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Operation Walang Iwanan: Typhoon Maring (TRAMI)

[Date Created: September 30, 2013]



"Filipinos are truly an amazing people. Every calamity is matched by overflowing generosity, turning Typhoon Maring into a massive display of caring. Thank you to all volunteers, donors, and prayer warriors of GK Operation Walang Iwanan. God be with you."


– Tony Meloto



August 30, 2013


Dear family and friends,

GK Operation Walang Iwanan was activated last August 20, prompted by the heroism of our local teams in the South (Taguig, Las Pinas, Paranaque). They mobilized their networks as early as Tuesday and led distribution efforts despite the heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon Maring.

As soon as we sounded the call, pledges from friends and partners all over the world came in, allowing us to mobilize fast and purchase much-needed relief goods. Hundreds of youth trooped to our command center in Bicutan to help repack and distribute, and we saw a similar outpouring of generosity as online donors responded to the call. This allowed us to buy a second batch of relief goods as late as 8 PM. Our volunteers happily repacked these goods until midnight and distributed them the following day to affected provinces.
There is never a shortage of good hearts in times of calamity.

We were also honored by a touching gesture – the residents of a nearby GK community, GK Villa Paraiso, decided to cook dinner for the volunteers. Throughout the relief operations, our residents and youth from GK communities joined our volunteers in reaching out to the victims.
Our GK residents are not beneficiaries – they are our partners in nation-building. They also help us identify communities in need and organize relief distribution in hard-to-reach areas.





To date, we have 8,000 packs that we were able to raise and distribute in Las Pinas, Paranaque, Pasig, Pateros, Marikina, Bataan, Tarlac, Laguna, Cavite and Pampanga, not counting the local efforts of teams who mobilized on their own. In Pampanga, about 80% of our goods were distributed to non-GK communities, including the still-flooded town of Macabebe where we had to use a boat to do door-to-door delivery to the families. In Laguna, we were able to distribute to one of the hardest hit barangays (Pulong Sta. Cruz, Sta. Rosa). Team GK goes where we are needed the most.

We come out of this experience so grateful to the Lord for always blessing the mission, and to our volunteers, donors, partners and the GK residents themselves. Although it was heartbreaking to see how some of our fellow countrymen have to suffer, there was also much hope to be found in our GK communities. Because more than just relief, Gawad Kalinga believes that these poor families living in danger areas must be rescued and transferred to safe locations where they can build sustainable communities.
Even before the disasters strike, we need to proactively build communities that are safe from natural calamities. (Find out how you can help in GK’s reconstruction efforts here.)

All that we have seen and experienced just gives us even greater resolve to do more, to give more and to serve more. With God’s grace and the support of partners and friends like you, we find the confidence to push for our vision to end poverty for 5 million families by 2024.
 
Maraming salamat po!
 

Walang Iwanan,
Team GK


GIVE:


1. ONLINE VIA CREDIT CARD


2. BANK DEPOSIT

•    Gawad Kalinga Philippine Peso Current Account # 3101 0977 56 BPI EDSA Greenhills
•    Gawad Kalinga US$ Savings Account # 3104 0162 34 BPI EDSA Greenhills (Swift code: BOPIPHMM)


3. GIVE IN KIND


You can still give old clothes so we can distribute to communities who need them the most. You may head to the Gawad Kalinga Global Headquarters at the 2nd Floor, Cheng Building, 212 Haig Street, Brgy. Daang-bakal, Mandaluyong City.



SHARE:


You can also share updates and reach out to those who can help!
1.    Check www.gk1world.com/typhoon-maring regularly

2.    Be on-call and sign up for updates
3.    Like us on Facebook: Gawad Kalinga (Official Page)
       Follow us on Twitter: GawadKalingaHQ

       #‎WalangIwanan‬ #‎MaringPH‬ ‪#‎ReliefPH‬ ‪#‎RescuePH‬ ‪#‎FloodPH‬ ‪




UPDATES FROM THE GROUND:


August 27, 2013, 9:53 PM


Operation Walang Iwanan Update: Tomorrow Team GK Pampanga will distribute 1,000 food packs to Menalin and Macabebe for areas which are still inundated with water. This will bring to 8,000 food packs distributed to areas in Paranaque, Pasig, Pateros, Cavite, Laguna, Pasig, Marikina, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac.



DAY 4:


August 24, 2013, 4:58 PM


...and Operation Walang Iwanan continues! Update from our team below:

"Team GK goes to Binan, Laguna! Together with our volunteers from Pru Life UK. Kahit pagod na, patuloy pa rin ang pagdala ng relief packs at pag-asa. Maring...bagyo ka lang, Pilipino kami. Lahing bayani!"



DAY 3:


August 23, 2013, 7:47 PM


When it comes to leaving no one behind, no town is too far and no flood too deep.


Reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Macabebe, Pampanga had to be done by boat, and our volunteers had to do door-to-door food pack delivery to families who until now are surrounded by flood waters. We were greeted with no electricity and a heavy downpour, but also with hope renewed in the faces of the residents. Ipa-abot daw sa lahat na tumulong sa kanila, Dakal Salamat!


Thank you from the residents of Brgy Castuli, Macabebe, Pampanga. Walang Iwanan!



August 23, 2013, 1:18 PM


On our way to Macabebe, Pampanga to deliver 300 food packs to several barangays. This is the road less traveled. Walang Iwanan!




August 23, 2013, 12:39 PM


The flood won't stop us from reaching out to the families who need our help in GK Circulo Capangpangan in Apalit, Pampanga. Walang iwanan!




DAY 2:


August 22, 2013, 6:55 PM


More than the 158 homes we are building here in partnership with Toyota, what touches you the most about this GK community is the camaraderie and empowerment of the residents. I am so so so glad we went to a GK site as our last stop. Their smiles were more than enough proof that hope is real, and we can end poverty by simply caring and sharing. Salamat Team GK Laguna sa inspirasyon. Para sa Diyos at para sa bayan. Walang iwanan!




August 22, 2013, 6:43 PM


Mission accomplished: 1,000 food packs distributed to Pampanga and Tarlac!


August 22, 2013, 5:22 PM


What greeted us in Pulong Sta. Cruz (Laguna) was a line of so many people in need, whose muddy feet reveal what they had to go through to go to where we were. Small children representing their families are also lined up, and kids have to walk what seems to be 300m of muddy roads to get home. But this is what we are here for, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve the last, the least and the lost. Walang iwanan!



August 22, 2013, 5:00 PM


After a hearty late lunch, we moved on to one of the hardest hit areas, Pulong Sta. Cruz in Laguna. We saw the aftermath of a river that overflowed, endangering the families living near it. We saw what remained of washed-out shanties and makeshift shelter that can barely protect families from the shivering cold. It is always heartbreaking to see poverty like this, but Team GK goes where we are needed most. This is walang iwanan.



August 22, 2013, 2:41 PM


Visiting the Olaes PNOC GK village in Rosario, Cavite. They experienced chest deep flooding. Distributed 308 packs for GK and nearby residents. Their smiles show the gratefulness and appreciation from the bottom of their hearts. We say thank God for this great privilege to care and thanks to everyone for being there to share for our brothers in need.



August 22, 2013, 1:59 PM


2nd Stop: GK Freedomville at Sta. Rosa, Laguna where 66 families patiently waited for us to get their relief packs!




August 22, 2013, 1:56 PM


Update from our team in GK Freedomville, Sta. Rosa, Laguna: These two little girls, Rina and Camille, had to get the relief packs for their family. Their parents are both at work, and their grandma is too old to walk out of their house. Flooding here was almost knee deep.



August 22, 2013, 12:48 PM


Typhoon Maring failed to rob these kids of their joy! Operation Walang Iwanan. Alaska GK Village, San Pedro, Laguna.



August 22, 2013, 12:04 PM


First stop for Team Laguna: Alaska GK village for 130 food packs. Families relocated here now live on higher ground and were spared from the floods. But due to heavy rain, roads are flooded and many have not been able to work and needed relief packs. Kids play in the rain while their parents organize a very orderly relief distribution. Maraming salamat po. Walang iwanan!



August 22, 2013, 11:57 AM


An update from our team in Cavite: Just gave relief goods to GK Alapan, Rotary Village. The community is safe from flooding but it was isolated for one day because surrounding roads were flooded.




August 22, 2013, 10:47 AM


Operation Walang Iwanan Team Laguna praying and planning for our day. We are distributing 800 food packs to 5 communities today. Praying for the safety of the other teams deployed to Pampanga and Laguna.



August 22, 2013, 9:39 AM


On our way to Alapan and Noveleta, Cavite!



August 22, 2013, 9:16 AM


Here in Rosario Cavite, near GK PNOC (Camp David), even the dead were not spared... Relocated from a cemetery 2km away.



August 22, 2013, 9:03 AM


Reloading relief goods from Cavite GK head's (tito Egay) home base... 1,000 packs en route to NOVELETA, NAIC, and ROSARIO.



August 22, 2013, 9:00 AM


Yesterday, hope broke through like a rainbow after the storm, as donations flooded in and volunteers trooped to GK's Operation Walang Iwanan Command Center to repack and distribute relief goods. 5,000 food packs for Day 1! Today, we pray for the safety of our team & volunteers who will brave calamity areas in Pampanga, Laguna and Cavite. And you can still help! We still accept donations at the GK Headquarters, or give online to help us bring hope to families affected by Typhoon Maring.

And to our generous partners and committed volunteers who fuel this work and make this all happen, MARAMING SALAMAT PO! May God bless you for being a blessing to others. Walang Iwanan!



DAY 1:


August 21, 2013, 10:00 PM


Bayanihan line at 10:00 PM. And still ongoing. For Laguna, Cavite and Pampanga. Eto ang puso eh. #PUSO #WalangIwanan #ReliefPH



August 21, 2013, 8:30 PM


8:30 PM and we're still going! Shopping and packing for the last 2,000 packs for deployment to calamity areas in Pampanga, Laguna and Cavite tomorrow.

Nakahabol pa ang mga nabaha at ang mga refugees at nakatikim ng masarap na dinner made with love by GK Villa Paraiso residents. And after a quick dinner break, our volunteers are back to packing, refusing to go home until the work is done. This is bayanihan at its finest. Because walang iwanan isn't just a slogan. It's our way of life. Proud to be part of Team GK. Proud to be Pinoy!



August 21, 2013, 7:47 PM


Mission accomplished! Distributed relief packs to 225 families at GK Tawi-Tawi, De Castro, Pasig!



August 21, 2013, 6:57 PM


All smiles as we give out relief packs to our communities in Pateros! Now on our way to Pasig!



August 21, 2013, 6:07 PM


Team GK distributing relief packs to families affected by Typhoon #MaringPH in Paranaque. 2 other teams were deployed in Pasig-Pateros and Las Pinas. And more than anything, presence is of utmost importance especially in these trying times. Walang iwanan, walang magpapaiwan.


August 21, 2013, 5:23 PM


Volunteers about to be dispatched to deliver 300 food packs in Paranaque. Walang Iwanan!


August 21, 2013, 4:23 PM


The first 3,000 bags are now ready for distribution to Pasig, Pateros, Cavite and Laguna as soon as the rice is repacked. No idle volunteers here! 7,000 more food packs to go!



August 21, 2013, 2:37 PM


Let's make this year's #NinoyAquinoDay extra special by going out of our way to reach out to those affected by Typhoon #MaringPH. Goods are starting to come in, and volunteers are starting to join the repacking. Please spread the words that we are accepting donations. With you and your friends' help, we can raise 10,000 food packs!



August 21, 2013, 10:09 AM


Operation Walang Iwanan is officially open! Let's make this a holiday well-spent: in the service of others.



DAY 0:

August 20, 2013

Dear friends and fellow Filipinos,


This afternoon, we initiated relief operations for Habagat and Typhoon Maring victims.


Most of our Metro Manila GK communities are safe, with the exception of a few in Parañaque and Taguig. Our challenge now is providing relief to the many families who've flocked into our GK communities to take refuge.


We need you and your friends' help. We are targeting to distribute 10,000 food packs at Php 200/pack in Parañaque, Taguig, Muntinlupa and Pasig areas.


We are staging a plan for Laguna, Cavite and Pampanga.


Walang iwanan!



Luis Oquiñena

GK Executive Director



August 20, 2013, 7:00 PM


Operation Walang Iwanan has just been activated, prompted by the heroism of volunteers in the South who mobilized to make sure that affected families, although wet, will not go hungry tonight. We were honored to join Team GK Taguig in distributing food packs to 400 families in 3 GK sites, and this is just the beginning. We hope to raise 10,000 food packs to distribute to many more in various areas tomorrow. Thank you to all the warm bodies who braved the rains and the flood waters this afternoon. Thank you so much to those who pledged. You know who you are! May God be praised.



August 20, 2013, 5:38 PM


Our volunteers from Research and Technology Lab (RTL) brave the storm to provide food packs to our communities in GK Aya & GK Salas here in Paranaque.




August 20, 2013, 2:45 PM


Team GK is on call! We are closely monitoring the situation and helping in small ways. We will update everyone if we will launch full scale relief operations, but in the mean time, let's find ways to reach out and help. You can consider donating online or volunteering in the relief centers near you. Where we come from, everyone's a hero. Walang iwanan!




August 19, 2013, 10:12 AM


We are one with you in praying for the safety of everyone especially those in the flooded areas and our countrymen living in danger zones. Emergency hotlines to remember with important Twitter accounts to follow HERE. (via Rappler) ‪#‎MaringPH‬

If you or someone you know needs to be rescued, submit your ‪#‎rescuePH‬ requests to rescueph.com so they can easily collate info for gov't designated rescuers. Stay safe & dry, everyone!



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GK’s DISASTER RESPONSE EFFORTS:

Every time disasters occur, Gawad Kalinga volunteers and partners respond heroically by sharing resources, organizing relief drives, helping network to others, and even taking part in reconstruction efforts. Read about GK’s most recent disaster response efforts here:

•    Typhoon Pablo (December 2013)
•    Habagat (August 2012)

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