Carnival and Miami Heat follow-up on their Yolanda pledge

Carnival Corporation plc and the Miami HEAT announced a week ago that its pledge to support relief efforts in communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines will exceed $1.5 million, more than a $500,000 increase from its original pledge.

They had previously announced that the organization/s will pick and choose which charities the money will be allocated to:

UNICEF is to receive $500,000. Save the Children is to receive $300,000 (that includes a $50,000 donation from P&O Cruises Australia). Direct Relief is to receive $250,000. The International Red Cross is to receive $150,000 (that includes donations from P&O Cruises UK, Princess Cruises and Cunard), while the International Medical Corps is to receive $50,000 (donation from Princess Cruises).

In addition, nearly $350,000 funds (including $100,000 worth of grants from Carnival Cruise Lines and the Costa Group) have been made available to support Filipino employees (and their families) who were affected by the supertyphoon. This is of course, separate from the other local and independent fundraising initiatives being made.

According to Micky Arison, who owns the Heat and serves as the chairman of Carnival Corporation, plc., "The typhoon in the Philippines caused massive destruction, having a tragic impact on people and families there, including those members of our extended Carnival family who reside in the region. We evaluated a number of worthy organizations that are doing fantastic work in the Philippines and elected to go with these special organizations that are doing extraordinary relief work.”

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra adds, "It is vitally important that we do everything possible to help those impacted by this tragedy. My thanks and appreciation to Carnival, Micky Arison and the entire Miami HEAT organization for their generous support and donations along with everything else they are doing to provide the critical relief that is so badly needed for so many people.”

Fastbreak 2 for Yolanda is already tomorrow

Kiefer Ravena and friends organized the first Fastbreak for the victims of Sendong back in January 2012. With the aftermath of Yolanda, they banded together again to set up Fastbreak2, this time for the victims of Yolanda.

Scheduled on November 30 at the Blue Eagle Gym, this will feature a exhibition game features these guys:



In addition, there is a halftime portion, which includes recent UAAP women's volleyball standouts who have just graduated, like Melissa Gohing, Michele Gumabao and Jen Reyes.

For more details, you may proceed to their Facebook page.

Champions for a Cause exhibition basketball match announced

In an effort to raise money for the relief operations, the champions of the two premier collegiate basketball leagues will face each other on the hardcourt.

UAAP champions La Salle and NCAA champions San Beda will play in the Champions for a Cause on December 7. Tip-off is scheduled at 12nn at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum and will be shown LIVE on TV5, with a replay scheduled at 9pm on AksyonTV.

If you are going to watch it at the Big Dome, tickets will cost PhP 1000 for Patron, PhP 500 for Lower Box, PhP 300 for Upper Box A, PhP 150 for Upper Box B and PhP 20 for General Admission.

Sports5 Head and SMART-Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes says, “Sports5 is privileged to be collaborating with the schools and Fil-Oil Flying V in presenting this rare basketball game where the two best collegiate teams will be giving their best for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Basketball fans will surely enjoy this game where everyone wins,”

Both teams are also scheduled to face each other before this game, as they have earned their spot in the PCCL Final Four, which will have a round-robin format once the four teams have been revealed. (Already booking their spot alongside the two is Southwestern University, while ongoing right now is the Luzon-Metro Manila qualifiers)

San Beda just secured its fourth straight title in the NCAA, surviving Letran in a repeat of last year. Led by Boyet Fernandez, he will entrust it to his core, led by Finals MVP Art Dela Cruz, Baser Amer, Rome de la Rosa and Ola Adeogun.

La Salle ended their championship drought by beating the University of Santo Tomas in a dramatic finals. Led by Juno Sauler, he has solid rotation led by their Finals MVP Jeron Teng, Jason Perkins, Almond Vosotros and Arnold Van Opstal.

UEFA sympathizes with the Philippines

UEFA expressed its solidarity with the Philippines as the nation picks up the pieces in the aftermath of SuperTyphoon Yolanda.

This scene was seen or will be seen in all of the Matchday 5 venues of the UEFA Champions League Group Stages.

Pau Gasol's pledge for Yolanda relief

Pau Gasol has always had a soft spot for children. He is one of the myriad of UNICEF Ambassadors, and has always felt the pulse about the Philippines.

With the aftermath of Supertyphoon Yolanda, many institutions have done their share with getting aid into the country. The Spanish big man is also doing his part to raise the necessary funds.

Gasol has pledged to donate $1,000 for every point he scores in their next game, which happens to the Golden State Warriors this Saturday morning, local time. The money will be addressed to the US Fund for UNICEF.

He averaged 14 points last season for the Lakers against the Warriors, and scored 12 in their first meeting this season (a.k.a. the Klay Thompson fireworks escapade).

The bright spot is that Pau's career average against Golden State is 20.3, the highest among the Western Conference teams.

Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin runs with Philippine flag

Taken from the Seattle Seahawks Twitter account

Doug Baldwin caught two balls for 63 yards and a touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks in their 41-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings for their league-leading tenth victory of the season, but the biggest impact he had might have been before the opening kickoff.

The wideout from Stanford ran out on CenturyLink Field with the Philippine flag.

Baldwin, who is 1/4 Filipino through his grandmother, has relatives who are based in Tacloban that bore much of the brunt of Yolanda when it went through the country. According to him, most of his relatives are accounted for and are "apparently okay."

Baldwin led the campaign for relief efforts of the Seattle Seahawks for Yolanda, with the fans and owner Paul Allen combining to donate over $24,000 to the Western Washington Red Cross.

You may be wondering why the red portion of the flag is on top, as per the Seahawks: "We are fighting the devastation of #Haiyan which has been worse than many war-torn regions of the world."

Doug himself adds this statement from his twitter account (because a lot of people technically remain confused with the red aspect of the flag on top):

If I offended anyone of the Philippines, it was not my intent. I only meant to call attention to the plight of the people devastated by typhoon Haiyan. The aftermath of the typhoon can be compared to conditions after a battle during war. Leyte, is battling to overcome the ravages of typhoon Haiyan. My blessings and well wishes are with the families impacted by this disaster.

Lakers officialy make their Yolanda relief donation

c/o Lakers Twitter account

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Lakers revealed that they are chipping in for the relief effort in the aftermath of Yolanda.

With the Filipino contingent of the Jr. NBA present in Los Angeles as their reward for their excellence in the National Training Camp, it is they who are representing the Philippines, specifically the Philippine Red Cross, as the Lakers presented their donation of $150,000 to the organization.

If you are wondering who comprises this contingent, it's Samuel Abuhijleh of San Beda, Vince Ferrer of UST, Miguel Fortuna and Marco Sario of La Salle Zobel, Gian Mamuyac of Ateneo, Paolo Rivero of La Salle Greenhills, Tyler Tio of Xavier School, Pawandeep Singh from Pampanga, Anthony Sistoza from Gen. Santos City and Mahloney Tarranza from Davao

The Los Angeles Lakers providing Yolanda relief assistance

The Los Angeles Lakers have always been one of the most recognized teams for Filipino fans. And they have dug in into the relief effort for Yolanda.

Earlier today, the team released a statement on their website, which goes as follows:

The Los Angeles Lakers will make a donation to the Philippine Red Cross to assist in the relief efforts for victims of the devastating typhoon that ravaged the eastern and central parts of the country last week.

The Lakers will donate $150,000, as well as give all proceeds from the Lakers Youth Foundation In-Arena Auctions at all Lakers home games between November 12-24, to the Philippine Red Cross.

This is after the NBA and its players made donations to UNICEF and World Vision, and after the Miami Heat (in conjunction with its sister company Carnival Corporation) pledged $1 million.

Erik Spoelstra's UNICEF PSA

Here is Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra asking everyone to do their share and donate to UNICEF.

Miami Heat to donate $1M for Yolanda relief

It is very clear that Super Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) made a major impact in the Visayas. Words could never express how much it has affected those who went through it.

It entails a massive relief effort to be able to address the damage that Haiyan / Yolanda made, and many nations / organizations have stepped up to the plate to help.

That includes those who dabble in sport, of which the NBA is leading the way.

The league, through NBA Cares, has set up a website specific for Haiyan relief. They, along with the players (NBPA) have made a couple of $250,000 donations, one to UNICEF, the other to World Vision.

In addition, the defending NBA champions Miami Heat, in conjunction with sister company Carnival Corporation, Plc (a conglomerate of cruise brands which is owned by Micky Arison, who also owns the Heat) have made a pledge to donate $1 million.

Here is what Mickey Arison said in a statement:

"All of us at Carnival and the Miami HEAT extend our deepest sympathy to the Philippines and its people,” Arison said. “The typhoon in the Philippines has caused massive destruction, and is having a tragic impact on people and families, including those members of our extended Carnival family who reside in the region. We are in the process of evaluating a variety of worthy organizations that are doing fantastic work in the Philippines. In addition to providing financial support for relief efforts, our collective thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been impacted."

From head coach Erik Spoelstra, who is of Filipino heritage:

"We would like to extend our condolences to the victims in the Philippines, an area I hold close to my heart and have visited four times in the last five years. It is vitally important that we do everything possible to help those impacted by this tragedy. My thanks and appreciation to Carnival, Micky Arison and the entire Miami HEAT organization. We value the many fans that we have over there, and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers."

On the local sporting end, The Philippine Basketball Association has donated PhP1 million to the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, while the NCAA has donated PhP 100,000, which is the same amount that the Gilas Pilipinas players have collated. Also, the United Football League's ticket sales from the rest of the UFL Cup will be sent towards the relief operation.