ALFA Hands over $13600 Cheque for Washi/Sendong Relief
JULY 2012: Members of community groups, Artists & Linked Friends in Action (ALFA), and Iliganons & Lanaonons In Sydney, Australia (ILISA, Inc), met last Saturday the seventh of July 2012. ALFA handed over to ILISA, Inc a couple of cheques for $13600 dollars.
ALFA, a gathering of multi-cultural musicians and their print and radio broadcast friends, banded together earlier this year to produce a music CD. The CD was to raise funds to go towards relief efforts for survivors of tropical storm Washi/Sendong which demolished parts of the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City in Mindanao, Southern Philippines mid December last year.
The CD entitled, “ONE – Our New Era” comprising of 15 original songs, sold 500 copies in two sold-out CD launches. The songs are also available online via www.beaufunkcious.bandcamp.com.
ALFA, a gathering of multi-cultural musicians and their print and radio broadcast friends, banded together earlier this year to produce a music CD. The CD was to raise funds to go towards relief efforts for survivors of tropical storm Washi/Sendong which demolished parts of the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City in Mindanao, Southern Philippines mid December last year.
The CD entitled, “ONE – Our New Era” comprising of 15 original songs, sold 500 copies in two sold-out CD launches. The songs are also available online via www.beaufunkcious.bandcamp.com.
ALFA's Initial Outreach
AUGUST 2012: Bayug township in Iligan was completely wiped out, of which over a hundred children perished. Residents were settled in tents in nearby town of Mandulog. The assistance were provided to those assessed to be the neediest, majority are orphaned children. Sixty five families benefited from the disbursement of $600; this was primarily used for water purification, personal hygiene packs and other sundries. Iligan Disaster Rehabilitation Coordination Centre provided the helicopter used for the distribution.
Washi refugee site visited by ALFA rep
DECEMBER 2012: The Sydney-based community group, ILISA Incorporated, citing lack of manpower, returned the remainder of the donated funds to ALFA. A cheque to the amount of $13,001.16 was handed back to ALFA last December 16 five months after the money was donated to them.
ALFA then searched for suitable non-government international organisations which have sufficient manpower to organise ALFA’s target project to refurbish school rooms and provide water pumps. ALFA believes that education, and clean water, important in maintaining health and hygiene were a longer lasting legacy than merely buying food for the flood survivors.
Rotary Club of Iligan City President Arnold “Aji” Garbanzos said the Rotary Iligan had the manpower and capacity to deal with the project. Aji suggested that a Sydney-based Rotary Club could be partnered with Rotary Iligan, to be able to tap into Rotary’s matching grant system, potentially increasing the current $13,001.16.
ALFA then searched for suitable non-government international organisations which have sufficient manpower to organise ALFA’s target project to refurbish school rooms and provide water pumps. ALFA believes that education, and clean water, important in maintaining health and hygiene were a longer lasting legacy than merely buying food for the flood survivors.
Rotary Club of Iligan City President Arnold “Aji” Garbanzos said the Rotary Iligan had the manpower and capacity to deal with the project. Aji suggested that a Sydney-based Rotary Club could be partnered with Rotary Iligan, to be able to tap into Rotary’s matching grant system, potentially increasing the current $13,001.16.
~One~ Charity CD project finds new partners
FEBRUARY 2013: On December 16, 2012, five months after the money was turned over to ILISA, the remainder of the funds was returned by ILISA to ALFA, citing lack of manpower as the reason for not having executed the agreed projects in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. A cheque to the amount of $13,001.16 was handed back to ALFA.
ALFA then searched for suitable non-government international organisations which would have sufficient manpower to organise ALFA’s target projects: to refurbish school rooms, and to provide water pumps. At the time of ALFA’s first meeting, after the collection and accounting have been finalised, there were sufficient donations worldwide for food supplies so ALFA decided to focus on long-term projects. The group members agreed that funds were to be used towards areas of education and clean water to maintain health and hygiene which were considered with longer lasting legacy than merely buying food for the flood survivors.
The ALFA-Rotary Fund Management Committee had met on last February 11, 2013 to discuss processes involved to potentially increase the current fund.
ALFA then searched for suitable non-government international organisations which would have sufficient manpower to organise ALFA’s target projects: to refurbish school rooms, and to provide water pumps. At the time of ALFA’s first meeting, after the collection and accounting have been finalised, there were sufficient donations worldwide for food supplies so ALFA decided to focus on long-term projects. The group members agreed that funds were to be used towards areas of education and clean water to maintain health and hygiene which were considered with longer lasting legacy than merely buying food for the flood survivors.
The ALFA-Rotary Fund Management Committee had met on last February 11, 2013 to discuss processes involved to potentially increase the current fund.
*In the photo: ALFA Spokesperson Mitchell Badelles with the Rotary Club of the Hills-Kellyville members President Bobby Redman, Treasurer Keith Stapley, Secretary Wilf Van Emmerick, Vocational Director Ian Pearce and Club Service Director Alan Jones.
ALFA & Rotary "Shows You the Honey"
AUGUST 2013: Although a ‘matching grant’ is not available, the Rotary Club Hills and Kellyville advised on 23 August 2013 that $5,000 grant had beehn approved to be added to the ALFA money, thereby increasing the funds to $18,000. ALFA and Rotary Club Hills and Kellyville are expecting submission of all supporting documentation for the projects to be funded by mid-September and release of the funds to be made thereafter.
ALFA Provides the Foundation with Rotary Iligan
After seven months of numerous exchanges between the Rotary Club-Kellyvile, Rotary Club Ilagan and ALFA team members, the dream for Iligan will soon materialize! Immediately after being informed by Rotary Kellyville of the $5,000 grant approval on the 23rd of August 2013, ALFA and Rotary Club Iligan worked closer to getting the labour quotes, project approval and proposal for Dalamas Elementary School.
On the 25 September, Past President Arnold Garbazos declared "based on the Council of President's meeting today, the Body has decided to give the entire program to Past District Lady Vicky Hamoy. The Council is very happy for all the help extended."" Lady Vicky then organized the final quote that ALFA approved for release of funds from Rotary Kellyville to Rotary Iligan East.
As result, the $15,000 cheque was issued and Lady Vicky reported the MOA signing (pictures below) held at the dept of Trade and industry Office on Oct 7' 2013. PDG George Hamoy presented and explained the projects. This was attended by representatives from DECS, DTI, Philippine Export association! Rotary club of ILigan East. All parties were represented. The event was covered by the local ABSCBN.
On the 25 September, Past President Arnold Garbazos declared "based on the Council of President's meeting today, the Body has decided to give the entire program to Past District Lady Vicky Hamoy. The Council is very happy for all the help extended."" Lady Vicky then organized the final quote that ALFA approved for release of funds from Rotary Kellyville to Rotary Iligan East.
As result, the $15,000 cheque was issued and Lady Vicky reported the MOA signing (pictures below) held at the dept of Trade and industry Office on Oct 7' 2013. PDG George Hamoy presented and explained the projects. This was attended by representatives from DECS, DTI, Philippine Export association! Rotary club of ILigan East. All parties were represented. The event was covered by the local ABSCBN.
President District Governor George Hamoy
The Main officers of the organization and the principal of Dalamas Elementary School
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The tarp that shows ALFA and Rotary Club Kellyville's involvement in repairing the 5-classroom building (Building A), construction of 2 toilets for buildings A &B plus supply of armchairs
Below is the documented proposal submitted by Lady Vicky Hamoy including photos of the current state of Dalamas Elementary School
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The officials representing the participants of the project. All president of the clubs, the principal and head of DECS
The attendees of the signing of MOA for the supply of locally made school desk made of bamboo
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FINAL STAGES FOR CDO
SEPT 2013 - Below is the project proposal for the Indahag Permanent Resettlement of Typhoon Sendong Survivors from Elmer V. Sayre, In-house Adviser of WAND Foundation which stated;
"The Indahag Permanent Resettlement Community is composed of 3,947 households. All of them came from various localities hit by Typhoon Sendong. They are permanently barred from going back to their old residences for fear of another calamity like Typhoon Sendong. Typhoon Sendong affected 41 barangays with 38,125 families and 228,714 persons in Cagayan de Oro City with persons dead 1,517.
Last August 29, 2013 one senior officer of the WAND Foundation, Giovanni Yangyang conferred with the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro City at the VIP Hotel to explore partnership in order to provide support to the Indahag Resettlement Community. Then on August 30-31, Mr. Yangyang visited the area and talked with the local residents and leaders in order to assess what we can contribute."
The community currently needs 4 waiting sheds, perimeter lighting and livelihood assistance; the latter being the "number one clamor of local residents stating that they have skills but lack the basic equipments (in the case of carpentry and cabinet-making)". Hence the ALFA team has decided to vote for empowerment; support the locals by providing micro-credit loans.
According to Sayre, "The WAND Foundation has a thriving micro-credit program in Cagayan De Oro supporting some Sendong survivors and this initiative will be integrated into our current effort."
ALFA has been waiting for CDO constituents to comply with all our requirement in terms of revised proposal and partnership agreement between WAND Foundation and Rotary Club CDO before we authorize release of funds. Rotary Kellyville has already sent the cheque to Rotary CDO.
"The Indahag Permanent Resettlement Community is composed of 3,947 households. All of them came from various localities hit by Typhoon Sendong. They are permanently barred from going back to their old residences for fear of another calamity like Typhoon Sendong. Typhoon Sendong affected 41 barangays with 38,125 families and 228,714 persons in Cagayan de Oro City with persons dead 1,517.
Last August 29, 2013 one senior officer of the WAND Foundation, Giovanni Yangyang conferred with the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro City at the VIP Hotel to explore partnership in order to provide support to the Indahag Resettlement Community. Then on August 30-31, Mr. Yangyang visited the area and talked with the local residents and leaders in order to assess what we can contribute."
The community currently needs 4 waiting sheds, perimeter lighting and livelihood assistance; the latter being the "number one clamor of local residents stating that they have skills but lack the basic equipments (in the case of carpentry and cabinet-making)". Hence the ALFA team has decided to vote for empowerment; support the locals by providing micro-credit loans.
According to Sayre, "The WAND Foundation has a thriving micro-credit program in Cagayan De Oro supporting some Sendong survivors and this initiative will be integrated into our current effort."
ALFA has been waiting for CDO constituents to comply with all our requirement in terms of revised proposal and partnership agreement between WAND Foundation and Rotary Club CDO before we authorize release of funds. Rotary Kellyville has already sent the cheque to Rotary CDO.