Metro Infanta Foundation, Inc.

Contact us … Please send your email to: editor@infanta.org

Posted: Jan. 11, 2004

Filipinos around the world care about Infanta, Real and Gen. Nakar

Below is a list of group donations sent directly to the Prelature of Infanta. These figures are not final. Please note that earlier we reported that Dr. Arsenio Martin collected, through the intercession of Shelley Marie Ortiz and Gene Pallugna, more than $15,000. We understand that Dr. Martin delivered $8,000 to Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona. We have not knowledge of where the rest went, with some reports to National Red Cross. The Filipino Ministry in Los Angeles, under the leadership of Sr. Christina Sevilla, RGS, collected more than $12,000. We are awaiting for the final collection to be delivered by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd to Bishop Tirona.

MIF	$30,000
Texas Filipinos	8,000
Filipino Ministry of LA	12,000
TOTAL	$50,000

Metro Infanta Foundation also noted on the website that other organizations collected funds for the disaster relief. We don not know at this posting, who received the funds or how they were distributed, but we acknowledge them nonetheless for their outreach to our kababayans:

Franciscan Lady of the Poor	$3,000
Florida Filipinos	7,632
Quezonian of Chicago	4,000
Metro Infanta Residents of CA	2,300
TOTAL	$16,932

The MIF collection was made possible by the efforts of many including organizations in various states:

California:
San Francisco International Airport FOM Engineering Department, thanks to Joel Ruidera

Colorado:
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
Our Sunday Visitor (Indiana)

Michigan:
Metro Infanta Association of Michigan, thanks to Mario Leodones

Missouri, thanks to Joe Marquez
Filipino Association, Inc.
Philippine Art Foundation
Philippine Nurses Association of Great St. Louis

New Jersey, thanks to Madelyn Latorre
Mother Seton Regional High School

New York, thanks to Ellen Lardizabal
St. Pius X Religious Education

North Carolina, thanks to Malou Leynes Espinosa
Filipino American Association of the Triad/FAAT
Missionary Baptist Church

Texas, thanks to Ike Mapa
Our Lord of the Harvest

Washington, thanks to Louie Labayen:
Knights of Columbus Council #9238
Gig harbor Filam

Saudi Arabia, thanks to Venchi Gucon
Arabian Consulting Engineering Center (ACEC)

The following individuals, including the above, also solicited help from their friends and relatives:

Dolly Banzon
Hector Bunag
Marilyn Bunag Ibanez
Ellen Mercado Irons
Rose Nacorda
Carolina Rutaquio Nido
Gene Pallugna
Sandra Recio

Our special thanks to all the individuals listed on the left column who responded without any hesitation to reach out to our kababayans in their time of need.

Sandra Recio sent more donations from customers of Feista Bistro in new Jersey. She also informed us via email that, "according to Tessie Leodones-Pagaliluan our organization (Infanta USA Organization - NJ, NY, PA) which has been soliciting clothing , canned goods and financial aid for our kababayans has received positive response from members and friends of the organization. These collected donations will be sent directly to Infanta and will be given to those who do not have adequate family support in this time of need.

Gene Pallugna, Texas, has been helping us speed up our collection process process.

Ellen Mercado Irons, Geneva, Ohio, had sent letters of appeal to her friends, relatives and coworkers

Joel Ruidera has also sent email appeals to friends and relatives to support our cause.

Arriane Serafico, a HS student at St. Scholastica in Manila, has not only managed to get her Religious Education class to reach out to our suffering people, but has now inspired the entire high school to participate in the effort.

Louie Labayen, Washington State, is working with FilAm associations to support our disaster relief.

Poling and Vacion Derilo have solicited various hospitals in Michigan for medicines they can bring with them to Infanta.

Greg and Aning Sollestre are also soliciting hospitals for medicines, as well as collecting used clothing and funds.

Francisco Romantico sent a call for help to graduates of MCHS-Infanta

Levy Orantia Arevalo, et. al, of Infanta Real Association of Canada and Quezon Provincial and Cultural Association of Canada has an all out call for donations, and will have a fundraising event on Dec. 19.

Rex Crisostomo and others in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas have organized an Mass in honor of the victims of Typhoon Winnie.

Venchi Gucon, Arabian Consulting Engineering Center (ACEC) Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Romeo Tena in Australia has asked hospitals and companies in Australia for support.

The Quezonian of Chicago, Illinois, donated $4,000 for a box of medicines that Pol and Vacion Azcarraga Derilo are taking to Infanta.

Jovy Valentino is also collecting in-kind donations in Michigan/

Jinggy and Malou Leynes Espinosa, soliciting for support from friends in North Carolina.

Shelley Marie Ortiz, Texas, approached Dr. Arsenio Martin who generated more than $15,000 in donations. She's also collecting in-kind donations from various local churches in Texas

Sr. Christine, RGS, of FilAm Ministry, California, has asked for support from Filipinos and others who support the FilAm Ministry.

Annabelle Icasiano Clayton, Michigan, approaching pharmaceutical reps for medicines

Dr. Joel Cooperman and Colleen Smith, Colorado, for medicines, funds and other local support

Dolly Banzon, Colorado, for encouraging friends to support our campaign.

Ed and Jures Boiser Ocampo, also soliciting donations from their companies

Sandra Recio, soliciting help from friends

Mario Leodones and the Metro Infanta Association of Michigan.

Joe Marquez in St. Louis, MO, coordinating Simbang gabi with second collection. He was assisted by Liturgical group, Phil Nurses Association, Phil Arts Foundation, Filipino Association and the Fil-Am Community of St. Louis, MO

Franciscan Lady of the Poor, San Leandro, CA sent $3,000 and 15 balikbayan boxes.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, San Leandro

Metro Infanta Residents of California, collected 40 balikbayan boxes and more than $2,300 for the Disaster Relief Fund.

Cora Aguilar is coordinating efforts in the Filipino community in Colorado. Her parish, Queen of Peace, is sending $3,000 to the Catholic Relief Services efforts of the Archdiocese of Denver.

Bart and Marlene Perez working with couples of Christ to build homes.

Genny Panaligan-Ke informed us of Filipinos and Filipino americans in Miami, Broward and West Palm Beach have raises nearly $7,000 for the typhoon victims and are planning a medical mission to Infanta.

We will mail all tax statements at the end of January. Please call us at 303-423-8688, or email us at editor@infanta.org if you don't get your statement by Feb. 15.