Typhoon in Philippines: Jersey City's Filipino community awaits word from families affected by Haiyan

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger
on November 09, 2013 at 4:47 PM, updated November 09, 2013 at 5:12 PM

David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger

JERSEY CITY ? As the estimated death toll rises from Typhoon Haiyan so does the level of anxiety in the state's largest Filipino community.

Patrons crowded the Philippine Bread House and Cafe on Newark Avenue waiting in long lines and sampling the restaurant's lechon, ensaymada and stuffed squid, but diners said the uncertainty surrounding their family members was a constant worry.

"They've been asking if there's any means of communication," said restaurant manager Sonny Maranan, who said people had been inquiring all day if anyone had gotten through to the Tacloban area where the unprecedented storm leveled buildings, power lines, homes and shelters.

Maranan said he too was trying to contact family members but with no electricity and downed cell towers, communication was nearly impossible.

"Even the municipalities, they're just using two-way radio," he said.

The Associated Press reported Saturday at least 138 people were confirmed dead, but Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Gwen Pang said that agency field staff in the region estimated the toll was about 1,000.

Living in the 'Typhoon Belt' Filipinos are somewhat used to the storms and their aftermath but Haiyan is said to be the worst in history.

"The first question is always, 'Are we close to the eye of the typhoon?'" said Arthur Olivan, 50, who was filling up at the cafe with his family before heading to Pennsylvania for a reunion.

Maranan, 45, said the storms were commonplace but their severity had worsened in recent years.

"When I was a kid we used to play during Typhoons," he said. "But this one is different."

Civic leaders in New Jersey and New York were scrambling Friday and Saturday to coordinate donations and aid to the affected region.

There are roughly 100,000 Filipinos living in New Jersey according to census data, but Jersey City has at least three times more Filipino residents than any other municipality. Newark Avenue boasts a slew of Filipino cafes and restaurants and Filipinos make up the bulk of most Catholic congregations in the area.

"We are having a meeting. We'll be discussing the support and fundraising and coordinating with other organizations," said Carmen Flores, president of Jersey City's Philippine Community Center.

She said right now the Handang Tumulong Foundation is the best venue to make donations. But with the storm just passing, there are still few outlets that are equipped to receive aid.

"I was just talking to the consulate general a few minutes ago," Flores said. "That is the problem right now that we have no telephone access in the region."

Moreover, roads are nearly impassable and banks have no electricity.

Flores said benefit concerts are in the works for the New York and New Jersey area but final arrangements are still being made.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013 ... typhoon.html#incart_river

N.J. Filipinos await word from relatives as Typhoon Haiyan hits


By Star-Ledger Staff
on November 08, 2013 at 9:41 PM, updated November 08, 2013 at 10:45 PM

By Naomi Nix and Seth Augenstein/The Star-Ledger

Two oceans and thousands of miles away, there wasn?t much Mona Buerano could do yesterday to protect her family from the typhoon that was barreling toward the Philippines, a storm some described as one of the strongest on record.

Instead, the Lawrence woman tracked news of Typhoon Haiyan?s path and answered texts from friends worried about their loved ones in the island nation, all the while growing more concerned about her own family in IIoilo City, in the southern Philippines.

?I was so scared. Like every three hours, I would call them to make sure they?re fine,? Buerano said of her brother, his wife and their three children.

Buerano was one of tens of thousands of Filipinos living in New Jersey who anxiously watched and waited to see whether Haiyan, packing sustained winds of 147 mph and gusts of 170 mph, would wreak havoc in the lives of relatives and friends half a world away.

At the end of the day, relatives in the U.S. learned the superstorm had left the Philippines early Saturday on a path toward Southeast Asia. A major disaster appeared averted because of how fast the storm was moving.

Still, it was impossible to know the full extent of casualties and damage because most communications were cut off.

?We don?t know anything, but we?ve heard it?s bad,? said Angelina Ferrer, who was at work yesterday morning at the Casa Victoria, a Filipino eatery in Jersey City.

?We have typhoons all year long, but I don?t know how bad this one is,? said Pie Delapena as she prepared for a busy day at Max?s of Manila, another Filipino restaurant in Jersey City.

Even though Delapena?s relatives live in Luzon, an area north of the capital Manila which was expected to be spared the brunt of the storm, she was hoping she?d be able to reach them to make sure they were safe.

?I hope for the best,? she said.

Meanwhile, Filipino activists and organizations throughout New Jersey began planning fundraising and relief efforts for victims of the storm.

?Everybody is concerned about it? said Buerano?s husband, Romy Buerano. ?We just have to wait until they ask for help.?

About 110,000 Filipinos live in New Jersey, including nearly 16,000 in Jersey City. Woodbridge, Edison, Piscataway, Belleville, Union Township and Bloomfield also have large Filipino communities.

One section of Jersey City, between Journal Square and the Geenville neighborhood, is known as Little Manila because of its numerous Filipino restaurants and bakeries.

?There is a large Filipino population in Jersey City,? City Council President Rolando Lavarro said. ?People are just concerned waiting to hear more or trying to reach loved ones.?

Today, Mona Buerano said she had reached family members and was relieved to learn they had had made it through the storm.

?Thank God,? said Buerano, 59. ?I am so glad they are safe.?

Carmen Flores, 65, hasn?t heard from her family in Manila since last week, but said she had heard the area had largely been spared.

?We do not know what is going on,? the Jersey City resident said. ?We always worried of what may happen to them.?

Flores, president of the Philippine Community Center in Jersey City, said the group?s leadership plans to meet tomorrow to discuss relief efforts.

At The College of New Jersey in Ewing, the Filipino student cultural organization Barkada plans to steer half of the proceeds from a vintage clothing fundraiser next week to Haiyan relief efforts.

And next month the group hopes to host a bake sale and donate the money to those affected by the storm.

?We all have come from the Philippines,? said the club?s president Anginelle Alabanza. ?We just want to ? share our resources.?

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013 ... _hits.html#incart_m-rpt-1

As death toll from typhoon climbs, NJ?s Filipino community desperately waits to hear from family


JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) ? Rowena Dabu and her family live in the Country Village section of Jersey City, the area hit hardest by Superstorm Sandy. Now, it?s the rushing waters of super Typhoon Haiyan consuming the Dabus and the thousands of other Filipino Americans who call Jersey City their home.

Rowena?s mother, three sisters and three brothers live outside of Manila, hundreds of miles from Tacloban, the seaside city which took the brunt of Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record.

She started calling her siblings, but couldn?t get through.

?I feel very comfortable that they?re OK. My concern is the people right now who are devastated by this typhoon,? Rowena said.

Nova de Lera is worried sick over her brother. She has no idea where he and his family are.

?They?re in Palo Leyte, which was really hit hard. We don?t have any contact because the telecommunications are down, so nothing. But my other brother went to check on them but still no news,? Lera said.

Sunday, a representative from the Philippine consulate in New York will join members of the Jersey City community to begin organizing a relief drive. They?re waiting for more information before deciding whether to send money or goods.


http://pix11.com/2013/11/09/as-death- ... rom-family/#axzz2kFm5fQMa

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NJ's Filipino Community Watches Storm With Worry


Approximately 16,000 Filipinos live in Jersey City

Saturday, Nov 9, 2013 | Updated 2:47 PM EST

Members of northern New Jersey's sizeable Filipino community are anxiously following events in their home country after a typhoon slammed into six central Philippine islands on Friday.

Caezar Raslan tells The Jersey Journal he hasn't been able to reach relatives in Guian, one of the first islands hit.

Approximately 16,000 Filipinos live in Jersey City, which has a "little Manila" neighborhood full of restaurants, grocery stores and other Filipino businesses.

The First Filipino American United Methodist Church in Jersey City has been adding extra prayer services.

Jersey City Councilman at large Rolando Lavarro, the first Filipino elected to the council, says he's been in touch with community leaders about hosting a fundraiser for victims.

Authorities in the Philippines say they are expecting a "very high number of fatalities."


http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/ ... y-Reaction-231290511.html