LONDON—Eric Bilbao has been sleepless for three nights now. He thinks about his family in storm-hit Palompon, Leyte all the time, regularly trying—but failing—to reach them by phone.
While lines are still down, all he knows based on news reports is that Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) damaged his hometown severely. The images he saw on TV broke his heart.
What scares him, though, is not hearing from his family until now.
“It’s sad that I don’t know what’s happening to them,†he said.
“I feel like I really want to go home just to know their situation. But I can’t do anything,†added Eric, who’s been working in London as a healthcare assistant for six years now.
Shoot
Feeling helpless, Eric went out on Sunday to do something to help typhoon victims using his DSLR.
He joined some 30 Filipino photographers from different parts of England near London’s city hall for a photoshoot—an activity that served both as a reunion for them and an opportunity to raise funds for storm victims from their own pockets.
Joseph Rosales, a carer, posted the invitation on Facebook almost a month ago after an earthquake struck his hometown, Bohol. The fundraising activity was originally meant for quake victims, but Haiyan hit and he knew Filipinos here had to do more.
“It’s really painful to watch, especially with loads of people dying,†he said of images of the storm’s aftermath. “You feel like, if you can do something, you have to do it.â€
Their cameras clicked one after the other as some British and Filipino models posed along Queen’s Walk—an area by the River Thames near Tower Bridge—grabbing the attention of tourists and passersby. Some curious onlookers also took pictures.
The temperature was below 10 degrees Celsius then, but the models didn’t mind, knowing they were doing something for a cause.
“It pains me to see Filipinos in that condition. I want to be able to help somehow,†said MJ Umayam, a Filipina who grew up in Britain.
Worthwhile
It was already dark when the group assembled to thank each other for attending the activity.
“I’m so glad that even if it’s so cold today, you all made it here,†Joseph told his fellow photographers.
They then chipped in various amounts, applauding each other no matter how big or small the contribution was.
Joseph was tasked to collect the funds and donate them to an organisation doing relief work in the Philippines.
“Being with this group, at least we can help a bit,†said Hayley Contreras-Excell, who travelled for more than an hour from Kent to London. “I know it’s not that much, but at least helping them, it’s worthwhile.â€
Article source: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/520189/20131107/nikon-vs-canon-dslr-camera-shoul-buy.htm
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