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.

Rain Love on Manila distribution phase I

Volunteer Deb Flores opening first of five care packages

sent to DZC plant, and presenting the items to

DZC Management volunteer C.P.Flores.

Manila, Philippines. Rain Love on Manila NY volunteer Deb Flores comes home to Manila to personally follow through with the distribution plans of the care packages sent December last year.

A total of 650 goods were collected to be shared with the victims from Dairy Zest Corporation, and the Philippine National Red Cross.

Over 200 factory workers in Dairy Zest Corporation, a food condiment manufacturing plant in Pasig City, and about 20 JWT employees and their families were grossly affected by the supertyphoon Ketsana/Ondoy that hit the Philippines last September 26.

It is already July, and the country is again being doused by typhoons. Let's hope that we continue to find ways to reach out to those under the weather.

Rain Love on Manila Cheers Pacquiao in Fight Vs Clottey

New York, NY. Rain Love on Manila will be cheering Manny Pacquiao in his fight against Joshua Clottey airing live on pay-per-view at 6PM tonight in Cafe 81 on the East Side.

Join us for a knock-out buffet dinner alongside the telecast for just $35. A portion of the proceeds of this special viewing will go to the Little Candles Foundation, and Rain Love on Manila will be there to sell the last remaining limited edition shirts for the Ondoy victims in the Philippines and the Philippine National Red Cross.

Philippine Advertising Industry Recognizes Rain Love on Manila

Manila, Philippines. The Philippines' premier advertising trade publication, Adobo Magazine, recognizes the efforts of Rain Love on Manila in its issue for November-December 2009, with advertising godfather Neil French on the cover (pictured above).

Rain Love on Manila is listed among the venues whereby you can extend your help. The relief work continues for us - Manila, Canada, New York. We thank you for not forgetting the tragedy, and for persisting with your generosity.

Above: Photo collage spread, "Typhoon Ondoy: A Flood of Compassion"

Last September 26, Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) brought the island of
Luzon a record of 13 inches of rain in eight hours, and with it, death and destruction.

On Twitter and Facebook - where over 5,000 of adobo's community congregate - there was
a non-stop barrage of reports, please and most importantly, offers for help. Within 24 hours,
several advertising and media groups mobilized to help fill the gaps in the government's
relief efforts. TV networks raised millions with telethons. Graphic designers churned out
posters for benefit events and volunteer centers. Agencies and production houses produced
viral calls for donations. Countless individuals organized rescue missions, packed relief goods,
cooked and served food to victims.

To this day, the work continues. If you want to help, here are a few places to start:
www.redcross.org.ph
www.unicef.org/philippines
www.akomismo.org
www.sagipkapamilya.com
www.kapusofoundation.com
teammanila.multiply.com
rainloveonmanila.blogspot.com

Cafe 81 supports Rain Love on Manila

(Above, L-R) Medical Headhunter Randy Libiran, Alroy Teves R.N.,

Chef and Cafe 81 co-owner Aris Tuazon, and Little Goliath's Louie Cale love Rain Love on Manila.

(Below) Cafe 81 is at 81 East 7th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues, New York.

New York, NY. Friends from the newest Filipino bar and restaurant on the East Side, Cafe 81, show their support for Rain Love on Manila by wearing the Rain Love on Manila shirt at the birthday bash of chef and restaurateur Aris Tuazon last Saturday, March 6.

Cafe 81 opened midway through February to give people a fresher alternative to Filipino cuisine. There are less than 5 restaurants in the city offering a taste of homegrown Filipino goodness, and with Cafe 81's great rapport with Manhattanites, it's no surprise to hear Cafe 81 is moving steadily up on that list as the go-to place to satiate those nostalgic appetites.

Next Saturday, March 13, Cafe 81 hosts a Manny Pacquiao fight night viewing, and once again Rain Love on Manila cheers with them. Join us at Cafe 81, on 7th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.

Shoutouts to Chef Aris Tuazon, Randy Libiran, Louie Cale, Alroy Teves, and all those who showed interest and support for Rain Love on Manila.

Rain Love on Manila at Maru

New York, NY. Rain Love on Manila came to the NYC-Tristate Young Professionals for Ondoy Relief mixer at Maru in Koreatown at the invitation of Ted Martinez, event organizer, who found out about the initiative last year and has since supported the cause.

Thank you to all those who came to the Rain Love on Manila table (right where the DJ is), inquired about the Rain Love on Manila mission, and made their generous donations.

Special thanks go out to Ted Martinez for inviting Rain Love on Manila and Donna Reyes for being my pitch partner for the night!

Photo above: Donna Reyes of NBA and Deb Flores representing Rain Love on Manila.