In the wake of Hurricane Yolanda and the damage from typhoon Haiyan, the Fillipino community in London are fearing for the safety of family and friends in the Philippines' 36 provinces.
The current death tolls stands at over 2,200, with relief efforts and searches still on-going.
London’s Philippine Embassy is working with official organisations to provide aid and find missing people.
Vice Consulate of the Philippines Embassy in London, Romel Ramato, said: "We are co-ordinating efforts for the community for the United Kingdom, working with organisations here like British Government and the Red Cross for relief efforts."
It is estimated that 250,000 Filipinos living in the UK, with relatives back in the Philippines. In Earl's Court, home to one of the largest Filipino communities, there are varied opinions on what the community should be doing.
Mario Malata, 64, Owner of Lutong Piney Restaurant, has setup a donations box. He says he regularly sees customers affected by the event, saying that one customer is still looking for his sister living in Tacloban for three days.
Barnet resident, Cherry Ann, 26, agrees that money donations are the right way forward, saying her Facebook is full of comments about people sending money. However, she's unclear is some of this money goes to the Government instead of the community relief.
The suspicion towards the Government has some people taking precautions. Wife of Reverand Josemar Montalbo, Marygrace, 39, says they send money to their Church-leader in her home city, Bacolod in Negros province.
"Honestly, I don't trust them”, she says, as she sends a recent collection of over £30,000 donated from members of the United Pentecoastal Church in Earl's Court using the popular money transfer service, Philippine Remittances. Her reason?
"There are no banks. This way, the money goes into the accounts of Church and they buy goods there. They will take some pictures and send these back, to encourage more support and show where money goes. "
Marygrace's story is not the only one. Local resident, Myleen Disuanco, 39, is searching for her missing brother in Tacloban. She says donations should be food and clothing, instead of money. "There are still people in cities that are not given food. I don't know why my Government is so slow".
One voluntary worker, Patrick Murray, 69, is a member of the Rotary Club of New Malden, which carries out medical missions around the world. Living in the Philippines, he says West London can help by "raising rice, food and clothes. That's the most important to them.” He admits that his deliveries take six weeks, but when they come, he distributes them with the help of volunteers in the area. Best thing about it? “There’s no money involved”.
The Embassy recommends donating online to official organisations at www.philembassy-uk.org , though opting to send food and clothing separately might explain why Vice Consulate Ramato says the larger proportion of aid being received is from private companies, not public donations.
