APCO and affiliates gear up for humanitarian assistance to the Philippines

 
By Dr. Cen Amores
Sydney-Australia
March 9, 2020
 




In its commitment to assist victims of the recent calamities in the Philippines, the Alliance of Philippine Community Organisations Inc (APCO) led by Violeta Escultura, conducted a number of fund raising initiatives and partnership with the Vietnamese community in Sydney.

Two sausage sizzle fundraisings were organised by APCO at Bunnings, Lidcombe in December 2019 and January 2020. The money raised was used to pay for the sea freight of ten balikbayan boxes of relief goods for the Taal Volcano victims. A separate fund raising was also conducted by the Filipino Women Support of Macarthur, an active member of APCO to pay for the sea freight of two boxes of assorted clothes for the Davao earthquake victims.



An appeal from one of the victims of the Taal Volcano was received by Carmen Fraser, APCO Secretary, asking for assistance by sending much needed linens for their community. In response, Ruben and Dr Cen Amores contacted their friends in the Vietnamese community for assistance. In a couple of days, two vans of linens, comforters and assorted clothes were delivered to the Amores residence!  Immediately, a number of APCO officers and members volunteered to help in packing ten boxes of relief goods. Meanwhile, APCO Director, Emma Braceros, also appealed for assistance, on behalf of the Davao earthquake victims. Again, the Filipino Women Support Group of Macarthur fund raised to pay for the sea freight of two boxes of assorted clothes

 Violeta Escultura and Carmen Fraser, APCO President and Secretary, respectively also personally appealed for cash donations from members of Narra, Filipino Women Support Group of Macarthur and personal friends. Escultura sent cash donation of $450 and two boxes of assorted relief goods to Bishop Eliezer Laqueo of the Touch of God Restoration Church for the Taal Volcano victims of Sta Teresita, Batangas and Barangay Miguel Mojica of Mendez, Cavite. Fraser, on the other hand, donated the equivalent of P10,000 cash with 10 boxes of relief goods for distribution to the Taal volcano victims,to Mrs Miling Wagan, President of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Lourdes and retired school teacher of 28 Darasa, Tanauan, Batangas.APCO acknowledges the heavily discounted discounts offered by Loel Ortiz of Plus Cargo for the sea freight of the 12 boxes of assorted relief goods.