Coldplay frontman visits cancer-stricken Pinoy fan

MANILA, Philippines - Before Coldplay’s “A Head Full of Dreams” concert last night at the Mall of Asia (MOA) grounds, lead vocalist Chris Martin paid Ken Santiago a surprise visit at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

The Coldplay fan had bought a ticket but couldn’t watch the concert because he is suffering from stage 4 cancer.

The visit was arranged by Rhiza Pascua, head of Music Management International (MMI) Live, which produced the concert together with Globe Telecom.

Santiago – a medical student at the University of the Philippines Manila whose Twitter feed is awash in lyrics of Coldplay songs and other references to the band — was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in February.

Pascua immediately tweeted a photo of Martin’s visit with Santiago, and the photo was shared by the Coldplay Philippines fan page.

The visit was the result of an open letter written by Santiago’s older brother, Kheil Vin, who shared his brother’s predicament on Facebook last week.

“The moment… Coldplay announced that they [would] be having a concert in the Philippines, Ken was very much excited to buy tickets. He was the one who bravely lined up early to buy your tickets. He bought the nearest possible ticket our money [could] afford,” the elder Santiago wrote.

Kheil Vin said Ken had already turned over his platinum ticket, worth P17,500, to a younger brother. “He does not show he is sad, he said it’s okay. But we can feel that he really wanted to [attend the concert].

“Every day in the hospital, his hobby is to play music from Coldplay. Some of his favorites are ‘A Sky Full of Stars,’ ‘Adventure of a Lifetime,’ ‘Hymn for the Weekend,’ and ‘Everglow,’ ” the open letter stated.

“I am sending you this open letter to ask a little favor if the band could just say ‘hi’ or  [give] a short message for him to make him feel better.”

In an exclusive interview with The STAR (read full story tomorrow), Coldplay members Will Champion and Guy Berryman denied rumors that the concert is the band’s final tour: “We have more things to do.”

A big favorite among Filipino fans, the Coldplay guys (including Jonny Buckland) won nods of approval for their humility and approachability.

On their way to the venue for the interviews at the side of MOA grounds, the guys rode on a jeepney that drew cheers from the queue of ticket-holders who returned their waves with flying kisses and applause, with some of the fans running after the jeepney.

After a round of media interviews, Martin rode on a bike while the three other members walked escorted by dozens of guards (200-strong, The STAR learned), waving at the cheering crowds.

The world tour that started in October last year proceeds to Bangkok from Manila and then to Seoul, Taiwan and Japan. Coldplay flew to Manila from Singapore. – With InterAksyon