FILIPINOS in Swindon are doing all they can to offer help to their compatriots left homeless by devastating typhoons.

Members of the Swindon Filipino Association are appealing to the generosity of Swindonians to hep raise cash and much needed supplies for more than 500,000 people left homeless by the typhoons which have hit the Philippines.

The association held a fund raising drive at Holy Family Church, in Marlowe Avenue, on Saturday and have so far collected £1,200 as well as five boxes of clothes, food and other essentials.

They will continue collecting until Saturday, October 17, before sending the proceeds to the Philippine National Red Cross.

Aries Aquitania, who represents the association in Old Town, said: “When we saw the terrible pictures on the television all of the Filipinos in Swindon knew we must do something. We are here in Swindon but we want to do something to help all the people back home.

“This is a terrible tragedy – last weekend there was 18 inches of rain in 24 hours.

“To put that in perspective when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans there was 14 inches of water.”

Mr Aquitania went on to say that 80 per cent of the capital Manila was submerged by water and over 700,000 people had been forced from their homes, after typhoon Ketsana ripped through the country last week. So far the death toll is at more than 330.

President Gloria Arroyo has declared a “state of calamity” throughout the nation and ordered mass evacuations of six provinces.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is set to broadcast TV and radio adverts across the UK urging people to donate money to help those displaced.

The Swindon Filipino Association, which currently stands at 175 members, was officially recognised last year.

Adrian De Asis, who is the association’s Park South representative, said: “The society has grown very quickly and we are happy to represent the Philippines in Swindon.

“We want to do as much as we can for the people who are suffering in this tragedy.

“This charity drive has been very successful so far and we hope it will continue.”

To donate to the campaign or to find out more about the association go to www.swindon filipinoassociation.org.uk