Brigette Depape holds a candle at a vigil for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, put on by a group calling for action on climate change.
Local Filipinos, still reeling from the impact of typhoon Haiyan on their homeland, are grateful for the outpouring of support from the Ottawa community.
“The response from the community has been quite touching. A lot of people have come forward to help,” says Rev. Pedro Arana, pastor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Vanier.
Following the devastation of the super storm that killed thousands and left victims in desperate need of aid, various groups around Ottawa have been collecting food, clothing and donations for the ravaged nation. Assumption Church has been in the forefront, holding special Sunday masses to raise funds for relief efforts.
According to Arana, the parish’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, as many new faces from the Filipino community have come to the church to lend support. The parish has held various events for donation collection throughout November, including a recent concert showcasing local Filipino talent.
“We are still figuring out what we can do in the long run, so that we can reach victims not only for relief, but rehabilitation. I think the greater impact on the victims is how they survive in the aftermath of this disaster,” says Arana. The Assumption church will continue to plan fundraising events until the end of December.
The typhoon has personally affected parishioners who have relatives in the Philippines. “One member has been looking for three brothers. They have only found two,” says Arana. One of the roles of the church has been establishing communications with representatives from affected areas and receiving updates on the well-being of relatives.
“We’re getting the names of parishioners’ relatives, so that we can contact them when we go over there,” says Emie Fairweather, a volunteer and parishioner at the church.
Fairweather hopes to travel to the Philippines early next year with her husband to help with the relief efforts. “Thank God all of my relatives are safe, because they are in Manila,” says Fairweather.
The typhoon damage in the capital city of the Philippines wasn’t as devastating as it was in Tacloban, the worst-hit city.
According to Fairweather, the church has had a lot of support from both the Filipino and English-speaking communities.
The Assumption congregation isn’t the only group in Ottawa getting involved with relief efforts. Eric Tamayo, first at the Philippine embassy, says he’s grateful for the outpouring of support in Ottawa from groups such as the Carleton University-based radio show, Tinig Pinoy. The show has been broadcasting schedules for events organized by the various fundraising groups around Ottawa.
Tamayo says he’s pleased with the federal government’s decision to match the amount of money that is collected through donations in Canada.
Tamayo says that one of the embassy’s main roles has been encouraging various sectors to donate to charitable organizations in Canada and highlighting the fact that the government has put up this special matching fund, effectively doubling the amount of donations from individual Canadians.
The fund will match donations until Dec. 8.
“We are really heartened by the outpouring of support coming from Canada. Canada was among the first to respond in the wake of the typhoon,” Tamayo says.
Aside from Ottawa, Tamayo says that donations have been received from all across Canada, from the provincial governments and various other groups.
“These donations really do go a long way in facilitating the delivery of goods to the areas affected,” he says.
The Canadian government has also sent the Disaster Assistance Response Team to the Philippines, where they are helping with reconstruction efforts and providing much-needed aid in affected areas.