Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from the Philippines.
Within an eight-day period at the end of September 2009, the Philippines was battered by two typhoons, Ketsana and Parma. Incessant rains following the storms triggered floods and landslides in northern Luzon island. Over 250 people perished as half a million people were affected, with dozens of towns and villages inundated and many crops destroyed.

Upon hearing of these devastating storms, Supreme Master Ching Hai quickly donated US$35,000 to assist the most desperate, an amount that could acquire US$497,000 in urgent items in the United States, based on the cost of living in the Philippines.

Covering their own travel and related expenses of US$554, our Association’s relief team from Formosa (Taiwan) traveled on October 18 to the heavily affected Rosales municipality in Pangasinan province.
There, the Municipal Social Welfare Development told the team that 2,250 people were in need of help in the area. Our Association members swiftly purchased rice, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and sugar.

With the help of local volunteers, they packed the supplies the following morning and traveled to several villages to deliver the packages along with informative SOS flyers. At the relief sites, our Association members were touched by the courage of the Philippine people, who maintained their faith, smiles and support for one another. They were also very grateful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s aid.

Hon. Sonia R.Lorenzo, Mayor of San Isidro Municipality (F): The people of San Isidro would like to express their thanks to you. Thank you for your golden heart!We appreciate the assistance of the Rosales Municipal Social Welfare Development and local volunteers.

Our thankfulness also goes to Supreme Master Ching Hai, whose loving care brings comfort to the vulnerable, and to our Association’s relief team for their dedicated efforts. We pray for the Philippine peoples’ smooth recovery to the fulfillment of their regular daily lives and that such tragic circumstances are alleviated through our greater consideration of the ecosphere.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/30/vietnam.typhoon.ketsana.toll/index.html