Good Samaritan's plea for donations

JOHN Flanagan (right) with Ben Losada (77) who is homeless, living on the streets

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AN OLDHAM-BORN man who has dedicated his life to helping thousands of poverty-stricken people in the Philippines has featured in a video.

John Flanagan began raising awareness about their plight after visiting the islands for the first time in 2008 when he 'fell in love with the country and the people'.

With his partner, he moved to live in the Philippines and began voluntary work in December 2010 before single-handedly setting up his own project just over five years ago.

He has called on Oldhamers to donate items in support of his cause, from everyday essentials such as food and clothing, to medicines.

He also set up a Facebook page with the aim of gleaning support by demonstrating the poverty that exists and situations caused by events such as Typhoon Yolanda.

Voluntary work undertaken by Mr Flanagan involves opening his arms to street children, showing care to the homeless and paying regular visits to soup kitchens.

He said: "I have helped countless thousands over the years, from individuals to community groups, those in children's home, victims of trafficking, the sick and street children.

"I also help at a soup kitchen which is organised by volunteers at Pasig Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church in Malinao, and has over 300 attend every Saturday."

His latest endeavour was distributing hundreds of toothbrushes and toothpaste to the children who attend the soup kitchen and to a children's home.

Just this month Mr Flanagan has been highlighting the suffering of a man with Parkinson's Disease and appealing for information about doctors or clinics who can offer help.

The kind-hearted volunteer also fought for four years to secure medical treatment for Ben Losada, 77, who had a hernia and was living on the streets.

Another act of kindness saw him support two young girls in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, known as Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

Mr Flanagan said: "I helped the two sisters after the Yolanda tragedy.

"Their family lost everything but I was able to help with education for the girls for two years.

"They lived in Tacloban, where thousands died."

The typhoon which hit on November 8, 2013, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded killing around 6,300 in the Philippines alone.

Now a national documentary called "An Englishman in The Philippines" has been created about Mr Flanagan's charity work and the impact he has made.

He said: "My aim is to continue helping. It is never easy to get help but anyone who wishes to donate any items that might be of use, such as clothing, toiletries, shoes, spectacles, tinned food, packet noodles, stationery and medicines can contact me.

"I accept goods and deliver them and all donated goods are acknowledged and their destination shown on Facebook."

Visit John's Facebook page, The Philippines - The People, The Faces, The Places, The Poverty.