Filipino community leaders in Dubai are planning to set up a charity foundation that will provide financial assistance to any of their compatriots who require help.

Filipino community leaders after a weekly meeting at their consulate.

Gina Salazar, one of the people spearheading the initiative, told Gulf News the foundation would be the first organisation to be set up for the purpose of raising money and maintaining a fund for any Filipino in trouble.

Currently, she said Filipino societies and clubs were holding fund-raising events on an ad-hoc basis.

She said many felt there was a need to set up the foundation as many Filipinos needed financial assistance.

"The money we raise will go to people with serious illnesses like cancer, for example. Also Filipinos who were abused by their employers or do not have enough money to go back home," she said at the sidelines of the monthly community leaders meeting at the Consulate General of the Philippines, yesterday.

Salazar said they planned to set up the foundation under the auspices of the consulate and needed the community's support to have everything legalised as soon as possible.

"Just give us three months from now," she said.

Salazar also said the foundation would also like each Filipino society and club to contribute to the fund.

Appeal
Engineer with leukaemia needs monetary help

Ordantes M. Delizo, a member of the Filipino Cad Group, made an appeal for engineer Jason Yaranon who has been diagnosed with leukaemia, during the meeting of community leaders meeting at the Consulate General of the Philippines.

"We can't raise $50,000 (Dh183,660) by ourselves," he said. The money is needed for a bone marrow transplant which can be done in the Philippines.

Delizo said Yaranon was one of the Filipino Cad Group trainers who gave training in AutoCAD, a computer-aided drafting software used by mechanical engineers, architects and other design professionals, to Filipinos in the UAE.

"This man has helped many Filipinos and now it's our turn to help him," he said.

He added the 33-year-old single man was diagnosed with leukaemia in May and was currently being treated at Rashid Hospital.

Delizo also said they were planning to raise the funds by holding fund-raising events including a raffle and a bowling tournament.

He said so far 300 ten-ticket booklets have been distributed to Filipino businesses and volunteers for sale.

Consul General Generoso Calonge told Gulf News contributions could be made to the consulate's welfare officer, Eduardo Mendoza.