October 28, 2009 > Fundraiser for Typhoon Ondoy Fundraiser for Typhoon Ondoy By Simon Wong The Fremont-Union City-Newark Sunset Rotary Club and the Filipino Heritage Association of the East Bay will hold a benefit fundraiser on November 6 to support the relief work of its sister Rotary Club in Manila for victims of Typhoon Ondoy which brought a month's rainfall to metro Manila in just a few hours on September 26. Many lost their lives and several hundred thousand were displaced. Tess Tumangan, past president of Rotary Club (RC) Manila 101, has kept her Tri-City counterparts abreast of local developments. RC Manila 101's original Health and Hunger Project, intended to feed 1,000 children at Baseco, Manila, was cancelled and transferred to San Lorenzo Parish at the Taytay-Pasig boundary, near Laguna Lake. The area remained submerged for several days after Ondoy struck. Rotarians obtained a truck at a day's notice and joined a relief convoy organized by priest Fr. Suarez to the area. On reaching the town, the water was chest-deep and there was some debate with the locals about whether the aid workers should continue by truck or by boat. On arrival at the local church, the water was waist-deep. Fr Suarez said mass before flood victims lunched on chicken and pork adobo. The distribution of relief food and items began in an orderly fashion but the Rotarians were eventually mobbed by those desperate for help. Volunteers were exhausted by the end of their visit and stranded after Fr. Suarez commandeered their truck to visit other areas devastated by flooding. They took small boats to dry land and boarded a 6 x 6 army truck bound for home. "We were all exhausted but I think everybody enjoyed sharing with the flood victims," said Tumangan. "This was not a lone effort by RC Manila 101. Rotarians from many other clubs joined in to make things easier for as many people as possible." Tickets for the Typhoon Ondoy Benefit Fundraiser are $30 per person. There will be music, karaoke, hors d'oeuvres, complimentary soft drinks, no host cocktails, happy hour and a silent auction For more information, visit www.funrotary.ning.com or email Eileen (Lee) Denlinger at lee_denlinger@yahoo.com Typhoon Ondoy Benefit Fundraiser Friday, November 6 5:00-7:30 p.m. Roxas Blvd. Comedy Club & Restaurant 34787 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont Elaine Wong-Bigel (510) 381-9989 Gertrude Gregorio (510) 304-5015