Mexican 5th grader donates to flood victims

A donation of P2,451 may not be much, but victims of tropical cyclones "Ondoy" (Ketsana) and "Pepeng" (Parma) will find it meaningful since it came from a fifth-grade student from Mexico. Young Alejandro Luna Flores told Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Alejandro Ortigas III he took the money right out of his "alkansiya" (piggy bank). "(Flores called Ortigas) to express sympathy for the victims of typhoons 'Ondoy' and 'Pepeng' and to hand over a donation of $410 Mexican pesos (approximately P2,451 Philippine pesos) for Filipino children who are victims of the calamities," the Department of Foreign Affairs said, citing a report from Ortigas. The DFA said Alejandro, accompanied by his lawyer parents and his six-month-old brother, took the amount straight from his piggy bank during their meeting Oct. 9. It said Alejandro developed an interest about the Philippines during a summer class and started collecting items about the Philippines, including P2 bills. Alejandro told Ortigas in a letter that he is interested in Philippine history, and that the Chocolate Hills in Bohol are among his favorite tourist destinations. "The young boy said he hopes to visit the Philippines someday," the DFA said. Ortigas said he intends to ask a friend in a chocolate and cookies business to match 100 times Alejandro's donation, so it can benefit more Filipino children. During his call on Ortigas, Alejandro presented the Philippine Embassy a rooster art work in blown glass, a product of the State of Hidalgo. His father explained the rooster symbolizes the cockfighting influence of the Philippines to Mexico. In turn, Ambassador Ortigas gave Alejandro a Philippine table flag and other mementos. • Prayers from Cuba In Havana, Cuba, the International Christian Church (ICC) worship service last October 11 offered prayers for the victims of "Ondoy" and "Pepeng." In his message to the ICC congregation, Philippine Ambassador MacArthur Corsino said that every calamity bears a challenge and a lesson to turn to God and grow in spirit. “It is in times of greatest fear, pain and suffering that we realize our nothingness and turn to God," he said. Prayers were also offered for victims of the earthquake in Indonesia, the tsunamis in the Samoan and Tonga Islands and flood victims in other parts of Asia. Clothing from the UAE In the United Arab Emirates, donations continued to pour in for Philippine flood victims,including new designer clothes from a clothing firm, which donated some P568,000 worth of products. A report on UAE-based Khaleej Times (www.khaleejtimes.com) said the “Marks and Spencer" there donated new clothes worth 45,000 dirhams (P568,533) for the victims. The Al Ghurair Group of Companies also donated 100 boxes of food and clothing was sent through DHL. This was aside from some Dh800,000 (P10,107,269) that Filipinos based in the UAE raised for the victims following a series of fund-raisers and community events. Of the amount raised by the Filipino community, Dh104,650.81 (P1.322 million) cash had been remitted to various government agencies, foundations and institutions in Manila. Some Dh500,000 (P6.317 million) was raised in a “Lakbay Buhay" (Walk for Life) at Safa Park last Friday, Dh19,461 (P245,871) from “Jeans for a Cause" from Crowne Plaze Hotel and Dh184,000 (P2.325 million) from the United International Private School. Lucille Ong, president of the Philippine Business Council, said the “Lakbay Buhay" collections were immediately turned over to the Red Crescent Dubai after the event. Philippine Consul General Benito Valeriano said they will continue to collect and send donations to the Philippines. Meanwhile, Robert Ramos, chairman of the Filipino Community Organizing Committee, said more than 25 volunteers of various nationalities from volunteer units in Dubai helped the group load three trucks of relief goods from Lahbab Dubai. “We almost filled up the 40-foot container with 50 jumbo boxes and 250 boxes of various sizes," Ramos said. These donations included 678 boxes collected on Monday at Reef Mall, in-kind donations from the Samaya and Ramee hotel chains. Checks from Chicago In Chicago, the Quezonian Foundation Inc. (QFI) and Pagbilawin Foundation Inc. donated two checks for the flood victims. The DFA said QFI and the Quezon Association of the Midwest (QAM) donated US$1,000 while PFI donated $2,000. Both checks were made payable to the Philippine National Red Cross. - GMANews.TV