Aftermath of typhoon Haiyan

The Filipino Association in the Isle of Man (FAIM) and its Donation to Victims of Typhoon Haiyan

 
 
By Robert Loudon Brown
Honorary Secretary,
The Filipino Association in the Isla Of Man, British Isles
Isle of Man
March 2, 2019
 


In November 2013 another typhoon hit the Republic of the Philippines. My wife and I were enjoying coffee in Castletown when a Filipino friend called and broke the news.

That area of the world is used to extremes of weather and natural disasters but this one was of a very different magnitude. Typhoon Haiyan, as it was named, was one of the worst typhoons ever experienced in living memory in the Philippines. The effect was horrendous. Whole towns, villages, homes and local infrastructure suffered with considerable devastation and loss of life.



The need was desperate. On the Island of Leyte in the City of Tacloban alone over 10,000 people died. Millions over this whole region were displaced and homeless.

Making contact with sources in mainland Britain, the Philippines and with our local Filipino Manx community, we assessed the situation and started to galvanise what action we could take to help. Raising awareness with the general community here on the Island was the first priority.

Radio interviews and coverage on the front page of one of our local newspapers was quickly followed up by a call from Phil Gawne the Chairman of the Government’s International Development Committee offering immediately financial assistance linked through the DEC – the UK Disasters Emergency Committee. The DEC is made up of thirteen well known charities such as the British Red Cross, Save the Children, Oxfam etc., and able to co-ordinate and quickly target much needed immediate help.



The generosity of the Island was outstanding. The Filipino Association in the Isle of Man (FAIM) with the able assistance of the One World Centre (OWC) co-ordinated the island-wide appeal. Through our national and local government authorities, local churches of all denominations, schools, Rotary clubs, other local groups and individuals a total sum of around £165,000.00 was raised. Help was sent for immediate and medium term relief and assistance to the main badly affected regions. This equated to £2 per head of the Manx population – a truly tremendous expression of humanity and generosity on behalf of the Manx people.

After the initial immediate responses friends and family members of FAIM offered some further small donations towards a humanitarian cause of our own choice. A school room or clinic area was suggested by Nelson Talaver the then Vice-Chairman. The hunt was then on for a suitable recipient project. After many enquires agreement was reached to support the building of a small school and community initiative in Santa Fe in Leyte.

This was organised by the HOPE Project a Danish based charity which had been in the area just 100 days after this terrible typhoon. Some £7,000.00 has now been given to this ongoing project to date.

The community building itself, the required planning permission, and the necessary fund raising has all taken time but the great news is that the School is now open!



The FAIM Chairman Maria Leonora Loudon-Brown and your author visited the Gracious God School in the early part of this year and witnessed at first hand the new facilities and joined some of the local children enjoying donated toys and games prior to classes starting in July.

The accompanying photographs help show the start of a new period of hope for older and younger members of this very deserving community now with strong links to our own Island.

N.B.

After call with Simon Richardson on 9^th of August 2017 a note to self – the length of articles for ‘Manx Tails’ should be approximately 450 words per page, 900 for double page spread, with photographs.