Speaking at the first anniversary of the Haiyan typhoon, the most devastating one in the Philippines’ history, the former Filipino deputy Chua thanked Kimse Yok Mu for its aid and relief efforts. “Great that we have you and Turkey. On behalf of my country, I would like to thank KYM. You’ve never left us alone since the very first day. Many organizations left here after two weeks but you didn’t.” Chua said.
The smear campaign conducted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) — a charity run by the Hizmet movement inspired by prominent Turkish scholar Fethullah Gülen — will affect the children, including victims of sexual assault, staying in the Women’s Shelter of Tacloban City in the Philippines.
UN-affiliated Turkish charity Kimse Yok Mu organized the delivery of sacrificial meat to families in 11 different points of Philippines. Dozens of Turkish volunteers and representatives of Filipino authorities assisted the charity in reaching as many as people in need across the country which was ruined by typhoon Haiyan in November of 2013.
Kimse Yok Mu Foundation has been carrying on its relief efforts for the locals ever since the Haiyan typhoon hit the city of Tacloban last November. The foundation renovated a school building left in rubble after the disaster and supplied drinking water by establishing 10 water wells across the region.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines have recognized the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School in Zamboanga for their contribution to peace in the region. The award came after the Turkish high school in the Philippines gave support to people suffering from internal conflict in Mindanao, one of the islands of the Philippines, and provided 38,000 homeless people with humanitarian assistance.
The project aims to rehabilitate the regions academically and socially lagging behind the rest and assist children’s education in particular. Inaugurating the project, an event took place seeing the attendance of International Fountain Schools general manager Malik Gencer, The Philippines Turkish Chamber of Commerce Irfan Karabulut, Pacific Dialog’s president for Philippines Cihangir Arslan and The Philippine Gendarmerie’s commander for civic operations Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos alongside numerous commanders and NGO officials.
Filipino Chairman of Union of Chambers and Exchange Commodities Abdulgani Macatoman praised the Turkish schools operating in his country for their achievements. “My both children are studying at the Turkish schools. These schools have been among the top-rated all the time. We have a total of 926 high schools in the capital Manila and the Turkish schools top the list. I would like to thank Turkish people for establishing these schools.”
In her remarks following the meeting, Sanchez hailed the schools for their achievements. “I attended the Turkish Language Olympics’ the Philippines finals on Feb. 26. I witnessed your sincerity and efforts there too. You are teaching not only academics but friendship, peace and solidarity as well,” she said
During the event, Maria Rowena Sanchez who is Philippian ambassador to Turkey, made a speech. “This program, held by the people from different language, religion and culture, shows us what is important is love in heart not the differences among us,” said Sanchez adding that he extended his thanks to devoted teachers in Turkish schools.
Feliciano Belmonte, speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, received in his office Malik Gencer, general manager of Fountain Schools, Ferhat Kazkondu, president of Pacific Dialogue Foundation and Merve Ozkan, Turkish Olympics coordinator in the Philippines.
The President Remengesau expressed his pleasure to receive the delegation and delivered a presentation on the Republic of Palau and its people. He further accentuated the significant role that intercultural activities will play in boosting Turkish-Palauan bilateral relations. He also expressed his willingness to have Palauan student participate in the coming Turkish Language Olympics.
The members of Kimse Yok Mu Foundation were the first group among dozens of international humanitarian groups that have descended to Tacloban City, of Philippines, which bore the brunt of the world’s strongest typhoon recorded this year. Kimse Yok Mu Foundation was able to collect $2 million and was still receiving donations for Haiyan victims, said Kurkcu. The foundation was organized in 1999, just months after Turkey was hit by a devastating earthquake that killed more than 17,000 people.