I have lived in Rotorua since 1980.
What caused you to found the Philippine Club of Rotorua?
At the time there were 50 Filipino families in Rotorua and a lot of them asked and encouraged me to help set up a Filipino organisation which I did. So the Philippine Club of Rotorua was formed. In February 1996, the BOP Philippine Friendship Society Inc was established.
Are there many members in the Rotorua area?
We have approximately 50 to 80 financial members in the BOP Philippine Friendship Society and a lot of Filipino supporters. In the PCRI, I guess it would be a similar number.
When is typhoon season in the Philippines?
The Philippines is in a typhoon belt rather like the Pacific Ring is an earthquake belt.
Because there are only two seasons in the Philippines, the typhoons usually comes from June until late November each year.
What exactly is a typhoon?
It is like a smorgasbord of natural disasters-rain, hurricanes and tidal waves. This typhoon had wind speeds of over 300km/h.
How did you learn about the typhoon? It must be a worrying time for you and your friends.
We learned of the typhoon through TFC (which is a Filipino channel available in NZ now), CNN and the news on TV. Fortunately my family is safe in Manila.
But some of my friends have had no news of their families since last Friday, there is no electricity in the affected areas and 95 per cent of the infrastructure is down.
How badly affected is the Philippines?
Words cannot describe the devastation in Tacloban, Leyte and Cebu. A total of 9.5 million people have been affected. At least 600,000 people have displaced from their homes.
Officially the death toll stands at 2,750, but 8,000 people are still unaccounted for. The roads are impassable due to debris and dead bodies everywhere. There is looting and scavenging for food. Everyone needs water, food, medicine and shelter.
Has there been a good community response to the appeal?
Yes and we are still working on it. We are organising a street appeal in City Focus on November 29, and a dinner auction at St Mary's Parish School Hall on November 30, from 6pm to fundraise.
We are asking businesses and the community to donate goods that can be auctioned.
How can people help?
The people of Tacloban need food, water, medicines and accommodation. Tents, portable generators, cooking equipment absolutely everything and anything.
Money is probably the best thing to donate. Money can be donated at Goldiluck Store on Hinemoa St and Fiesta Pinoy Asian Shop on Amohia St.
Or to Federation of Filipino Association bank account number 03 1702 0149293 00 reference YOLANDA or non perishable goods can be donated to the Red Cross on Rangiuru St.
We need the community to help us, any small thing will help.
