In the midst of negative news about the disasters that struck the Philippines, Filipinos, the Tsinoy community foremost among them, were quick to come to the aid of their suffering brothers. The tradition of giving financial assistance and relief goods to victims of calamities is always enthusiastically and swiftly observed.
The lobby of Kaisa Heritage Center has been a beehive of collection, packing and distribution of relief goods from the first week of the Taal disaster. Kaisa also gave surgical face masks to traffic enforcers, Intramuros Administration and Manila City Hall to prevent infection from influenza and pollution from street fumes and Taal eruption.
The first batch of relief goods went to 15 employees of Caritas Health in Batangas (Lemery, Tanauan, Lipa and Balayan); second and third batches to San Jose, Mindoro for victims of Typhoon Ursula who had to accept relatives displaced by the Taal volcanic erupton. Fourth batch will be at Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol in Tagaytay. The rest of the relief packs will be distributed in Batangas in the coming days (full report on donors, distribution and volunteers to be featured in an upcoming issue).
It is also fortunate that although novel coronavirus has affected more people in such a short time compared to the outbreak of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), it is less deadly. The death toll remains at two percent, compared to the SARS death toll of 10 percent.
We pray the low casualty rate will stay that way and that more helping hands show support to the afflicted in our country, in China and wherever they are.
