Yoko Ono Donates $10,000 For Typhoon Pablo Victims

Yoko Ono, widow of Beatle John Lennon, donated $10,000 (about P408,000) for the people affected by Typhoon Pablo that ravaged many villages and killed hundreds of individuals in Mindanao.

Yoko Ono during the 2012 Grammys

The Japanese artist and peace advocate learned about the catastrophe during a recent visit to her childhood home, which is now the residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan.

"Ms. Ono spent her childhood years at the residence, an Iberian-style mansion built in 1934 which used to be owned by her uncle Iwajiro Yasuda. It was sold to President Jose P. Laurel, and was subsequently acquired by the Philippine Government after World War II," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

DFA added, "When she comes to Japan, Ms. Ono finds time to visit the residence to reminisce about her childhood. During her visit to the residence last December, she conveyed to Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez and Madame Maria Teresa L. Lopez her appreciation for the care the Philippine Government has taken to preserve the historic mansion." 

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo received Ono's donation on Monday, according to the DFA.

Via her Twitter account, Ono also asked her 3.3 million followers to donate to Red Cross Philippines for the victims of Typhoon Pablo.

"Please help those in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Pablo. Donate to @philredcross at http://www.redcross.org.ph/donatenow," she tweeted Wednesday.

Ono has also donated for Typhoon Ondoy relief efforts in 2009 and is assisting Filipino schoolchildren, DFA said.