Driving enthusiasts who participated in the ‘Drive for A Cause’ at the Doha Exhibition Centre yesterday.
BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: Filipinos in Qatar yesterday organised two events to help victims of floods in the wake of typhoon Maring that hit in the Philippines recently.
Heavy rains brought by the tropical typhoon affected three million people in capital Manila and nearby provinces, killed 27 and injured 30 while four are still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
A ‘Drive for A Cause’ fundraiser was organised by United Pinoy Motor and Motorcycle Group (UPMMG), a Filipino organisation comprising automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts.
The drive started from the Doha Exhibition Centre to Losail and Al Khor and back to Doha. “Every Filipino has the heart to help his compatriots during trying times. We all feel for victims of calamities in our country,” said Rannie Tanchico of UPMMG.
Yesterday’s fundraiser was not the first time UPMMG and other Filipino groups organised such events to help typhoon victims in the Philippines which is frequently visited by storms every year. “We started holding such events in 2009 after tropical storm Ondoy, in which we raised almost QR20,000. It was followed by another ‘Drive for A Cause’ for typhoon Pablo victims last year,” Tanchico said, adding other nationalities had joined hands in previous events.
The group raised QR8,600 at yesterday’s event and proceeds will all go to Sagip Kapamilya, an emergency humanitarian assistance programme of Manila-based ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Other Filipino organisations supported the event, including a group of fraternities — the Reformed & United Guardians Brotherhood International Inc, Tau Gamma Phi/Sigma, Triskelion State of Qatar and Scout Royale Brotherhood and other groups such as Pag-Iribang Bicolnon Qatar and Balitang Q.
Meanwhile, seven Filipino photography clubs organised a ‘Shoot for A Cause’ event at Philippine School Doha, attended by more than 200 photography enthusiasts.
The event was organised by Web Alliance of Radical Photographers (WARP), Pinoy Lente, Doha Pinoy Shooters Club, The Catchers of Light Qatar, 21 Elements, Picture in Action Photography Club – Doha and Nikonista Rebel Shooters, including Dynamic Concept Productions and Filipino Film Makers in Doha.
“Participants, mainly photographers, had to register with a minimum donation of QR50 to take part in the shoot,” said June Delgado, management committee member of WARP.
He said they had to set a minimum donation to generate more funds for flood victims.
Non-photographers were also invited to help out and see how photo sessions were done.
Photo clubs have been organising shoots to raise funds for various causes. “The first event we did was the “Cancer Awareness Shoot for A Cause” which saw the participation of more than 200 photographers.
“Last year, we also raised funds to help the family of an expatriate single mother who died after working in Doha for 15 years,” said Delgado. Proceeds from yesterday’s event, which was the biggest by the photography groups, would go to Sagip Kapamilya.
The Peninsula
