On November 7, Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines. The typhoon caused considerable damage, razing countless buildings and homes – the Philippines has suffered a blow that can never be truly recovered. There now lie enormous and countless obstacles in the way of a safe and happy future. The most tragic part of this disaster is the impact on the people: 10,000 are estimated to have perished, and 660,000 have lost their homes. Emergence of riots, looting of aid service centers, and ransacking of grocery warehouses were seen as a result of the refugees’ frustration over the slow recovery and ai delivery process. However, there is still a chance for them to salvage and create hope to recover and surmount these seemingly impossible roadblocks.

 Aid has been sent from all over the globe in order to rebuild and rejuvenate the devastated country. KAIST is no exception. The Filipino community in KAIST with Pinoy Iskolars in Korea (PIKO), the Filipino student community in Korea, has collaborated with International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS) to set up a relief drive in order to help the victims. The drive accepts various items such as non-perishable food, clothing, blankets, and essential electronics. A box for donated items can be found at ISSS. If you are unable to donate any items, donations can also be made. Several members have set up bank accounts to accept any monetary contribution. All proceeds will be forwarded from PIKO to the Philippine Red Cross.