PDI turns over goodies to Peace Boat

MANILA, Philippines—Chanting “Gambare, Nippon (Don’t give up, Japan)!” members of civil society groups and the Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday turned over relief goods to visiting peace activists from Japan to help the earthquake and tsunami victims there.

The Inquirer brought cash and checks as well as 300 boxes of relief goods—including jackets, diapers, nail clippers, shampoo and bottled water—donated by Filipinos who responded to the appeal to help Japan recover from its worst humanitarian disaster since World War II.

“We’re doing this to help Japan in its relief and recovery efforts. The Inquirer is just so thankful that our fellow Filipinos heeded our call,” said Inquirer corporate affairs manager Connie Kalagayan.

“Many went over and beyond what we asked for. There was one donor who anonymously gave P100,000 in cash. [The envelope] only read ‘Shaw Boulevard,’” she said.

The donations will benefit Ishinomaki City in Miyagi prefecture, with more than 290,000 people displaced by the earthquake and tsunami, and more than 14,000 dead and missing.

First country to send goods

The Japanese visitors received the donations at Manila’s South Harbor, where their “Peace Boat” had docked after a voyage around the world.

“We’re just really so thankful because your country has made such an effort in receiving us. This is the first country we have visited where so many people have come together for us,” said American Emilie McGlone, the Peace Boat’s international director. “We’re so happy that you helped.”

McGlone said the boat visited Tahiti, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Greece and Saudi Arabia after setting sail from Japan on Jan. 23.

“This is the last country we’ll visit [before returning to Japan but] this is the first one [to send relief goods]. When the earthquake happened [on March 11], we were in Morocco. We were halfway through already,” she said.

The Peace Boat, a cruise ship with a capacity of 2,000 passengers, was set up to promote peace, human rights and sustainable development. It had its first voyage in 1983.

Volunteers collect support goods, such as wheel chairs and tents, and deliver them via the ship directly to areas of conflict or those suffering from natural disaster.

The ship was scheduled to leave Manila at 9 Wednesday night after a busy day for its delegates, some of whom were to visit slum areas in Navotas City and another group—survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki—to Miriam College in Quezon City.

Payback

Luzviminda Santos, director of the NGO People’s Global Exchange, said the Peace Boat visited the Philippines every year and to bring donations to Filipino communities in need.

“Now it’s time for us to pay you back. Because of your good work, we also want to give these even as a token gesture of our warm regard for and solidarity with the people of Japan, especially the victims of the earthquake and the tsunami,” Santos said.

Among those who donated toiletries, jackets, trousers, blankets, bottled water and vitamins were Dr. Grace Uy, Helen Lim, Kristine Bitanga, Mariano Santos, Cita Abela, Ding Garcia, Antonio Baza, Michael Bello and Dina Po.

Alexander Seriña, Maki Ong, Jude Morta, Betty Ang Lim, Vicky Manalo Chua, Chinese International School, United Laboratories, and Aikawa Philippines Inc. and Nagai Gomu Philippines Corp. (care of Batangas Vice Gov. Jose Antonio Leviste III).

The Inquirer administration department, Inquirer columnist Amando Doronila, and Mai Francisco, Nastasha Verayo, Fran Katigbak and Irene Perez of the Inquirer Editorial Group.

Annie Ringor of Bridges@com donated cash.