The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Filipino Association of the Bahamas wants to raise $10,000 in relief aid to send to Philippines after the deadly category seven typhoon Haiyan slammed that country last week.

Dr Grace De Castro, president of the Association, said in the upcoming weeks several initiatives are planned to raise money, including a food sale at the Kendal Isaacs Gym. The sale will take place from 9am to 3pm on Sunday.
Category 7 Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines shortly before dawn on Friday, bringing gusts that reacted 235 mph with waves as high as 45ft and pouring down 15.75 inches of rain in places.
Dr De Castro said: “It has been really heartbreaking to see your fellow Filipinos suffering and having dead members of their family in their hands, nothing to eat, nothing to drink.”
She added that though Filipinos in the Bahamas “have been downtrodden” in the wake of the disaster, they have committed themselves to supporting their fellow countrymen and women in any way that they can.
Dr De Castro said an account will soon be set up to allow businesses to deposit money to aid relief efforts.
Since the disaster, she said Filipinos in the Bahamas have hardly communicated with their family and friends in the Philippines. “The first communication happened on Sunday and it was difficult,” she said, adding that there has still been no communication between Filipinos in the Bahamas and people in the area of the Philippines most affected by the typhoon.
To raise money Dr De Castro said the Association plans to host a raffle and an invitational game in the upcoming weeks.
Items for sale during Sunday’s event include Filipino egg rolls and such Filipino delicacies as cassava bread, tofu, muffins, porridge for breakfast and barbecue.
Dr De Castro said she hopes the food sale could raise $1000. $300 has been raised so far to aid relief efforts, she said.
“Right now it’s prayers and monetary help that we could extend to them. We are really trying our best to help as much as we can,” she said.