SAN FRANCISCO, CA, November 20, 2014 – “On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck Central Philippines and brought untold suffering and devastation. But Typhoon Haiyan is not just a story about pain and destruction. It is also about the triumph of the human spirit and the overwhelming response of the Filipino people throughout the world and the international community.”
These were the opening words in the invite of Philippine Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. to the Filipino community of the San Francisco Bay Area as he requested Filipino American organizations to share in words and images the relief and rehabilitation efforts they have undertaken when Haiyan struck. They enthusiastically represented at the 1st year commemoration ceremony at Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco.
Among the organizations presented by host Radi Calalang of the Philippine Aid Network are: ABS-CBN Foundation Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation; Apl.de.ap Foundation; The Asia Foundation; Commune Hotels + Resorts; Facilities Design Group; Filipino Community Alliance, Filipina Woemn’s Network; Gift of Light/Gift of Hope; Give2Asia; Keen Footwear; LBC; MedShare; National Alliance for Filipino Concerns; Philippine Airlines (PAL) Foundation; Neighbors Abroad of Palo Alto; Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center in Daly City; Philippine International Aid; American Red Cross; Assemblymember Rob Bonta; The San Francisco Giants; The San Francisco 49ers; United Architects of the Philippines-California Chapter 116; FASAE & UPAA SF; World Vision; and Philippine Aid Network.
The event opened with an exhibit entitled, “Displaced”, of Bay Area photographer Ric Rocamora which shows photos of the damages wrought by Haiyan in Tacloban, followed by a Mass celebrated by Rev. Mark Reburiano, then the presentation of the reports of the Filipino organizations.
