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Local Philippine-Americans turn grief into typhoon relief

By WTOP Staff

BOWIE, Md. – They haven’t slept for days as they’ve tried to reach loved ones. There’s worry that assistance to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines will diminish to a trickle as time passes by. They are the “Phil-Ams,” Philippine-Americans, who want to turn their grief into action.

On Monday, dozens of Philippine-Americans met in the Bowie, Md., offices of U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin to get an update on aid to the region and strategize on ways to deliver the much needed assistance to the island nation.

The Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Cuisia Jr. addressed concerns about scams and corruption.

“There are always unscrupulous people who will take advantage of the situation,” Cuisia said.

That’s why Cuisa says donors should look for charitable organizations with a long track record of relief work.

“Like the Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services — these are organizations that have proven themselves to be trustworthy,” Cuisa said.

Eileen Cosby, with the Filipino Family Fund was blunt: “We need a turnkey operation, or people will die.”

She’s adamant that the bigger non-governmental organizations work with the small boots-on-the ground relief operations. Cosby has 26 relatives in the Philippines and as of Monday afternoon, she hadn’t heard from any. One of the organizers in the room suggested staging a fundraising concert, and Cosby wasn’t afraid to think big, “We want Bono” she said, referring to the U2 frontman who’s famous for his work in relief efforts around the world.

Maryland Del. Kris Valderrama noted the turnout at Monday’s meeting and was encouraged by the determination of the groups assembled.

“For me, I try to hold it back, but it is very emotional,” Valderrama said.

Dr. Bambi Lorica from McLean, Va., noted the repeated calls for unity at the meeting on Monday. She explained that in the Philippine community, people identify most strongly with their own cities or regions, and worried that it could dilute the impact of fundraising.

“The culture in the Philippines is very regionalistic, and so we need to rise above that and work together as a nation,” Lorica said.

PhilipphinesUSA.org has a list of sites accepting donations for relief efforts.

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow @KateRyanWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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