Expats raise money for Haiyan victims

Filipinos and other expats here have been joining efforts to help people suffering from the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan, with events ranging from drawing events to a boy band concert in Myeong-dong.

Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (PIKO), a group of Filipino academics, has raised over 10.5 million won so far through efforts including a charity concert in Hongdae, a text-messaging drive and a relief collection at a church.

The money is going to the Philippine Red Cross and the Association of Social and Health Development Advocates, which works with the Philippine Department of Health to provide medical help to less high-profile areas in need that bigger NGOs do not concentrate on.

PIKO member Eva Marie Wang said many PIKO members had family affected by the storm, and were initially out of touch with them.

“They now have some contact, but some areas don’t have food, don’t have water, and there’s no help coming in there,” said Wang. “So right now we are monitoring some of those areas and getting some feedback from home.”

PIKO has helped its members contact their universities to appeal for donations and in some cases the schools have joined appeal efforts themselves. One university organized a text-messaging drive to seek donations, raising 1.5 million won.

A concert in Myeong-dong on Friday included performances from K-pop boy band A Prince, the Eddie Chun Acoustic Unit and some Filipino singers, raising 1.3 million won.

The concert started initially as a plan to go caroling in Hongdae, Wang said, but grew after members got in touch with entertainment industry contacts.

“We were not expecting these kinds of help, it just popped (up). It reminded us that initiative is very important,” she said, adding that a lot of inspiration came from a small group of students who sold snacks on Nov. 11, Pepero Day, to raise money.

“They posted it in our (Facebook) group and a lot of people were inspired by it.”

Another PIKO drive at Hyehwa Catholic Church ― a focal point of the Filipino community in Seoul ― drew 84 volunteers on Sunday to pack boxes of supplies and take donations.

Wang said PIKO was accepting donations of food and flashlights, and would be taking hygiene-related goods such as diapers and sanitary towels in the future, but not food that needed to be cooked ― such as instant noodles ― or clothing.

“We discourage used clothes because there is an advisory from the NGOs back home that these are bulky and hard to sort out and not that helpful,” she said.

Wang said some people had even donated winter clothes, but that they were considering making use of them by holding a jumble sale and donating the proceeds.

Another group will run a fund-raiser at the Bull and Barrel in Itaewon at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23. “Phillin’ Cups for the Philippines” will provide DJ entertainment and raffle off prizes donated by local businesses to raise money for the Philippine Red Cross.

Cash donations are being taken at Cheap Shots Bar and Grill in Incheon and Harp Irish Bar in Bundang. A flea market will also be held at Harp on Saturday and Sunday.

Manila Town in Ulsan has been collecting clothes and cash donations, with the aim of raising 20 million won.

Seoul’s Jankura Art Space held a fund-raising drawing session Saturday, raising 300,000 won, and will hold another on Friday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The suggested donation for attendees is 10,000 won.

“When I saw what had happened there, and then saw the sadness and distress of friends who are from the Philippines I knew I could at least try to do something,” said Mike Stewart, who runs Jankura Art Space.

With friend Michelle Buenavista, who is from the Philippines, he has also been collecting food, clothing and other used items. He said some of the used goods would not be sent, but sold at flea markets over the next few weeks.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)