Typhoon fund launched

HELPING HAND: Wairarapa Filipino Society president Ryan Soriano has organised a campaign to raise money for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA WTA191113LFRYAN01

Filipinos in Wairarapa are urgently trying to help victims of the catastrophic typhoon that hit the Philippines earlier this month.

Wairarapa Filipino Society president Ryan Soriano said everyone in the Philippines known to local members had been accounted for but many had lost their homes and livelihoods and were in desperate need of help.

Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the country on November 8, killing at least 3976 people and leaving nearly 1600 missing, according to government figures updated on Monday.

More than 4 million people have been displaced and need food, shelter and water. The typhoon wrecked livelihoods on a massive scale, destroying crops, livestock, coconut plantations and fishing boats.

"I've been keeping in touch with the Wairarapa Filipino members and their family is all accounted for. It's just loss of property, they have no place to go," Mr Soriano said.

"The reality in the Philippines is people are not really keen on insurance because it's just an extra expense for them and now this has happened. It's quite difficult for them."

Mr Soriano has started a campaign to help raise funds through the Wairarapa community, called the Yolanda Relief Drive after the islanders' name for the typhoon.

He said the fundraiser would benefit places where relatives of Wairarapa Filipinos were living.

The campaign is supported by Masterton's St Patrick's Church and Glenwood Masonic Hospital. It will run until just before Christmas and money raised will be donated as a pre-Christmas present to those affected.

Filipino Society members will perform in the Masterton Town Square on December 23 to thank those who have donated.

Visit the Wairarapa Filipino Society on Facebook to contact Mr Soriano or email him on ryanerwinsoriano@yahoo.com.