By: Gina Carfagno
In response to the devastation facing the Philippines post-Super Typhoon Haiyan, the Asian Pacific Society, with help from the Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice are selling t-shirts to fundraise for relief efforts. The proceeds from the t-shirt sales will go to relief in the Philippines.
Because there are students on campus who have family in the Philippines, the Asian Pacific Society wanted to come together to help people with those dealing with the aftermath of the storm.
The t-shirts are red with white writing. The front of the shirt features the Xavier logo and says, “Xavier stands with the Philippines” while the back, says “you are stronger than any storm #bangonpilipinas”. Bangon Pilipinas translates to Rise Up Philippines. This hash tag is being used by the Catholic Relief Services organization to raise awareness about the issues facing the Philippines in the wake of the storm, which took place in early November just one short month ago.
CNN reports that the death toll continues to rise from 5,924 and 1,779 missing with more than 12 million people feeling the effects of Haiyan.
The Center for Mission and Identity accepted donations up until November 25th that went through the Association of Jesuit Universities as Provincial Father Antonio Moreno SJ of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus made an appeal for assistance.
Moreno made note in his appeal that the typhoon is not the only issue the Philippines are facing right now, “the country still reels from the Zamboanga City siege and the earthquake that struck Bohol and Cebu a few weeks ago”.
Students can help by purchasing a t-shirt, donating, and using the hash tag to raise awareness. Angela Gray-Girton, Associate Director for Service and Justice in the Dorothy Day Center, said, “I think it is really important to both raise awareness and support the relief efforts both, awareness can come in a lot of different forms.
Part of this is also about climate change, the increased intensity and frequency of these events goes back to climate change, we all have roles to play”.
The t-shirt fundraiser will take place on Wednesday the 11th in Fenwick from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. as well as on Thursday the 12th in Gallagher Student Center from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.