20 November 2013 – The Philippine Embassy in Singapore reported that the Singapore Buddhist Lodge has handed over today a donation for the victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that devastated parts of Bohol and Cebu provinces on October 15.
The Singapore Buddhist Lodge is a long-time friend of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore. Established in 1934, it is noted for its charitable and welfare ctivities including the provision of free medical care and assistance for the elderly and free meals for walk-in indigents.
The Chairman of the Lodge, Mr. Lee Bock Guan, gave to Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz a cheque amounting to $25,096.96 for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in a simple lunchtime ceremony at the Lodge’s headquarters at River Valley, Singapore.
Mr. Guan said that the Lodge wanted to contribute in a humble way in lending assistance towards post disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts in the affected areas.
The turn-over of the assistance for the earthquake victims occurred even as the Lodge started another initiative to assist the survivors of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that spawned unimaginable destruction in parts of Central and Eastern Visayas. The Lodge has already collected eight tons of rice and bottled water which will be shipped to the affected areas.
Mr. Guan expressed his deepest condolence for those “who have suffered out of the devastation”. He said that his group immediately set out to conduct a charity drive as soon as they received the news about the tragedy. A tablet has been made available 24 hours a day at the premises of the Lodge to allow people from all walks of life to chant and offer prayers for those who perished.
For the long-term, Mr. Guan has expressed his group’s interest to help put up a school or a library to help children affected by typhoon Yolanda.
In accepting the cheque on behalf of DSWD, Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz profoundly thanked Mr. Guan and the Singapore Buddhist Lodge for the generosity saying that the assistance “could go a long way” for the victims particularly the children.
The Ambassador said that the Philippines is very thankful that many countries have come to help stating that Singapore has always been one of the first countries to respond in the aftermath of both disasters. END