By Erick Elefante, Date: 7/3/13
The first thing on PAL Tamaraw Richard Goodwin’s mind, a primary school teacher at Kambora Public School in Davidson, when he returned from last October’s Rugby league International tours of Thailand and the Philippines; was how to help the orphans at Nayon ng Kabataan orphanage in Mandaluyong city that he visited. So last November he started a fundraising drive for the orphanage at his school.
Moved by what they were seeing on television and reading in the newspapers with a final death toll of 1,067 Filipinos. Matraville resident and Hillsdale Bowling Club, Bar Manager, Philippines Rugby League International player, Jason Bedford and his brother Matthew took it upon themselves to help the victims of Typhoon Bopha, the latest typhoon to devastate the Philippines, with Jason donating a month’s worth of tips to the typhoon victims.
So when the Philippines Community Council of NSW (PCC) asked for “HELP†with their charity fundraising for their Australian Bushfire and Philippines Typhoon appeal at the Blacktown RSL. The PAL Tamaraws were more than happy to lend a hand.
Led by Philippines National Rugby League (PNRL) International, PAL Tamaraw Vice Captain, Ron Pena, members of the national team; John Acluba, Jason Bedford, Ashley Black, Fred Colina, Amante Decena, Ricardo Hernandez, Kim Hillis, Glenn Power, Mark Reyes, Ned Stephenson, Mark De Ubago (PNRL Asst Coach), Erick Elefante (PNRL Secretary) and Brett Prado (PNRL Board) attended the PCC, Philippine Australian Disaster Emergency Relief (PADER) charity fundraiser last Sunday the 3rd March.
PAL Tamaraw Mark Reyes provided some spice to the entertainment with his romantic tango with Filipina entertainer Cleo Diana on stage, loved and appreciated by the audience and his fellow PAL Tamaraws.
To maximize their fundraising appeal Glenn Power and Jason Bedford did the rounds of the tables leading some of their fellow PAL Tamaraws with their “HELP†charity fundraising buckets, offering a photo with a PAL Tamaraw for a donation in the bucket.
The PNRL also donated a jersey worn by the players at their inaugural Asia Cup victory in Thailand last October 2012 purchased by Mao De Vera which further contributed to funds raised on the day, which totaled over $12,000.00.
The care and generosity shown by the PAL Tamaraw, Philippines Rugby League International players, has come about because of their involvement with the PNRL. The sport of Rugby League has not only connected them to the country of their parents or mother’s heritage, through their playing for the national team. It has also awoken a desire and a need to be part of the whole Philippines community and be part of what Filipinos in the country are going through and doing their bit to help with their plight!
