TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Filipino Chinese Cultural and Economic Association (FCCEA) donated NT$1.13 million (2 million Philippine pesos) to Taiwan for earthquake relief on Tuesday (April 9).

FCCEA head Chuang Han-hsiang (莊漢香) in an interview with CNA said, “We were in Taiwan two days before the earthquake. When we returned and heard the news, we were surprised and saddened for the victims.”

Chuang said that Filipino-Chinese have donated through their channels, but the FCCEA is the first organization to donate collectively. “Although we have already made personal donations through our own channels in the past few days, to leverage the effect of setting an example, we hope that charitable organizations or friendly groups in the overseas Chinese community will also respond to this initiative,” he said.

“The amount donated by the FCCEA is not large, but it still represents the thoughts from all of us at the FCCEA,” he added.

Taiwan Representative to the Philippines Chou Ming-kan (周民淦) said that he received a call from Chuang on Monday (April 8), when the FCCEA told him that they wanted to donate money for the earthquake victims.

“I was deeply moved at that moment. This is the first collective donation from the Filipino-Chinese community,” the representative said. “I am from Hualien myself, so I am particularly touched by the FCCEA’s donation to Hualien’s recovery."

“I believe that the FCCEA’s donation can also inspire more people in the Filipino-Chinese community to join hands and help Taiwan recover quickly,” Chou added.

Following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan, donations from several countries and organizations like the Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief have poured in.