Pinoys in China donate tents for Sendong victims

Filipino communities in Beijing and Tianjin in China helped victims of tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi) in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City in the Philippines by donating 23 tents to the affected families.   Philippine chargé d' affaires Alex Chua received the donations from Sally Silud of Couples for Christ-China Chapter January 16 to buy 23 tents.   Each tent can accommodate eight people, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) news release said.   "This donation is testament that the spirit of bayanihan is alive and well among our kababayans in Beijing and Tianjin. The total cash pooled from Filipino individuals and organizations amounted to RMB 27,600 (equivalent to  P180,000)," Chua said.   Silud said the donors included teachers, housewives, musicians, artists, hotel managers, businessmen, and doctors, as well as members of the Pinoy Overseas Photographers (POP-Beijing), and the Filipino community in Tianjin.   "Actually, some of us have already contributed to the relief efforts in one way or another, but when the Embassy called for the Filipino community in Beijing to join hands, the love just came pouring in," said Marco Torres, associate director of a design company and a recipient of the 2011 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas.   Flag carrier Philippine Airlines will transport the tents from Beijing to the affected communities in the Philippines free of charge, through the Office of Civil Defense.   "Sendong" left at least 1,257 dead and more than P1 billion in damage to property. - VVP, GMA News