HERE’S THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION IF YOU WANT TO SEND ASSISTANCE FROM A LOCAL OR INTERNATIONAL LOCATION.
Let me be totally transparent. I am not an official aid agency nor do I have a foundation set up. If you would prefer to go through those channels, I strongly encourage you to do so. But based on reader responses to an earlier post, some are willing to course their donations through Marketmanila/Marketman and I assure you that 100% of your donations will go towards food, water and any other critically needed items. ALL overhead expenses (assembling goods, packing them, transporting and distributing them) will be shouldered by Marketman & Family or donors to the GMA Kapuso Foundation volunteers in Cebu. I will detail total funds received and how they were spent in future posts on this blog. Also, for the more tech-savvy among you, our daughter is setting up her own effort with friends that is all internet based, and I will post details as soon as they get that up and running as well.
If you are in the Philippines, there are no local fees for deposits into this account from any BDO branches. If you are abroad, your remitting bank may charge you something, and the local BDO branch has promised to keep local fees to their barest minimum. So if you are planning to remit funds, and you have several relatives or friends who also wish to do so, I strongly ENCOURAGE you to POOL those funds from one location and send the donations all together to minimize fees.
Account Name: Joel A. Binamira and Eva Sonia Espana
Bank Name: BANCO DE ORO (BDO) GORORDO BRANCH CEBU CITY PHILIPPINES
Account Number: 00609-016-9462
Bank Swift Code: BNORPHMM
I will acknowledge all deposits into the account, but as with the last time I did this years ago, acknowledging your names from bank records can get tedious so I suggest the following… Do not send a typical amount like say $20, $50 or PHP5,000 — Instead send like $97.50 or PHP1,997 so that you can quickly recognize the deposits that I will indicate in future posts, like I did here.
In case you are wondering what’s in the aid packs we are putting together, a typical bag will include 2 kilos of rice, several cans of sardines and several packs of instant noodles. We will also be giving roughly 6000 liters of Nature Spring water care of Mrs. MM (Monterrazas de Cebu). A complete “set” will cost roughly PHP130 or $3.50 each. In the past 6 hours, we have assembled 2,500 packs with nearly 20 Zubuchon volunteers and we will be leaving at daybreak tomorrow, Tuesday, for the towns in Northern Cebu to distribute the goods.
Some photos from the re-packing we did earlier today…
Marketman, family and the Zubuchon family are MOST GRATEFUL for your assistance and I am sure the folks up North ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda will be even more thankful.
Many thanks to all of the folks who have dropped off donations in kind at the Zubuchon branches over the past day and in the days ahead.
Some photos below from our GM’s trip to Bantayan on Sunday, where she accompanied folks from the GMA Kapuso Foundation that were amongst the first, if not THE first truck full of relief goods to arrive on the island, 48 hours after the Typhoon Yolanda hit. Their accounts of what they saw were heartbreaking. These photos are nowhere near as depressing as some of the aerial shots of the area that have already been published on the net…
53 Responses
Hi MM, by “our daughter is setting up her own effort with friends that is all internet based”, do you mean PayPal? If so, then I’ll wait for that. Otherwise, I’ll go to BDO tomorrow.
JB & Renee, I think it is credit card based, not Paypal as far as I understand. More on that soon, will post a link as soon as they get it up and running.
Thank you very much MM family, crew and volunteers! We will deposit soonest. I feel so assured that our small help will go a long, long way. In the meantime, our prayers for the victims/survivors continue. Additional prayers for our corrupt officials to return the money they stole from us by donating to the victims!
MM, I wish to send it thru Xoom.com but they need an address of the recipient. Please let me know. Thank you.
Transfer in progress thru xoom.com. It’s taking a while to process the remittance, most likely because it’s a new account? BTW, i used Zubuchon’s Gen. Maxilom address and phone number, hope you don’t mind, they asked for recipient’s address and contact number to complete transaction. Thanks a lot MM for making it possible for us to extend help from afar. More power to you all!
Theresa, the account was only opened three hours ago, so I am not sure if that will affect the process. Alona, the address on that account is:
2651 Villalon Drive
Capitol Site
Cebu City, 6000
It’s the head office of Zubuchon. :) Thanks.
MM, ignore my first message. I just used the bank’s address and number. Thank you very much!
i will be depositing some money tomorrow in your BDO account. If you need anything more please contact me directly thru my email.
Will also deposit thru bdo tomorrow, God bless your whole team, God bless the Philippines
Just finished depositing my check here in greenhills but late for clearing. Godspeed MM.
No need for acknowledgement. Will use bdo. Just a suggest, you may wish to rethink instant noodles, and go for the mingoy alternative.
God Bless you MM :-)
Hi MM,
I’ve sent you an email re my Peso donation thru http://www.xoom.com
Thank you very much for your act of kindness! Please extend my gratitude to all the people helping you in packing and distribution – Daghan Salamat kaayo!
Thanks also to Mrs MM and to your daughter. :-)
httpss://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151757644498193&set=p.10151757644498193&type=1&ref=nf
I don’t know if you will be able to view but Manilahelicoptetours has 2 choppers they are offering for use 09164915148…
Got it, thanks MM
Thank you, MM.
Marketman, will your operations extend to Leyte?
Vanessa, unfortunately for now, just Cebu and not Leyte. The logistics for Cebu are difficult enough for a private group, Leyte would be impossible for us just now.
Dear MM — thank you for making this arrangement. I would like to ask your permission to post a link of this entry to my facebook account. Some of my contacts are also asking me of different ways to help.
Elma, yes, please go ahead, along with previous two entries so they have some context to the situation. Thanks.
Dearest Market Man,
That photo of the house with the sad chandelier is actually my family’s old house. I am so grateful for your kindness and for your efforts. It’s the smaller islands that also need all the help. According to relatives there, so many people are homeless and lost and frightened. We will be in Bantayan on Friday to see relatives and to help out.
I am also Fonsi and Mitzi’s sister in law.
Monica
Marketman, noted. I just wanted to clarify that part about the areas you are able to reach as I am writing an appeal to friends to make donations. Thank you.
Thank you for this post. My little help/donation on the way. God bless you all!!!
Dear MM, Could you kindly provide your bank’s swift code…i could not send it thru xoom. i will just make a bank to bank transfer. Thank you!!!
I’ve never commented on any post (was perfectly fine with just reading), but I’m doing so now because I wanted to say that I think you’re doing an amazing thing. I sent in my donation via xoom :)
Not the most profound comment to add to the discussion, MM, but when you say you provide cans of sardines, are you assuming that folks can open them at least? I read somewhere before from a previous calamity that people were upset because they were given these things but had to pry them open with knives or whatever implement they could get their hands on.
I guess since there was not much flooding, people’s belongings are still “intact” in their houses.
Please let us know if the Teen’s efforts on receiving overseas donations are underway. We’ll help spread the word.
Kudos to you MM, family and crew for this great effort to assist those who are most affected. With such widespread devastation, I can’t imagine how such much needed help is reaching everyone who needs it. I don’t even know how the government is helping. International and local NGOs, private individuals and corporations like you seem to be the hope of our countrymen during these initial days of crisis. My friends have been asking how to help and I directed them to UNICEF donation site. In addition, I can share your post with them so they can chose to send money to you instead, if they prefer it. With you as the guardian of donations, much sought after water, food and medicine are guaranteed to reach those who needs it most. More power!
Malou, most of the cans of sardines we bought are “easy open” or have a pull tab and don’t need a can opener… I thought about that too. :)
Thank you for thinking, MM! Sometimes, in our mad rush to help, we forget the basics. :)
We’ll figure out this bank transfer later tonight when I get home. In the meantime, thank you for your efforts from all of us here abroad. Knowing there’s an honest conduit for our donations makes us proud. A shining example of true bayanihan in this time of tragedy.
Oh shucks I wish I’d seen this sooner. Will you still be making any relief trips after this morning, MM? I’d also like to share this on FB if so. Thanks as always. :)
mm, i pledge to deposit a (small) amount (with butal, as you said) by nov. 16 at the latest. i work at home and don’t get to go out much. thank you!
I know some may feel apprehensive about donating through local channels, but there are some definte advantages in doing so: https://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/typhoon-haiyan-filipinos-us-rush-aid-homeland
Hi MM. Just deposited a small amount to your BDO account. Too bad we already donated through a couple of agencies before I read your plans. Anyways, i just wanted you and your followers to know that those deposting (over the counter) outside Cebu will be charged P50 for each transaction. If the branch has a Cash deposit machine, fees are waived. Note that not all branches have this machine (no ATM cards necessary). Sayang din the P50 fee, enough to buy a can or 2 of sardines dba? Good luck and thank you!
Thanks for doing this, marketman!
I was wondering, how do the recipients cook the instant noodles/rice? I was advised not to donate things that need to be cooked, particularly with water, I’m not sure if that’s still timely advise (if things have changed on the ground).
Anyway, please advise if you are still conducting relief operations – I’ve been trying to figure out where to donate recently and would certainly trust you and the crew.
Thank you again!
I already sent my donation this morning thru BDO,Cebu. God bless!
Joji, thank you. Mina, yes, in the most ravaged areas with no water, cooking can be a problem. But in other places, they do have some water, and if boiled for long enough, is fine with food. Rice is essential as its such a large part of our diet and in many coastal areas, they get shells, fish, etc. for protein, but they don’t have rice to bulk it up. If you would prefer to give dry goods, crackers would work I suppose, along with the instant meals with bottled water discussed in the previous post… MP, thanks. shiko-chan, yes more trucks headed up Thursday, and after that, if we still have enough goods to bring up to the area.
Hi Everyone!
I have started an IndieGogo campaign with a couple of my friends to raise money for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. For more information, please follow the link below.
https://igg.me/at/connectPH/x/5346001
Donations in any amount are a huge help, and if you cannot donate, getting the word out and sharing the campaign with your friends is also really helpful! Thank you so much!
Congratulations Teen on your campaign. Your Mom and Dad are proud of you, and so am I. Keep up the good work. I gave my contacts UNICEF, RED CROSS, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, and your Dad’s donation post so they can choose where to divert their donation. I will add your campaign to my list. More power!
Any chance that you will have 1 or 2 trips to other affected areas? Thanks
Hi MM,
Just thought I’d let you know, for those of us in Canada who want to donate, the Canadian Government will match every dollar donated for the victims of Yolanda with an equal amount. This helps us Canadians maximize our donations.
Donations can be done by the Canadian Red Cross website
Cheers
Stu
J, we are currently looking into sending help to Coron/Culion Palawan that were also badly hit and where I know some of the affected families directly. The problem is transport of goods to these remote areas, but we are checking on this now. As for Leyte, we just can’t get there as easily as the large aid agencies that are now renting barges, boats, and planes to bring goods in. What I don’t understand is why it can’t arrive by truck from Bicol and North… there should be tons of food aid there by now! And what about the bodies decomposing on the streets and in the rubble? Why isn’t the government landing hundreds or thousands of army and other workers to collect these corpses and lay them to rest? I understand logistics problems, but it’s day 6, and folks are rightfully desperate.
Stu, that’s wonderful news, kudos to the Canadian Government! My nephew who works at Google says their company has the same policy as to do some other enlightened firms in the U.S… that’s a huge help I am sure. Thanks!
Re: Bodies decomposing
In Disasater Preparedness:
” Dead bodies should not be an initial concern. Rescuing the living should be first priority. Priorities must be to saved most lives as possible. Emergency responders will require rest and must be relieved.”
I truly understand their problems outhere – Logistics, safe road, good security for all the people, etc. More Help is coming, I hope sooner than later. I have faith….
My friend Gail Fojas Miller (search on fbook) is collecting goods, repacking them with her family& inlaws & het husband is flying food items & distributing them in Coron. If you’re looking fir a fast option to get food to Coron I believe this is the best option. They wanted to fly items to Leyte but weren’t able to get clearance as of yesterday.
besYS, I agree, but medical help and medicine are equally scarce. There isn’t much security personnel either. At 6 days however, decomposing bodies are becoming a serious health risk for the living and the aid workers. And for that reason, need to be handled as quickly as possible…
Hi MM, getting aid in by land also has its own challenges. Just in the news today, there was a truck that was almost ambushed by the NPA. Also in the news a couple of days ago was a Red Cross truck that was carrying aid for 5,000 families that was attacked and looted by people. This calamity is really pushing people to do such desperate things.
MM,
I totally agree with you, it’s been 6 days na!
It’s so sad and so frustrating to see the news. People are STARVING, plus seeing all the debris, knowning that a lot of their relatives are either dead or missing, no where to go. Nakakaiyak….
I suddenly stopped watching TFC and GMA Pinoy news because of disappointment.
Thanks again for your help. God Bless the Philippines.
Christina, thanks for that tip, I think we may have found a way to Culion, which I wanted to specifically help… so will go that route I think.
Do you set up a separate fund for Coron-Culion MM? I wanted to donate for those 2 islands that I visited and loved.
Nina, no separate fund. I may send PHP50-100K worth of goods to Culion in the days ahead, at the same time that we continue to do Northern Cebu…
Hi MM,
I have been following you blog for a while now, a lurker actually. I am part of small community of Filipinos here in St. Maarten. We are currently raising funds for typhoon victims and we have been getting tremendous support from the people of St. Maarten. At the beginning,we were just simply thinking to assist the victims by sending our collected funds to the Philippine Red Cross but after reading so much in the media of relief not being received by the needy, we are now having a second thought. I knew what I have read on your blogs from the past I can count on your group. Can you please email me for more details. Thanks.
Hi MM,
Late to the effort, can I still make a contribution?
Imagine help can always be used
Best,
Johnny
Johnny, thank you for the offer. We have stopped receiving donations, and have already finished our last distribution of aid up North a few weeks ago. But I would encourage you to support perhaps another conduit such as the Red Cross or even WWF that is putting together bancas for fishermen who lost theirs… livelihood and housing issues are critical at the moment… But again, thanks.