Singing for housing
It’s been 15 days after the country’s first automated and historic elections. Already, there is talk about a constitutional crisis because incoming President Noynoy Aquino refuses to take his oath under newly appointed Chief Justice Renato Corona. And for good reason.
We may not be as politically unstable as Thailand currently is, but our country is perennially battling the forces of good and evil — the corrupt and greedy politicians versus the good citizens who adhere to the ideals of decency and good morals. But whatever the conditions are, the Filipino people are by nature a generous lot, and will always band together for a good cause. Because of the many natural disasters that beset our nation last year, the private sector is constantly bombarded with appeals for donations. We are always willing to donate in spite of budget constraints.
When election fever was running high and politicians all around were asking big and small corporations for donations to beef up their election coffers, our marginalized sector was crying for help for their basic needs of shelter and food. When it comes to housing for the poorest of the poor, I can never say no to the cause of Gawad Kalinga, whose focus is take them out of the slums and provide them with decent housing. So when Air France/KLM marketing manager Tess Zulueta asked for donation so they can finish their GK village in Bagong Silang, I asked the help of generous souls who were so willing to brainstorm with me. We came up with the idea of a small concert because we Filipinos love music. We asked our talented friends to give of themselves for just one evening. Richard Merk donated his bar, Merk’s on the third level of Greenbelt 3, as our venue. He agreed to be one of the stars of the concert.
The other stars of the concert were Ramir Arce Ramiro, (Rambo for short), who was Armida Siguion Reyna’s balladeer in Aawitan Kita. From Filipino kundimans he shifted to the more popular style of singing and has adapted songs from Elvis Presley, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra and Rolling Stones in his repertoire. He was the main star of the concert because he sang 10 songs.
Chef Philippe, a French pastry chef who has been living in the Philippines for some time now, majored in jazz percussion at the University of Melbourne and loves to sing Filipino songs. Ricky Davao, talented actor and singer, generously volunteered to sing. George Sarakinis, whose forte are songs of Elvis, committed to render two songs. Atty. Rene Puno, younger brother of DILG secretary Ronnie Puno, who used to sing in the band New Minstrels, also gave of his talent that night.
Mia Ong, a marketing executive of Beverly Hills 6750, was the only rose among the thorns. She used to be the lead singer in the bands Soul Cages and Bureau. The tickets sold fast among friends and family. The matriarch of the Arce clan, Priscilla Soriano Arce, honored her grandson Rambo with her presence and brought four generations of Arce children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren to the concert.
There were several highlights of the evening, including the sponsorship of PCSO and giving away KAS Cash cards to the delight of the guests who won cash prizes. GK founder Tony Meloto and KLM CEO Cees Ursem thanked the guests for patronizing the concert and singers for donating their talents for free. Prizes such as slimming beauty treatments from Beverly Hills, ice cream from Arce Dairy, cakes from chef Phillipe were given away at the end of the concert.
