Students for Typhoon Ondoy

The response of the government for Typhoon Ondoy has been criticized. In a story published in the Inquirer website, Sen. Logarda says, “It’s plain incompetence of the leadership, and government was absent,” said Sen. Loren Legarda. There is a pending bill on “disaster risk management.” Senator Biazon has blamed the NDCC “for the slow passage of the bill in the House of Representatives.”

While there are many criticisms, the response of many Filipinos has been praised here and abroad. There are many continuing untold and unpublished stories around us. And these includes the hundreds of young students who fill campuses, å barangays halls and warehouses around the city where they are packing relief goods for the typhoon victims.

Schools like UST, La Salle, UP and Ateneo have pulled in their students and teachers into their campuses to pack relief goods. These volunteers have given up their holidays to provide hands which have touched the hearts of many.

Officers and staff members of the UST Central Student Council have brought in concerned students for the packing of relief goods, clothes and other items for the typhoon victims. This operation was called “Tara Tomasino, Tulong Tayo.” Maybe, UST can adopt 400 families who are victims of Typhoon Ondoy as part of its 400th year program?

Ateneo de Manila University also opened up its campus to volunteers and victims. Students who need help or know of people who need help and text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). The school is now an open shelter and accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)

There is an Ateneo DREAM Team established in Sept 2006 to coordinate the efforts of various units within the school toward the relief and rehabilitation of disaster victims. DREAM stands for Disaster Response and Management Team. The Dream Team runs Ateneo Task Force Ondoy, in partnership with the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan.

De La Salle University-Manila is accepting donations and goods. Drop off at the South Gate of DLSU-Manila. DLSU Medical Center is also accepting canned goods, blankets, clothes and water. Drop-off point is at Congressional Avenue, Dasmarinas, Cavite. You can (02) 844-7832 and (046) 416-4531

UP Diliman USC is collecting food, clothing and/or cash. Contact Titus 09178001909, Jose 09273056607 and Tin 09154906106. UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL) is accepting goods and cash. Donation center at CAL/text 0929-6454102

Assumption College is now accepting donations. These can be dropped off at the AC guardhouse inside San Lorenzo Village. St. Pedro Poveda College is accepting relief goods. You can call the Social Action Center 6318756 loc. 121.

All these students continuing presence in the flooded streets and inside their own campuses have made the country proud!