Local Personalities Use Their Creativity, Resourcefulness, And Influence To Gather Taal Donations
To their devoted fans and followers, you're being called to help 40,000 evacuees and counting taking shelter from Taal's destructive forces—even the littlest act of kindness and charity counts
The worst isn't over.
Taal Volcano, though visibly emitting a less powerful ash column than it did three days ago, is still erupting and its Alert Level 4 status remains. A hazardous eruption is still in the periphery for many Batangeños displaced by the calamity and, as of this writing, a 40,000 residents from several cities and barangays have been forced to evacuate.
At this point, the only question to ask ourselves and our Filipinos is, how do we help?
Compelled to alleviate the aftermath of the disaster and use their reach for a greater good, these local celebs suggest how to do so:
Matteo Guidicelli
As an official second lieutenant of the Philippine Army (he earned the title inn August 2019), Matteo G drove to some of the most calamity-stricken evacuation centers in Southern Luzon's worst hit barangays and provicnes to deliver goods with his fellow servicemen. They partnered with Landers PH to bring relief goods to those affected.
Sarah Geronimo
Matteo's fiancée and singing superstar Sarah Geronimo also came up with her own way to provide financial aid for Taal survivors. She's currently putting together a dance flash mob to "perform" in Luneta Park this Saturday with a P100 fee to join. All proceeds from the event will be donated.
Karla Estrada
The actress successfully held a donation drive in the form of a mini bazaar on Tuesday, January 14. Though her event is over, there are a myriad of ways to continue to send it donations which other celebrities have publicized.
Miss Globe 2019 2nd Runner-up Leren Mae Bautista
This beauty queen is working directly with Lipa, Batangas vice mayor MakMak Luancing to gather donations for the estimated 500 families taking shelter in the city. More evacuees are expected to arrive which means more and more of the most crucial items (clothing, hygiene and medical supplies, and food with long shelf lives) will be needed.
Bianca Gonzalez-Intal
Aside from posting health safety pointers in Filipino in order for a wider audience to appreciate them, Bianca also put private organizations collecting donations and raising funds alongside government agencies and non-profits. She highlighted @yespinoy @planetcora @petasia and @fnl.ph to name a few.
Dr. Vicki Belo
It was reported that Dr. Vicki Belo and Manila mayor Isko Moreno have donated P500,000 to Batangas residents affected by Taal's eruption and will also be organizing a separate initiative to provide aid for animals.
Gary V
Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano is pulling strings within two groups: his millions of fans, and his De La Salle alumni. He encourages fans and his fellow Lasallians alike to make donations coursed through One La Salle relief operations.
Neri Naig-Miranda
She's a food loving mom and restaurant and resort owner who partnered with Pampanga's Best (a food brand known for its cured meats) to provide food for affected families.
Angel Locsin
She didn't specify where she was at the moment, but her Instagram Stories showed that she and a group were hard at work in the wee hours of the morning packing eco bags with relief goods to be transported to those in need of them. More so, Angel also called attention to the four-legged survivors of the eruption; she helped PAWS and its volunteers get the word about how concerned and able citizens can help their furry friends with food or cash donations.
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon announced her support for the Philippine Navy CMOG and the Philippine Red Cross who will be accepting donations in cash and in kind. Check out the poster on her Instagram page for more details.
Dingdong Dantes
He wasn't just concerned about survivors' well-being, but about educating others on how to protect themselves from future calamities. He posted infographics on what to do during a natural calamity and the dangers of ashfall that are easily understood by many.
Mikee Cojuangco
The equestrienne helped raise awareness on the dangers of ashfall exposure. The Department of Health-issued guidelines need to reach as many people as possible, many Filipinos are uninformed about safety SOPs during an eruption.
Anne Curtis
Aside from giving everyone a heads up on how to protect themselves from ashfall, she urged everyone to also follow instructions given by local government units and assigned authorities for their safety.
Karen Davila
The journalist asked for prayers while highlighting the work of two organizations: "Guardians of the Fur" (a voluntary non-profit that drove around affected areas rescuing pets left behind when owners evacuated, among other animals) and @forthePhilippines, an Instagram account that posts updates on the current state of the most badly hit communities and how to help.
Derek Ramsay
On his own, he drove to Batangas to personally deliver boxes of relief goods he collected in the days before.
Neil Arce
Neil, Angel Locsin's soon-to-be husband, extended the invitation to the public: join him, and presumably Angel too, repack relief goods in BGC before they get sent off later in the day.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach
The Miss U titleholder encouraged her followers to work with ABS-CBN's Sagip Kapamilya and included a donation link in her bio.
Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados
Beauty queen and social advocate Gazini Ganados is directing her most recent social media updates to bringing attention to Batangas and where to course donations. The province has been declared to be in a state of calamity and is in need of all the help it can get.
Julia Barretto
Julia's Instagram stories direct her followers to direct contact numbers of local government agencies in Batangas for ease of communication.
Heart Evangelista
Fashionista and animal advocate Heart took it upon herself to show her millions of followers the state in which the animals left behind during evacuations currently is. She urged many to continue making donations to PAWS Philippines who have currently come to the rescue of dogs, cats, chickens, cows, horses, and pigs, among so many others.
Martine Cajucom-Ho
Martine reposted PETA Asia's social media posts about what items are needed for Taal relief as well as the numbers to call if and when people see animals who need to be rescued.
Ruffa Gutierrez
Ruffa filled her Instagram Stories with heartbreaking updates and photos from the calamity, and also shared that relief donations may be coursed through Landers.
Photos from @reginevalcasid @matteog @justsarahgph @karlaestrada1121 @reallysharoncuneta @therealangellocsin @dongdantes @lerenmaebautista @mikeecj @victoria_belo @iamsuperbianca @annecurtissmith @mrsnerimiranda @iamkarendavila @ramsayderek07 @neil_arce @gazinii @juliabarretto @iamhearte @martine @iloveruffag
Top Stories
Metro Beauty Picks Of The Week
BEAUTYMar 14, 2023