TSL Foundation, Tan Holdings employees donate $7.2K for typhoon victims

 The Tan Siu Lin Foundation and Tan Holdings employees donated over $7,200 in support of relief and rehabilitation efforts for the  victims of Typhoon Sendong, which washed out communities in two major cities in the Philippines.

Foundation president Jerry Tan and several Tan Holdings employees presented the check to Philippine Consul General Medardo Macaraig and United Filipino Organization officers led by president Bong Malasarte in a ceremony at the TSL Plaza in Garapan yesterday morning.

Tan, who launched the Typhoon Sendong drive among his employees, pledged a dollar-to-dollar match for the amount that his employees would raise. After several days, Tan Holdings employees raised a total of $3,639.44.

“We hope that we will be able to help the victims of Typhoon Sendong even in our own small way and we’re thankful that Tan Holdings supported us in this effort,” said Teddy Orbeta, accountant at Century Insurance Co. “We will be praying for all those who were affected by this tragedy, especially those who lost their loved ones.”

Tan said they always promote volunteerism and giving back to the community among their affiliate companies and their employees’ efforts in this fund drive “speaks volumes” about sharing what they have despite the economic challenges they are facing on island.

“I’m sure the money can be used for many other purposes like their family’s needs yet they chose to share and help the victims of this tragedy. We’re very, very proud of our employees for their willingness to share, especially knowing that this tragedy happened around Christmas time,” Tan told Saipan Tribune.

Macaraig expressed appreciation to the Tan Siu Lin Foundation and Tan Holdings employees for the donation which he said would help the rehabilitation efforts in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities.

“This is a big tragedy, a tragedy that would take awhile to recover from and we’re deeply thankful to everyone for sharing their resources with us. I’m sure it will help the victims and it will help the area recover from this devastating tragedy,” he said.

Macaraig noted that the donation will be turned over to the Philippine National Red Cross, just like the money raised by UFO during its own fundraising drive last December.

“We’re very pleased that the Tan Siu Lin Foundation and Tan Holdings employees were concerned for our countrymen who were affected by this unfortunate disaster. The donation will help them in their road to recovery,” said UFO president Malasarte.