Local Filipino Americans Scrambling For Typhoon Relief

The large Filipino American community in Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie is reeling from news of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, and making arrangements to send aid to help victims. 

Tyhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines Friday and caused massive destruction in the country's mid coastal area, according to the New York Times.  

Ed Ramos, the Morton Grove village clerk and a Filipino American, said Monday that two families in the St. Martha Church (Morton Grove) parish have been trying to reach family members in the stricken section of the Philippines since Sunday, and have not been able to get in touch.

Ramos said he has been in tears while watching television coverage of the disaster in his home country. 

"Just the devastation, people being carried away, dead bodies, people lining up for relief," he said. "And relief efforts coming in so slowly, though it's understandable, because the roads are closed, the airport's closed, there's no communication in some areas."

"It's really bad, and it's the same area that was hit by an earthquake two or three weeks ago," he said.

Ramos plans to spend the day at the Philippine Consulate in Chicago Tuesday to help with relief planning. He also said Fr. Dennis O'Neill at St. Martha Parish gave permission to store relief supplies at the parish, and is setting up an account for funds collected for Philippines relief efforts. One organization may try to charter a cargo jet, he said.

Remy Navarrete of Skokie, the finance director for the village of Morton Grove, said her relatives are on the north side of the Philippines, but she is nevertheless chilled by the disaster.

"It's devastating for us," she said. "I'm so mad the politicians aren't even doing anything. You can see there's a lot of relief coming from other countries. We know those dollars won't go to those who need it--that's how corrupt they are. If you want to help, you have to bring the relief there."

She said she believed the Red Cross was among the reputable organizations which would deliver help to people affected by the crisis.

Patch will run updates as local north suburban Chicago relief efforts develop. 

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