Five-year-old pledges piggy bank to aid typhoon-hit Philippines

In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, Manila-based Joy Carrillo tried to shelter her five-year-old son David from shocking news footage of the devastation.

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More than 125,000 people in the most vulnerable areas had been moved to evacuation centres before Haiyan hit, according to the civil defence office. (AAP)

In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, Manila-based Joy Carrillo tried to shelter her five-year-old son David from shocking news footage of the devastation.

But when he saw it anyway, by browsing on his mother's phone while she was sleeping, his reaction shocked everyone, including his family.

"I woke up with him crying by our bedside and hugging his piggybank," says Joy.

The kindergarten student wanted to donate his money to help those in need.

Joy told him -- "without thinking", she adds -- his offer of 250 Philippine Peso, or around $6, wasn't enough to make much of a difference.

So little David launched his own appeal, pleading with other children around the world to help those in Tacloban, using YouTube to get the word out.

WATCH: Click the video below to see David's piggy bank appeal


"I am David, I'm from the Philippines, I'm here to share my piggy bank," he says tearfully, rattling his racing car-shaped bank.

"My mum told me it's not enough because it's just 250... but if you share your piggybank, that will be enough."

Joy says the tears are genuine, and the action was unprompted. "He is really crying over this."

"It would really mean a lot to him if children like him can help the children of Tacloban," she says.


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2 min read

Published

Updated

By Rhiannon Elston

Source: SBS


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