MANILA, Philippines — Due to the series of typhoons that hit the metro the past two weeks, philstar.com is postponing its Celebrity Run 2009 originally scheduled for Oct. 11, 2009 at the Fort Bonifacio Global City.

The philstar.com Celebrity Run 2009 will be moved to give way to the relief, clean-up and rehabilitation efforts of Taguig City, which was one of the urban areas badly hit by Ondoy last September 26, 2009. The new schedule of the race will be announced later.

According to philstar.com general manager Katrina Sandejas-Mañosa, the race organizers deeply sympathize with the loss felt by the victims of Ondoy and are already pooling efforts to raise funds for the relief operations that Operation Damayan, the social arm of The Philippine STAR will be conducting.

“At a time like this, we feel that it is more important that we focus on rehabilitating our country, specifically those that were directly affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. Continuing with our run would just not feel right,” said Sandejas-Mañosa.

Since the Operation Ondoy fund drive started in September 28, 2009 the total donations have already reached to more than 3 million pesos. Meanwhile, donations in kind include assorted shirts, under garments, cans of sardines, packs of instant noodles, bottles of mineral water, tents, medicines and sacks of rice.

Aside from the fund drive, philstar.com also created “Operation Ondoy” Web special, which contains the latest news on the ongoing clean up, aid relief and evacuation operations and typhoon-related updates and announcements.

Those who would like contribute may send donations to The Philippine STAR office at 202 Railroad corner R. Oca Sts., Port Area, Manila.

Cash donations, on the other hand, may be deposited to: The Philippine STAR Operation Damayan c/o MBTC Aduana Branch Savings Account No. 151-304-161622-9 (fax deposit slip to tel. no. 301-9598 c/o Operation Damayan).

Likewise, Philstar Global Corporation c/o BDO Pioneer Highlands Branch is also accepting cash donations via Savings Account No. 485-0141717 or Dollar Savings Account No. 485-0141415 (swift code is BNORPHMM; fax deposit slip to tel. no. 638-2944 c/o Operation Ondoy).

Source: Philstar