Operation Tulong By SM To Help Affected Typhoon Victims

Now that the stormed Pablo has passed the islands of Mindanao and Visayas, it time to rebuild and help our fellow kakabayans down south. As we here in Luzon are fortunate enough to have never felt the wrath of the typhoon this Christmas season. It would be a great and noble deed to share what we have for the victims of the recent super typhoon.

You can be part of rehabilitaion revolution with SM supermalls' Operation Tulong in selected SM Malls in the country. You may also donate through the SM Foundation Inc. Banco De Oro account number 15000-706-94.

Operation Tulong Express at SM City Cagayan De Oro had 1,221 families using the grounds of the mall as shelter during the height of Typhoon Pablo (composed of 4,838 individuals), which was 13.5% of the total number of evacuees during the Typhoon in Cagayan de Oro. With that, we'd like everyone to know that we are accepting donations for those who have been affected by the Typhoon. We have also set up Operation Tulong Express in SM Lanang Premier and SM City Davao.

PAGTUTULUNGAN.ORG: WFP Scales Up Support In DIsaster-Prone Sorsogon Province

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a new phase of programmes in Sorsogon province aimed at helping communities better prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

“Vulnerability to natural disasters is one of the major challenges facing the people of Sorsogon, who are constantly exposed to natural hazards such as floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and typhoons,” said Ms. Sally Lee, former Sorsogon Governor and current Sorsogon Provincial Management Office Executive Director.

The new phase will include organizing information and education campaigns for communities on the risks they face, and the training of local government units (LGUs) to use geographic information systems to enhance preparedness and response planning.

PAGTUTULUNGAN.ORG: DepEd gives shelter to over 14,000 families in flood-affected areas

Over 160 schools in flood-affected areas are currently providing shelter for over 14,000 families affected by flooding due to continuous rains in Luzon.  

In an emergency meeting called for by Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC this morning, he instructed Schools Division Superintendents of Department of Education – National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) to work closely with Local Government Units as well as the City Social Welfare and Development Offices in their respective areas.

RainWatch: GMA Kapuso Foundation Donations and Numbers

The GMA Kapuso Foundation is currently doing Operation Bayanihan: Relief Operations to help those affected by the floods and non stop rains that are affecting Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

For those who would like to send their donations of ready to eat food, rice, canned goods, bottled water, clothes, banig, blankets, medicine at the GMA Kapuso Foundation, 2nd Floor, Kapuso Center, GMA Network Drive cor. Samar St., Diliman, Quezon City; call them at their hotlines 9284299 at 9289351.

PAGTUTULUNGAN.ORG: Aquino Government Hails new study on the Impact of Central Mindanao Conflict and Displacement

Research commissioned by the World Bank and World Food Programme notes persistent challenges after displaced households return to their homes.

Cycles of violent conflict in Central Mindanao have resulted in the mass displacement of nearly a million people from their homes over the past 12 years. In 2003, tens of thousands were displaced by armed conflict and, more recently, thousands of families had to leave their homes yet again when fighting escalated in parts of Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan in October 2011. Currently, several thousand people across Mindanao remain displaced, particularly in Maguindanao. 

Disrupting livelihoods are presenting major challenges to both affected families and the government, these concerns do not necessarily end with the return of displaced individuals to their places of origin, a study by the World Bank (WB) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) during a launch at the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster revealed.

PAGTUTULUNGAN.ORG: WFP and JICA support Sendong Survivors in Remote Iligan Villages‏

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Takahiro Sasaki (far right) and U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) Philippines Representative and Country Director Stephen Anderson (second from left) recently visited remote villages of Lanipao, Dulag, Kalilangan and Panoroganan in Iligan City, accessible only by motorcycle, to jointly distribute food, cooking utensils and other items to 750 families who were highly affected by Tropical Storm Sendong (international name “Washi”) in December 2011.  JICA and WFP provided this humanitarian support in partnership with the local government of Iligan City and the Bangsamoro Development Authority, and also with the participation of the International Monitoring Team and the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.    

Photo Credit: WFP/Marilou Morales Cezar/Philippines

AXA Philippines Donates P1.7 million for the benefit of Sendong victims

Left to right: From AXA Philippines: Lora Reboton,

Grace Garcia, and Rien Hermans;

CARE representative in the Philippines,Celso Dulce, 

and ACCORD’sMarietta Alcid and Athena Denise Gepte.

Last January 31, 2012, AXA Philippines President and CEO, Rien Hermans handed over the proceeds of a month-long campaign initiated by company management to gather financial support from AXA Philippines employees and distributors for the victims of the devastating typhoon Sendong. Typhoon Sendong destroyed thousands of homes and caused millions of pesos in damages in the Northern Mindanao area in late 2011.

The amount was raised through a campaign entitled, Hearts in Action for a Million, wherein AXA Philippines employees, management and distributors contributed financial aid. Some groups even contributed their activity fund, the amount allocated for their group activity and Christmas gathering. The objective was to raise a million pesos in relief funds for the families affected by the disaster.

Belt it out at the 12-hour Sing-a-thon by Bactidol

Music is an essential part of our everyday lives and we Filipinos aside from being known for our hospitality and warm smiles we  also have this utmost love (and sometimes addiction) for videoke. It is present in every life event like birthdays, wedding and even funerals. And with this Pinoy passion that have also shaped our world class singers known around the globe into the great music artists they are today. 

Maybe the reason videoke is such a huge hit is because it brings people together and adds fun to parties, reunions and other gatherings. It’s also a great way to unwind and let out the stress after a long, tiring day.And most people don’t just sing one song; videoke sessions can go on until the wee hours of the morning (or until the machine breaks down).

Make sure your throat is always videoke-ready by gargling with Bactidol, the number 1 doctor-recommended throat solution. It provides relief from sore throat for up to 12 hours so you can grab that microphone and sing at the top of your lungs, be it to the tune of poppy, boyband hits like I Want It That Way or powerful ballads such as Total Eclipse of the Heart.

Iligan City Expresses Gratitude to GMA Network

Iligan City Mayor Lawrence LL. Cruz recently released a three-page resolution to express the province’s deep gratitude to broadcast leader GMA Network and its socio-civic arm GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) for the latter’s quick and comprehensive response when typhoon Sendong caused catastrophic damage in Southern Philippines last December 2011.

The said tropical cyclone claimed the lives of more than a thousand people and left more than 15,000 houses in the South either completely or partially damaged.

PAGTUTULUNGAN.ORG: WFP Receives Generous Donation from Pizza Hut -Taco Bell For Sendong Survivors and Programmes in Mindanao

Through the Yum! Brands World Hunger Relief campaign, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in the Philippines have contributed Php 6.1 million (US$144,000) to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for its activities in Mindanao. The donation will support the on-going relief and early recovery operation for victims of Tropical Storm Washi (Sendong) and school meals programme in conflict-affected areas of central Mindanao.

“We are deeply impressed with the dedication of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell staff who actively promoted the World Hunger Relief campaign in their restaurants, and in the process raised generous support to help fight hunger,” said WFP Philippines Country Director and Representative Stephen Anderson. “We are also grateful that they extended their campaign to seek additional assistance for Tropical Storm Washi survivors.”  

About 155 Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants, which are part of the Yum! Brands chain, collected donations throughout the country during a campaign from November 2011 to January 2012. As part of the campaign, Taco Bell donated Php 10 to WFP from each purchase of a special meal dedicated to supporting school meals programmes. Contributions were also collected in nationally distributed donation boxes.

PAGTUTULUNGAN.ORG: Help Sendong Victims with UNICEF

Donate through UNICEF Philippines and help children and families in Mindanao affected by Sendong 

Lack of safe water and sanitation are the main priorities for those responding to the emergency in Mindanao. UNICEF is co-leading the water and sanitation response with the government, UN and NGOs to respond to the needs of children and families affected by tropical storm Sendong.

The flooding has affected more than 63,000 families or 338,000 individuals half of them children in some 260 barangays (villages). UNICEF has dispatched supplies to the affected areas including: water kits, water treatment, to ensure safe, clean water; hygiene kits containing soap, toothbrushes and personal hygiene items.

UNICEF is also preparing to send tents and tarpaulins for temporary shelter; vitamin A for mothers and infants; breastfeeding education materials to reduce the risk of infant mortality; and recreation kits so children can play and begin to have a sense of normalcy.

Donate now through UNICEF Philippines. Log on to www.unicef.ph or https://donate.unicef.ph. You may also call (632) 758-1000 or (632) 758-1442. Check out UNICEF Philippines' social media accounts: Facebook (Facebook.com/unicefphilippines) and Twitter (Twitter.com/unicefphils).

For local wire transfers, you may deposit your donation to UNICEF Philippines' Metrobank account: UNICEF C/A No: 066-7-06631209-3 and for international wire transfers: UNICEF C/A no: 066-7-00141392-5 with Swift Code: MBTCPHMM.

UNICEF Philippines has Fundraisers on the ground in partner malls. For corporate donations, contact Ms. George Belardo at gbelardo@unicef.org and mobile number +639178844982.

PAGTUTULUNGAN.ORG: WFP Helps Philippine Government Reach Remote Areas Affected by Tropical Storm Washi (Sendong)

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Philippine Government are extending the emergency response to Tropical Storm Washi to focus on remote, cut-off areas around Iligan City.


Working closely with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and with airlift support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, WFP has already supplied emergency food assistance to almost 3,300 people stranded in Mungulong, outside Iligan City.


Plans are now underway to airlift food rations to other isolated communities around Iligan City such as Panoroganan where almost a thousand people are in need, and Mainit, where another 1,350 people require assistance.