When typhoon survivor Sonny Ciriaco told the Inquirer that fishermen like him would rather have new boats than food and housing aid, he did not know that his appeal would be heard some 3,000 kilometers away. Ciriaco, in an interview with this reporter in Concepcion town in Iloilo province on Nov. 11, or three days after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck, aired his appeal for boats after the supertyphoon destroyed or damaged almost all of the fishing boats in the island-village of Malangabang. The group, composed of 12 women, including housewives and professionals, launched The Lifeboat Project and sought donations from legislators, business people, corporations and other groups and individuals in South Korea. The group is named for the number of the apartment where the group regularly holds their meetings.

Burgos, N. P. Jr. (2014, January 18). Fishers, plea for help heard in South Korea. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A11.