Community reaches out to Manila typhoon victims

Trinity alumni and staff have been working to help victims of the recent devastating floods in Manila caused by Typhoon Onday.

Thursday 8 October

When Nicole Quizon (TCFS 2007, July Main intake) first heard that damaging floods had hit her home country of the Philippines, she wanted to do something to help.

She began a drive to collect $5 pledges from friends on Facebook, to be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross. She also wrote to various public figures, hoping $5 pledges from them would help encourage others.

Within days, she had collected $500 – and the figure has continued to grow. Then she was stunned - and thrilled - to receive an additional pledge of $10,000 from a prominent community leader.

Nicole says: ‘In addition to that major pledge, we currently have over $1,500 in pledges, with more coming in.’

Nicole has also helped man phones for a radio telethon, been active in collecting in-kind donations such as clothes and food, and is also involved in a number of fundraising events, including one to benefit the many other natural disasters that have struck in the region – all the while also juggling her studies at the University of Melbourne.

Nicole will be taking pledges until the end of October, after which all funds will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross. If you would like to help, please contact her on
Mobile: 0458 603 723
  Email: quizonn@gmail.com

Friday 9 October

Organised by Associate Director of Advancement Ms Dana Zarzycki, staff across all parts of the College today held a 'Jeans Day' to assist Jess and Terry Ramos – the retiree parents of Associate Director, Community Relations,  Vincent Ramos (TCFS 1997) – who lost all their possessions when more than a month's worth of rain fell in just six hours, flooding their Manila home.

Luckily, they managed to evacuate just as the water levels were becoming life-threatening – neighbours helped them through neck-high water to the relative safety of a two-storey home across the street. Vincent's sister, Laura, who lives with her parents, was stranded at her office for two days, unable to get home due to the weather conditions and impassable roads.

Flood insurance does not exist in the Philippines, but the sum of more than $1,700 raised by Trinity's denim-clad staff will, we hope, provide some help towards repairing and replacing the necessities of life.

Monday 12 October

In thanking staff, Vincent said:

'I cannot tell you how significant this help is to my parents.

They have spent the past week and a half clearing and cleaning (a task that has been both a heartbreak and a respite from helplessness), and aspects of normality are gradually returning to their lives. They are taking pleasure in small, seemingly trivial items they have managed to save – things like a lamp or a childhood toy, an old cookbook.

In time, practical things they’ve lost – walls, doors, beds and mattresses, kitchen cabinets, and major electrical goods – will be replaced (with, as much as possible, more flood-resistant equivalents), and with the help they’ve received – including that from the generosity of so many in the Trinity community – the financial burden of this task will be considerably lightened, and the despair they’ve felt has been tempered by the concern of so many. They are very grateful, and have asked that I convey that to you.'

He also added:
'PS. Others in Manila – and in quick, tragic succession, so many others in so many other places around the world – were far less fortunate than my parents, and lost more, and lost lives. I hope, if you have the capacity and have not already done so, that you might consider (also) making a donation to the Red Cross (www.redcross.org.au), one of its overseas equivalents, or another organisation assisting in relief efforts around the region. The need is widespread, and as we’ve demonstrated here, there is great power in the collective contribution of many.'