Help Baliuag Bulacan Recover from Typhoon Ulysses in the Philippines
Help us raise $1,500 for typhoon relief in the Philippines. Your contribution will directly fund food, clean water, and sanitation in the community of Baliuag, Bulacan.
Contribute $30+ or $100+ by December 5, 2020 to receive a “thank-you” photo print.
Donate on GoFundMe (https://gf.me/u/zaj3j5). Salamat!
The worst flooding in Luzon, Philippines in decades
Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) hit the Philippines on November 11–12, 2020 — causing the worst flooding regionally in decades, with thousands of homes destroyed and people displaced.
More than three million people, across eight regions, in 5,594 barangays have been affected. The typhoon is latest in a series of natural disasters to hit the country, including Typhoon Quinta, Typhoon Rolly, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (ReliefWeb Flash Update No 5)
Across the country, relief efforts are being spearheaded by international, domestic, and community organizers to provide food assistance, cash interventions, water & hygiene, and shelter kits.
Why we’re fundraising
“Mutual aid is a practice and politics that emphasizes solidarity rather than charity … we recognize our well-being, health, and dignity and are all bound up in each other.” — Mariame Kaba
I’ve lived & worked in the Philippines over the past few years, and close friends are organizing relief efforts for their community. Our goal is to raise $1,500 USD to help Baliuag Bulacan immediately recover from Typhoon Ulysses.
Priority needs are providing immediate food assistance for vulnerable & affected community members; and providing clean water & sanitation. No toilets are currently available in the community; our priority is to build two community restrooms and a manual water pump as long-term water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions.
For a window into the typhoon’s impact in Baliuag Bulacan — take 12 minutes to watch the micro-documentary below, or on Youtube (https://youtu.be/R8BlhnpUAs8).
How to support
Our goal is to raise $1,500 USD by December 5, 2020. Whether chipping in or passing the word along, all support is appreciated. Donate on GoFundMe here. (https://gf.me/u/zaj3j5)
Donate $30+ or $100+ by Dec 5, 2020 to receive a “thank you” by mail. I’ll be sending out small prints of my photography from the Philippines. Shoot me a message with your mailing address & see the samples below. First come, first served if you would like to choose your print!
This GoFundMe is collecting international donations. For local donations within the Philippines, Russel de Ocampo is accepting in-kind goods and donations via bank transfer and GCash. More details in the FAQ’s below.
If you have additional questions or concerns — please reach out! I’m available over email or Instagram. Thank you for your solidarity & generosity!
FAQ & Additional Resources
#1 | How will the funds be used?
In Baliuag Bulacan, community organizers are fundraising & working to support impacted families.
a) Food Assistance
Food assistance (e.g. rice, canned goods) are being distributed, starting with families vulnerable & severely impacted by the typhoon. This includes families with young children, and families whose homes have been washed out or destroyed.
b) Water & Hygiene: Community Restrooms & Water Pump
Clean water & community sanitation are essential, and no toilets are currently available in Baliuag Bulacan.
Community organizers are designing two community restrooms and a manual water pump to be built within the community. As long-term WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) solutions for the community, these projects are priorities for the money raised through this GoFundMe campaign.
#2 | How can I receive my “thank you” photo print?
Donate $30+ or $100+ by Dec 5, 2020 to receive a “thank you” photo print by mail.
Send me a message with your mailing address (via email or Instagram), or I’ll reach out to you in the GoFundMe comments.
For contributions of $30 and up, I’ll send a 4x6 matte photo print. For contributions of $100 and up, I’ll send a 5x7 ultra-thick matte photo print.
P.S. This is an experiment for me as well! I’m waiting for prints to be delivered & will send by mail once they arrive. We’ll see how they turn out. :)
#3 | Where can I learn more about the typhoons & relief efforts?
- OCHA ReliefWeb Flash Update No 5 (https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-super-typhoon-goni-rolly-and-typhoon-vamco-ulysses-flash-update-no-5)
- Rapplier #ReliefPH: Help communities recover from Typhoon Ulysses (https://www.rappler.com/moveph/agos/list-relief-efforts-communities-affected-by-typhoon-ulysses)
- Unicef expresses concern about situation of children impacted by typhoons in the Philippines (https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-expresses-concern-about-situation-children-affected-typhoons-philippines)
#4 | How can I contribute in alternative ways?
Whether chipping in or passing the word along, all support is appreciated. There are multiple ways to contribute monetary donations internationally & locally:
International Contributions
GoFundMe: our primary fundraising channel is GoFundMe — https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-baliuag-bulacan-recover-from-typhoon-ulysses
International bank transfer: if you prefer to contribute directly, Russel de Ocampo is accepting bank transfers.
Banco De Oro, Savings Account — 011320040452
Address: 37 Jacinto St Marulas Valenzuela City 1440
Phone: +639165098388
You can use international transfer services like Remitly Xoom, Transferwise, Western Union. Here’s my referral link for Remitly (http://remit.ly/lp75b6) for a $15 discount on your first transfer (no funny business — just a way to send more to the cause, rather than being taken by the fee and exchange rate.)
Local Contributions
In-kind goods donations: Contact Russel de Ocampo at +639165098388.
Cash donations: Bank or GCash transfer to Russel de Ocampo —
BDO Savings Account: 011320040452
Gcash: 09165098388
If you have additional questions or concerns — please reach out!
I’m available over email or Instagram & here to make this fundraising as supportive as possible. Maraming salamat!
Update (as of April 2021)
Thanks to the generosity of many, in November 2020, we raised $1795 USD to support the community of Baliuag, Bulacan recover from Typhoon Ulysses.
With these funds, we’ve provided immediate essentials for vulnerable & affected community members; and clean water & sanitation access throughout the area.
→ Read more details from our community update here.
Maraming salamat!
