just finished cooking pork and turkey adobo. Another great use of turkey.

Chili con queso with sharp cheddar and turkey: the best use of Thanksgiving leftover yet this year.

The NYC Response to the Floods in the Philippines

In the past 48 hours, I have received several invitations to do something (e.g., go to a concert, donate clothes, give money, attend a meeting, etc.) to help the flood victims of Tropical Storm Ketsana. The response has been nothing but phenomenal, and those who have responded should be commended for their actions. However, I have to be honest... the massive and largely uncoordinated response has been a bit dizzying.

To help everyone who is trying to figure out how they might help, I am posting a list of events and activities related to flood relief assistance:

• Donate money to the Philippine National Red Cross
• via UNICEF (donations made by October 6 will be matched, thus doubling your contribution): http://inside.unicefusa.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=8641.0
• via the Ayala Foundation USA (for a US tax deduction): http://www.af-usa.org/donate_now_form.asp
• via the ABS-CBN Foundation USA (also tax-deductible): http://www.abscbnfoundation.org/
• or, directly: http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx
   
• Donate in-kind goods (most urgent needs: food, medicine, toiletries, shelter materials)
• via the Philippine National Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx
• or, via Sagip Tulong sa Pilipinas http://www.causes.com/stprelief
  Please click on the links for more information on what and where to donate.
    
• Volunteer your time to one of two known event-coordinating groups:
• NYC Pinoys for Pinoys:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=273642325482&ref=ts
• The Jaycees-backed "NYC Tri-State Young Professionals for Ondoy Relief": http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=174644953661
   
• Buy a ticket for the DiverseCity Theater Benefit Show featuring Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga, October 12, 7PM, at the Philippine Center in New York (where the Consulate is located).  To RSVP, please email rsvp@diversitytheater.org.  For more information, please visit http://www.diversecitytheater.org/eml/20080602/pr_ondoy_20091001.htm.
   
• See Imelda: A New Musical.  The cast and crew will be donating to the flood victims.  Showtimes and ticket info can be found here: http://www.panasianrep.org/imelda.shtml
   
• Have a drink at the "Not so Happy" Happy Hour on Wednesday, September 30, starting at 5PM at Bounce NYC, 1403 2nd Ave (near 73rd St).  Cover charge proceeds will benefit flood victims via the San Antonio Parish and Sunshine Foundation.
   
• Attend the Halo Halo Cabaret on Saturday, October 3, at the Triad Theater, 158 W 72nd St.  This show will feature several Filipino Broadway stars.  For more info on this event and others across the U.S., please visit: http://bayanihan4ondoy.wordpress.com/
   
• Visit the Queens Museum of Art on Saturday, October 3, between 11AM and 5PM.  BKPNY will be accepting in-kind and cash donations for flood victims during its book drive for Philippine libraries.  Please visit http://www.bkpny.org/ for more information.
   
• Enjoy some live entertainment at Fiesta Grill in Jersey City, NJ during the afternoon of Sunday October, 4.  For more info, please visit:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141066554354
   
• Join the Mend Manila! Happy Hour, at 6PM on Tuesday, October 6th at The White Rabbit, 145 E Houston Street (between Eldridge & Forsyth Streets), NYC.  Contact Melton Gonzales for more info: meltomgonzales@gmail.com
   
• Party at the Happy Hour Fundraiser, at  6PM on Tuesday, October 6 at Gaslight, 400 W 14th St.  Music spun by DJ Mad Ryan.  Suggested Donation: $5 and up.
   
• Help pack donations into Balikbayan boxes that will be sent to the Philippines for Ondoy relief efforts at 5:30pm on Thursday, October 8 at the Philippine Consulate, 556 5th Avenue (45th/46th Sts): 10 Volunteers are needed to at the Philippine Consulate.  Please contact Chair Person, Paolo Alcantara anecho30@gmail.com, 347-207-9597, by Wednesday, October 7 if interested. Should only take around 2 hours.
   
• End the week right with the Happy Hour for Ondoy Relief at 6PM on Friday, October 9 at Red Sky Bar, 47 E 29th St (near Park Ave).  $20 donation.  Visit http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=147766409442 for more information.  Organized by the NYC Tri-State Young Professionals for Ondoy Relief.
   
• Watch the band Warhol Soup play at Bar Saints & Sinners in Hoboken on Friday, October 9.  Visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169807345830&index=1 for more details.  
   
• Pray at San Lorenzo Chapel, 378 Broome Street, NYC at 4:30pm on Sunday, October 11.  Organized by The Catholic Fellowship of Young Filipino Professionals. A portion of the collection will be used for relief efforts. Please RSVP to Joe Valdez: nycjoe29@yahoo.com. Visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166903061013 for more info.
  
  
• Get in step at the Lakad-Tulong Walk-a-thon October 11 in Jersey City, NJ, which will raise funds for the Philippine Consulate-backed "Handang Tumulong" Disaster Relief Fund, a proactive fund for victims of calamities in the Philippines.  http://www.walk-lakadtulong.org/
   
  
• Have Brunch or Dinner at Uminom (in Brooklyn) on October 11 hosted by NYC Pinoys for Pinoys.  Please visit http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=273642325482 or email Stefanie at stefaniesayshi@gmail.com for more info.
   
• Join in the Laughs for Literacy on October 21 at 8:30PM at Laugh Lounge in the LES.  Visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162060541808 for more info.

This list will be updated periodically. Please let me know if you would like anything added/modified. Thank you to all those who contributed information to this blog.


For those of you who want to do something else to help flood victims, I urge you to ask yourself the following questions:

• How many more activities/events can the community support before the number of people and resources are fully taxed? Am I planning something that will interfere with another event or activity already planned? Are we overloading the community with so many events that we end up causing more apathy?
   
• Will I truly add value with what I plan to do, or am I duplicating someone else's efforts? Can I share costs by partnering with someone else? 
   
• Would I add more value by helping some other person or group instead of doing something on my own? Can we create fewer larger events that engender a sense of community and inclusiveness instead of smaller events that may discourage attendees?  Can we do something that will show how the Filipino American community can create positive change through collaboration (rather than divisiveness)?
   
• Have I given thought to what it is that I am donating? Would cash be better?
   
• After the flood victims have been taken care of, what will I do to help prevent a major flood disaster from happening again? Can I do something about deforestation, urban planning, and/or global warming to minimize the effects of future tropical storms?

Believe me, I am not trying to stop anyone from helping flood victims. However, some thoughtfulness and planning can go a long way in determining how best to help our kababayan in the Philippines