When housekeeper Virgie Florendo first got wind of the Typhoon Haiyan disaster, she knew she had to do something to ease the suffering of her countrymen.

"I never expected the typhoon to have such a devastating effect. Usually the storms we experienced back home in Manila only had a Signal 3 rating where the wind speeds was only 75 kph," said Florendo, who is married to a Malaysian and has lived here for 18 years.

"But Haiyan was a super typhoon with a wind speed of 315 kph. My family was safe as they were staying in the Luzon region far away from devastation.

"But I know of two friends who were not as lucky," she added. Fellow Filipinas Liza Ruizo and Gian Belmis were still waiting for news from their families, she said. Both have homes in Iloillo, in Visayas Province, that were washed away.

An outpouring of sympathy

Florendo sprang into action right after Haiyan hit, first seeking help from her employer to spread the news in the affluent neighbourhood of Section 6 in Petaling Jaya where Florendo cleans house twice a week.

"Most will be donating canned food," said Florendo.

She also networked with other Filipinas in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysian friends in her Seri Sentosa neighbourhood, where average income is modest but the generosity is not.

"The outpouring of sympathy has been overwhelming," said Florendo of the response.

Florendo collected six boxes of clothes and plenty of sardines, condensed milk and instant noodles. She enlisted the help of her father in-law, taxi driver Mariappan Veerappan, to take everything to the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur.

Florendo has only one hope: that her effort will reach those in need.

"It is going to be a long road to recovery for the devastated cities," she said. "I am praying hard for all the victims to be strong so they can begin new lives after this."

A form of solidarity

In Indonesia, humanitarian organisations deployed disaster response teams to some of the worst-hit areas such Tacloban in Leyte Province, Iloilo in Vesayas Province, and Cebu island.

"We will work with local partners there. For the first phase, we will carry out relief activities such as distributing ready to eat meals, clothing for children, milk and other pressing needs," said Syuhelmaidi Syukur, vice president of Fast Action Response (ACT), one of several groups sending teams to the neighbouring country.

The team will also gather information on the ground to prepare for a longer term response, Syuhelmaidi told Khabar on November 12th, amid a busy scene preparing for departure.

As a founder of ASEAN and the biggest nation in the bloc, Indonesia must show its concern for others, he said, adding: "The Philippines is our neighbour, our fellow ASEAN member and the region bordering Indonesia."

Farid Husain, chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) health division, said the organization was sending 50 tonnes of aid: 2,000 hygiene kits, 2,000 blankets, 1,000 tents, 10,000 cases of instant noodles, nine health care personnel and a mobile health clinic.

PMI was co-ordinating with the Philippines Red Cross in all matters including where the assistance is most needed, he said.

"We do this as a form of solidarity from the Indonesian nation to another nation," he said.