Call to action
Raising the Filipino spirit
From the blog of the GK Executive Director Luis Oquinena
Good morning to the Filipinos in the Philippines, and good evening to our friends abroad.
Today we face a new day – a day full of challenges but also a day filled with hope. As we gear up our relief operations to reach more, I would like to personally thank all our volunteers for their committed and inspiring work. I want to encourage them to be tireless in really going beyond self to help the thousands of families that are now wet, cold and hungry.
Operation Walang Iwanan will brave the storms, both Ondoy and Pepeng. Today we will continue to sort, repack and distribute relief goods.
In a couple of minutes, I ,together with a team of GK volunteers will go to Brgy. Nangka in Marikina to start a possible evacuation process for the residents.
For our donors and partners, big and small, thank you so much. You have allowed us to help so many families that are badly in need, and we thank you in their behalf.
This is the time for us to be united – we have to raise the Filipino spirit and the only way to do that is to leave no one behind.
We will attempt in the next few days, with God’s grace and your help, to raise half a million food packs. There are many silent and noble initiatives from many groups, but the need is just so massive. Government and private sector groups are doing a great and heroic job – this disaster is bringing out the best from everyone. We can create a turning point, a defining moment – to bring hope to hundreds of thousands of victims by our presence, and through the distribution of much needed food and supplies to families that need it the most.
I have seen nursing mothers, women who just gave birth, young and old lining up just to get our food packs, wading the flood waters and walking for one or two hours just to get the relief. So we must not let up, we must scale up our operations. By the grace of God, we were able to distribute 140,000 plus food packs. Our medical missions have given medical attention to the victims, and we will continue with even greater intensity. So we appeal to everyone to really raise the bar of generosity and lift our country from this tragedy.
Hopefully, by next week, we can already start our clean up and rehabilitation phase. I ask everyone here and abroad to pray unceasingly, but also translate our faith into good works. Let us encourage everyone to find the good in the Filipino.
Mabuhay and pagpalain tayo ng Diyos.
Walang Iwanan!
Luis Oquinena
This is a moment in the life of our nation where we can truly demonstrate our nationhood. In the last few days, we have been witness to the heroism of ordinary men and women from different sectors, young and old, rich and poor. This is our defining moment – a chance for us as a people to transform this tragedy into an opportunity to come together and unite
—
September 30, 2009
You can also deliver straight to our command centers at the following areas:
1. GK Napindan, Taguig (Raul Ramittere – 09192291416)
# of affected families: 2,500
2. GK PBA, Pateros (Cesar Bautista – 09052357929)
# affected families: 300
3. GK Tatalon, Quezon City (Bobby Lasala – 09189069075)
# of affected families : 1000
Also serving the following areas: Don Manuel, Block 245, Tagalog, Sto Domingo
4. GK Sitio Ruby, Quezon City (Benjie Roque – -09062864447)
# of affected families : 1,400
Also serving the following areas: Sta. Lucia, Rubusna, Fairview
5. GK Brookside, Quezon City (Rabbi Mendoza – 09064627232)
# of affected families : 2,000
Also serving the following areas: Clemencia, St. Bernard, Sitio Bakal, Sta. Monica, Area 5
6. Cainta, Pasig, Taytay (Pinky Parba – 0919-7664223)
# of affected families : 1000
Also serving the following areas: Tawi Tawi, Napico, Balagot, Karangalan
7. GK Caliuag, Pasig (Ryan Verdejo – 09052872620)
# of affected families : 3000
Also serving the following areas: San Joaquin, Pinagbuhatan, Malinao
8. GK Camacho, Marikina (Bodoy Oquinena – 09178888276)
# of affected families : 1000
9. GK Maislap, Montalban (Acel Libed – 09189069068)
# of affected families : 1,000
Other areas that we served:
Sunshineville, Las Pinas
GK Bernabe
GK Mapayapa
GK Villa Coastal
Sitio Pajo, Quezon City
Selecta Village
