Rain Lovely New Year!

Manila, Philippines. Dear Rain Love on Manila friends and family, I have been rather quiet toward the last month of 2009, wrapping things up on a personal level. But now that 2009 is through, let me share with you the small steps we have accomplished as the year closes.

• Since September 27, 2009, Rain Love on Manila Facebook group now spreads the love and information to 980 people all over the world. It started with a profile picture, and now we are a solid community.

• Those who have generously donated old clothes, some food items, shoes, blankets and the like have been gathered and shipped mid-December through LBC to be received by Dairy Zest Corporation, one of the organizations whose employees are among the list of beneficiaries of the Rain Love on Manila cause. The shipment is expected to arrive in end of January. We have also gotten the support of Sharp and Kass Uehling in the shipping of these care packages.

• Rain Love on Manila shirts have been seen and worn in Manila, New York, Canada, and several other places. Come send us a photo of you wearing your Rain Love on Manila shirt, to help us get an idea how many of us are out there raining love!

• Manila is pushing for their second batch of 100 shirts, and New York is looking into producing another batch for 2010. Maybe another color? Watch out for it!

• As of this writing, Rain Love on Manila shirts are now being sold in Analog Soul, at the Archaeology Wing of Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati.

• As for what has happened to the lives of those we are helping, DZC and JWT report that all of the victims working for them have resumed their lives since November. Some have returned to their houses, while others have relocated to live with relatives who are better off.

I wish I have more time to meet and actually see the extent or trace of damage the super-typhoons have brought to the victims we know. So far, let's take comfort in the knowledge that this, as with all things painful and tragic, has passed. The Filipino has survived. We are alive, and we are pressing on.

Thank you to all of you who have been a part of reviving our downtrodden spirits:

1-JWT friends who have helped expand the message of Rain Love on Manila
and manage the task of Rain Love on Manila
2-friends of JWT who have contributed ideas to help make Rain Love on Manila exciting
3-Analog Soul who has given this mission a concrete form through shirts
4-C-Board of Pratt Institute Brooklyn for supporting the cause by providing the funds to print the shirts in NYC
5-Pratt's Office of Student Activities for helping promote the cause to the student body and facilitating the collection and storage of care packages
6-Graduate Communication Department of Pratt Institute Manhattan for disseminating the information on Rain Love on Manila to the graduate student body
7-Building and Securities Office of Pratt Institute Manhattan for storing the care packages
8-Sharp Communication for helping promote Rain Love on Manila in NYC
9-DAS for printing the first edition shirts in NYC
10-Kass Uehling for sponsoring the shipment of some care package boxes from NYC to Manila
11-School of the Holy Spirit friends in Canada who helped set up an alternate means to sell Rain Love on Manila shirts via Zazzle
12-Nylon Magazine for featuring Rain Love on Manila shirts in November 2009
13-Pratt Institute's Gateway group for the interest in featuring Rain Love on Manila in 2010.
14-Pratt Institute students, teachers, administration and friends who have bought and worn Rain Love on Manila shirts
15-everyone who has bought, worn and gifted Rain Love on Manila shirts in Manila, New York, Canada, California, and everywhere else in the world.

We are born with the urge to help. We are lucky to be able to love. Thank you all for taking Rain Love on Manila and making it your own mission. Salamat po sa inyong lahat.

Continuing to Rain Love everywhere and everyday,
Deb

Rain Love on Manila One-Day Shirt Sale in Pratt Brooklyn

New York, NY. Rain Love on Manila set up shop for a day in the Brooklyn campus of Pratt Institute, to raise awareness about the cause, and gather donations through the sale of shirts and stickers bearing Rain Love on Manila. Thanks to the support of the Student Activities and Community Services departments, Karen Miller, Vic Alonzo, Michelle, Joe, James, Colleen and Daniel, the story of Rain Love on Manila is starting to be heard among faculty and students.

For anyone who wishes to purchase the Rain Love on Manila shirts and is a member of the Pratt community (student, faculty, administration), please email rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com and mention how and when you heard about Rain Love on Manila, so that the flexi-donate rate can be applied to your purchases.

Meanwhile, shoutouts of love go to the following who have taken the time out (and their wallets out) to start Rain Love on Manila off in Brooklyn:
Tess Schutte
Chelsea Washington
Julio Martinez
Angela Kang
Amanda Lapuaca
Jason Goodfriend
James Emery
Jon Beller

and to those who have the intention of strutting in Rain Love on Manila threads:
Jordan Judd
Lisa Spears
Diana Ngo
Colleen Stufflebeem
Daniel Esquiver

Would you like Rain Love on Manila to come to Brooklyn again (or wherever you are)? Please let us know! Next stop? Pratt Manhattan campus next week, from Wednesday to Friday! Keep reading this space for more details.

Rain Love on Manila Loves Nylon Back

rain loves

New York, NY. Thanks to friends in hip and high places, Rain Love on Manila shirts are featured in the Nylon magazine's official blog. Check out how much they rain love on Rain Love on Manila right here. They put us under Fashionably Loud, and who would doubt that? Rain Love on Manila makes its statement heard.

Rain Love on Manila continues to raise awareness and relief operations through the use of design on shirt merchandise, and the collection of care packages (clothes, blankets, medicines, food, sanitation) everywhere for victims of the series of tumultuous super-typhoons that hit the Philippines in September. It is a not-for-profit design initiative to keep inspiring people toward compassion. We'd rain-love to hear your ideas how else we can help the victims, and how else we can improve on our cause. Write to us at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com.

This Shirt is Not a Fashion Statement

Here's a list of the daily consumables that one can buy

with $25 USD.

(Note: Rice is in kilos.)

That amount can go a long way. It will feed a family of five for 2-3 weeks. It will help them stay clean for 3-4 weeks.

Click on the upper right side of the blog, or here to make your Post-Thankgiving, Pre-Christmas purchase count. All sizes are up for grabs! Wear Love on your sleeves today.

Proud Rain Love on Manila Shirt Owners

Emilia Vincent - publicist, NY
Anri Seki - VP, art director, NY
Xander Angeles - photographer, NY
Deb Flores - designer, Pratt, NY
Lana Alkhatib - designer, Pratt, NY
June Y. Lee - designer, Pratt, NY
Veronica Naranjo - designer, Pratt, NY
Cheryl Galema - web developer, Canada
Mitz Valenzuela-Winters - RN, California
Camille Block - fashion designer, NY
Patrick Seguritan - lawyer, NY
Janlo Cui - design head, Manila
Lye Alangdeo - client services director, Manila
Cez Golez - activation specialist, Manila
Leona Bedonia - advertising account executive, Manila
Dalla Sucgang - advertising account executive, Manila

Anthony Haber - advertising account director, Manila

Karen Franco - IT performance testing specialist, Seattle

Liz Hewitt - publicist, NY

Tonypet Sarmiento - creative director, Manila

Griffey De Guzman - advertising copywriter, Manila

...

Add to this list by emailing your name, your designation, and your location at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com.

Have you gotten your Rain Love on Manila shirt lately?

Rain Love on Manila Arrives in Manila!

Manila, Philippines. Rain Love on Manila shirts are now available in Manila as of Saturday, November 14, 2009. In collaboration with Analog Soul, a young, hip, pop graphic fashion subculture in the Philippines who support the cause, the first 100, first edition Rain Love on Manila shirts have been disseminated through orders to Rain Love on Manila - Philippine Contingent team. People can still make reservations for their first Rain Love on Manila shirts by calling the numbers on the e-flyer, contacting us at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com, and joining the Facebook group, "Rain Love on Manila". Watch out for updates on this space! Wear LOVE on your sleeve today.

Rain Love on Manila Sale!

Models: Anri, Emilia, Deb
Photo: Xander Angeles

Where's your Rain Love on Manila shirt? Wear Love on your sleeves today.

Rain Love on Manila hits NYC!

New York, NY. Rain Love on Manila shirts are now available in NYC! Hurry and get your first edition shirts in S, M, L or XL sizes. You may purchase it on Etsy by clicking on this link. Don't wait!

How can a Rain Love on Manila shirt help the victims of the Super Typhoons in the Philippines?
When you buy the shirt, you donate your payment to the victims.
When you keep the shirt and wear it, you tell others to Rain Love on Manila.
When you give the shirt to the victim, you not only donate your payment to the victim, you also clothe him/her.

Shipping is not included in the cost of the shirt. We have selected a priority medium flat rate so that your shirt will get to you in 2 days, if you are within the US. For those in the Philippines, we're coming to you too! Please email us at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com if you want to know how to order from where you are.

Wear LOVE on your sleeve today. Rain Love on Manila!

How Far Your Donations Will Go

A donation of:
$18 provides a family with rice for 2 weeks
$90 feeds 5 families for 2 weeks
$180 feeds 10 families for 2 weeks

And if you can go that extra mile, $18,000 will provide 1000 families with rice for 2 weeks.

Source: https://www.wfp.org/donate/ondoy

Suggested Donations in Kind

New York, NY. These are what the victims of the Super Typhoons would need the most:
1. food - rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water
3. clothing - from infants to mature
4. footwear - slippers, walking shoes
5. body care - bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste
6. sleeping items - blankets, mosquito nets, plastic mats
7. cookware and utensils
8. medicines - paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases
9. jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets
10. plastic sheetings
11. laundry soap
12. cash donations

Rain Love on Manila Shirts, by DAS

New York, NY. Thanks to DAS (www.getdas.com), New York, the city will soon see Rain Love on Manila shirts worn by people who care. Watch out for it, and place your orders at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com.

How can a Rain Love on Manila shirt help the victims of the Super Typhoons in the Philippines?
When you buy the shirt, you donate your payment to the victims.
When you keep the shirt and wear it, you tell others to Rain Love on Manila.
When you give the shirt to the victim, you not only donate your payment to the victim, you also clothe him/her.

We're still continuing to clothe the shivering men, women, and children in the Philippines. Or at least we try.

Drop-off Locations

New York, NY. Thanks to Pratt Institute, donations of clothes, shoes, food, medicines and blankets can now be forwarded in brown shipping boxes (18"x18"x18" from Staples, or 28"x18"x17" from LBC) to the following addresses:

1. Pratt - Brooklyn Campus - 200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205. Office of Student Activities. Addressed to: Vic Alonzo. For "Rain Love on Manila"

2. Pratt - Manhattan Campus - 144 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011. Building Operations and Security Office. Addressed to: Kevin Tassey. For "Rain Love on Manila"

Please indicate the type, and quantity of stuff that you are donating in a list, found inside the box. Please do not seal the boxes permanently, as we will resort and compact items per box.
Once the drop-off has been made, please send an email to rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com to advise us, so that we may pick them up.

For donations in cash, please contact Vic Alonzo at valonzo5@pratt.edu, or Deb Flores at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com.

Beneficiaries from Dairy Zest Corp.

Translations:
'Baha hanggang ulo' - means 'flood reached up to the level of the head'
'Baha lampas tao' - means 'flood reached past the height of the average person'
'Inanod ang bahay' - means 'his/her house was swept by the flood'

Beneficiary: Joselito

Joselito Torres

30 years old

3 years working at JWT

Resides in Sta. Ana

Flood waters submerged their home

Needs: blankets and clothes

Beneficiary: Ge

Ge Madriaga-Mapa

33 years old

3 years working with JWT

Resides in Cainta

6 ft. of flood waters entered their home. Were temporarily separated from their kids who were trapped with their landlord on the 3rd floor until help arrived.

Lost their source of income - music instruments and DJ equipment, old records

Needs: financial assistance

Beneficiary: Ramonito

Ramonito Balicante

37 years old

10 years working at JWT

Resides in Las Pinas

House badly damaged by Ketsana / Ondoy. Water entered their home until neck high

Needs: food, financial aid

Beneficiary: Rommel

Rommel Barrientos

33 years old

7 years working at JWT

Resides in Pasig

House was badly damaged by Ketsana / Ondoy

Needs: financial assistance

Beneficiary: Zeny

Zeny Toledo

41 years old

Working for JWT for nearly 20 years

Her home in Sta. Ana was completely demolished and is now temporarily staying with her family in Laguna.

Her home in Sta. Ana is submerged waist deep in water. During the storm, the family escaped by walking through chest high water for miles to higher ground.

Needs: financial aid for a new home and other necessities

Beneficiary: Tess

Tess Jumawan

32 years old

Recently lost her home to a fire started from a neighboring house. Was in the process of slowly re-building her home only to lose it again during Ketsana / Ondoy.

9 years working with JWT

Resides in Quezon City

Needs: children's clothes for a 10 year old girl and a 7 year old boy.

Beneficiary: Diane

Diane Fernando

25 years old

Single mother with 1 child

4 years working at JWT

Resides in Taytay, Rizal

Needs: clothes, beddings

Beneficiary: Tricci

Tricci Alonzo

39 years old
3 years working with JWT (Ad Agency)
Resides in Mandaluyong
Needs: food, toiletries, cleaning materials
Recently married, lost her treasures - photo albums

Documenting Disaster

Manila, Philippines. Because oftentimes words are hardly enough to express what photographs could -

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/09/typhoon_ketsana_ondoy.html

Rain Love on Manila thanks Sharp

New York, NY. Sharp Communications donated several bags of personal effects for the victims of the storms in the Philippines, and the New York volunteer group picked it up yesterday.

Sharp Communications is a premier multidisciplinary firm, providing PR, advertising and graphic design to thriving organizations, both private and not-for-profit, of New York City. Sharp has generously lent a hand to Rain Love on Manila to see the design printed in shirts and sold all across the city.

Watch out for the Rain Love on Manila shirts to break into market! If you'd like to place orders beforehand, you may send an email to rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com, with the subject "shirt order". Please indicate your full name, your address, the quantity of shirts you wish to exchange your donations for, and your preferred sizes.

Rain Love on Manila drop-off locations

New York, NY. Rain Love on Manila drop-off locations now include Pratt Brooklyn Campus-Community Services Department. Pratt Brookyln is at 200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11205. You may label your donations in kind with "Rain Love on Manila" and address it to Vic Alonzo, the Community Services Board Advisor. Please indicate what kind of things you are donating - clothes, shoes, food, medicines, blankets, and the like.

Please stay tuned for the other drop-off locations closer to you.

Rain Love, Now Supported by the Philippine Consulate NY

New York, NY. Rain Love on Manila is now supported by the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York. We are currently solidifying the connection and association so that people who wish to lend help to Rain Love on Manila here in NYC can take comfort in the fact that our local government is aware of our cause.

Meanwhile, one of the most distinguished art schools in the city, Pratt Institute, is also poised to offer help. The Community Services Department Head and the Student Affairs Director have scheduled their respective meetings to agree on the best way to get the student body involved.

Thank you for continuing to Rain Love on Manila.

What The Victims Need

Here is a list of what the victims often need, at a crisis like in the Philippines:

(1) clothing

clothing for males (kids, teens, adults, mature);

clothing for females (kids, teens, adults, pregnant mothers, mature);

clothing for infants;

diapers, blankets;

slippers, flat shoes

(2) food

food with caloric value, preferably one that's high in protein (e.g. corned beef, fish, etc.)

rice, sugar, salt

(3) health care

medicine against infections, fever, flu, cough, diarrhea, stomach ache

oral electrolyte maintenance solutions (e.g. Pedialyte, Gatorade, etc.)

(4) sanitation

disinfectant wipes

(5) shelter

There are so many other things needed to rebuild people's lives, but we ought to start from rebuilding their physical strength. Please be guided by these measures, and if you wish to check on the immediacy of the stuff that you want to provide, you may call the Red Cross at 1-800-RedCross or the Philippine Consulate at 212-764-1330 ext. 312.

God bless us all.

Rain Love on Manila, Toronto

Toronto, Canada. Friends in Rain Love on Manila are mobilizing in Toronto to get the word out about the cause (thank you C. Galema, J. Javier, R. Agoncillo), and forming a new angle to collect relief funds: by exchanging wellness services such as yoga and dance for monetary donations. Please stay tuned as we bring you the latest on this new development. And, thank you, Toronto team for your creativity and resourcefulness.

State of a Sunken Nation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-d0Oz6OpMI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWX8xbDvhc0&NR=1

Manila, Philippines. For all those who are far removed from the tragedy, here is the current state of the Philippines as reported by a foreign news channel.

Rain Love, Beneficiary No.1 of Many

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40z8E33iwhE

Manila, Philippines. Here is a link to the YouTube video that friends took of Diego and Ge Madriaga-Mapa's home in Pasig City, Philippines. In this video they describe the water level of the flood, how their furniture traveled from the second floor to the ground floor, and how their two kids got out of the house through the air conditioner vent. They are one of the beneficiaries who will receive the fruits of our Rain Love on Manila effort.

Rain Love Harder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H86EMYS23ug

Manila, Philippines. Tropical storm #2 Parma/Pepeng is on its way to the upper part of Luzon, but will definitely be hitting the same areas in NCR that Ketsana/Ondoy already ripped apart, slated on October 3. Friends, God be with you. God be with us all.

Rain Love on Manila, in Shirts

New York, NY. Thanks to the profound kindness of friends from Sharp Communication (sharpthink.com), a premier public relations, advertising and design firm on Madison Avenue, Rain Love on Manila will soon be seen and worn by people who care about the heartbreaking state of the Philippines after tropical storm Ketsana/Ondoy nearly a week ago.

Rain Love on Manila is a design cause that strives to bring attention to the grave aftermath of the tropical storm Ketsana/Ondoy on the Philippines, and by doing so, to inspire compassion from people all across the world who are personally affected, or know someone who is affected by the tragedy. This graphic represents a call to shower warmth onto Filipino families who were devastated physically, emotionally and spiritually by the massive garbage-strewn flood that tore down homes and dreams that each hardworking Filipino built, with every $0.60 he and she earns an hour.

World, let's clothe the Philippines, and wipe the tears that have been falling even after the rain.

Rain Love on Manila Beneficiaries

New York, NY. The formal list of beneficiaries of the Rain Love on Manila cause will soon be posted here. We are gathering the necessary information and identification in order for people to know whom their generosity will greatly affect. For the meantime, the tentative list includes: officemates in JWT Manila, factory workers in Dairy Zest Corporation, Krueger relatives in Laguna City.

If anyone wishes to suggest any other Filipino families they know who are in grave need of compassion, please write rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com, and we will figure them into the database.

Rain Love on Manila, New York Team

New York, NY. We're slowly building ourselves a team in New Jersey/New York, thanks to the power of friendship, and Facebook. New friends, please get in touch with me through Facebook or rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com as to your schedule this weekend (Friday-Sunday) for the initial meet. Thank you!

Rain Love is in Manila, Davao and New York

Friends, Rain Love on Manila is a relief campaign that is active in Metro Manila, Davao City and New York City. Please contact us at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com, if you are interested in any of the following types of outreach:

1) sourcing white shirts, tote bags, sticker labels
2) printing the Rain Love on Manila design onto the shirts, tote bags and sticker labels
3) selling the Rain Love on Manila shirts, tote bags and sticker labels
4) collecting donations in kind
5) assembling the donations into balikbayan/cargo boxes for shipping
6) reposting the Rain Love on Manila design/profile picture on social networks like Facebook, etc.
7) other ideas you may have about helping using the Rain Love on Manila design

Thank you for your continued support.

Rain Love Manpower Needed

New York, NY. This is a shout-out to old JWT Manila officemates who are trying to bring traffic into this site. Thank you for driving your friends, family, acquaintances on Facebook and other networks onto Rain Love on Manila.

So far the task is now to find people who can either (1) help source the raw materials to make this campaign tangible (white shirts, tote bags, sticker decals); (2) help print the graphic onto the materials; and, (3) help sell them and collect funds to be wired back to the Philippines.

Please, New York, lend a hand with me. Thank you.

The Turning Tide

Manila, Philippines. Without a doubt, each of us has been following whatever news we could gather through the tv, the radio, facebook and twitter. When you look at our country from a macro level, it seems like we are the perennial recipients of worst luck ever. As if the whole country, all 96 million of us, decided to break a mirror all at the same time. Walked under a ladder and stepped on a crack, break your mother’s back.

After a while it gets to you. True, it’s gotten so ridiculous that people have become numb to the misfortune we’ve had. It’s reached the point past being ridiculous and into the incredible and just these past few days, into the stratosphere of the freakin’ unbelievable.

Lately, the shared posts by people who no longer believe the front pages of the newspapers have been at an all time high. An editorial here, an article there, a picture of Mikey buying alcohol in a convenience store at the worst possible time. Everything wrong and corrupt is coming out. And people have been getting angry. Well, angrier than usual. First with Cory then with Ondoy, people have been shaken out of their numbness to again, feel something. Some people might call it patriotism. Perhaps it is simply the feeling that we are taking back control of our destiny as a country.

Yesterday, I went out and saw what our country looked like at a micro level. More importantly, I saw what our country could be. I don’t need to tell you the heroism, generosity and kindness people have shown these past few days, you’ve all read about it already online or on tv. More importantly, many of you are in fact, already part of that story of heroism, generosity and kindness. You see? This is what we could be.

Disasters will happen. Corruption will happen. We are here. 96 Million of us are here. And one by one, we can begin to turn the tide.

Don’t stop here.

Rain Love Reaches Davao

New York, NY. Thanks to a fellow Atenean's repost of the Rain Love profile photo/design, curiosity was sparked among far-removed others who have expressed interest in using the Rain Love brand as banner designs to identify relief points in Davao City. Thank you M. Cruz and R. Fuentes for widening the Rain Love campaign.

Rain Love Threads

© 2009 by Deb Flores. All Rights Reserved.

New York, NY. Rain Love Shirts will soon be produced. Connecting with a former JWT copywriter and fellow Atenean friend gave rise to the very real plan of producing Rain Love on Manila shirts in Manila, Philippines. Please stay tuned. Let us clothe our Pilipinas.

Rain Love in Color

© 2009 by Deb Flores. All Rights Reserved.

Top. Rain Love on Manila, in black, white and red.
Bottom. Rain Love on Manila, in CMYK, and the Philippine colors.

Rain Only Love

© 2009 by Deb Flores. All Rights Reserved.


This is the only way I know how to help.

New York, NY. Last September 27, the tropical storm Ondoy/Ketsana sank the better part of my country, the Philippines that the unrecoverable damages to private and public property approach billions, and the death toll that rose with the water level still rises today.

In their vigorous water scooping so as not to let the water submerge the electrical outlets,
my family is spared. However, some people we know were not. My officemates in JWT Manila were stricken, and one of my best friend's clan from Laguna now is hopeless and helpless.

I don't have any money. I'm relying heavily on my family's support from all the way here. But I want to do something. And I do design. So this is how I thought I would help.

I've designed this Rain Love on Manila graphic. I feel it's time to weather the storm with a showering of compassion. This is the language that I speak and wish to convey. I hope that people everywhere who believe that this message is valid and true, share this design with anyone and everyone they know.

I'm looking for means to get the Rain Love on Manila graphic printed on white shirts, tote bags, and sticker labels. I think if people see more of this, we channel a positive energy of support, and collect funding that we can wire back to the Philippines.

I need help. I'm not as liquid as I'd like. Please help me look for these raw materials (in Chinatown or in your own closets and balikbayan boxes) or help me make them (I don't know how to silkscreen). I am offering my apartment as a mini-sweat shop to do some of these things.

Would anyone out there be willing to lend a hand, or buy these finished goods for the love of Manila, or for the empathy toward a Filipino friend?

A dollar can feed a family for a day in the Philippines. Our minimum wage is only the equivalent of 60 cents a day here in New York. Help me feed, clothe and shelter my neighbors in the Philippines.

If you want to know more about how to help me "rain love on Manila", please email me at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com.