OttawaOttawa’s Filipino community is watching with anguish as Typhoon Fung-wong ravages the Philippines. Members of a local church are sending money to loved ones, while a business in the Byward Market is sending the proceeds of some products toward relief efforts.At least 18 people have died, over a million displaced in the archipelagoCameron Mahler · CBC News · Posted: Nov 12, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Alvin Molito is the senior pastor at the Filipino Community Church in Ottawa. He says his congregation is sending money to the families of those who were affected by Typhoon Fund-wong. (Cameron Mahler/CBC)Members of Ottawa’s Filipino community say they’re heartbroken watching Typhoon Fung-wong devastate their homeland.The storm departed the Philippines on Monday after causing floods, landslides, and power outages. At least 18 people have died and more than a million have been displaced in the archipelago.At Sweet Puspin cafe in the Byward Market, owner Michelle Sartzetakis says she is struggled to process the images and video on social media.“It breaks my heart that they’re going through that,” she said. “You see people really in distress when the water is coming up in their home and they have to break the ceiling in order to go on the roof.”Sartzetakis says the disaster hits close to home. She recalled her own family’s experience living through Typhoon Bopha — also known as Pablo — more than a decade ago.“We didn’t hear from them for four days,” she recalled, tearing up. “We didn’t know whether they were alive or not. Rescues couldn’t get to them because the water was way too high.”She said it’s that experience that makes her really feel for those now waiting to hear from loved ones in the path of Fung-wong.Michelle Sartzetakis is the owner of Sweet Puspin in the Byward Market. She’s sending the proceeds from some of her products directly toward relief efforts. (Cameron Mahler/CBC)The dessert cafe has launched a small fundraiser, donating tips and the proceeds from its jelly sago drinks to relief efforts in the Philippines. She said it’s part of what her community does to support each other in times of crisis.“One thing great about Filipinos — we’re very, very resilient,” she said. “Everything could be falling apart, but we always stick together.”At the Filipino Community Church of Ottawa, senior pastor Alvin Molito says super typhoons like Fung-wong are becoming more common, while the response from abroad is becoming more strained.“We kind of expected before the end of the year, we will have two or three super typhoons,” he said.“And they just power through it.”Molito said his congregation’s first reaction — after prayer — was to check in with family back home. “We gather information from our people, whether they have families who are affected,” he said, adding the best way to help “these days is to send money transfers to help whatever need they have.”Molito said that while few members have immediate family who’ve been directly impacted by Fung-wong, many are supporting relatives or friends who were hit hard in affected regions.“What our community would do is send support to our family so that our families in the Philippines can support those who are directly affected.”But sending money to those impacted by the storm is not always an instantaneous solution, said Sartzetakis.“You can send money, that’s easy. But they’re not going to be able to get the money,” she said. “They’re not going to be able to buy anything for food and water because there’s no resources to get those.”As relief efforts ramp up across the Philippines, Sartzetakis says her thoughts remain with those rebuilding from yet another devastating storm.“You go to sleep and it’s in your head. It’s like playing over and over again in your head,” Sartzetakis said. “It’s just making sure everyone you know is safe.”ABOUT THE AUTHORCameron is an Ottawa-based journalist with CBC News. He’s worked with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo covering elections, local news, and city council. Cameron also interned with CBC Toronto’s Enterprise Unit. Contact Cameron with story ideas at cameron.mahler@cbc.ca. Follow Cameron on X @cam_mahlerWith files from the Associated Press
It breaks my heart: Ottawa Filipinos watch as Typhoon Fung-wong devastates homeland
