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International celebrities continue to shower the Philippines with donations, prayers after Yolanda

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Maureen Marie Belmonte

<div><img src="" alt="111913_international_main.jpg" width="305" height="290" align="left" border="0"/>As foreign aid continue to pour in for the kababayans in the Visayas region in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda’s devastation (International name: Haiyan), international stars also made sure they took active part in the process as they offered and rallied for help for the recovering Philippines.</div><div><br/></div><div>Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson is the latest addition to the growing number of Hollywood stars who called for help for the Philippines. The <i>The Avengers</i> actress was featured on a short clip posted by non-profit organization Oxfam on YouTube On November 15 wherein she asked her fans and followers to donate to the international development agency to help the survivors of the strongest recorded typhoon to date.</div><div><br/></div><div>“Typhoon Haiyan has washed away entire towns in the Philippines. Thousands of people are now feared dead. Oxfam is on the ground to reach half a million survivors. We can help. Go to <i><a href="http://www.oxfam.org/">Oxfam.org</a></i> to donate,” said the actress in the video, which ran for 15 seconds.</div><div><br/></div><div>Meanwhile, controversial actress Miley Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray has opted to take part in the “Help for the Philippines” telethon of KTLA 5 <i>Morning News</i> in the United States.</div><div><br/></div><div>A photo of the Achy Breaky Heart singer participating on the telethon was uploaded on the program’s official Twitter page with no less than Cher Calvin, one of the hosts of the now defunct Kapamilya magazine show “<i>F</i>.”</div><div><br/></div><div>While phenomenal boy band One Direction led a telethon in UK on November 18 for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which featured a host of celebrities like British chef Jamie Oliver, <i>Harry Potter</i> star Alan Rickman, Scottish journalist and commentator Andrew Marr, British model Lisa Snowdon and Downton Abbey stars Joanne Froggatt and Allen Leech, among others.</div><div><br/></div><div>One Direction’s Liam Payne who, along with the other members of the band, via a report on <i>Look to the Stars</i>’ website said: “The pictures I have seen of little children in-between the ruins made my heart break. All of us in the band are shocked by how many people need help, so we’re asking the public to continue to be as generous as they possibly can.”</div><div><br/></div><div>According to the same report, the DEC telethon was able to raise “£35 million” worth of funds for the typhoon victims.</div><div><br/></div><div>Meanwhile teen pop superstar Justin Bieber opted to use his talent to show his sympathy and to help the ravaged victims in the Visayas region.</div><div><br/></div><div>In a report by TMZ, the teen heartthrob has painted a graffiti of what appeared like praying hands with the phrase “Pray for the Philippines - JB&#x27; on top of along with his friend Milk Tyson in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.</div><div><br/></div><div>The same report further added that the Canadian singer is raring to auction off the spray cans as well as a signed photo of the graffiti to help raise funds for the nation.</div><div><br/></div><div>Other musician like band Jars of Clay and Journey have likewise pledged donations for the typhoon relief operations. According to Huffington Post’s recent report, Journey, whose lead vocalist Arnel Pineda is actually a Filipino, is going to donate $350,000 for the Philippines while Jars of Clay is currently trying to raise $50,000 from downloads of their song <i>Fall Asleep</i>.</div><div><br/></div><div>American pop rock band Gin Blossoms, a band that recently visited the country for a one-night-only concert, meanwhile, announced via Twitter that they are set to hold a concert titled <i>Gin Blossoms</i> – <i>Rockin’ for Philippines</i> on November 21 in New York city for the benefit of the typhoon victims.</div><div><br/></div><div>Better Together singer Jack Johnson has donated $10,000 to four organizations working hard to provide food, water, medicine and on-the-ground support for relief and recovery efforts for the ones impacted by the typhoon in the country, according to a separate <i>Look to the Stars</i> report.</div><div><br/></div><div>The international sports scene also showed an abundance of generosity for the country as they joined the call for more help to come in as led by Filipino-American and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra who even appeared in a UNICEF public service announcement to help raise funds. While the NBA and NBA Players Association, according to a previous <i><a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/">ABS-CBNnews.com</a></i> report, have donated $250,000 to the US Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF&#x27;s emergency relief efforts in areas of the Philippines flattened by the typhoon. </div><div><br/></div><div>Like the NBA Players Association, the American Major League Baseball via another<i> Look to the Stars</i> report, had also donated $200,000 to U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the American Red Cross.</div><div><br/></div><div>The Walt Disney Company for their part had donated $500,000 worth of funds to American Red Cross and Save the Children for humanitarian aid of the Haiyan victims.</div><div><br/></div><div>Meanwhile, other celebrities have earlier taken to their respective social media accounts their deepest regrets and sympathies about what happened to the Philippines and even urged their followers to help.</div><div><br/></div><div>Among them were singers Katy Perry, Joe Jonas, Alicia Keys, Jason Mraz, Selena Gomez, Mandy Moore, David Archuleta, Barry Manilow, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Sara Bareilles, Jessica Sanchez, One Republic, Josh Groban, Rihanna, The Script, and Pitbull.</div><div><br/></div><div>Then there were hosts Conan O’Brien and Ellen Degeneres who offered prayers for the country and Hollywood actors like Kristin Bell, Paula Abdul, Channing Tatum, Mia Farrow, Elijah Wood, Tom Cruise, Alyssa Milano, and Kevin Bacon as well as power couple Victoria and David Beckham, highly-acclaimed author Paulo Coehlo and sports figures like Indiana Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard, Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade.</div><div><br/></div><div>Even Pope Francis extended his prayers for the nation during these trying times while 30 Seconds to Mars’ member Jared Leto offered a moment of silence to the ones who perished and survived from the killer typhoon at the recently-concluded MTV EMAs in Amsterdam.</div><div><br/></div><div>Photo credit to Tom Dymond</div>

Like the international community, foreign celebs also took active part in helping the Filipinos rise after Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Visayas region