By Angel Lizardi |Staff Writer|
On Monday Nov. 11, The United Nations announced an emergency allocation fund of $25 million to help fund relief efforts for the Super Typhoon Haiyan, known locally in the Philippines as Yolanda.
This according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in a press conference where their Director of Operations John Ging, said that the storm affected 9.8 million people
Locally, Lubos Paso, a CSUSB organization that aims to bring awareness to Filipino culture on campus, is doing their part as well.
“We’ve all seen the pictures coming through—the scale of devastation is massive. Therefore we require the mobilization of a massive response,” said Ging in the press conference for the OCHA.
The U.S. Navy reported that before Haiyan’s landfall winds were reported to be at 195 mph, with gusts up to 235 mph, the highest ever recorded.
The Filipino government reports that as of last Tuesday, the death toll is 1,774, much less than the reported total of 10,000 that has since been reduced by Benigno Acquino, president of the Philippines.
Although the U.S. and many other countries have donated funds and taken part in relief efforts, there is still a lot to be done.
Local communities are doing their part in attempting to make donation efforts reach a mass audience and there are students in at CSUSB that are doing their part as well.
Gian Milanes, vice president for Lubos Paso explains that they are having plans for this quarter and the next for students to donate what they could.
“For the rest of the fall quarter we are accepting donations (money, canned food, clothing) in the Eucalyptus room in the lower commons Wednesdays at 6 p.m.,” said Milanes.
For the Winter quarter they will be having bins across campus to accept other donations.
Milanes also mentioned that the death toll could be more as many of the members in the organization have family in the Philippines and there are many other small islands and provinces that have been affected.
For donations, Milanes cited the NAFCON (National Alliance for Filipino Concerns) as a credible organization to send donations because they ensure that all donations go directly to the Philippines rather than just a portion.
When asked how students can also participate in helping out, Milanes mentioned that the Lubos Paso will be hosting events on campus to raise awareness across the university.
“In the winter we will be having multiple events such as a T-shirt drive, talent and benefit shows, boba and food sales with all proceeds going to the relief fund,” said Milanes.
As for the community, Lubos Paso has also worked with other local student clubs/organizations.
“We’ve worked with UCR’s organization (UCR Katpunan) along with groups in LA, and NFACON, and we look forward to working with other clubs on campus,” said Milanes.
Lubos Paso holds their meetings every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Eucalyptus room in the lower commons.
For more information about Lubos Paso contact Gianmarco Cruz Milanes at (909) 305-3550.
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