Press Release
November 8, 2015

Sen. Bongbong Thanks International Community, Donors For Helping Yolanda Victims

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. today thanked the international community, aid agencies, and other groups for coming to the aid of the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda that devastated the Visayas two years ago.

"I cannot let the moment pass because no remembrance of Yolanda can be complete without the expression of our profound gratitude to the men and women, the individuals who came to our rescue, the organizations that came to our rescue, some of which are represented here today," Marcos expressed.

Marcos, along with Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Leyte First District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and representatives from the international community and donor organization held a media briefing after the unveiling ceremonies for the Yolanda Memorial at the Tacloban Astrodome.

The United States was represented by Col. Brian Bell (US Air Attache and Chief of Attache Operations) and Maj. Michael Rasinski (Assistant Air Attache).

Also present in the commemoration rites were Mr. Toto Waspodo (Minister Counselor of the Indonesian Embassy), Mr. Michael Hasper (Chief of Mission of the German Embassy), Ms. Gay Maureen Alagan (Senior Program Officer of the Embassy of Australia), as well as Mr. Abdulkerim Celik (Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Turkey) and Mr. Burak Saritarla (Attache of the Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency).

International aid agencies and private charitable groups such as the UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), USAID, World Vision, SM Foundation, Inc. and numerous other groups also sent representatives to the Yolanda commemoration rites.

The Senator said that the outpouring of help from the international communities and donor organizations saved a lot of lives not only in Tacloban but also in other areas hit by Yolanda.

"I don't know how we will ever repay the succor and the comfort that they brought in the midst of this terrible, terrible crisis," Marcos concluded.

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