MANILA, Philippines — Players from UNTV Cup – the Liga of Public Servants – are set to join the Wish Olympics, a charity sports and entertainment event for the benefit of the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption.

Among the players are PNP Responders’ Mariano “Neil Perez” Flormata Jr. and Anton Tolentino, Julius Casaysayan of Agriculture Food Masters, Rod William Vasallo of PITC Global Traders and Carlo Gonzalez of GSIS Furies.

PBA Legends and UNTV Cup Commissioners Atoy Co and Ed Cordero, as well as PBA Legends Allan Caidic, Johnny Abarrientos, Jayjay Helterbrand, Chris Calaguio, and Willie Miller, will also be gracing the event and extend their support.

Spearheaded by Wish 107.5 innovator and public service advocate, Kuya Daniel Razon, Wish Olympics will be held on February 23, 2020, at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

It is aimed at extending more charity works to the people of Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna who have been severely affected by the explosion of the Taal Volcano.

Since the first week of the calamity, UNTV and the Members Church of God International, together with local and national government agencies have been carrying out medical missions and relief efforts for the victims.

Razon said he realizes the enormity of the eruption’s aftermath and that it will take months before the evacuees could carry on again with their normal lives.

This, he said, prompted him to think of ways to better extend assistance to the victims, and such is by way of the said sports and entertainment event.

It will be participated in by artists like Morisette, Imago, Clara Benin, Jayda, The Juans, The Wishfuls, Rhea Basco, Mark Herras, JayR, Rayver Cruz, Ejay Falcon, Young JV, Jordan Herrera, Adrian Alandy, James Blanco, Albie Casino, Gerhard Acao and Axel Torres.

Professional volleyball players and TV/movie personalities such as Gretchen Ho, Kathy Bersola, Claudia Barretto, Gwen Zamora, Roma Joy Doromal, Che Sindayen, Jem Ferrer, Patcharee Saengmuang, Sandy Delos Santos, Aya Fernandez, Casey Da Silva, Ana Gopico, Amanda Villanueva, Nicole Tiamzon, Heather Guino-o, and Erika Alkuino will also team up for a friendly volleyball match.

The Joint Task Group (JTG) Taal is continually monitoring the towns of Batangas that are severely affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

The group on Wednesday (Feb. 5) distributed relief goods, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

With the Taal Volcano alert level brought down to 3, the group said it will continue its clearing operations on the streets that were covered by ashfall; cleaning of schools and repairing of establishments in the town of Laurel.

“Nakaready tayo sa lahat ng eventualities pati paglikas siyempre priority rin natin ang paglikas,” said AFP chief Ge. Felimon Santos Jr.

Laurel, Batangas Mayor Joan Amo said they are continuously beefing up their readiness to respond to the possible explosion of Taal.

“Bumuo na kami ng contingency plan para sa disaster plan po namin […] Ang panawagan ko lang sa aking mga kababayan sana po ay seryosohin at makinig nang mabuti doon sa aming itatalagang o ibibigay sa kanilang plano base na rin sa pinag-aralan at pinagkasunduan ng buong nanunungkulan dito sa bayan,” Amo said. — (from the report of Sherwin Culubong) /mbmf

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) will be conducting a search for a 26-year-old man who had gone missing following the Taal Volcano eruption.

This, after a mother sought the help of the UNTV News and Rescue team to find her son whom they last saw amid the confusion brought about by the Taal volcano eruption.

Marilyn Deteral said she and her husband, together with their other children left their house in Barangay Alas-as in San Nicolas, Batangas when the volcano erupted.

Alas-as is one of the barangays located at the Taal Volcano Island.

Marlon, her son, was not with them at that time they evacuated and was neither at the evacuation center they were sent to.

A neighbor told them that Marlon went back home to look for them. He has not gone back to the evacuation center.

It is now three weeks since Marilyn reported her missing child but until now, the family has not received any update.

She said her family has already accepted her son’s fate.

“Sana po matulungan niyo po ako na mahukay po ang aking (anak) doon sa Alas-as po na hanggang ngayon po ay di pa po nahuhukay. Siguro po nadaganan po siya sa bahay namin dahil po bumalik siya dun dahil tiningnan po kami, ay wala na po kami doon,” Marilyn said. — (from the report of Vincent Arboleda) /mbmf