Staff Reports Walnut – Walnut Mayor, Tony Cartagena, a Filipino-American and long time resident of Walnut, has appealed for disaster relief aid from various organizations, companies and community members in the San Gabriel Valley to benefit the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (named Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines). Collaborative efforts have been established by St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Community Church, the City of Walnut, and Atlas Shippers International. The Philippine provinces of Leyte, Samar, and the northern part of Cebu in the Visayas region have recently experienced one of the deadliest disasters ever recorded. The storm began on November 3, and intensified through the Pacific making landfall on November 7 in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with winds of 196 mph. Millions of people have been affected by Haiyan, and up to 10,000 may have been killed. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that as of November 16, “12,487 people were injured, and 1,179 are still missing. A total of 1,962,898 families were affected in 44 provinces, 536 municipalities and 55 cities.” Major Reynaldo Balido, spokesman for NDRRMC said, “Thousands may have been swept out to sea as storm surges hit ground zero in Samar and Leyte.” A memorial mass was held on November 16 at St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Community for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, including five family members of parishioner, Blas Taon, lost in the storm. Although the storm dissipated on November 11, the Philippines are left devastated. Mayor Cartagena said that items most needed for the victims are towels, light blankets, water, canned goods, and toiletries. Monetary donations are also welcome for the purchase of these items. If you would like to help, items can be dropped off at Walnut City Hall, 21201 La Puente Road, Mondays through Thursdays, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For monetary donations, please make checks payable to St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Community (for Haiyan Relief Operations). All donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact Fabiola Huerta, City of Walnut, (909) 595-7543; Gilbert Adajar, Packing and Sorting/SLR Basketball League, (909) 261-1953; Rea Guilas, Atlas Shippers International, (626) 965-9200; and for general information, Honchee Natividad, (909) 576-4991.
