NEW! See pictures from the event here.
As a growing and thriving organization, YRAP intends to organize a black-tie charity gala to be held on Saturday
October 7th, 2006. The event will be attended by approximately 300 people and will raise funds in order to
assist the children of Leyte; a poverty and disaster-stricken region of the Philippines.
The event will be held at the beautiful Downrtown Edmonton Coast Plaza Hotel and attendees will experience a
fun-filled evening of great food and amazingly unique entertainment. Additionally, an “after-party” has been
arranged for all attendees at Edmonton’s chic Bank Ultralounge.
Any traveler to the Philippines will attest to the fact that given it’s colonial past, the country’s culture and
language has been heavily influenced by its Spanish colonizers. The name of the event is derived from the Spanish
word for restoration: “restauración”. An English reading of this word results in “Restor-Action”. This title is
particularly fitting to the purpose of this event which is to help amass funding meant to “restore” the region
devastated by natural disasters and overwhelming poverty.
Given its proximity to more “prosperous” South East Asian countries such as Malaysia and Thailand, the Philippines
is often overlooked by western nations as being a ‘third world’ nation. Upon arriving in Manila – the country’s
bustling and metropolitan capital – a visitor may initially be fooled to believe that the country is, in fact,
quite prosperous. Manila is a city of skyscrapers, shopping centers and twenty-four hour entertainment. In fact,
for many Filipino’s, Manila has transformed itself into a form of “Shrangri-La” in which wealth and prestige can be
easily obtained. This image of the city has lead to a large immigration into Manila and has resulted in the
creation of a city currently bursting at the seams unable to provide for its sweltering population. For instance,
the initial 7 km ‘voyage’ from Manila’s International Airport to the city’s core can take, in peak rush hour
traffic, up to four hours!!! The 355 km journey from Edmonton to Calgary takes no longer than three and a half
hours.
Far from the “hustle and bustle” of Manila is Tacloban City, Leyte. It is here that one is subjected to the
realities of the level of poverty currently afflicting this nation. Unemployment in this region is extremely high
and first time travelers are always stunned at the excruciatingly slow pace of work and life. Power outages are
common and, whenever it rains, the streets are likely to flood. Typhoons are also a common occurrence in this
country and the Visayans – the region to which to which Leyte belongs – is one of the most disaster prone areas of
the world. Aggressive deforestation within the region has also severely increased the likelihood of landslides,
something that became all too real when nearly 1,000 people perished in Guinsaugon on February 17, 2006.
An issue that is most disturbing and obvious to any visitor to the Philippines is the reality that many Filipinas
see, as their only means of escape, the need to marry much older Foreigners who come and “take” these women to
bring them back home. Whilst loving relationships may certainly occur in certain situations, the majority of
these ‘set-ups’ are unlikely to result in productive long-term relationships and horror stories of distraught women
prevail.
For more on The Philippines, click here.
Street children are identified as children who spend the majority of their time living on the streets, trying to
earn a living. These children come from poor families, burdened by socioeconomic conditions in the Philippines.
Unfortunately, most are forced to drop out of school, and beg for money to help feed themselves and their families.
Some of these children have regular contact with their families; however, for many, their family becomes their
companions on the street.
The problem with street children in Tacloban City was first noted as a growing concern in 1987. At first, a few
children were seen begging along the busy streets but this soon escalated into a crisis and, as of today, nearly
200 children are categorized as street children in the City. These children are no longer merely begging but have
found themselves struggling for livelihoods by stealing from pedestrians, sniffing ‘rugby glue’ and a growing
number of girls are prostituting themselves.
These children have become victims of circumstances that were out of the scope of their control. At a young age,
they are forced to become “instant adults” burdened by responsibilities associated with helping their parents in
earning income. It is an upsetting reality that YRAP has undertaken to change.