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                The 
                  Philippines | 
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              Crossing the Ocean to  
                Assist Typhoon Victims 
             
             
              By Formosan Relief Team (Originally in Chinese) 
               
             
             Due to the extreme weather caused by global warming, 
              from June to early September this year, the Philippines has been 
              inundated by a series of typhoons and tropical cyclones that included 
              Nangka, Molave, Goni, Morakot, Dujuan and Mujigae, bringing destruction 
              to tens of thousands of people, many of whom perished. Deeply concerned, 
              Supreme Master Ching Hai had allocated US$75,000 in total to help 
              the afflicted. Our Formosan Association relief team travelled to 
              the devastated areas five times during this period to offer timely 
              help, showing their spirit of treating others’ misfortunes 
              as their own. 
               Each 
              time upon reaching the affected areas, the relief team was joined 
              by our local fellow practitioners to investigate the situation and/or 
              to visit the regional social welfare departments to get an assessment 
              of the damage and to determine the urgently needed supplies. Then 
              they would purchase the required items, such as food and living 
              necessities. In addition to distributing relief items, they also 
              handed out SOS flyers and Master’s sample booklets. 
              Overall, Master’s loving aid benefited about 18,000 
              households in the ravaged areas, which included Catbalogan City, 
              the capital of Samar Province in south-eastern Philippines; Cavite 
              City in Cavite Province; Sultan Kudarat City in Shariff Kabunsuan 
              Province; Buluan City, Mangudadatu City and Pandag City in Maguindanao 
              Province; Botolan City, Iba City, Palauig City and Olongapo City 
              in Zambales Province; and Balanga City in Bataan Province. Several 
              Mayors of these cities expressed gratitude to Supreme Master Ching 
              Hai and our Association. Madam Shajida Mastura, Mayor of Sultan 
              Kudarat City, eagerly encouraged her citizens to eat more vegetarian 
              food and to go green. She also invited our Association members to 
              hold seminars to share with the local people more information about 
              the urgent issue of global warming and environmental protection. 
              The Formosan relief team members are most grateful for 
              God’s blessing which helped them accomplish these relief missions 
              successfully and at the same time encouraged more people to realize 
              how an animal-free diet will protect our environment.   
            
               
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                      | Appreciation letters from city Mayors 
                        and provincial Governors in the affected areas  | 
                     
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            Expenditures by 
              Supreme Master Ching Hai 
              for Typhoon Relief Work in the Philippines  
            
               
                | Description | 
                Amount(PHP) | 
                Receipt | 
               
               
                | Food (rice, vegetable 
                  oil, rice flour, vegetarian foodstuff, bread, instant noodle, 
                  canned lentils, seasoning, biscuits and sweets) | 
                3,359,642 | 
                P1 | 
               
               
                | Hygiene supplies 
                  (toothpaste, toothbrushes, laundry powder and soap)  | 
                60,391 | 
                P2 | 
               
               
                | Transportation expenses 
                  (vehicle rental, fuel, highway tariffs, labor costs and cleaning 
                  expenses) | 
                134,569 | 
                P3 | 
               
               
                | Medicine, vitamins | 
                14,374 | 
                P4 | 
               
               
                | Miscellaneous expenses 
                  (telephone charges, bags, etc.) | 
                10,210 | 
                P5 | 
               
               
                | Total | 
                PHP3,579,186 
                  (US$74,900) | 
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            * Throughout the relief 
              operation, fellow initiates paid  
              for their own traveling, food, and accommodation expenses.  
              
              
                 
             
              
              
              
             
              
                
              
                 
                  To view the Humanitarian Relief Activities 
                    by the Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association, 
                    please visit: 
                    http://www.GodsDirectContact.org.tw/humanitarian 
                     
                    (The list can be sorted by year, country/region and type of 
                    events.)  | 
                 
               
            
            
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