MiG Ayesa Gives So Others Can Receive

It's Thanksgiving this week in the United States, and MiG Ayesa serves as a reminder that it means more to give than to receive. MiG has given of his time, his creativity and his heart to help typhoon victims in the Philippines. MiG opened our eyes to the destruction and suffering through his video, blog and Web site, and spurred thousands to action through his inspiring song, United As One. As a result, Filipinos affected by Typhoon Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng have received additional support from around the world.

Two million people were impacted by the typhoons, including tens of thousands who lost their homes. The damage however, isn't only financial. According to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), the psychological effects of the storm present a great concern. Thousands may be at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder from all they've had to endure. The danger is not limited to typhoon victims - rescuers and PNRC staff members have been affected by seeing the suffering firsthand. They've experienced stress from having to cope with a natural disaster of such magnitude. As of late October, more than 4,000 people had received psychosocial support from PNRC Social Services.

The outcry for help has not quieted...it has grown louder. MiG said he doesn't want typhoon victims to be forgotten, and by uniting our efforts, they won't be. Every time I hear MiG's song United As One, it's just as poignant and motivating as the first time I heard it. It has the power to heal and inspire others to give of themselves. Consider joining the effort. Visit mig-music to see how you can help.

As the struggles in the Philippines continue, I'm reminded of the importance of the "Thanks" in Thanksgiving. I thank God for family, friends and freedom. I'm also thankful for a place to live, safety, health, food, a job, and countless other blessings. There are so many people in the Philippines, U.S. and other countries that don't have some of those things.

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or whether you don't, take a few moments to reflect on all you have. Be thankful for not only the people you love, but the people who love you. Think not of what you haven't yet achieved, but what you have.

This Thanksgiving I'm also thankful that I know a special person named MiG Ayesa, whose tender and giving heart has brought an abundance of help to people who so desperately need it.

Keep the light shining and pass it on,

Kay
Team MiG Global

MiG Ayesa Shining a Light on Ondoy Relief

MiG Ayesa has given of his talent to support wonderful causes, and today there's a cause he's asking others to support - relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines. MiG was born in the Philippines, and although he moved to Australia when he was two, he returned many holidays to visit his family. MiG's love for the people of the Philippines makes this cause near and dear to his heart.

MiG performs at Philippine American Friendship Day in New Jersey in June - photo by Wanda

Filipinos have endured the onslaught of two storms - Typhoon Ondoy on September 26, and Typhoon Parma on October 3. Storm-ravaged areas brace for another challenge, as Typhoon Lupit approaches and is expected to reach landfall in a few days with 109-mile per hour winds. Consider these facts:

More than 2 million people affected by flooding. 80 percent of Manila flooded. 189,000 still in evacuation centers. More rainwater than Hurricane Katrina. A second hit by Typhoon Parma that destroyed 55,000 homes. A death toll from the two storms that nears 1,000.

The destruction is massive, the situation desperate, but hope lives. It lives in the relief workers who carry on in spite of weariness and lack of supplies. It lives in the parents who stay strong in the face of almost insurmountable odds, to keep the light flickering in their children's eyes. It lives in neighbors, who share what little they have with others.

It lives in you.

It lives in you with every prayer, every dollar and every moment you take to spread the word. MiG has given us a way to make a difference through his labor of love - a song he composed called United As One. He wrote the song to honor relief workers and inspire hope among those impacted by the storm. MiG didn't record it at a topnotch recording studio...he recorded it in his home. He did it all himself, singing and playing all the instruments (Tagalog translation by Freddie Santos). United As One is gorgeous, and even more beauty lies in its sincerity and simplicity, and in its potential.

MiG created a video of United As One that reveals scenes of the destruction (with assistance from Shax Siasoco). He also provided an e-card to share.

MiG's E-card for United As One


To listen to the song, see the video, get the e-card or read about how you can help, check out this page on mig-music.com.

When we unite as one, hope will live on.

Keep the light shining and pass it on,

Kay
Team MiG Global