By Allison Salz, Edmonton Sun
Compassion knows no race, or religion, said the Philippine Honorary Consul-General Sunday following a generous donation towards typhoon relief from our city’s Vietnamese community.
The Vietnamese Association in Edmonton donates $36,580.00 to the Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Relief at the Viet Centre in Edmonton, Alta., on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. The Philippines Consul in Edmonton, Esmeralda Agbulos (centre) accepts the cheque. Perry Mah/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency
Through various fundraisers over the past few weeks, over $35,000 has been raised by community groups and organizations for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the Philippines one month ago.
“This means so much to the Filipinos not only in Edmonton but to those in the Philippines. This is what a global community is supposed to be,” said Esmerelda Agbulos.
“We are supposed to forget race, colour, religion, language or culture. We are one.”
The Vietnamese community collected donations at church gatherings, community concerts, and from some piggy banks, said Dr. Tri Hoang, President of the Edmonton Viets Association.
“This collective effort is a small contribution to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan,” he said. “Clearly there is a bond between the Filipino and Vietnamese communities in Canada.”
Hoang says the bond reaches back decades, when the Filipinos welcomed thousands of Vietnamese people who made an escape from the communist regime of Hanoi in the 80s and 90s.
Read the full story by Allison Salz from Edmonton Sun.
