A helping hand for victims’ families
by mahmood on 10/04/06 at 3:28 pm · email · print
A fund-raising drive has been launched by the Filipino community in aid of the families of the four Filipino victims of the dhow tragedy.
Other than money, friends of victim Queenie Dungca were yesterday shopping for toys for her only child, aged three.
Relatives in the Philippines and friends in Bahrain say that Jules Archangel was too young to understand that his mother, whose remains arrived home yesterday, would not be able to see him grow up.
“When we asked Queenie’s son what he wanted, he said he wanted his mother to bring home a toy gun from Bahrain,” said dhow tragedy survivor Nanette Salgado, who was Ms Dungca’s colleague and best friend.
The personal belongings of both Ms Dungca and victim Nenita Jacob are to be sent to the Philippines by the Philippine Embassy.
“This is where we also need funds, to make sure that the families of the victims receive their loved ones’ personal belongings and also have some financial support from the Filipino community of Bahrain,” said the embassy’s assistance to nationals officer-in-charge and consular attache Ramon Nerida.
All donations sent to the embassy in Zinj will be acknowledged, he said.
For information, contact 17250990.
The Filipino Club’s executive committee is also holding a donation drive.
Club president Bobbi Paraan said that the club would work closely with the embassy to ensure that the funds raised would benefit the victims’ families.
All four Filipino victims, including Edwin Felipe Batacan, a surveyor at the Nass, Murray & Roberts Company (which hired the dhow for a party), and Norman Belardo, a musician hired to work as a DJ on the dhow, were the breadwinners of their families.
They left six children between them, aged between three and 20.
Mr Belardo’s wife, Pamela, survived the tragedy. She is two-months pregnant.
The bodies of both men were repatriated to the Philippines last week.
“The funds we are raising are for victims’ families only and the fundraiser will be held throughout this month,” said Mr Paraan.
“The dhow tragedy was a shock to us all.
“Nobody expected it to happen.”
He said that the club’s own fundraising drive, which was started last year after suffering major financial loss and a dwindling membership, had been put on hold for this new donation campaign.
“This is more important than the club’s problems right now,” said Mr Paraan.
Contributions can also be coursed through any of the following officers: Mr Paraan on 39890602, Cecil Ignalaga on 39255438, Nick Odejar on 36480208, Roland Bayobay on 39209035, Adon Gabuna on 39720606, Pastor Gil Bantugan on 39864361, Willy Carpio on 39644134, Nino Buhay on 39272383, and Bobby Concepcion on 39320489.
Club members can co-ordinate with their respective core group heads.
Those who wish to deposit funds directly to the bank, the account name is Filipino Club, BBK Adliya branch account number 100000129733.
GDN :: Eunice del Rosario :: 10 Apr ’06
