by Susan Palmes
The volume of news about the devastation left by Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) in Central Philippines can be both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Here at North Carolina which has a substantial Fil-American population, the news about the typhoon hit areas left many heartbroken.
Existing organizations don’t have the exact statistics of how many victims came from Leyte, Samar, Cebu and other regions (which I think might be a good project for the next FACC officers in order to start codifying the Filipinos here) since information is only by word of mouth.
An increasing number of Fil-Americans are frantic to call home. It had been a grueling past few days for me asking people around if they knew of Filipinos who have families that were affected by the typhoon.
It is amazing that friends and friends of friends would lead me to this people. One of those bridges is Gina Cohold of Charlotte. She led me to Len Stevens whose parents from the town which is a three hours’ drive from Tacloban City were so desperate in the last two days when they couldn’t contact parents Edwin and Fe Bignay.
Siblings Junerose and hazel were happy to inform Straight from the Carolinas that they managed to contact them through another person the other day.
"My sister Hazel told me that at the height of the typhoon,. the family hid at the bathroom and when the winds were so strong they transferred to the middle room. I thank the Lord that my family is well and only wished that others would be good as well,” she said.
Len, who was seven months pregnant, was born and raised at Albuera, Leyte, a three-hour drive from Tacloban City.
But Yolanda wasn’t kind to the cousin of Grace Aligayen of Greensboro and Michelle Dupyawon of Asheville who learned that their cousin Geraldine Agawin Sustento perished with her entire family.
Grace was emotional as she looked at the family picture with Geraldine in it. She and Michelle were told about Geraldine’s death by another cousin in the Philippines.
She said Geraldine, whom she described as very kind and beautiful, was born and raised in Baguio. Her remains would be brought to Baguio for burial.
Another informant is Princess Diwata of Salisbury, who told Straight from the Carolinas that her friend from Statesville, Eva Alvarez, is looking for cousin Helen Sudario and her family. Eva is unable to contact them.
“She is scared because Eva has no contact with the other members of the family” Diwata added.
Another concerned Fil-Am, Joan Dequina Lightle, is worried about her sister who lives at Kananga, Leyte in Ormoc City. Her parents in Ormoc couldn’t establish contact.
Still another Fil-Am, Grace Aligayenof Greensboro, North Carolina, wrote an article about her cousin Geraldine Agawin Sustento, her husband and son, who all perished last week in her Facebook page. Here's their photo.
Small groups of Fil-Americans here in North Carolina are raising funds to help the victims in different ways. The Filipino American Association of Triad is partnering with News 2 on Thursday this week for a telethon to raise funds for the victims of typhoon Yolanda.
As early as last Tuesday, officers of the organization headed by Marilyn Honcales and past president Joel Acain went on Facebook to ask for volunteers who can receive the calls of help.
Dell Fallar, past president of the Filipino-American Communities of the Carolinas (FACC) invited this writer to a meeting that would discuss ways on how to send donations to typhoon victims .
Also here in Charlotte, invitations to a town meeting at the Asian Library on Nov. 14 from 6 p.m to 8 p.m were distributed by Dr. Nini Bautista, past FACC president.
Dr. Bautista, incumbent president of the Filipino-American Spirit here at North Carolina, said donations will be accepted during the meeting.
She said the meeting will discuss where the money will be sent to ensure that it will go to the intended recipients as well as short-term funding proposals.
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