LET US HELP AKLAN

"The love we give away is the only love we keep." - Elbert Hubbard

It's been over a week since Typhoon Frank wrought havoc upon our nation. While news of the sinking of Sulpicio Lines' MV Princess of the Stars continue to occupy the front pages, the pleas for help from storm ravaged towns and provinces are beginning to fade from the headlines. Unfortunately, this lack of attention aids in the natural and rapid decline in donations and relief operations. Donations usually peter out within two weeks of a disaster, and this is the period wherein our help becomes vital.

There are a few dozen provinces in desperate need of attention and relief - Aklan is one of the hardest hit. Flashfloods and mudflows have claimed 50 lives and destroyed more than 40,000 homes. The estimated damage is now more than PhP1.5B. Ten days after the typhoon, many areas are still buried in mud, an outbreak of diarrhea is plaguing displaced residents, and the province still has no electricity. Relief workers say they still have enough rice to distribute for the next four days, but contributions and relief work are beginning to dwindle. What Aklan urgently needs at this time are canned goods and construction materials for Aklanons to start rebuilding.

Aware that as Filipinos we all have to pitch in and give life to the spirit of bayanihan, the Black and White Movement is doing its part. We have already given cash donations to Operation Compassion, an organization dedicated to this kind of work, to buy canned goods, enough to tide over some Aklanon families for a day or two. But there is still so much work to be done, lives to be saved, and spirits to be raised.

We cannot do this alone. We urgently appeal to your hearts for much needed support. We will be working with Operation Compassion, the Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR), and other allied networks to channel your contributions, in cash or in kind, to the hardest hit areas so that relief goods and construction material can be delivered by relief workers.

For cash donations, you may deposit directly to the following Bank Account:

Account Name: Black and White Movement, Inc.
Account Number: CA 000712-01751-1
Bank: Equitable Savings Bank, Moonwalk-Merville Branch

After you have made your deposit, please write us at info@BlacknWhite-Movement.com to inform us of the details so we can properly account for all donations. We shall keep a running tally on our website/blogsite so that you can keep track.

For the donation of goods, you may deliver them to drop-off points set up by CNDR:

• Petron Stations
• Ayala Foundation drop-off points at Glorietta 4 and Ayala Malls
• ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya at #11 Examiner St. in Quezon City
• Manila Water offices

As the initial outpouring of aid and support begins to slow down, the cries for help and relief continue unabated. Let our individual contributions sustain the much-needed relief effort. It is in times like these that we need to stand united as Filipinos, roll up our sleeves, and save lives.

Please pass this on to fellow countrymen. Together, we may yet see a better Philippines.

God bless,

Enteng