A mass-based women’s organization in the United States have met inspiring results in its fundraising efforts to help victims of typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines.

In New York, the Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), surpassed their commitment of raising US$1,000 by October 3, 2009 for immediate assistance to affected communities in the Philippines.

“It is definitely amazing. That even in the midst of disaster, Filipinos can come together like this.  Even our non-Filipino friends, co-workers and family have given us a lot of support, from clothing drives to financial donations,” said FiRE Secretary General, Irma Bajar.  

FiRE, a member of Gabriela-USA and Bayan-USA has raised more than US$2,000 and also pledged to gather donations in kind.

Ondoy ravaged Metro Manila and South Luzon last September 26. The typhoon displaced hundreds of thousands of Filipinos and left more than 200 dead.

“You can see how broken, how corrupt Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration is.  Before, she spent all of the Filipino people’s money on her trips to other countries. Now, she wants all donations to go through her government.  Does she think we’re stupid, that we can’t see what she’s trying to do?” Bajar said.

For student Jackie Mariano, FiRE deputy secretary general, the disaster was not God-sent.
 
“This was man-made. It’s not just the lack of government preparation for typhoon season that comes every year; it is also the government’s policy in allowing corporations to acquire Philippine land and use it however they want, without any oversight on how they might weaken urban infrastructure,” Mariano said.

Mariano added, “People who were displaced by Ondoy deserve better.  We all know it.  This is why so many people in the community responded”.