Not-for-profit community group Adhika is raising funds to help those who lost their homes and livelihoods after Super Typhoon Rolly hit landfall.
Called Typhoon Goni internationally, the storm started mildly before intensifying into a Category-5-equivalent super typhoon on October 30 (Sunday). When it hit landfall in Catanduanes and Albay, the super-typhoon forced one million people to evacuate. More than 390,000 are now displaced and homeless.
The typhoon caused 24 deaths (which would have been higher if not for the mass evacuations), damaged crops, caused widespread electricity outages and financial damage of at least 5.7 billion pesos (AUD$164 million).
Josie Musa, founding president of Adhika and hails from the Bicol region, was devastated when she watched the news and saw that her hometown of Tabaco City in Albay was directly hit.
In Tabaco city, more than 50 per cent of homes were damaged and government officials don't expect electricity to be back on until December as power lines were destroyed.
Musa said that before her family migrated to Australia, she and her husband, Gerry Musa, lived in the city and raised their children there.
She recalls her own experience of the Super Typhoon Sening back in 1970 and how scary it was at the time.
"When I was in grade school, I lived through super typhoon Sening hitting Albay. I can't even see my sibling next to me under the table where we seek refuge as our house was already blown by the over 300 KM per hour wind. We were just holding our hands together praying," she said.
"But this is the first time I witnessed this degree of destruction."
This was why when Super Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban City in 2013, Musa was among those who actively raised funds for the survivors.
Filipino-Australians have made donations in the past as many of them have been affected by strong typhoons when they were still living in the Philippines. June to November is the five-month long typhoon season in the country.
"I am appealing this early to anyone who can spare any amount to help these families."
Adhika will send the collected amount directly to the survivors, coursing the funds through the local Parish Social Welfare Committee.
"Adhika has been supporting devastated communities over the years through the church resources priests and volunteers."
Only two weeks ago, the association, which is comprised of Filipino-Australian entertainment and media professionals, sent their book donation to Mindanao.
Donation can be deposited online to Adhika account:
Bank: St George
Name: Adhika Society Account
BSB - 112 879
Account Number - 457462651
Write your
name & TyphoonRolly in the description for funds reconcilliation and acknowledgment of receipt. You can also contact
[email protected] for more details.
"Please share this with your family and friends so we can help our kababayans affected by this super typhoon. Every little bit helps," said Musa.