precisely..I have a friend whose wife is Filipino. I am not sure she has even been in contact with family yet 
Consider not only poverty, but unlike the US(say Katrina in LA), they are islands disconnected from a mainland. The idea of the cheapest option: loading into a car or bus and driving several hundred miles inland was not an option.
Speaking to a few Filipino friends I was told to NOT send money. From past experience they know the hard cold cash sent for most any disaster ends up in the pockets of the Government or their contractors, the people get perhaps 1 cent on the dollar.
So what to donate, Flip Flops. Instead of sending $100.00 send them 100 pair of shoes for their feet in all sizes. Cotton shorts or shirts and remember the population are small in size so both men and woman can actually wear the clothing. These Filipino's are gifted in sewing, send them a bolt of cotton lots of needles and thread, small scissors and throw in a few small first aid packs.
Care packages of baby wipes and cloth diapers, to send disposable diaper means more garbage and disease will be spreading don't forget to send a bunch of 9 dozen diaper pins.
Forget the baby bottles or any formula that has to be mixed with water, sanitation will become awful and baby's breast fed will survive.
Lots and lots of containers of Lysol and toilet paper, Clorox and any thing one can think of as a bartering tool for them to use, Dollar store has Swiss army jack knives for a buck each, Buy up 50 of them and there will be 50 people with a tool to use or bargain with.
Take into consideration their life style, the climate they live in and quit sending them your high heels, fur coats and clothing 4 sizes to big for them to wear.
