Members of Olds' Filipino community are rallying to support residents of their homeland devastated by Typhoon Haiyan last month and local businesses are helping.
Haiyan, one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded, struck the Philippines on Nov. 8, killing nearly 5,800 people to date and injuring more than 26,000, while tens of thousands of families lost their homes.
Michaelyn Tayurang, who moved to Olds from the Philippines in September 2008, is from the country's Cebu province, which was hit hard by the storm.
While she said her friends and family in the Philippines survived the typhoon and there was little damage to their homes, seeing the destruction and misery of her countrymen on television has been heartbreaking.
“My first reaction I had, I was so thankful to God that my parents are not part of that devastation,” Tayurang said while fighting back tears. “My second one was I feel bad for those people who are affected. They lost their loved ones.
“I just prayed for those people who have lost their loved ones.”
Although she is critical of the response of the Philippine government to the disaster, Tayurang said she is grateful for the help Canada and other countries have provided to her homeland.
She added she has heard of other Filipinos in Olds collecting donations for people affected by the storm.
And Tayurang's employer, Boston Pizza, held a fundraiser on Nov. 23 where proceeds from the $5 cover charge for those coming to watch the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer, and Brandon Rios were donated to typhoon relief.
Leah Soriat, the restaurant's manager, said the fundraiser brought in roughly $1,250.
She added the chain also donated $5 from every medium and large pizza sold on Nov. 25 towards typhoon relief in the Philippines.
At Olds' Sobeys grocery store, $875 in typhoon relief donations were collected.
“This is a big help to us all,” said Romel Canilang, an employee at the store who moved to Olds from the Philippines in 2008. “I hope also that this help goes to all the people that needs this help.”
He said his family and friends were spared from the devastation the typhoon brought since they live in a province that was not directly hit by the storm.
But seeing the destruction in his homeland in news reports “shocked” him.
“Even if you are a strong man, you will cry, because most of the people we see on the streets have died. Children died,” he said.
Canilang echoed Tayurang's criticism of the Philippines' government, saying there was a “lack of urgency” in the government's response to the disaster.
He also said he is grateful for the relief efforts that businesses in Olds such as Sobeys, Boston Pizza and Shoppers Drug Mart are undertaking.
Canilang said anyone else wishing to assist the Philippines as it recovers from the storm should consider donating necessities such as non-perishable food and medicine, as well as money.
“This is the basic needs of the people,” he said.
