Filipino community groups all throughout South Korea are doing their part in collecting donations in cash and in kind from compatriots living in the country, South Koreans as well as other foreign residents to aid the survivors and the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that ravaged central Philippines a week ago.

A number of Filipino community groups, in particular those comprising Filipino students, professionals and teachers, launched a collective action for humanitarian aid contributions last November 11, after the widespread destruction wrought by the tropical cyclone in Samar and Leyte, specifically Tacloban, started to be broadcast in South Korean TV news and online. Members of the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (PIKO), for example, studying in Chonbuk National University (CNU) in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, led one particular fund-raising effort on campus, taking advantage of a popular new tradition akin to Valentines’ Day, “Peppero Day”, where young single people give each other chocolate-covered stick biscuits called Peppero to celebrate their uncommitted status on a day marked as four 1’s on the Korean calendar. Getting the support of CNU’s Office of International Affairs to conduct the sales on school grounds, 14 Filipino students were able to raise 248,000KRW ($232) in typhoon assistance. At the end of five days, PIKO has been able to raise 4.588 million KRW ($4,296) as of November 15 for the typhoon victims by using social media networks, raising money on campus or approaching school authorities. “It is motivating to see how Filipinos, no matter how far they are from home, share the movement to bring help to those affected by the recent supertyphoon,” said PIKO President Eva Wang. “We see solidarity, not only among fellow Filipinos, but also from Korean and international communities here. As more and more people are getting aware of the situation, we expect more help to come in the next few days.” The Philippine Engineers Association of Korea (PEAK) has raised 1.73 million KRW (US$1,620) as of Friday, mainly through a text brigade and using Facebook. Part of the proceeds have been turned over a Korean National Red Cross fund-raising drive broadcast on KBS TV. “We hope that our announcement will reach as many people as possible and that the donations that were and will be collected will be distributed to the victims in the most effective manner,” PEAK President Jusiedave Bautista said. Association of Filipino Educators in Korea (AFEK), a grouping of Filipino professors teaching in Korean universities throughout the country, started their own efforts on Tuesday, 12th of November, and has as of Friday collected 665,00KRW ($622). They are planning events and collection drives in the universities where they teach in the southern Korean cities of Daegu, Gyeongju, Gwangju and Busan. “If we have little, let us share for it will mean a lot. But if we can give more, it will help our countrymen rebuild their homes, lives and hopes,” said Prof. Engelbert Pasag, Secretary of AFEK. In addition to the three organizations, Filipino community groups comprised of factory workers, women married to Korean nationals and entertainers are also leading their respective fund-raising campaigns in various parts of the country. Many events are scheduled in various Catholic churches or migrant workers’ centers around Korea.