Now decades after, the number of Indians here have grown to over 20,000 (other estimates run up to 30,000). Khalsa Diwan Inc., the largest and oldest Indian organization in the Philippines, has put up a Sikh temple in United Nations Avenue in Manila where hundreds of Indians congregate every week.

A typical Sikh service starts with the singing of Indian classical hymns, while a respected member of the congregation addresses the crowd. It ends with another set of hymns, a final verse, and the distribution of karah prashad, the sacred sweet.

Sikhism asserts an individual’s right to directly commune with God, regardless of status, caste or religion. Its founder, Guruk Nanak Dev, fought for an “exploitation-free” society based on equal rights, denouncing fanaticism and intolerance. Sikhs believe that the key to righteous living is the conquest of Ego and its five temptations — lust, attachment, pride, greed, and anger.

.INDIAN COMMUNITY IN RP DONATES P1-M TO ‘REMING’ VICTIMS THROUGH PUNO, DILG 

Date:Wednesday, February 07, 2007 

Saying it commiserates with the families of victims of typhoon Reming which devastated the Bicol region and other parts of the country late last year, the Indian community in the Philippines headed by the Khalsa Diwan, Inc. today turned over to the Department of the Interior and Local Government a check amounting to P1-million for assistance to the typhoon victims.

In simple ceremonies held at the DILG Office in Quezon City, Chander Singh, Second Secretary of the Indian Embassy and Gurmeet Singh Samalsar, President Officiating of the Khalsa Diwan Inc. in the Philippines handed over the P1-m check to Undersecretaries Marius Corpus, Joselito Ruiz and Assistant Secretary Danilo Valero and Head Executive Assistant Pascual Veron Cruz on behalf of Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno.

Singh expressed hope that the amount would be used to further help the victims of typhoon Reming in the Bicol region, as they try to “pick up the pieces” and rebuild their lives following their harrowing experience.

The DILG officials lauded Khalsa Diwan Inc. for extending its help and assistance to the typhoon victims, saying its gesture strongly manifests its solidarity with the Filipino people during times of crisis.

“We have nothing but praises for Khalsa Diwan and we are certain your gesture will be emulated by other organizations, Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike. It is during these times when we should demonstrate our oneness and solidarity with each other,” Undersecretary Corpus said.

Khalsa Diwan is the oldest Indian organization in the Philippines, with its temple located along United Nations Avenue in Paco, Manila.

Typhoon Reming, which struck the country in December, killed at least 720 in the Philippines, with the most damage occurrin in Albay Province where the storm created mudslides of volcanic ash and boulders off Mayon Volcano.

The Department, upon the instruction of Puno, dispatched a team of doctors and nurses from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to Albay to conduct a medical-dental mission in the province for the benefit of the victims of typhoons “Reming”and “Seniang,” as part of the outreach program of the DILG and the BFP to extend assistance to our countrymen in Bicol who suffered from the adverse effects of both typhoons.

Those who witnessed the event were officials of the Khalsa Diwan which include Harjiwan Singh (Custodian), Chanchal Singh (Librarian), Parmjit Singh (Custodian), Kewal Singh, Hardial Singh Kika, Geedee Singh (PRO)and Surinder Jit Singh (Second Secretary).###