Tag: typhoon

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FAM (FILIPINO AMERICAN MUSEUM) TO LAUNCH ITS THIRD TYPHOON HAIYAN RELIEF FUNDRAISER

Reception and Exhibition: January 10, 2014, 6-9 pm at
Eleven Rivington, 195 Chrystie St., New York City

(New York, NY – December 20, 2013) FAM (Filipino American Museum) is pleased to present the third installment in a series of fundraisers for Typhoon Haiyan relief. Beginning on January 1, 2014, a benefit art auction organized by FAM and hosted on Paddle8 will launch, featuring works donated by over 30 artists. The auction will close on January 11 at 6 pm EST.

As relief efforts following the typhoon enter a second month, FAM continues to rally support for much-needed long-term recovery plans in the affected areas of the Philippines. The beneficiary of the auction will be the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), a global organization committed to short-term and long-term planning and relief for women and children affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The WRC is working to identify the most effective ways to help survivors of Typhoon Haiyan reclaim their livelihoods and establish stable lives in the aftermath of the disaster. FAM supports WRC’s hands-on approach and long-range strategy and looks forward to working with this committed and inspiring organization. 

The organizing committee, brought together by FAM, is comprised of Filipino Americans in the arts: gallerist Augusto Arbizo; artists Avena Gallagher, Josh Kline, Paul Pfeiffer, Carissa Rodriguez and Jon Santos; and photographer Christelle de Castro.  

FAM is thankful to the diverse group of emerging and established American and international artists who swiftly responded to the benefit committee’s call to action by donating their artworks to support the survivors of the devastating typhoon. The artist list (in formation) includes: Becca Albee, Ei Arakawa, Anthony Castro, Paul Chan, Matt Connors, TM Davy, Michael DeLucia, Cheryl Donegan, Anne Eastman, Keltie Ferris, Nik Gambaroff, Josh Kline, Ajay Kurian, Margaret Lee, Jason Loebs, Michelle Lopez, Charles Mayton, Nick Mauss, Jessica Mein, Ken Okiishi, Virginia Overton, Andre Razo, Athena Robles, Carissa Rodriguez, Miljohn Ruperto, Jon Santos, Leanne Shapton, Mika Tajima, Grace Villamil, Amy Yao, Anicka Yi, Amy Lien & Enzo Camacho, Tobias Madison & Emanuel Rosetti.

FAM’s first benefit for Typhoon Haiyan relief, ‘Bayanihan Spirit’, took place at the Galapagos Art Space in November. It raised $11,000 for National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON). The second benefit, an online holiday shop featuring items from today’s leading designers, is an ongoing campaign and will benefit LIFESAVER systems fund for the Philippines.

About Women’s Refugee Commission
The Women’s Refugee Commission has conducted extensive research on the positive long-term impacts of supporting livelihood activities in emergencies. Getting people back on their feet and linked to regular income is one of the most urgently needed and effective strategies towards lasting recovery. At the same time, having access to a safe livelihood reduces vulnerabilities and the risk of sexual violence and exploitation of women and older girls in particular.

With your donations, the Women’s Refugee Commission will focus on restoring livelihoods in a heavily damaged area of Samar. These activities will be centered on artisans whose production of woven and embroidered goods is purchased by a small company. Assistance to resume production would support the livelihood of 500+ families, help the local economy rebound and reduce the vulnerabilities and risks of trafficking, sexual violence and exploitation of hundreds of women and young girls.  

About FAM
FAM (Filipino American Museum) is the first museum focused on examining the connection between contemporary Filipino American arts and the roots and traditions of the Philippine diaspora. A startup committed to presenting cultural programs in stimulating and unprecedented ways, FAM is dedicated to seeking out what it is to be Filipino in America. In the spirit of a diverse people, FAM’s roving programs serve as a fluid, user-generated, inquiry-based space. An untold American story, FAM presents its findings through live performances, exhibits, installations, community forums, online content and otherwise.

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BREAKING NEWS! The Philippine Government Requests TPS

16/12/2013: PH SEEKS ADDITIONAL IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR PINOYS IN US

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-131-2013
16 December 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Philippines has formally requested Washington for additional immigration relief measures to allow eligible Filipinos to stay and work in the United States so they could support the country’s long-term post-typhoon recovery efforts, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Monday, 16 December.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario said the request to designate the Philippines under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was officially conveyed on Friday, 13 December, by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. to the Department of Homeland Security through a note verbale to the Department of State.

“Recognizing the intense desire of the Filipino-American Community to more effectively assist victims, we would like to formally request that eligible Filipino nationals in the US be granted Temporary Protected Status under Section 244 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act,” said the letter signed by Ambassador Cuisia and addressed to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Rand Beers.

The request was made in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,000 people; displaced more than 4 million and affected more than 12 million during its violent rampage across the Central Philippines last month.

More than 200 Filipino-American organizations across the US, backed by members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, the Catholic Church and other NGOs have requested for the additional immigration relief measures that a TPS designation would be able to provide to Filipinos.

Secretary Del Rosario said if the request is granted, the Philippines will join four other countries that were placed under TPS after going through similar natural catastrophes. These are El Salvador and Haiti after these were devastated by earthquakes in 2001 and 2010 respectively and Nicaragua and Honduras after they were affected by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Ambassador Cuisia said the Embassy has also been in discussions with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State and the DFA in Manila since the TPS was first brought to his attention a few days after Haiyan struck the country.

Ambassador Cuisia said the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Consulates General in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Agana made the recommendation to Secretary Del Rosario during their annual conference in Washington, D.C. last week and after extensive consultations with leaders of the Filipino Community in their respective jurisdictions.

Ambassador Cuisia explained that a TPS designation for the Philippines would allow eligible Filipinos currently in the US to support the long-term relief and rehabilitation efforts in the country because they could be given temporary authorization to stay and work for a limited period.

He said the request will have to first be evaluated by US authorities and may take some time. If approved, eligible Filipinos can start filing their applications, which will be reviewed on a case-to-case basis.

He said that in addition to TPS, Filipinos already in the US can also take advantage of the immigration breaks announced by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service on 15 November of which some Filipinos have already availed themselves.

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NAPABA DONATES $10,000 TO TYPHOON HAIYAN RELIEF EFFORTS

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

1612 K Street NW, Suite 1400 
Washington, DC 20006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
November 20, 2013

Contact: Emily Chatterjee 
(202) 775-9555

NAPABA DONATES $10,000 TO TYPHOON HAIYAN RELIEF EFFORTS 
Supports Immigration Relief for Filipinos Based in the United States

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) today announced that it has committed $10,000 to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in support of the IRC’s emergency relief efforts in the Philippines. NAPABA also announced its support for temporary immigration-related relief for individuals from the Philippines who are currently in the U.S.

“NAPABA is committed to supporting the victims of the Typhoon Haiyan catastrophe. We will be donating $10,000 to support the IRC, which is currently focused on clean water, health care, and other urgent needs in the Philippines,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of NAPABA. “Almost a million people have been displaced internally, and the rebuilding efforts will be ongoing for years to come. We encourage all those who are able to do so to make a charitable donation to the IRC or to other groups working on the ground.”

In addition to the list of aid agencies recommended in NAPABA’s statement in support of victims of Typhoon Haiyan on Monday, which may be found here, potential donors may want to consider Save the Children and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON).

Tina Matsuoka, executive director of NAPABA, stated, “We recognize that, in addition to financial support, victims and their families need other assistance, which is why NAPABA has endorsed Temporary Protected Status for the Philippines. With TPS, Filipinos in the U.S. can be protected from deportation and are eligible to work, enabling them to continue to send remittances back home, thereby helping their families rebuild their lives.”

Under §244(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) would allow nationals from the Philippines residing in the U.S. to receive a temporary, humanitarian form of relief from deportation, and make them eligible to obtain work authorization. The Department of Homeland Security designated Haiti for TPS in similar circumstances after a massive earthquake in 2010. Today, NAPABA joined the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and others in a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Beers, and formally requested that the Philippines be designated for TPS will all due haste.

About the International Rescue Committee:

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. When an emergency arises, the IRC arrives on the scene within 72 hours with urgently needed supplies and expertise that protect people caught in the midst of chaos. We commit to stay as long as we are needed, helping survivors to heal, recover and rebuild their communities to be stronger, more stable and more democratic.

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FAM PRESS RELEASE: FAM (FILIPINO AMERICAN MUSEUM) ORGANIZES A NIGHT OF BAYANIHAN SPIRIT TO RAISE FUNDS TO BENEFIT TYPHOON HAIYAN RELIEF EFFORTS

Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 8pm

Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

(Flushing, Queens – November, 18, 2013) – A press conference at the District Office of New York State Assemblymember Ron Kim announced a major benefit to raise funds for Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts. Organized by FAM (Filipino American Museum), the fundraiser will take place this Thursday, November 21 at the Galapagos Art Space in Dumbo, Brooklyn. With an estimated 11 million Filipinos affected, displaced or left homeless by this catastrophic event, FAM has urgently rallied an impressive group of individuals, businesses, local government officials, and community organizations to create an evening celebration of the Bayanihan Spirit. The Filipino term, ‘Bayanihan’, refers to a spirit of communal unity and effort to help build a neighbor’s home.

All proceeds will go to National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), whose “Taskforce Haiyan” is a grassroots relief effort coordinated directly between Filipinos in the US and those in affected areas of the Philippines. Funds will be spent on food, water and medical supplies and distributed by Philippines based groups. For more information, please visit NAFCON’s website by clicking here.

According to Nancy Bulalacao, a FAM founding member, “At FAM we have the ability to build a coalition that demonstrates a solidarity as New Yorkers and Asian Americans by coming together to support the real efforts for relief on the ground in the Philippines. We are artists, writers, musicians, cultural and community organizations moved by the tragedy and looking for ways to express our support. We serve constituents who are directly affected by the tragedy. What happens thousands of miles away resonates directly with us here. The level of loss in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan can be felt no matter who you are or where you live.”

Assemblymember Ron Kim states, “I join my colleagues in government and all our community members in feeling absolutely heartbroken over the recent natural disaster in the Philippines. Through the recent natural disasters that have hit our coast in the last two years, we know a fraction of what is going on now in some of the cities and towns in the islands of the Phillpines.  As part of the worldwide community, it is important to show our support and solidarity, now more than ever.  My office will continue to do what we can to support groups like FAM in raising relief funding.”

The Emcee for the evening will be Miss Info from HOT 97. The program will feature readings by Kilusan Bautista, Luis Francia, Bino Realuyo, and Lara Stapleton; music by Deep Foundation, DILIA*, Hydroponikz, !llmind, Joe Bataan, Masia One, Norman Vladimir, and Smokey Robotic; DJ sets by GETLIVE!, and Jon Santos; and a demonstration by Pekiti Tirsia Kali Elite. Food for the event will be catered by Red Egg and Salome Tarts.

FAM is grateful to the benefit’s Host Committee, comprised of Christelle de Castro, Rik Cordero, Stephen Decker, Avena Gallagher, Michelle Lopez, Josh Kline, Paul Pfeiffer, and Carissa Rodriguez. FAM also acknowledges the immense support and help from the following Community Partners: ANAKBAYAN, Asian American Arts Alliance, Asian Cinevision, Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU, Asian American Writers’ Workshop, BAYAN USA, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE NYC), Ma-Yi Theater Company, New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), New York Asian Women’s Center, Next Day Better, Assemblymember Ron Kim, Assembly District 40, The Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York (FALANY), Two Trees Management Co, UniPro.

The hashtag #FAMaid will be used throughout social media networks by FAM and by all of the partners to spread the word about the benefit.

Tickets to the event are $10 and can be purchased at the door or online.

About FAM
FAM (Filipino American Museum) is the first museum focused on examining the connection between contemporary Filipino American arts and the roots and traditions of the Philippine diaspora. A start-up committed to presenting cultural programs in stimulating and unprecedented ways, FAM is dedicated to seeking out what it is to be Filipino in America. In the spirit of a diverse people, FAM’s roving programs serve as a fluid, user-generated, inquiry-based space. An untold American story, FAM presents its findings through live performances, exhibits, installations, community forums, online content and otherwise.

Website filipinoamericanmuseum.com
Email [email protected]
Facebook facebook.com/filipinoamericanmuseum
Twitter @famnewyorkcity
Instagram @famnewyorkcity

Media Inquiries
Nancy Bulalacao
917-472-9936 or [email protected]

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From our Friends at FALAFNY – Report on Typhoon Yolanda: How You Can Help the Victims in the Philippines

As many of you know, the Philippines was recently devastated by what the many have referred to as “the perfect storm,” a “super typhoon,” and “one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded.”
 
It has been a little over a week since Typhoon Haiyan (or Typhoon Yolanda, as it is known in the Philippines) made landfall in the Philippines, and yet the needs of the victims in its path have not abated.  Many remain without shelter, food, water, or medication. According to CNN, as of November 15:

  • more than 3,000 are dead
  • 9 million are affected, 4 million of whom are children
  • 2.5 million are in need of food despite 40 tons of food packs having been distributed
  • $300 million in immediate relief is needed.

The Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York (FALANY), along with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey (APALA/NJ), encourage you to consider helping relief efforts in any way you feel appropriate.

See upcoming fundraising events here.
See locations for donation drop-offs here.

Please keep in mind that due to the magnitude of the devastation and the limited manpower available on the ground, financial contributions to aid agencies are most welcome, rather than donations of consumer goods.
 
If you wish to make a financial donation, we suggest the following organizations for your consideration, both of which have 501©(3) status:

  • University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (“UPMASA”). UPMASA is a non-profit organization comprised of medical professionals who graduated from the University of the Philippines.  They are accepting donations until December 11 to support their medical mission to the worst affected areas in the Philippines.  The funds will be used to provide acute and prophylactic care to those most in need.  Donations may be made through their website: www.upmasanational.org.
  • Gawad Kalinga (“GK”) is a non-profit organization founded in the Philippines.  It has been at the forefront of ongoing relief efforts. GK is collecting donations to assemble food packs. One food pack costs $5 and will feed a family of four for 3-4 days.  The organization is also collecting donations for the infrastructure rehabilitation and rebuilding of the affected areas.  Donations can be made through their website: www.gk-usa.org/donate. Checks may also be mailed to Gawad Kalinga USA, 13860 Stowe Drive, Poway, CA 92064, Memo: Typhoon Haiyan.

Also attached to this email is a list of upcoming fundraising events in the area and a list of drop off locations for donations in kind (canned goods, blankets, clothing).
 
We encourage you to inquire with your employers regarding donation-matching programs.  The following companies have established such programs:

  • Allstate (dollar-for-dollar match for donations made through Dec. 6; a 15% match will be available thereafter)
  • McGuireWoods (dollar-for-dollar match of donations made to the Red Cross by its employees up to $50,000)
  • Sprint (dollar-for-dollar match of donations made by its employees and retirees up to $25,000)
  • Verizon (dollar-for dollar match of donations made by its lawyers and staff up to $25,000)

We thank you for the time you have taken to read this message and for any help you might be able to give.  Should you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact FALANY at: [email protected].