Haiyan/Yolanda Relief Operations in SG [Working Document]

Sections:
I want to volunteer!
I want to donate in kind!
I want to donate cash!
In what other events can I participate?

I want to volunteer!

Platitos SG
Volunteers needed to sort donations
When: Nov 16-17 (Sat-Sun), 12 nn – 12 mn
Where: 1 Tras Link, #01-08 (nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar)
Site: https://www.facebook.com/platitosSG/info

Pinoygraphers / Kigwa Badminton Group / Bagong Bayani / LBC
When: Nov 16 (Sat), 8-10 pm
Where: Marina Bay Sands (in front of Louis Vuitton)
Site: https://www.facebook.com/PinoygrapherSg

Singapore Red Cross
Volunteers needed to man the hotlines and fund collection booths.
Site: http://www.redcross.org.sg
Contact: 6664 0500

GK Singapore
Volunteers needed to handle volume of calls, and office manager Claire Pascua urgently needs help for a number of disaster-related efforts (1-2 people needed a day to help).
Where: 352 Tanglin Road, #01-02 Strathmore Block
Contact: cpascua@gk1world.com or 8522-4098

Bayanihan Center
Volunteers needed for packing goods
Contact: Bembit Villa bembit.bosavilla@gmail.com

I want to donate in kind!

LBC (in partnership with the Phil. Red Cross) @ Lucky Plaza
Goods needed: canned/bottled food, medicine, bottled water/juice/milk, sleeping bags, mosquito nets, toiletries, laundry detergent/soap
When: Until Nov 30
Where: LBC Lucky Plaza, #03-46, 304 Orchard Road (nearest MRT: Orchard)
Contact: 800-1012708

Kigwa Badminton Group @ Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall
Goods needed: Clothes, food, etc.
When: Nov 16 (Sat), 8 am – 3 pm, during GOB’s Cup Filipino Badminton Tournament
Where: Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall (nearest MRT: Yio Chu Kang)
Site: https://www.facebook.com/PinoygrapherSg

Platitos SG
Goods needed: canned/bottled food, medicine, bottled water/juice/milk, sleeping bags, mosquito nets, toiletries, laundry detergent/soap
When: Nov 16-17 (Sat-Sun), 12 nn – 12 mn
Where: 1 Tras Link, #01-08 (nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar)
Site: https://www.facebook.com/platitosSG/info

Macoline (S) Pte Ltd @ Jurong Port Road
Goods needed: bottled water, ready-to-eat/canned food, biscuits, baby needs (milk powder, diapers, wipes, etc.), feeding bottles, old clothes (pls do not send torn or tattered clothes), used children’s/baby clothes, blankets, slippers
When: Mon-Fri, 9 am – 5 pm until Nov 20 (Wed)
Where: 31 Jurong Port Road, #05-20 Jurong Logistics Hub 619115
Site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/179859388876067/

I want to donate cash!
(source: Website of the Embassy of the Philippines, Singapore: http://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/news/2013/11/typhoon-yolanda-relief-assistance/)

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC)
Account Name : NDRRMC Donated Funds
Account Numbers: 0435-021927-030 (Peso Account);
0435-021927-530 (Dollar Account);
Swift Code : DBPHPHMM Account #36002016
Address: Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Camp Aguinaldo Branch, PVAO Compound, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines 1110
Contact Person: Ms. Rufina A. Pascual
Contact Number: (632) 421-1920;911-5061 to 65 local 116
Email : accounting@ocd.gov.ph; website : http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph

2. Philippine Red Cross (PRC)
http://www.redcross.org.ph; Tel. (632)527-0000
Banco De Oro: (Peso)00-453-0018647; (Dollar) 10-453-0039482; Swift Code: BNORPHMM
Metrobank: (Peso)151-3-041631228; (Dollar)151-2-15100218-2; Swift Code: MBTCPHMM
Philippine National Bank: (Peso)3752 8350 0034; (Dollar) 3752 8350 0042; Swift Code: PNBMPHMM
Unionbank of the Philippines: (Peso)1015 4000 0201; (Dollar) 1315 4000 0090; Swift Code: UBPHPHMM
Donations can also be sent via Groupon SG: http://www.groupon.sg/deals/singapore/Singapore-Red-Cross-Society/717760697

3. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Account No.: 3124-0055-81
Bank Branch Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan, Quezon City, Philippines
Contact Person: Ms. Fe Catalina Ea
Contact No.: (632)931-8101 local 226; CP(632)918-628-1897
Website: http://www.dswd.gov.ph

4. Singapore Food Bank
Cash donations needed to fund food packs to be sent to the Philippines
To donate, go to http://www.foodbank.sg/masaya/
Contact: nichol@foodbank.sg or shermain@foodbank.sg

In what other events can I participate?

Mass for the special intention of the typhoon victims
When: Nov 15 (Fri), 8pm
Where: St. Ignatius Church, 120 Kings Road.

GK Singapore’s 5k/10k Fun Run (apologies for the seemingly inappropriate name but only this week was it converted to a fundraiser specifically for Typhoon Yolanda)
When: Nov 24, flag-off at 7 am
Where: Bedok Reservoir
Site: http://runtobuild.gksingapore.org/

 

Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dHZDkITH7tvCXq3VhAksDCFMDi2Mxyc714OyuzY5DjI/edit

A Commentary on the Philippine Party List System

I was reading through an article regarding the Comelec tearing through the legitimate party-lists from those that aren’t. What I found quite interesting was a comment by a reader (Platypus09):

There should only be 2- to 3-political party structure in our country like the US’ Democratic Party, Republican Party, and the Green Party.

It has to be mandated by Congress as a political reform law or by way of a Constitutional
Amendment to streamline and get rid of multiple-political party structure during elections, which sounds ridiculous and out of control.

More parties means chaos, people will be divided, more-than-half-of-the-majority mandate will not be reached if there are more than two candidates running for national government
positions from multiple political parties, Comelec will need more manpower and thus VERY COSTLY.

If there are only two main political parties as electoral structure, these candidates will run against each other first depending on their party affiliations in the geographical or electoral divisions they belong and then the party winners will run against each other. Thus, there will be only two to three candidates per position per electoral division.

Philippine Independence Day 2012

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
– Thomas Paine –

Freedom has its price and the price is to ensure that the freedom we enjoy will not be taken away again – to be constantly vigilant of those who we allow to lead and of ourselves that we do not take away the freedom others deserve. A free society must be a society where each member gives respect and confers constraint where due. While we fight for a corrupt free government, we must also fight for a corrupt free self. In no way can we expect leaders of our society to do us right, when we as the society do not always do right.

Freedom is our cause. Freedom is our cost. Freedom is an obligation we allow for our fellowmen. Happy Independence Day! 🙂

On Chief Justice Corona’s Impeachment

The merits and demerits of the case are both valid. Now, I hate to be in the shoes of the senator-judges now as they try to make a decision that is both fair and right. The quasi-judicial, quasi-political excuse is now thrown back at them as they cannot simply make a judicial decision without any political implications, and vice versa. Come tomorrow, whatever the result, I hope that we all would  respect that decision and move on.

Hoping and praying for a safe Tuesday afternoon.

Excerpt from Rev. Lowry’s Inauguration Benediction

…

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around … when yellow will be mellow … when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right.

That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

…

Heroes

Something I picked up from an episode in Justice League Unlimited Season 2:

“Everyone in the league is good at their job.

But those 7, they are the best ever.

Not because they are the most powerful, they are.

All of them. Its not just because they are the first.

Its because they are special.

They have proven it time and again.

They make the hard choices.

They set the example.

They do what’s right not what’s easiest.

And they always come out on top.”

It sort of sums up a definition of what a hero is. In a country that seems to be up for the dumps, we need to start being heroes in our own rights. We, as Filipinos, should start choosing what is right rather than what is easy. Each of us, doing our share. This may be too idealistic but considering the cynicism that envelops us right now, one idealist might make a difference, though small, but still a difference.

Just trying to do my fair share in nation building. Be a hero.