26 November 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, in an effort to organize donations being given/offered by the Filipino community in Laos, and in order to ensure transparency and accountability, held a donation drive/pledging session to raise funds for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines last November 21.
Members of the Filipino community in Laos, consisting of teachers, medical workers, consultants, accountants and administrators, as well as friends from Laos, gathered at the Philippine Embassy to offer their prayers and cash donations for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.
Pictures and videos of the devastation wrought by typhoon Yolanda were shown followed by the opening address of Philippine Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta and briefing on the pledging session mechanics by Mr. Erwin Balanay.
Ambassador Isleta, in her remarks, noted that Filipinos in Laos have, on their own, undertaken various activities to raise funds for the typhoon victims. Ms. Jo Mita, for example, a Filipina owner of a pastry shop in Vientiane, organized a fund-raising activity at her shop and donated half of the amount to the victims of typhoon Yolanda during the session. (She will send the other half directly to affected communities in her province of Iloilo).
Mr. Carlo Bacalla of Don Bosco Youth Center will spearhead a bikeathon on Sunday while three Filipina Sisters from Sacred Heart Catholic Church will organize a Flea Market. Dr. Bernadette Gonzales, President of International Technology Management (intem), is also organizing a “Dine for a Cause” event at Mercure Hotel. The proceeds of all these activities will go to the victims of the typhoon.
The donation drive/pledging session was able to raise a total amount of US$ 2,465.09. Mr. Napoleon Estimada, the Embassy’s Finance Officer, and Ms. Rafaela Martinez, a Filipina accountant working at KPMG in Vientiane, opened the donation envelopes and counted the money before the Filipino community members.
Ambassador Isleta expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Filipino community for their overwhelming support and generosity. The activity ended with a touching prayer led by Pastor Simon Valenzuela. END