Freelance writers to help Sendong victims

ANTIPOLO City, January 22, 2012—The Freelance Writers’ Guild of the Philippines (FWGP) is now gathering textbook donations for the student-victims of massive flooding in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro caused by typhoon Sendong (International name: Washi).

“Typhoon Sendong did not only ruin lives, wrecked homes and damaged properties. It also destroyed books and with it drastically affected the education and future of the students,” reads FWGP statement posted in Facebook.

Teena Estrada, a member of the FWGP steering committee, said that the flood victims in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro are trying to rebuild their lives and the FWGP believes that education plays a big role in renewing the lives of the young people there.

“FWGP, in its own small way, would like to help the students slowly ease back into school by sending books to the libraries and school supplies to individual students,” Estrada said.

Donations can include textbooks and reference books for elementary and high school students; school supplies such as sharpeners, pencils, ballpens, erasers, scissors, pad papers, notebooks, envelopes, crayons, rulers, rolls of tape, pentel pens, manila papers, and other supplies; materials that students need in school like bags, socks, underwear, towels, toiletries, etc.; and cash.

“Donors can send their cash, if they are comfortable depositing it into individual accounts, since FWGP doesn’t have a bank account in its name yet. The said amount will be used in buying more school supplies and materials mentioned,” she said.

Estrada said that donors can send or deliver their donations in the following addresses:

Quezon City drop-off points
1. Bookay-Ukay bookstore, #55 Maginhawa St., QC
2. 78-C General Segundo St., Heroes Hill, QC

Makati drop-off points
1. Kanto Gallery (The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Makati)
2. YesPinoy Foundation (4F Jose Cojuangco & Sons Bldg., dela Rosa cor. Palanca St., Makati)

Manila drop-off point
1. National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP Compound, 470 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila)

For cash donations, please get in touch with FWGP through the numbers and email addresses below:

Ime Morales (FWGP) 0917.937.8617 / imelda.aznar@yahoo.com
Teena Estrada (FWGP) 0915.391.3129 / teena_osorio@yahoo.com
Jofti Villena Delizo (FWGP) 0908.894.5174 / joftivillena@gmail.com.

The deadline for sending donations is on January 28. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]