LOS ANGELES — A year after Typhoon Haiyan slammed the Tacloban shoreline, the Philippines and other worldwide organizations have been working vigorously to continue rebuilding and recovering the land from the disastrous event.
In an effort to raise awareness and to encourage ongoing typhoon relief support still needed, Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell from the 13th District presented at the Council meeting on Friday, Nov. 14, along with Philippine Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim and representatives of disaster relief and community groups.
Councilman O’Farrell talked about the devastating way Haiyan, also locally known as Yolanda, impacted thousands in the Visayas region last November, losing far too many homes, business, and lives to the storm. An estimated 2.5 million survivors were left in need of food, supplies, and medical assistance, with many of those displaced seeking temporary places to stay.
Humanitarian efforts worldwide have grown tremendously over the past year, from donation drives to hundreds of Red Cross volunteers providing emergency aid and local support to a broken-spirited people.
“The 13th District embraces its rich diversity, and today our brothers and sisters in the Filipino community need our compassion and support more than ever,” O’Farrell said.
Consul General Herrera-Lim also spoke to the council on behalf of the Filipino people, also thanking the city of Los Angeles for its continued support for the typhoon relief, and encouraging others to get involved.
“It is great comfort that the community of Los Angeles remembers us on this typhoon anniversary day, and hopefully can continue to show support in terms of rebuilding,” Lim said. “We, too, are building back better. We want to be the voice of a pressing challenge in the world today—the voice which evokes an awareness of climate change and its impact on communities around the world, and the voice of new political action by different governments in terms of disaster funds and key issues of national security.”
“On behalf of my community, thank you. Thank you for keeping the spirits of our people alive.”
Lisa Schultz, founder of The Peace Project, also spoke about the community-building initiative that the organization is heading in Tacloban, where volunteers have been working to clean up debris and damages, and have already finished a community of 40 houses for Haiyan victims just before the one-year anniversary. An additional 200 houses for families in need are planned.
“We’re not just going to build your home; we’re going to work with you to help you rebuild your community,” Schultz said. “If you believe you are powerless, if you think you can’t create miracles, simply look around at what you’ve created.”
Aqui Soriano-Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) based in Los Angeles, touched upon the importance of granting Temporary Protection Status, or TPS, to typhoon victims who depend on the support of their families here in the US.
“For a lot of affected Filipinos, we’re the first line of aid and the only network, their families,” Soriano-Versoza said. “People here, domestic workers, are sending their money back home. Families without access depend on this support. There are over 10,000 still living in tents in Tacloban— there’s still so much work to be done and unfortunately, very little resources, and that’s what we are trying to fix.”
“We want people to not only survive, but to thrive and find their livelihood again,” she continued. “The faith and spirit of the Filipino people is still strong.”
By writing petitions, pushing for bipartisan support, and educating others, PWC and similar community organizations have been working closely with the LA City Council calling for executive action towards TPS.
Though the Philippine government’s official petition of TPS has not yet been addressed, the Council has already pushed for a resolution granting the status. Councilman O’Farrell has shown his support, issuing a statement back in April: “It would be unconscionable to deport Philippine nationals back to their native country, which has limited resources after Super Typhoon Haiyan delivered such a devastating blow.”
Council President Herb J. Wesson — who represents the 10th District — finished the presentation, “We feel a special friendship and partnership with the Filipino community, and we will assure to do our part and continue our support.”
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend November 15-18, 2014 Sec. A pg.1)
