOU IN ADVANCE GUYS - ALL AMOUNTS GO 100% DIRECTLY TO BUY RELIEF PACKS FOR MY FELLOW, NEEDY AND DESPERATE COUNTRYMEN.