A number of universities heeded the call of students for an academic break and suspended classes this week after Typhoon “Ulysses” (international name: Vamco) wreaked havoc on different parts of the country.

The University of Santo Tomas wrote, “We highly encourage you, our dear students, to use these days for independent study, research, prayer and to support relief efforts and calamity initiatives through the Simbahayan, your own communities, Church, faith based-groups or local government units.”

Some schools, like the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) canceled classes until Nov. 27. On Twitter, PUP said this is “to allow students and faculty members to recover from the impact of #TyphoonUlyssesPH.”

Students, organizations and schools have been working on helping those affected by the recent typhoons. Here are some relief efforts and how you can help them, too:

Everest Academy Manila

Everest Academy Manila is accepting donations in cash and kind. They’ve already delivered 11,000 Mingo meals to Sagip Kapamilya Warehouse and turned over 200 sacks of rice for distribution in Marikina, Rizal and Bulacan. Cash donations can be sent through BDO (Everest Academy Inc., 0020-60078322) or Chinabank (Everest Academy Inc., 1105-0203360). You may also donate drinking water, rice, noodles, canned goods, blankets and Mingo meals. Mia Gonzalez, tel. 09170-8888642, Fr. Luis Felipe, LC, tel. 0917-6701958; email [email protected] (subject: Ulysses donation).

Everest Academy Manila Student Council

Everest Academy Manila Student Council 2020-2021 is collecting funds until Nov. 23 which will go to Cagayan and Ateneo de Naga University for allocation to affected areas in Region 5. Use BDO (Lorenzo Jose Ma V. Tanjutco, 0004-40727553); BPI (Patricia N. Cuenca, 3529-382102); and Gcash (Michelle Limpe, 0998-5454107).

Enzo Tanjutco, tel. 0977-8050721; bit.ly/ProofForm

Tulong Kabataan-Metro Manila

Tulong Kabataan-Metro Manila is providing relief to communities affected by the recent typhoons. You can help by donating in cash or kind. Monetary donations can be made through BPI (Cristina Tanio Sonico, 5576-698072) and Gcash (Lorevie Caalaman, 0955-8993410).

They also need volunteers for the relief operations, soup kitchen, psychosocial training and for teaching the youth and helping them with their modules.

Email [email protected]; tel. 0956-1747663

Tulong Kabataan-Tuguegarao City

As of Nov. 18, Tulong Kabataan-Tuguegarao City has managed to raise P377,982.37 and they continue to raise funds for Cagayan Valley.

Monetary donations can be made through BPI (Justine Mansibang Caronan, 0579-411376); PNB (Joshua A. Ching To, 2286-10133213); Metrobank (Victor Apostol, 1033-103743738); and Gcash (Hannah Patricia Paras, 0917-8140700). In-kind donations may be brought to 49A Caritan Centro Highway Tuguegarao City.

Louis Batulan, tel. 0935-3501674; (for volunteers) Kairo Reyes, tel. 0955-6714634, Justine Faith Caronan, tel. 0955-4381202.

PUP-Office of the Student Regent

PUP-Office of the Student Regent called for the unity of state universities and colleges including Camarines Norte State College, Cagayan State University, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Isabela State University, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Rizal Technological University, Southern Luzon State University, Sultan Kudarat State University, Technological University of the Philippines, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College and University of Eastern Philippines and partnered with them for a nationwide donation drive.

In-kind donations can be dropped off at PUP Office of the Student Regent, Room 211, PUP Charlie del Rosario Building. Monetary donations can be made to BDO (Joanna Marie Saavedra, 0022-90223456); BPI (Joanna Marie Saavedra, 6399-025331); PSBank (Ellenor Joyce Bartolome, 1271-10001319); GCash (John Ferson Apolinario, 0927-0138522).

Technological University of the Philippines USG-Manila

Technological University of the Philippines University Student Government-Manila has been collecting donations to help families and communities affected by “Rolly” and “Ulysses.” They are collecting rice, canned goods, basic medicine kits, drinking water, milk and diapers, blankets and beddings, toiletries, clothes, bread and biscuits. Cash donations can be made through GCash (Lorevie Caalaman, 0955-8993410) and (Cristina Tanio Sanico, 56980 72).

UST Central Student Council

UST’s Central Student Council is collecting donations until today.

According to The Varsitarian, they are also planning a benefit concert for those affected by the typhoons. The CSC is also donating money that was supposed to be for this year’s Paskuhan celebration along with a portion of the council’s funds.