Shien-BICOL

 

Shien-Bicol, in cooperation with the Carmelite Missionary Sisters in the Philippines, is one of the ongoing programs and indeed a very serious although small program of OFW Shien Cooperative and it aims to assist deserving typhoon victims in the Bicol region. Since January, the program had been soliciting support means from Meguro Catholic Church communities, Timog Forum and OFW Shien Cooperative members in the form of the basic necessities of life as food, clothing and shelter. This is a very small fundraising activity but it had been a mid-term activity to continuously advocate small forms of assistance from overseas Filipino workers and all concerned individuals in Japan.  It is an example of a motivational program proving that:

1. a fundraising activity or emergency funds that could assist need not to be very big to touch the lives of many deserving victims in times of disaster;
2. true sense of helping is from the heart and should be direct to the victims, not through other various channels and we should be concerned about where our donations would directly go – “don’t just donate without knowing who your direct beneficiaries would be”

To make sure that our donations are well taken cared of is a matter of trust, perseverance and patience to reach the best deserving folks to help. The program took nearly 4 months to search for the Carmelite Missionary Sisters as our partners in the Philippines.

UPDATES AS OF JUNE 23, 2007

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Shelter Beneficiaries from Bicol

  

 May 28, 2007 

Peace greetings!  I went to Albay, Bicol last Wednesday till Friday for the project.  I already bought materials for four(4) houses. The two as prospects had started rebuilding thie houses so we share with the other two houses the budget.  When I left, the work has not begun since rain was heavy but I receive message but our contact person that they started with one house owned by an Old Woman who lives alone.  The other three will be done this coming Saturday by a group who committed to help so to save labor costs. They are very happy with your support.  I checked with the first batch-houses, they are okey but I realized they need table and chairs and simple cabinet for their things.  Maybe next time if we still have funds then we can help them more. As I went around, I still saw some houses not rebuilt.  Maybe they can be our prospects.  I will give the report and more update including pictures as soon as the job is done.  The fund is just enough and I left certain amount to the contact person in case of need.  As of this moment, we had helped 8 families including that of Libon with 2 families.  I had no chance to drop by but I will try to see the next time I go to Albay. Thank you very much for your continued support.  Please extend our gratitude to the donors.  May the Lord always bless you and keep you always safe! 

with kind regards & prayer,

Sr. ting, cm 

***Sr. Ting is the national adviser of Carmelite Missionary Sisters in the Philippines.

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Feb 16, 2007

“TO SEE IS TO BELIEVE” UPDATE AND FINANCIAL REPORT:

Where did our money donations go?

• 4 Simple Houses built from AFSJ (Association of Filipino Students in Japan) contributions with the initiative of Ms. Dada Docot, Xena Lapido, Sarah Grace Aguilos  along with collected funds from Taiwan
• A budget of at least 10,000 pesos per house
• Typhoon-Victim Beneficiaries from Libon and Tabaco, Albay
• In cooperation with the Carmelite Missionaries and Donna Rebagoda of Tulong Pinoy
• Another batch of 3 houses will be funded by Shien Bicol Project of OFW Shien Cooperative and 3 beneficiaries had been named already by Donna

 

CARMELITE MISSIONARIES SECULAR 
Joint Project with Donors in Albay, Bicol Region 
   
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS & DISBURSEMENTS 
From December, 2006 to February, 2007 
(In Philippine Pesos)
   

Cash Receipts:  

*Taiwan- Mr.& Mrs. Hsu ($1,302 @ 49.45):      64,384.00 

*Japan- Asso. of Filipino Students in Japan (AFSJ) 
from Tokyo University, Ledda Docot of Cultura Volunteers, Japan :  18,074.50 

*Mr. Quinsay : 800.00 

*Sisters:  350.00 

Total Receipts:    83,608.50 

Less:  Disbursements:  37,374.00  

Cost of groceries given to victims, Dec. 12, 2006 – 33,576.00  
*Gasoline – 1,800.00  
*Food – 876.00  
*Repair of Transportation Facility – 630.00  
*Driver- incentive – 300.00  
*Transportaiton – bus, tricycle – 130.00  
*Photofinishing – 62.00       

Balance as of December, 2006 – 46,234.50 

Less:  Construction & Other costs: 45,532.00   

2 houses in Libon, Albay – 23,050.00 
*Coco lumber – 8,899.00  
*Sawali/Bamboo weaving for walls – 2,400.00  
*Hollow blocks, cement, nails, steel bars – 7,926.00  
*Bamboo poles, rattan, nipa for roofing – 1,775.00  
*Transportation- to buy materials – 150.00  
*Labor – 1,600.00  
*Hauling of sand & gravel – 300.00   
   

2 houses in Tabaco – 21,179.00
*Sawali/Bamboo weaving for walls – 2,465.00  
*Coco lumber – 7,200.00  
*GI sheets for roofing, nails, cement, steel bars & etc – 8,691.00  
*Gravel & sand – 463.00  
*Labor – 2,000.00  
*Transportation- to buy materials – 360.00  
 
Other costs: 1,303.00 
*Film & photo finishing – 565.00  
*Food – 738.00  

Cash Balance as of February 15, 2007: 702.50 
   
 
 
Prepared by: 
SR. CYNTHIA S. CALAMBA, CM
CMS- National Adviser

   
Noted by: 
 
ENGR. HESIQUIO QUINSAY
CMS Regional Coordinator
 
SR. NORBERTA ORDIZ, CM  
CMS- Councilor In charge   

Donna and the other volunteers who evaluate the beneficiaries

and help the Carmelite sisters in buying the housing  materials

 

 

New Initiatives in Japan from OFW Shien Coop (as of Feb 12, 2007)

2nd Shien Bicol box sent to CFCA-Libon, Albay

Ate Linda and Rhea packing the 2nd Shien Coop box

Rhea and her 10-yen collection

Initiatives for Bicol in Japan: 

1. Sendai Groups

Excerpt from Hernando of Tohoku University:

“May mga grupo rin po marahil dito sa Japan na nangangalap ng tulong para sa mga biktima ng Reming. Nakapagpadala na po kami ng munting halaga noong nakaraang linggo thru Philippine National Red Cross. Batay sa mga report ubos na ang mga calamity funds ng mga nasalantang lugar at sa kabila ng mga tulong galing sa local at international organization Sadyang kulang na kulang pa rin po talaga. For this reason, two groups here in Sendai ang grupo naming mga istudyante sa Tohoku University (The Kapatiran) at ang grupo ng mga Filipinas married to Japanese (Damayan) concerned individuals are currently gathering donations in cash to be sent to the Philippine National Red Cross…

Please tulungan po natin sila. Marami pong paraan na maipapadala natin an gating tulong.. Pwdeng thru Red Cross, pwedeng thru ABS-CBN foundation, GMA Kapuso, DSWD or sa GAwad Kalinga ng Couples for Christ. ANg importante po ay maipabot natin an gating tulong at pagmamahal sa ating mga nangangailangang kababayan ngayong Pasko… Aside from prayers, let`s help the victims of typhoon Reming in whatever way we can
 
Maligayang Pasko po sa Lahat at Naway patuloy tayong Pagpalain ng Dakilang Maykapal !!

Sumasainyo,…… Yoroshiku onegaishimasu,

Hernando
MS Student, TohokuUniversity

2. Tokyo Groups – Kultura Volunteers, OFW Shien Coop and AFSJ

Excerpts from Dada’s email:

Dahil po sa maguuwian ang ilang sa estudyante at migranteng Pinoy dito, mas madali siguro kung cash donations ang kokolektahin natin, na pwedeng iforward sa isang account, at pagkatapos naman ay idedeposit sa account ng Red Cross. Dahil sa marami namang Pinoy sa buong Japan (calling the attention of those in Osaka, Kyoto, etc…), at tamang-tama na marami rin ang magkikita-kita para sa kanya-kanyang Christmas Party bago mag Dec 20, baka siguro pwedeng mangolekta ng donasyon kung kelan merong mga party. Maaari rin ang mga donasyon katulad ng damit atbp, kung meron pong organisasyon na mavolvoluneer para asikasushin at pagtanggap at pagship ng goodies.

Baka pwedeng may tumulong para sa maggawa ang mga sumusunod:
1. Simpleng online donation form kung saan makikita ang donasyon/ pangalan/ atbp. Na sa tingin ko ay maaaring ilagay sa AFSJ website kaya?
2. Fundraisers sa bawat area o sa bawat school kung saan may mga kapwa Pinoy (ex., may Christmas party and tokyo university students sa dec 16, susubukan ko pong mangolekta ng donasyon sa araw na iyon)
3. Organisasyon na pwedeng tumanggap at bagsakan ng mga donasyon tulad ng damit, atbp.

(Additional question: Kanino o align bank account ang pwedeng gamitin para sa pagtanggap ng mga donasyon? Baka pwede po yung sa AFSJ? )

Maraming salamat po.

Sumasainyo,
Ma. Ledda (Dada) Brina Docot
Kultura Volunteers/ Nabua Forum
Tokyo, Japan
www.nabua.tk

** OFW Shien Coop – attempt to build sanitary toilets and water pumps for health and sanitation of the victims at Daraga

Thanks to Dr. Imee Kondo for the suggestion to try preparing at least 3 sanitary toilets and water pumps for the Bicol victims.  Thanks to the support of Aida, Dominique, Rose and all those who want to help.

Our Feasibility Checklist:
1. alamin ang location ng mga evacuation center
2. anong NGO, simbahan o sinong mga volunteer doon ang puwedeng katrabaho at willing na gawin ang balak natin kung kinakailangan pa
3. kung kailangan pa – saan ang evacuation center na puwedeng paglagyan ng public facilities na ito (2 siguro, pambabae at panlalaki) at isang water pump siguro
4. saang bayan makabibili ng mga simpleng sanitary toilet at mga magkano ang bawat isa?
5. sinong puwedeng bumili at magdadala sa evacuation center site?
6. may mga taga-NGO o taga-simbahan na tutulong kaya na marunong sa construction ng toilet at water pump? kung mayroon – anu-anong mga basic na kasangkapan na kailangan para mabuo ito?
7. ilang tao ang kailangang gumawa ng basic sanitary toilets at water pump para source ng tubig?
8. magkano ang kanilang sisingilin sa labor na ito?
9. sinong magme-maintain ng public facilities na ito?
10. mayroon pa bang dapat alamin tayo?

Here’s an excerpt from Dr. Imee’s earlier mail:

“I would like to suggest if possible we could pay cost for construction of toilets (3)and  water pump (checked for safety of water- E. coli test,amoeba free). They are impt. for survival. Ganyan ang gawa namin sa Mercens San Frontieres at Japanese Team during the Pinatubo eruption…could we do this project on a joint effort and fixed amount of donation para fair. Halimbawa ang target amount for construction magkano? Paghati-hatian natin ito. Magkano ang galing sa scholar,magkano ang galing sa mga taga-simbahan, magkano ang galing sa asawa ng mga hapon? Ganyan ang Japanese mayroon sharing of responsibility at calculated ang expenses ,mayroon silang planning. Tapos yung mga nagbigay ay i-post natin kung magkano ang ibinigay para mayroon transparency at pag natapos ang project may update at monitoring. Hindi yung nagbigay tayo ay tapos na. Alagaan natin sila. Hindi ito mahirap kung magkakaisa ang mga tutulong at kung marami tayo. Kung kaunti tayo mahirap ito. Puede siguro itong sistema na ito at sana mayroon tayong communication sa mga taong mapagkakatiwalaan doon. …Mas marami kayong alam sa akin sa strategy ng pagtulong kaya kung ano ang gusto ng nakakarami ay Ok lang ako.”

3.  Hokkaido Group

Excerpt from Esmie’s email: 

One box is almost ready ,we just haven’t asked for a box to fill up yet…We will also shoulder the shipping cost. Thanks for any input.
 
Esmie Takahashi
Sapporo,Hokkaido
DIRECT NGO AND CHURCH CONTACTS:

1. Salve San Carlos or Vicky Mendonez
TABANG TABI (Tabang para sa mga biktima sa Bikol)
ADDRESS: ILAWOD Dos, Daraga Albay PHILIPPINES
Contact No. is (054) 472-9826 or
Mobile No. (c/o Anne) 0920-4522358.

2. For Metro Manila Contact:
Carmelite Missionary Sisters (CMS) in Quezon City through Donna Rebagoda of Tulong Pinoy (Mobile # 09178806923) for nearby towns in Albay particularly in Legazpi, Oas and Libon

3. Philippine National Red Cross through Gwendolyn T. Pang, director of Fund Generation Department
http://www.redcross.org.ph/

Bayanihan po tayo sa Japan dahil pag nagkaisa tayong lahat, marami po tayong matutulungang mga bata at mga pamilya sa Bicol.   

Mas marami tayong nakikilalang network na gumagalaw para sa bayanihang ito, mas epektibo.  Kaya kung kayo ay individual o kabahagi ng organisasyon sa isang simbahan, store o opisina at gusto ninyong sumali o gumagawa na kayo ng ganitong tulungan din para sa mga biktima sa Bicol, pakisulat na lang po bilang COMMENT sa thread na ito.