Damayan nets $25,000 aid from B.C. Premier Christy Clark

Damayan nets $25,000 aid from 

B.C. Premier Christy Clark

By Alex P. Vidal

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- As organizers of the January 21 Damayan concert for typhoon victims in the Philip­pines initiated a “pass-the-hat” campaign, B.C. Premier Christy Clark donated $25,000 to the International Red Cross for the fund-raising campaign. “In times like this, support from the international community is critical in order to help deliver emergency aid to those who need it most,” Clark declared in a video message aired at the concert ven­ue Broadway Church. Clark emphasized that funds are “urgently needed for food and shelter, health care services, and clean water to the families who are suffering so terribly.”

“On behalf of all British Co­lumbians, I send out our deepest condolences to those who have lost family and friends to this tragedy. I want you to know that our thoughts and our prayers are very much with you in this incred­ibly difficult time,” Clark added.

The fundraising effort was a collaboration of Philippine Con­sulate General, the Multicultural Housing Help Society and the Reyfort Media Group. The Damayan concert and oth­er fundraising initiatives gained a total of at least $42,000. The donation was delivered to Consul General Jose Aspeso, MHHS president Tomas Aven­dano, and Reyfort Media Group chairman Rey Fortaleza by Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minis­ter and Burnaby Lougheed MLA Harry Bloy and Outreach Director Pamela Martin of the Office of the B.C. Premier.

Also present were Communi­cations Director Brian Bonney and B.C. Government Commu­nity Liaisons Dennis Marsden and Sepideh Sarrafpour. In a heartfelt speech, Fortaleza described as “overwhelming” the response by the Filipino Canadian community and its friends to the call for aid to the typhoon victims.

“From the first calls I made to organize a series of fund raising events, the outpouring of com­passion and sympathy is the most touching I have been in recent years,” Fortaleza told the audience.
“It proves that as a commu­nity united in purpose, we can do great things,” Fortaleza added.

The concert was preceded by a telethon event on January 20 at the MHHS on Fraser Street. The telethon saw the strong participa­tion of members of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Ac­countants.
The concert featured Joey Al­bert, Ray-An Fuentes, Luisa Mar­shall, Salve Dayao, Linda Magno, FYE Live Artists, and PNT Idols.

It was also presented by the Metro Vancouver Philippine Arts and Culture Exposition Society (MVP-PACES), Palengkeng Pinoy Trade and Exchange Network (PP10), G-AIR Cargo, Royal Bank of Canada, LBC Cargo, Filipino Seniors Club of BC, Filipino Canadian Construction Society, and CanFil Golf Association.