ExPat Philly

Last Friday saw the Filipino community in Swindon, Wiltshire, England come together to raise money to help and support survivors of Tropical Storm Kristine that hit the Philippines on 22nd October, which brought heavy rain across the islands with widespread flooding and landslides. This was the third consecutive tropical cyclone to affect the country as typhoon season continues.

From spring rolls to lemon drizzle cake, the Royal Mail staff of the Dorcan Depot came together earlier this month, in support of Heart for Philippines, a local charity based in the historic town of Highworth, near Swindon to buy and sell cakes and other yummy treats. Speaking to one of the charities volunteers they said: “One customer bought one cake for £1 and said keep the change from a £10 note”. The event raised an amazing £415.97.

On Friday (15th November), Heart for Philippines put on a packed out musical event at the Highworth Hotel which raised £1100. The music provided by Zangi, a local Highworth musician from Kenya, along with other singers who came out in force to support the charity gave to packed event a fantastic evening of music will help relief efforts currently going on whist the Philippines continues to be hit by more typhoons.

On Friday (15th November), Heart for Philippines put on a packed out musical event at the Highworth Hotel which raised £1100. The music provided by Zangi, a local Highworth musician from Kenya, along with other singers who came out in force to support the charity gave to packed event a fantastic evening of music will help relief efforts currently going on whist the Philippines continues to be hit by more typhoons.

The £1600 raised from the two events will help to provide food, medical supplies, shelter and relief aid. The country has now been hit by four typhoons in less than two weeks, making it the first time ever that four typhoons have hit in the month of November.

Over 2.3million people have been affected by Typhoons Nika, Ofel, Pepito and Kristine according to the Department of Social Welfare & Development, impacting eight regions as of the 18th November.

Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-Yi) swept across the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and sent more than a million people into taking shelter. Pepito was the sixth tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in a month, which sees an annual average of 20 storms to hitting the country. At least 171 people in the Philippines died in the past month’s storms, which left thousands homeless and wiped out crops and livestock.

It is rare for multiple such weather events to take place in a small window. Man-yi also hit the Philippines late in the typhoon season. Most cyclones develop between July and October.

This month, four storms were clustered simultaneously in the Pacific basin, which the Japan Meteorological Agency told AFP was the first time such an occurrence had been observed in November since its records began in 1951.

Heart for Philippines was founded ten years ago by Zobel Milano Starritt and her husband Jamie Starritt in 2014 and became an official charity in 2021. Since the founding of Heart for Philippines, the couple from Highworth have accomplished amazing things with only the support of family and friends, with no grants, and no funding, with 100% of money raised going to those the charity supports.

The hard work of Zobel, Jamie and volunteers have helped this small charity do lots of amazing work. Back in 2014, Heart for Philippines sponsored a few students from lesser income households with full scholarship’s to go to a local college, as well as paying for their school supplies and donating second-hand laptops.

Other projects have included ‘Books for Schools’ where unwanted books from around Swindon were sent to schools in Northern Samar, the Aete community in Isabela and some remote areas of the Bicol region.

In January 2020, when Taal Volcano erupted, hitting the region already under the global lockdown of COVID. It was a double-whammy for the region, Heart for Philippines was there, launching project ‘Love in the midst of the Covid Storm’ partnering with a local church in the area to send aid, and gave immediate relief to those who have been displaced because of the volcanic eruption.

Along the way, Heart for Philippines have supported small non-government associations of farmers and fishermen, amongst so much more support given to Filipinos in need.

When Typhoon Kristine hit the Philippines on 22nd October, Heart for Philippines were quick to act, managing to give 200 hot meals to an evacuation centre, with other projects all ready to go, directly helping those affected by the flooding.

All the work that the charity does is done by volunteers, with 100% of donations going towards the projects to help those in need. If you would like to donate, click the link HERE.