Thank you for the Year-long Support

New York City, New York. It has been more than a year since the calamity that struck the Philippines, and I have visited Manila myself several times since to see how life has been since. And I've found myself to be truly in awe of the resilience of the Filipino. For after the disaster, and several other types of disasters pummeling the country both natural and man-made, the Philippines is on its feet, commuting away and back to their homes, and continuing to build a life and future for their families.

The major relief effort has concluded. The Rain Love on Manila teams in New York and Manila have gathered and distributed the clothing, food, and monetary assistance that we have collected since the campaign began. I personally thank everyone who became a part of this mission and turned it into a success - volunteers in Manila, New York, Canada, people who love the shirt and love the message and want to help from Africa to London to California, friends from Pratt, Sharp, JWT, family, Dairy Zest Corp, the Philippine National Red Cross, Adobo Magazine, Smart Parenting, Nylon Magazine. Classmates, schoolmates, faculty, administration, student affairs team, advertising people, the creatives, the accounts, the production people, models, photographers, publicists, writers and friends, creative directors, VPs, CEOs. Rain Love on Manila showered blessings the way it did because of all of you.

Yet ever so quietly, I still continue to sell the few shirts left with me of the Rain Love on Manila limited first edition shirts. Because the mission has only begun. So thank you also to those individuals who have reached out to me showing continued interest in the shirt as well as the cause behind the shirt. I am happy to deliver these items to you, as I hope you're happy to flaunt them around and show what helping means to you.

I have plans of sustaining this campaign over a longer period, but as I am back to doing this by myself, I apologize in advance for the slower rate with which I unfold these plans. To everyone who would still like to be a part of Rain Love on Manila, when you do find time, write me about your suggestions at rainloveonmanila@yahoo.com. For anyone who would like to own the last few pieces of the limited edition shirt, drop me an order as well through this blog. And for those who have other ideas how to help the Philippines through design, let's huddle up and do something brilliant and worthwhile.

In the meantime, this is Deb Flores, from New York City, a designer, a grad student, and a hopeful design missionary, signing off for now, but waiting patiently for the next surge of hope.

Rain Love on Manila distribution phase II

JWT volunteers Cez and Dovie prepare the care packages for the distribution day.

DZC beneficiaries of the Rain Love on Manila effort.

People look on as they get called to the distribution
station to collect their care package and financial support.

Dairy Zest Corp Managing Director and Rain Love on Manila
volunteer Nellie Flores ends the event with an inspiring message
of hope in spite of disaster.

Manila, Philippines. Slowly and steadily, the efforts of the Rain Love on Manila cause has finally reached its goals of helping put the smile back into the faces of those affected by the typhoon disasters of 2009. Last July 2010, volunteers of Rain Love on Manila distributed the money collected from the sales of the shirts, and treated Dairy Zest Corp victims to an afternoon of food and more care packages shipped from New York City. The two shirts pledged by some New York based sponsors were also given out in a raffle to the crowd.

Above are some photos of the event, participated actively by Dairy Zest Corp management, and their corresponding staff. Thank you to JWT volunteer Cez de Guzman and Dovie Mar Racquel for helping out.