Ambassador Wallace Chow handed over USD500,000 cash donation for humanitarian assistance to MECO Chairperson Corazon Padiernos. MECO Board Member Atty. Joseph Castillo witnessed the handover.
On November 21, 2025, Ambassador Wallace Chow of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO), on behalf of the Government of Republic of China (Taiwan), ceremonially handed over a US$500,000 cash donation for humanitarian assistance to Chairperson Corazon Padiernos of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). This latest contribution further strengthens Taiwan’s support for Filipino communities affected by the recent series of devastating natural disasters, including Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino) and Super Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan).
In his remarks, Ambassador Chow recalled how Super Typhoon Ragasa (Nando) caused a barrier lake overflow in his hometown of Hualien County last September, unleashing deadly mudflows that resulted in 20 fatalities and buried hundreds of homes. He noted that such shared experience of loss and hardship from typhoons and earthquakes enables the Taiwanese people to empathize even more deeply with the suffering currently faced by communities in the Philippines.
Ambassador Chow also emphasized that earlier this month, Taiwan donated US$250,000 worth of relief goods, including water purification equipment, blankets, tents, and solar lamps. “In the spirit of bayanihan and mutual support,” he said, Taiwan hopes that this expression of care, love, and solidarity will bring comfort and assistance to families recovering from these calamities in the Philippines. He further reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with the Philippines and deepening cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR).
Chairperson Padiernos echoed the spirit of bayanihan, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Taiwan for their consistent and swift support whenever the Philippines faces adversity. She conveyed the appreciation of the Filipino people for both the financial assistance and relief goods, stressing that all aid will be directed to those who need it most.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Atty. Joseph Castillo, MECO Board Member, and Angeli Joyce Barafon, Head Executive Assistant of MECO.
