Philippines flooding: How to help

I am an American who is also a single mom of two little girls and have been laid off for months and I am totally disturbed by anyone who would be so full of hate and bitterness that they are actually critizing people who would help the struggling survivors. Yes, there are some organizations that are corrupt, then go to your church and give to the missionaries and they will get the money there. Jules, even if the Phillipines had not helped America during WWII our country was built on the backs of immigrants that have always been proud to humbly assist any in need. Please accept my apology for the statements made by those that don't deserve to have their names mentioned. Those hateful comments do not reflect the opinions of the average American. Yes, our country needs to have boundaries to what money we give to other countries but natural disaster survival projects are not monies that need to be cut.

I am a Filipino and what i feel about all the arguments against helping my countrymen is comparable to a person who was beaten to death(whether his fault or not) and then here you come and spit on that person's face while he asks for help. Thank you so much guys..
Hope you develop an empathetic way of understanding things. Yes our country maybe have been corrupted at large, but good thing is when you get to know a meek and uneducated Filipino, we are a lot more ahead in posing right attitudes and values expected from people of first-world countries...like you??.

Anyway, thanks to those who really have the heart to help. May God bless you more!

Support our allies, take the cash we give to the Pakis and give it to these people.

In this time of tragedy, we do not need to be insulted. Nobody is forcing anyone to give, just spare us from the harsh comments in this season of Christian charity.

We all should remember : the philippine people fought along side the americans,and never received any thing,and never asked for a dime,it doesnt hurt to help ,,,the ones that helped us in our time of need.

Insulting or degrading somebody even further when they are already suffering is no way to respond to cries for help. Believe me ,if Philippines has capability of helping America with their financial woes,they will in, a heartbeat. That's how compassionate Filipinos are! Unfortunately,we are as you know, a third-world country,a.k.a poor. Who do we have to blame? Our leaders(politicians) who should have used the yearly revenues + loans from everywhere,to improve and initiate progress,didn't do what they always blab about during campaign time. These victims have nothing to do with any corruption. If you don't want to give,don't give. Nobody's putting a gun on your head.

Of the all filipinos I have worked with, I liked each and every one. Solid human beings and rightfully have their national pride (sometimes opposite ours). But all in all, I would be proud to stand and fight beside them. God bless them and I wish them a quick recovery.
They WILL get it done.

Stop with your "Mightier Than Thou" attitudes. If you don't want to give then thanks. If you don't have anything good to say then shut it. We can do this by ourselves believe me even with all our problems. If you don't want to acknowledge that we helped you during WW2 then by all means take all the credit. My father fought beside Americans during that war (he was in the Bataan Death March) and he never said anything bad against America. "Predominantly Muslim" one uninformed person commented. We have been "Predominantly Christian" for the longest time and will remain one. We've been hit by disasters of all kind (natural, man-made, incompetent leaders, corruption, the insurgency...) but guess what? We're still standing. Filipinos are naturally resilient. And we are a happy people.

I really don't understand why there are so many arguments here. If someone feels called to help the Philippines, I say good for them. If they prefer to help people in the US, that's good, too. If they choose not to help anyone at all, I think they're missing out, but that's their prerogative.

I'm an American who lived in the Caraga region of Mindanao, NE of Cagayan De Oro, for about ten years. These are a very poor people, with limited opportunity, who are largely ignored by the government in Manila. Until you actually live in the region and learn to understand the people and their culture you really can't appreciate what they are going through on a daily basis, let alone having to deal with a tragedy like Typhoon Washi. They are very hard working, intelligent, friendly people who manage to survive in ways that we Americans could not. How much help will actually come from Manila is questionable. Any help we can provide will be a heaven sent gift that will help insure their survival as fellow human beings.

I've never seen this much negativity before ! Whats wrong with you people, these are a "very" poor people we;re talking about here, and if you do not chose to donate cash, then don;t , but please be sorry for their plight, we are talking about extremly poor people here !
Thank GOD for the few that do help !!!!

i love the philippines alot.........i pray for the people of the philippines even more.............................and, i sent a donation via a filipino friend of mine in the filipino marines. please help the pilipino people and send a donation anywhich way you can.

Filipinos have fought and died along side the Americans in the different war theaters from World war II, Vietnam and now Iraq and Afghanistan as regular soldiers and private contractors. The Philippines and the US has a strong ties and history than any other country in the world. They are a staunch ally. I do not understand the hatred and the hostility. There are also a large percentage of Filipinos serving in the US military.

Continues heavy rain downpour for 4 days and nights...we must evacuate areas prone for flooding or mudflow......then there will be no reason to beg for help! ... if we did not receive any help..at least we give, a simple prayer will do, just knowing someone cares!

I am not a Mormon. but usually they get there first and do a lot more good with far less administrative costs. if you give according to Yahoo, most likely most of your money will not get to those who need it most.

May the LORD forgive the foolish and selfish comments so freely spewed forth by so many ignorant Americans. To the Filipino people, please don't judge all Americans by the idiocy of some and the outright low-class stupidity of others, so blessed to be citizens in a country so blessed as America. Blessed is the nation who's God is the Lord, and the Lord is God, and God is Love. Without Love, there is nothing. Without compassion, people suffer and die. May we all demonstrate the Love of eternal Truth, by sharing kindness and Love, and by helping tangibly where we can and are able. The Lord bless all who chose loving kindness and may we all dwell in the consciousness wherein we sow Love, joy, and peace, and harvest forgiveness, grace, health, longevity, and abundance!

James David Blair

Compassion, charity, sympathy, etc. Filipinos need them. But to those whose hearts are as hard as a rock, remember, no man is an island...

THESE PEOPLE FIND HAPPINESS WITH THEIR LIVES EVEN WITHOUT THE RICHES OF WHAT OTHER NATIONS ENJOY. some of these families have to walk to a pump from their house for water and carry it back, or don't get to eat 3 meals a day but their resilience, faith and positivity is amazing. i hope you can meet these people and learn from them. it doesn't hurt to share what little you have whether cash, volunteering, sharing the news or prayers. TRUE GENEROSITY IS GIVING WHAT YOUR HEART TELLS YOU. that is the spirit of Christmas not just buying gifts or celebrations. (if your heart doesn't tell you to give, that's ok because THEY WILL FIND A WILL TO SURVIVE EVEN WITHOUT US, AND WE SHOULD EMULATE THAT ATTITUDE).

If you really want the money to be donated to the victims who are still alive, do it by finding their bank account information and deposit funds directly to their accounts with request that they share the help with others such as victim families and neighbors. There are also companies that sell food in Philippines online that will deliver to the persons you wish to receive it. They have websites that can sell it with a credit card for payment. That way is more of an guarantee that there will be no greedy people pocketing from this sad disaster. I have read that too many of "helping organizations" use the money they get for bonuses and other pampering for their own management and very little is left after all "extra bonuses" are cut from contributions received. Also, you can send help thru Western Union MONEY GRAM, or XOOM.
God will remember all who perished in this disaster. There is a resurrection coming when all who are in the memorial tombs will wake up and get up in the future of paradise on earth. Jesus has promised it.

If you don't want to give, don't. But you don't have to belittle these people who had so very little to begin with and are now left with nothing. (Why did you even click on this link? The headline clearly says "how to help". If you weren't interested in helping, you should've clicked on another new story.)