Fil-Ams to rev up support to push for TPS this week

By Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

March 24, 2014

NEW YORK – Young Filipino-American members of Fusion (Filipinos Uniting Students in Other Nations) have dedicated the entire month of March to raise funds for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

“We still see and feel the pain every single day whether or not our families were affected,” Fusion’s Madelene Maningas said

“We’re continuing to raise this awareness about the situation that is still happening in the Philippines, the people continue to be still devastated by the aftermath of the typhoon,” Anak Bayan, New York’s Christine Fabros said.

One of the ways they say kababayans will get the help they need is through the passage of the temporary protected status or TPS, which would allow Filipinos with expired or expiring visas to temporarily stay and work in the US while the Philippines recovers from Yolanda.

Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry communicated to the DHS his views on the Philippines’ request for TPS.

“We are so close towards getting a favorable decision, and this decision could change so many people’s lives,” Maningas said.

They urge kababayans to make the call to the DHS, particularly on March 24 and 27, days designated as call to action days for TPS.

They also want Filipinos to storm social media with calls for TPS to pass.

“It’s been more than four months already,” Fabos said. “We’re calling on you to continue calling DHS, tweet at them or through social media or call.”

“My main method for pushing for the TPS movement, as a millenial, as you would say, I’m very active on a lot of social networking sites—FB, Twitter, tumblr instagram.”

These advocates say kababayans may call Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on the DHS comment line at 202-282-8495 to urge him to pass TPS for the Philippines.

They say supporters may also tweet “Grant Philippines Temporary Protected Status now” to @johnkerry and @dhsgov.

You may contact Don Tagala at don_tagala@abs-cbn.com for more information.