So many of you have sent such kind messages of support and concern after seeing the horrific pictures of the devastation from Supertyphoon Haiyan (or Yolanda as it is called here).

Here in Manila, we were fortunate to only be at the outer edges of its passage and the office remains fine. However, some members of staff have had no contact with their loved ones in the provinces and we are praying for them.

Further south, the damage is enormous. Cities are completely wrecked and communities destroyed. Many thousands may have died and a semblance of order is proving difficult to maintain.

I hoped that in a week when so many of you have produced such beautiful Christmas ads that some of the festive spirit may touch you and your agencies and you might feel like donating to help the Red Cross who are probably the organisation best placed to help right now.

We have more than our fair share of natural disasters out here but the Filipinos remain a happy, kind and resilient people. I hope in asking you I can in some way return the welcome that they have extended to me.

Thank you all so much.

Yrs Tony

 

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