With tropical storm Ketsana (Ondoy) hammering the Philippines on September 26, causing death and devastation among the Metro Manila residents, a Walkathon project slated for Sunday, October 11 in Jersey City has reached a new level of challenge and interest among the Filipino-Americans in the Northeastern USA Region. Several organizations in the tri-state area started mobilizing and recruiting their members to join the project in order to help thousands or even millions of the flood victims. The 3-mile walk billed as the 2009 “Lakad Tulong” is gaining momentum as pledges and donations started to creep in as sad news about the worst flooding to hit the Philippines in more than 40 years were shown ubiquitously, on newspapers, televisions, or even on the internet. National officials are overwhelmed by the heart-breaking gargantuan scenes and therefore are calling for international help.
The Philippine Consulate General of New York, under the wings of Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong, supported by the Bureau of Census 2010, the GMA-Pinoy TV network, and the Western Union, has officially released its share of appeal to all the concerned Filipino-Americans by encouraging them to sign up for the Walkathon and be counted. Participants are advised to register in advance by calling the telephone numbers listed below, or may register on-site from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on October 11 in front of the Jersey City Hall at 280 Grove St. Registration forms can also be obtained on-line by visiting the walkathon website, www.walk-lakadtulong.org. The 3-mile walk-route starts at 9:00 AM from Jersey City Hall covering the streets of Montgomery, Washington, Columbus, Marin, Manila, and back to the City Hall. Each participant is encouraged to solicit pledges and donations at $10/mi/donor that are tax deductible. They can go higher. All proceeds will go to “Handang Tumulong” Disaster Relief Fund. Prizes will be awarded at the closing ceremony to the following categories: (a) Organization with the most number of walkers (b) Organization with the highest collected pledges/donations, and (c) Walker with the highest collected pledges/donations.
For more information, please call: Event Coordinator Nelsie Parrado, 201-794-7321; Roger Alama, 516-807-2882; Carmen Flores, 201-993-1158; Nena Kaufman, 212-799-1847; Nimia Lacebal, 973-338-1204; Hector Magno, 732-563-4554; or Cora Reyes, 917-821-4101. Registration forms are also available at the Philippine Consulate General Office, c/o Marivic Dimaculangan at 212-819-9655.
2009 LAKAD TULONG
Sponsored by the Filipino American Community of the Northeastern Region
in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General, New York
and with the support of US Census 2010
P.O. Box 1362 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
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