AUSTRIA – The ingenuity and generosity of Filipino overseas workers have been proven again as thousands of them continue to send financial support and donations to their countrymen affected by tropical storm Ondoy.
 
“After the devastating flash floods that brought the whole Manila under water, it is the time that we will see all the goodness in the world, especially Filipinos working outside the Philippines. Everybody is trying to lend a helping hand in some way or another. Indeed, the “Bayanihan” spirit is very much vivid everywhere,” said Volet Gerstl, publisher and editor of a local Pinoy news-magazine in Austria.

“Our fellow countrymen need our help.  This is the very reason why we should unite especially that our country is in dire need of help. We have to do the one-voice, one-helping hand campaign to support our country,” said Frank Narciso, leader of the Royal Salute Club in Austria.

The Filipino Catholic Community in Vienna and Philippinische Gottesdienst Gemeinde offered masses for the victims of the typhoon.

The Filipino Chaplaincy meanwhile challenged everyone to show the true spirit of Bayanihan and Damayan through sharing of their abundant blessings.
 
All donations will be deposited to proper authorities in the Philippines, though a lot of Pinoy groups opted to send their donations to ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya.

“We have been monitoring the campaign of ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya and the dedication of the people behind this magnificent charitable institution. We want that that our donations will arrive and be channeled properly. We are very much convinced that Sagip Kapamilya has all the credibility to handle our donations,” a prominent Filipino leader in Vienna who declined to be identified told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

Various leaders of the Filipino community in Vienna announced that they are all moving fast to send relief items to the typhoon-and-flood victims in the Philippines.

The Philippine Embassy here is also doing its best to alleviate the plight of calamity victims.

Pinoy Remittance companies have kicked off campaigns to raise funds and solicit relief goods and medicines for victims, too.