Everyone from boxing great Manny Pacquiao to Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to Filipino Americans like Earlbhert Fabella are doing what they can to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
Pacquiao who is also a congressman in the Philippines says intense training for his bout against Brandon Rios November 23 prevents him from visiting the devastated area.
But according to Super Sport, he is dedicating his fight to the victims of Haiyan.
“I really want to visit the area and do what I can to help our countrymen who have suffered so much in this terrible tragedy. But I am in deep training for a crucial fight so I regret I cannot go,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
“I will send help to those who need it most. I enjoin all of you to pray for our country and people in these trying times.”
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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is also expressing his concern for his countrymen.
“It’s absolutely terrible and tragic what’s going on over there. It’s dear to my heart I have family over there. We’re just trying to send our thoughts our prayers,” said Spoelstra
Spoelstra’s mother is Filipino and lives in Manila. She and other family members were unharmed. You can read Spoelstra’s reaction to the tragedy and how he is volunteering to appear in a public service announcement for UNICEF to raise money for the victims in a report from NBC Miami
Meanwhile the Miami Heat are donating $1 million dollars to Philippine relief, reports ABS CBN.
The tragedy is impacting many in the United States including Filipino American Earlbhert Fabella.
Fabella this week hopped on a plane to head to the Philippines to find his mother, according to a report on Public Radio International.
“A bunch of us, all nurses from the States, we’re connecting with the Philippine Red Cross and we’re hoping to get into Tacloban as soon as we can,” Fabella says. “I’m worried about [my family] because food and water is not being sent to them. The house is still standing, although it is in ruins.”
You can hear about Fabella’s frustrations with what’s being done to help the victims on Public Radio International.
