Pinoys in Tokyo give back to Yolanda victims

TOKYO - Filipinos in Tokyo have already sent boxes of relief goods to Yolanda survivors in the Philippines. But help has not ceased to pour in especially from Warays who work in Japan. They have raised 200,000 yen or about P100,000 for Leyte and Samar. "Bumangon tayo, mga taga Leyte at Samar. At sa lahat ng nasalanta ng bagyo, huwag tayong mawalan ng pagasa," said Armando Simbulas. The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is also raising funds for typhoon survivors. "This Sunday's Simbang Gabi, yung collection will be turned over for the Yolanda victims," said Manuel Lopez of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan. President Aquino's first activity in Tokyo was also for the benefit of 'Yolanda'-hit areas. Leaders of the Filipino community handed the president a symbolic check for one million yen raised during one of their recent events. Aquino thanked them for the help, adding that government is doing its best to respond to disasters. But the president also took a swipe at critics. "Ang halaga ng gagastusin natin ay tinataya, sa ngayon pa lang, between 120 to 130 billion pesos," he said. Japan has set aside a standby loan facility of $100 million or more than P4-billion. Before heading for Japan, Aquino had declared that aside from the United States, Japan is the country's other strategic partner. From Friday to Saturday, Aquino and other world leaders will attend the ASEAN -Japan Commemorative Summit. A possible item on the agenda is China's controversial air defense identification zone which covers disputed islands in the East China Sea. The move has alarmed several ASEAN countries especially Japan, which is also claiming those disputed islands.