Irish Taxi Forum
Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: Rat Catcher on February 11, 2022, 02:08:22 pm
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Children orphaned by Covid-19 grateful for donations
Updated / Thursday, 10 Feb 2022 07:04
By Conor Hunt
The family of a man who died from Covid-19 two years ago has thanked all of those who contributed to a fundraising drive for them.
The Plangca children - Mikee, Michael, John and Checkie - were left orphaned when their father Miquel passed away in 2020.
The Filipino community in Co Kildare set up a fundraising drive to help the four local children with donations soon flooding in from all corners of the country.
In total, the amount raised was €285,000.
"A lot has changed since we last spoke," eldest child, 23-year-old Mikee, said.
With the money, the children have just moved into their new house near Naas.
Mikee said the family are now ready to start a new chapter of their lives, all while still grieving their father.
Speaking from her sitting room, Mikee said she is thankful for all those who donated and never believed the money raised would reach that amount.
"To all the Irish from around the counties, thank you for your generosity and kindness. It helped us a lot to start a new beginning," she said.
It is a welcome change from their old, cramped home they were living in with their Aunt Fely.
"It's for us to have our privacy. Our plan before with my late father was to apply for a council house ... I suppose now he's so happy we have our own house, even though he's not here."
Aunt Fely drops in regularly, and she too is eager to pass on her thanks to all those who donated.
"I miss him. Sometimes when we talk about him, I'm still emotional," she said.
She added the new house will give the children a good head start in life and has a simple message for everyone who contributed.
"Just thank you so much for all your support," she said.
When RTÉ News first interviewed the Plangca family back in 2020, they spoke of their father's journey from the Philippines to Ireland.
He arrived here over 20 years ago for work. He found some soon after, as a factory worker, and remained in that job ever since.
Miquel Plangca
He sent money back to the Philippines every week, but seven years ago, his wife Gilcerica died of cancer.
Four of his children then relocated to Ireland to live with him.
The family recalled how their father's condition deteriorated quickly after contracting Covid-19. It had started with a cough and fever, and then difficulty breathing.
He was brought to hospital and into the Intensive Care Unit, where he would spend 41 days until he passed away on 13 May 2020.
A nurse told the family he had put up a tremendous fight.
Without their parents, Mikee had to put her college plans on hold in order to look after her brother Michael who has extra needs.
But now she has begun an online Irish Sign Language Course and hopes to one day become a tutor.
After a tough two years, the Plangcas are ready for brighter days.
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A feelgood story. Even though, I'm not typical, of the inately kind Irish person, I am thatnkful to be of that stock.
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Hal only need 18,000
gobshites nice people to donate a euro each to pay off his gaff ASA fukin P!!
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Without Filipino staff our hospitals would close.
If there is money left in the funeral GoFundMe budget well and good.
It's not like our own don't take advantage of others generosity.
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It was a fund for the children not for a funeral. CWOs pay for funerals in the event of financial difficulty.
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It was a fund for the children not for a funeral. CWOs pay for funerals in the event of financial difficulty.
My brother was supposed to pay for my Dad's funeral, he put on the Beal bocht , and as far as I'm concerned, trousered the Money.
And he in a 600K house.
To this day the expenses have gone unpaid.
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Bring the bill to the Community Welfare Officer. I once loaned someone the money towards a funeral / repatriation (the repatriation had to be paid up front) and got reimbursed with a welfare cheque... just had to show proof that it was me that paid the bill, a credit card bill in that case.
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Bring the bill to the Community Welfare Officer. I once loaned someone the money towards a funeral / repatriation (the repatriation had to be paid up front) and got reimbursed with a welfare cheque... just had to show proof that it was me that paid the bill, a credit card bill in that case.
I only found out by accident. I got onto Jennings account manager. They've now written it off 11 years.
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They shoulda known better and sent you to the CWO. Fuck them, they've only themselves to blame.
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They shoulda known better and sent you to the CWO. Fuck them, they've only themselves to blame.
Thinking outside the box eh?
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So supposing I gave the Fillo family some money…..What are-they going to use it for…Food ….clothes…Funeral(NO not that)….Plane tickets….Did they say ???? :P
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Yes, they bought a house.
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Yes, they bought a house.
It's what the oulfella always wanted.