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A Hawaii-born Filipino boxer is getting involved with local Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts by marketing newly launched Aloha for Philippines shirts and apparel.
Brian Viloria has teamed up with HiLife Clothing, Butigroove, In4mation, Barefoot League and Lanai Tabura’s Aloha Plate — the same group of designers that created Aloha for Japan merchandise after the 2011 Japanese tsunami — to raise awareness for the needs of the disaster-stricken country.
"Many people are in desperate need for water, food and medical supplies," Viloria said. "They need our help. We need to do what we can to help save lives."
Aloha for Philippines shirts and hats are available for purchase at Butigroove/HiLife, at 500 Piikoi St., or online at www.AlohaPlate.com or www.AlohaForPhilippines.com. Proceeds will go to the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu to help with relief efforts in the Philippines.
"Let’s all do what we can to help our community, our friends, our ohana," said Tabura, co-owner of Aloha Plate, which recently won the Food Network’s reality television competition "The Great Food Truck Race."
Fundraising drives and events continue to pop up in Hawaii in response to Typhoon Haiyan, and more are sure to come.
FINDING LOVED ONES:
» Family-tracing services for missing people in the Philippines due to the typhoon: Call the Hawaii Red Cross hotline at 739-8115.
» For announcements by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, including tracing services, go to its Facebook page or website at www.philippineshonolulu.org.
» Hawaiian Telcom is providing its residential home phone customers with free direct calls to the Philippines through November. Go to hawaiiantel.com/ philippines for applicable terms and restrictions for this program.
» For updates on federal response efforts and information on finding individuals, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has created a comprehensive resource center at www.schatz.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=348037.
» All calls placed by Oceanic Time Warner Cable home phone and business customers to land-line and mobile numbers in the Philippines are free through Nov. 30. The service is retroactive for all calls placed since Nov. 8. Verizon Wireless is waiving charges on long-distance calls and text/multimedia messages to the Philippines from Nov. 8 through Dec. 7 for monthly service customers.
HOW TO HELP:
» Red Cross: Send a check payable to American Red Cross, indicating in the memo line "Philippine Typhoon" or "Pacific Typhoon" (affecting Vietnam, Philippines, etc.), to Hawaii Red Cross, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu HI 96816; or go to redcross.org or call 800-REDCROSS.
» Concerts: "Kokua for the Philippines," a Hawaii-based radio, television and Internet benefit concert, will be held Sunday, Dec. 15, from noon to 5 p.m. Organized by Clear Channel Media, Entertainment Hawaii and Oceanic Time Warner Cable, the event will take place at the Great Lawn at Hilton Hawaiian Village and be broadcast live on local radio and television stations and via the Internet. Proceeds from a phone bank and on-site gifts will be donated to the American Red Cross for disaster relief. Gifts designated to other nonprofit organizations supporting the relief effort also can be accepted, and their contributions will be included in the overall event total. Event ticket information will be released soon. For more information and updates, visit www.kokuaforthephilippines.com.
» "Kokua for Philippines: A Night of Hope Concert": May Mizuno, wife of state Rep. John Mizuno, and the Congress of Visayan Organizations, in collaboration with the Filipino Community Center, Kokua Philippines and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, will hold "Kokua for Philippines: A Night of Hope Concert" at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in McKinley High School’s auditorium. Mizuno family members were among the missing Friday.
» Drop-off centers: Honolulu City Councilman Joey Manahan, St. Anthony Church in Kalihi, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Philippine Red Cross and LBC Remittance are partnering to set up drop-off centers for donations including canned goods, blankets, toiletries, towels, socks, light jackets and rice. Donations will be accepted until Nov. 30. All goods received will be shipped to relief centers in Tacloban courtesy of the LBC Remittance Foundation.
» Restaurant drive: Panda Restaurant Group Inc. will collect donations at each of its 1,650 Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi-San locations between Nov. 13 and Dec. 4 and match the total.
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AP