BangonPilipinas: Local, foreign celebs reach out to help Yolanda victims

GMA News: In light of the recent calamity that struck the Philippines and claimed the lives and properties of its citizens, celebrities all over the world engaged in various fund-raising activities to help the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.

In Southern California, actors Leandro Munoz, Anjanette Abayari, Antoinette Taus, and Tom Taus participated in the Bayanihan in Concert #3 held at the Beyond the Star’s Palace in Glendale. The live music benefit concert brought in more than $3,000 worth of cash donations, which was turned over to GMA Kapuso Foundation. Meanwhile, the My Husband’s Lover cast, who are currently touring  the US, made it a point to appeal for donations for their typhoon-stricken kababayans to those who were present during their concert.

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and well-known English footballer David Beckham – considered by many as a “power couple” even beyond UK’s borders – reportedly donated personal items such as shoes and clothes to the British Red Cross in order to raise money for the Filipinos affected by the devastating storm. The Beckhams’ donations – many of which come from high-end brands like Jimmy Choo, Dolce and Gabbana, and Roberto Cavalli – drew crowds to the charity shop in London where the couple’s items were displayed.

Newly-crowned Miss World Megan Young – who made her first foray into show business through GMA’s original artista search program, Starstruck – joined forces with New York-based non-profit organization Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) for a dinner fundraiser at Doubletree by Hilton.

The Mulligan Project’s 4th Annual New Moon Festival – a star-studded event that is known for extending aid to children in Central Vietnam – allocated 25 percent of the funds they raised through providing live entertainment and serving Vietnamese cuisine to Philippine typhoon relief efforts. Some of the notable Fil-Am personalities who lent their talents to the festival are Michael Galante, Anna Maria Perez De Tagle, Andrew Soriano, and fashion designer Joey Galon.

Paul Walker, whose biggest claim to fame is his stint as Brian O’Conner in The Fast and the Furious film series, expressed his desire to help the Philippines via Reach Out Worldwide, a non-profit disaster relief group that Paul founded. Unfortunately, Paul wouldn’t be able to personally see the fruits of his labor, as he was killed in a car crash shortly after gracing a fundraising event organized by his group.

More than the amount of money raised in the various fund-raising efforts, these celebrities’ selfless acts certainly helped spread awareness of the need to reach out to those devastated by typhoon Yolanda not only to provide relief goods but also to help them rebuild their lives. — GMA International

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BangonPilipinas: German cruise line to hire Pinoys from Yolanda-hit areas

GMA News: A German cruise line has held a two-day job fair offering opportunities to qualified candidates in the Visayas region, especially those affected by the earthquake in Bohol and super typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas.

Qualified candidates will work onboard 10 vessels, according to AIDA Cruises in a statement.

Imke Mecke, AIDA’s senior manager for recruitment fleet, said they have been conducting their “Career Caravan” in the Visayas since 2009.

“The hospitality and excellent qualification of the Visayans are highly appreciated by the German guests onboard,” she said in the statement.

During the caravan, Mecke said two new AIDA vessels will arrive in 2015 and 2016, which will be manned by Filipino crew members.

Aside from the job fair, AIDA Cruises, in cooperation with Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC), also conducted a charity event last December 5, 2013 at MMC's office in Cebu City.

During the event, Mecke handed over individual checks to AIDA families affected by the earthquake and super typhoon summing up to a total donation of US$10,000. — KBK, GMA News

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Philippines improves ranking in ‘corruption perception’ index again

The Philippines ranked 94th out of 177 countries in the latest results of the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index compared last year where the country ranked 105th. It was 129th in 2011.

The country scored 36 versus 34 last year showing an improvement in the country’s anti-corruption drive tying with Algeria, Armenia, Benin, Colombia, Djibouti, India and Suriname on a perceived level of public sector corruption based on a scale of 0-100 (where 0 means a country is perceived as highly corrupt, and 100 means it is perceived as very clean)

In the Southeast Asian region, Singapore in Top 5 ranked the highest, while Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia were second and third (38 and 53). The Philippines was fourth in the region in terms of corruption perception, better than Thailand (102), Indonesia (114), Vietnam (116), and Laos (140). Myanmar struggled at 157th but also considered as one of the most improved countries

In an interview, Lacierda said that these gains reflect improved confidence in President Aquino’s leadership and that his commitment to stamp out corruption is gradually taking effect.

“This year’s improvement continues a trend in which the reforms put in place result in an increasingly positive and encouraging perception of the country, where improvements are measured not only year-by-year, but by leaps and bounds on an annual basis,” he said

He also believes the improvement in the ratings also shows that investors are acknowledging the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

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BangonPilipinas: Filipino Para Sa Filipino: United the fashion community stands to help rebuild the Visayas

Interaksyon.com: A rare gathering that could only match its noble cause. On Friday evening, November 29, beyond brands, organizations, and media entities, the Philippine fashion community convened in what is the biggest fashion event of the year.

“Filipino Para Sa Filipino: The Filipino Fashion Industry Bands Together For the Rehabilitation Of the Visayas” was held at the newly opened Samsung Hall at The SM Aura in Taguig City. The fashion show promised 100 designers with 100 outfits all presented for charity and—from the venue, the fashion items up for auction, the time and service given by the production team, fashion models, stylists, and makeup artists—all these were rendered for free.

And for the ticket price of Php1,000, which goes to charity, even invited members of media (who typically get media passes during the local fashion week) couldn’t help but graciously give their donations as well. “After what happened in the Visayas, it’s hard not just to write about it but to give and help till it hurts, too,” one writer for a national publication shared.

Proceeds of the fundraiser will go to Tabang Visayas, “a loose coalition of member civil society organizations working in partnership with the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP), the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines (ULAP), and international aid agencies.” Tabang Visayas is currently coordinating with various local government units in providing relief and rehabilitation to typhoon-ravaged communities in the Visayas.

The event opened with a somber mood as a video featuring the massive destruction and loss caused by super typhoon Yolanda was presented. It ended with a hopeful and encouraging message that the Philippines can rise and rebuild itself from this national tragedy.

The seriousness was gently broken by the ever energetic and positive host Tessa Prieto Valdez, together with model Trishan Cuaso. Confessing that her plume-inspired evening wear by designer Rajo Laurel was actually intended for the cancelled Tatler Ball, her spiel brought laughter among the audience.

According to the event’s production staff, two weeks was all it took to organize and achieve this feat, led by Philippine Daily Inquirer lifestyle editor Thelma Sioson San Juan who wasted no time in collaborating with fashion directors Jackie Aquino, Ogee Atos, Robby Carmona, and fashion designers Randy Ortiz, JC Buendia, and Edgar San Diego.

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BangonPilipinas: PNoy forms task group for 'Yolanda' rehab

Abs-cbnnews: MANILA - President Aquino has formed a task group composed of various Cabinet members which would come up with a “comprehensive rehabilitation program” for areas hit by super typhoon “Yolanda.”

“President Aquino directed the Cabinet yesterday to hasten the transition of relief efforts into the full-scale rehabilitation and rebuilding of typhoon-damaged areas,” Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, a former governor of Leyte, has been designated as coordinator of the task group.

Coloma said the task group has identified areas of priorities which would be supervised by corresponding cabinet members:

1. Shelter and reconstruction: DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson;
2. Power restoration - Energy Secretary Petilla;
3. Livelihood and employment - Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva;
4. Resettlement and psychosocial care - DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman;
5. Environmental protection - DENR Secretary Ramon Paje;
6. Resource generation and allocation - Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, DBM Secretary Butch Abad, and DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario.
7. The post-disaster needs assessment and inter-agency effort will be supervised by Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras.

NEDA Director General Arsenio Balisacan will be tasked to synthesize and integrate all proposed programs and projects for submission to the President and the cabinet.

“The President emphasized to the cabinet that a fine-tuned plan responsive to the specific needs at the community level is necessary. He also said that it is important to enable the people to attain greater self-reliance while participating in the rebuilding of their communities,” Coloma said.

The task group has been directed to submit and present the plan not later than Wednesday, November 27.

Aquino is also tapping the help of local government units across the nation.

Aquino has asked Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio “Boy” Umali, president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), “to mobilize the active participation of the Leagues of Provinces, Cities, and Municipalities and the Liga ng mga Barangay in concerted efforts to fully engage the citizenry at the grassroots level.”

The rehabilitation plan will also involve the plan of the MMDA and Metro Manila mayors to “adopt-a-town” to help rehabilitate LGUs in Leyte, Samar, and other affected areas.

An “adopt-a-family” plan is also in the works to support affected families.

Rehabilitation may take a long time as rebuilding efforts in communities affected by typhoons “Sendong” and “Pablo” are still ongoing.

But Coloma said the administration seeks to “fast-track” the rehabilitation efforts.

Meantime, Aquino also ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and DOST Secretary Mario Montejo to look into the “extraordinarily high number of casualties” in certain areas in Leyte with the aim of finding out what happened and building more resilient houses and structures in the future.

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BangonPilipinas: Oxford students raise funds for ‘Yolanda’ victims

Globalnation: Oleri Galope, a Filipino student and president of the Oxford Philippines Society, hosted a special formal dinner at Oriel College, University of Oxford on November 23 to raise money to help the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) in the Philippines.

The event was attended by students from different colleges of the University of Oxford as well as representatives of the Philippine Embassy, including Consul General  Senen Mangalile, the acting ambassador of the Philippines to the UK, Maria Fe Pangilinan, and other dignitaries.

The 138  guests, mostly foreign students, enjoyed the magnificence of the historic surroundings of Oriel, the fifth oldest college in Oxford, and the college with the oldest Royal Foundation, whose official visitor is the Queen.

The event started with a champagne reception at Oriel’s Champneys’s Room, accompanied by a performance by a cellist from the Oxford University Philharmonia.

The event has been a great success, with great help from Oriel College, University of Oxford, and their
different sponsors.

“We had 10 days to prepare and it has been hard-work but we cannot stay at Oxford and do nothing. Although we are students, and we are away from our home country, we felt the need to contribute in any way we can no matter how small the contribution is,” says Galope

From the dinner and donations online they were able to raised more than £6500.

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BangonPilipinas: UN to seek more aid for typhoon relief

Orla Fagan of the UN Office

Globalnation: MANILA, Philippines—The United Nations is to seek more international aid to shelter and give temporary jobs to millions displaced by the Philippines’ deadliest typhoon in history, officials said on Friday.

“Providing shelter and rebuilding lives is an urgent priority,” said UN resident and humanitarian coordinator Luiza Carvalho, laying out the state of dozens of towns and cities three weeks after they were ravaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”).

“There are many needs in the aftermath of the typhoon and we require support to be able to put people back on their feet. Families require safety, shelter and work to sustain a decent life,” she added.

Donors deliver
The spokesperson for the local UN office, Orla Fagan, told a news conference donors had forked out $164 million, or just under half of the initial UN humanitarian appeal for $301 million.

The earlier appeal was launched on Nov. 12, four days after Yolanda unleashed powerful 315-kilometer-per-hour winds and giant storm surges in the central Philippines.

At least 5,598 were killed and 1,759 others are missing, mainly in the predominantly poor islands of Samar and Leyte, according to a government tally.

Yolanda disrupted the lives of 14 million people in an area about the size of Portugal and wrecked 1.1 million houses, so “$10 a head” in aid would not be enough, Fagan said.

UN relief agencies are to draw up specific aid requirements in mid-December when they come up with a “strategic action plan” for the next 12 months that would be implemented side by side with the government’s own efforts, Fagan said.

Jobs for victims
Simon Hills, country disaster response officer for the International Labor Organization (ILO), said 5.6 million people had lost their means of livelihood, some of them permanently.

While many were fishermen and farmers, more than a million were drivers, maids and security guards, he said.

Hills said the ILO and the labor department had found temporary work for 17,000 people clearing typhoon debris, and building temporary homes for the displaced and levees to prevent future flooding.
Farmers need urgent help in procuring seeds, fertilizer and tools, otherwise they will not be able to plant rice and could go hungry next year, the UN statement said.

Fagan said temporary building materials such as tarpaulin sheets were being given to families to relieve pressure on evacuation centers, which now shelter 219,000 people according to the government.

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