'Dancing inmates' donate P100,000 for Ondoy victims

CEBU, Philippines - Inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center responded to the appeal for humanitarian assistance in the wake of massive devastation after the onslaught of typhoon “Ondoy” in Luzon over the weekend.

Capitol consultant on security matters Byron Garcia and Leo “Bosyo” Suico, the head of all inmates of the provincial jail, turned over a check worth P100,000 as financial assistance for the typhoon victims through the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

GMA-7 Cebu station manager Ann Marie Tan personally received the check.

The GMA-7 Kapuso Foundation, in partnership with the Cebu provincial government, has mobilized a relief operation for the victims of “Ondoy”. Donations are now accepted at the drop-off point in the Capitol Compound (in front of Baex Building/Capitol Post Office).

“It’s hard-earned money sa mga piniriso but ilang nadesisyonan nga mohatag. Gikan intawon na sa ilang pagsayawsayaw nga naay mohatag pod nila,” Garcia said, adding that the move of the inmates has touched him so much as “they have no second thoughts when they decided to shell out monetary help.”

The 1,500 “dancing inmates” of the CPDRC have been gaining worldwide popularity from the moment their “Thriller” performance was uploaded to YouTube, a video-sharing website.

Suico, on the other hand, said they decided to extend assistance after seeing over 200 people perish in the floods and the more than 500,000 people displaced in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces.

“Nakakita man god mi sa TV mao nga nakadesider mi og hatag. Nakaingon mi nga bisan kami naa sa prisohan pero among tan-aw nga mas nagkinahanglan silang tabangan karon,” Suico said.

In a press release sent to The FREEMAN yesterday, the Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore A. Selverajah handed over humanitarian relief supplies worth US$30,000 donated by the Singapore government to Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross.

Gordon expressed his appreciation for the prompt assistance, noting that Singapore is a friend that has always been quick to respond to a neighbor in dire need.

Meanwhile, Gothong Southern Shipping donated P5,000 to the GMA Relief Center. 

Ruth Orillaneda, assistant vice president for the HOUR project of the Gothong Southern Shipping, turned over the amount to Joy Joan Orendain of GMA.

The amount represents the “champion’s purse” in the recently held GSS Sportsfest which was won by HILOOM, a combination of the departments of Human Relations, Internal Audit, Legal, Office of the Chief Executive Officer, One Wilson Place, and the Management Information System.

HILOOM decided to forego their planned victory party and donated the money to the flood victims instead.

GSS has also provided container vans to transport relief goods from Cebu to Manila. GSS is a new player in the country’s shipping industry with a fleet of four vessels. It is owned by the family of Bob Gothong.

Further, Congressional aspirant Jonathan “Atan” Guardo has decided not to push through with his birthday celebration on October 7. Instead, he will donate medicines worth P500,000 to typhoon victims in Cainta, Rizal.

Guardo said he will personally hand over his donation to Cainta Mayor Mon Ilagan, who happens to be his friend, when he visits the place next week.

Earlier, he planned to hold his birthday celebration with the senior citizens of the south district. “This is not the time to celebrate. Many of our fellow countrymen are suffering from the wrath of typhoon Ondoy. Instead of celebrating my birthday, I would rather share what I have to the victims of the flood,” Guardo said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

In relation to the call for relief, the Lapu-Lapu City Council passed a resolution allocating P1 million financial assistance also for Cainta.

Vice Mayor Mario Amores introduced the resolution in yesterday’s regular session which was approved in mass motion by the members of the city council.

Amores said that though other cities and municipalities in Metro Manila and provinces in Central and Northern Luzon were also affected by typhoon Ondoy, the members of the city council identified Cainta as the local government unit that needs help the most.

The council also authorized Mayor Arturo Radaza to have the amount released in coordination with the LGU of Cainta and in consonance with the requirements set by the Commission on Audit.

The Lapu-Lapu city government, in coordination with a local television network, has also launched a relief campaign.

The City Social Welfare Office received order from Radaza to accept used clothing, food items, and other donations.

The Filipino-Cebuano Business Club, Inc. which is a group of small traders in Cebu has also replicated the move.

Club president Rey Calooy said that they are closely working with local TV networks for this endeavour and that drop-in centers have already been identified in Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Talisay. — Garry B. Lao, Rene U. Borromeo and Jose P. Sollano/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)