International Community Mobilizes in Response to Tropical Storm Washi

LOS ANGELES, CA - Kagay-anon International of Southern California (KISC) initiates a donation drive in Southern California in response to Tropical Storm Washi (local name Bagyong Sendong), the worst Tropical Storm in history to hit Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao and surrounding provinces. This drive was in coordination with Art Laya of UCCi Mindanao Express, who will be shipping the goods to CdO free of charge.

The Philippines’ Cagayan de Oro City, also known as the “City of Golden Friendship,” is considered to be the Gateway to Northern Mindanao (Region 10). This region has the largest economy in Mindanao and is only exceeded by the National Capital Region (NCR) as the region with the most economic accomplishments in the country.

Unfortunately, the coastal areas of Northern Mindanao and surrounding provinces was battered by Bagyong Sendong late at night on Friday, December 16^th, triggering massive flash floods that caused catastrophic destruction. The huge toll has already exceeded the damage of Typhoon Ketsana  (local name Bagyong Ondoy) that had flooded Manila in 2009. As of the most recent updates from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine National Red Cross:

• At least 927 people are dead in Northern Mindanao and in 13 other nearby provinces.
• An estimated 143,000 people have been affected by Washi
• The number of missing varied widely. Official figures put the number at 82, while the Philippine Red Cross estimated 800.
• Some 20,000 soldiers embarked on search-and-rescue operations, the military said.

Most of the casualties were caught asleep on their beds when raging flash floods tore everything in their path following heavy rains that dumped in more than a month’s worth of rainwater in about 12 hours.

Due to the kindness and generosity of the first batch of Southern California donors, KISC, the first international organization established outside the Philippines by and for the sons and daughters of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, was able to collect, sort, & pack 10 balikbayan boxes in just 3 hours on Sunday, December 18th!   UCCi Mindanao Express will be shipping the first batch of 20 boxes for free on Tuesday, December 20th.

To donate:

In Southern California:

Please make your check payable to:

Kagay-anon International of Southern California (KISC)
2746 E Maria Ct.,
West Covina, CA 91792

Please bring relief goods to:

UCCi Mindanao Express
1335 W. Willow St,
Long Beach, CA 90810

In Northern California, please address your donations to:

NorCal Cagayananons

32345 Jacklynnn Drive,
Union City, CA 94587
(510) 331-3135

In Houston, TX:

Please make your check payable to:

Virgincita Yap
P.O. Box 1253,
Willis, TX 77378

Please bring relief goods to:

Pinoy Kargo
13329 Veterans Memorial Dr, Suite P,
Houston, TX 77014

Filipiniana
9671 Bissonnet
Houston, TX 77036

Filipiniana ( 1960 Location )
4051 Cypress Creek Pkw
Houston, TX 77068

House of Chicken
10950 Bissonnet
Houston, TX 77099

You could also go to the following websites to donate cash:

Gawad Kalinga-USA:

www.GK-USA.org/donate

Philippine National Red Cross:

http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate

ABS-CBN Foundation:

http://www.abscbnfoundation.org/

GMA Kapuso Foundation:

http://www.kapusofoundation.com/

Moreover, all LBC branches in the US & Canada will start serving as drop-off centers for your donations to victims of Bagyong Sendong as of December 20^th. If you would like to donate relief goods (clothing, towels, blankets, underwear, canned goods, bottled water, etc.), please drop them off at your local LBC branch.

http://www.lbcexpress.com/contents/USA/

For more information, please contact:

• Roy Gaane: (909) 957-1041/rggaane@earthlink.net
• Fred Docdocil: (310) 619-8101/frederick_alain@yahoo.com