Lea Salonga sings for ‘Ondoy’ victims
Mich
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20091004-228264/Lea-Salonga-sings-for-Ondoy-victims
ONLY IN HOLLYWOOD
Only in Hollywood : Lea Salonga sings for ‘Ondoy’ victims
By Ruben V. Nepales
LA Correspondent
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: October 04, 2009
LOS ANGELES—“Ondoy” may have wrought terrible devastation to our
country but in its wake, something beautiful and profound arose: the
unprecedented support Filipinos all over the world have shown to help
the flood victims and relief efforts in every way possible.
Also thanks to the Internet and texting technology, Pinoys galvanized
together in an instant fashion. The outpouring of “Bayanihan” spirit,
21st century style, is very moving.
Take the case of Lea Salonga’s special fund-raising performance for
the tropical storm victims on Monday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m. at The
Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall located at 556 Fifth Avenue in New
York City. Lea, her friend Victor Lirio, the good folks of the Ayala
Foundation USA and the Philippine Consulate General were able to
organize the event in less than 24 hours!
We’ll let Victor, Diverse City Theater Company artistic director, tell
the story. Here is his e-mail account:
Heartbreaking news
“The event was planned just last night (Wednesday evening, Sept. 30).
Earlier yesterday, I was in communication via e-mail with Deputy
Consul General Millie Thomeczek, expressing my desire to do something
for the victims. I had been consumed by all the news about the
calamity, and the photographs online were simply heartbreaking.
“I knew Lea was scheduled to be in town for concert engagements in
upstate New York. But I also knew that she had very limited time due
to work. At 5:15 p.m. yesterday, I was in a meeting with Bob
Perlstein, Lea’s legal counsel and who is helping me with a deal memo
for another project. Bob told me he spoke to Lea who expressed the
same desire to do something for the storm victims. So while I was in
Bob’s office, I called Lea and left a message on her voicemail. I
found out later that she was already on an LA-bound flight.
“At around 8:30 p.m. last night, Lea called me. She had just landed in
LA. We talked about the victims of the storm and the insufficient help
and relief available to them. She said, ‘We definitely have to do
something, no matter how small.’ She was originally scheduled to leave
earlier, but she changed her schedule so she can do a benefit event.
So we agreed on a date and logistical things.
“At 10:47 p.m. last night when I got home, I e-mailed Consul General
Cecil Rebong, Millie, Ayala Foundation (AF) USA president Vicky
Garchitorena, secretary (New York Team) Marilyn Abalos and officer
Ronna Sieh. By 11:33 p.m., I had received an e-mail from Vicky
confirming her support. By 11:48 p.m., I was communicating with Ronna
regarding logistical arrangements. A few minutes after midnight, I had
almost simultaneous responses expressing support from Millie, Marilyn
Abalos and Consul General Cecil Rebong. All Millie needed to do was to
confirm the Kalayaan Hall’s availability, which she did at 10:30 a.m.
the following day. By 2:40 p.m., we had sent out the announcement.”
In a joint statement, Victor and Lea revealed details of the special
performance: “There are limited seats. To RSVP, e-mail
rs...@diversecitytheater.org. Donation: $50 general admission; VIP
Donation: $150+ which includes a pre-show cocktail reception. All
proceeds to benefit the typhoon relief fund.
“If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, visit
http://www.af-usa.org. Go to ‘Donate Now’ and select ‘AF-USA Typhoon
Relief Fund.’ For check donations, make checks payable to Ayala
Foundation USA and mail them to 255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 428,
Redwood City, CA 94065. Please put ‘flood victims’ on the memo portion
of your check. For questions, please e-mail ronna...@gmail.com.”
Bangkok win
Arleen Cuevas, back home from Thailand where “Independencia,” which
she produced and Raya Martin directed, won two prizes, e-mailed us her
thoughts: “We were all very honored and happy that ‘Independencia’ won
not just one but two prizes— Grand Prize in the Southeast Asian
Competition and the Netpac Jury award, and also happy that Sherad
Anthony Sanchez’s ‘Imburnal’ won Special Mention as well. We were glad
that there was a strong Filipino presence in the festival this year,
with three Filipino films in competition. I also co-produced the other
Filipino entry, ‘Aurora,’ directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. which was also
in competition. And Brillante Mendoza was one of the jurors in the
Main Competition...
“Raya is in New York for the New York Film Festival,” she disclosed.
“Independencia” is an official entry in that ongoing festival. “I
talked to Raya who wished he was in Bangkok with us.
“There were no speeches during the awarding ceremony,” Arleen said.
“It was a straightforward event with Princess Ubolratana of Thailand
giving out the awards...”
Before flying to Bangkok, she attended the Vladivostok International
Film Festival where “Independencia” was in competition.
Arleen is glad to be back home. “Yes, we were all affected by Ondoy,”
she disclosed. “I live in Manila (very near España, UST area) and my
area gets flooded all the time. It was good our immediate families and
friends were safe.”
E-mail the columnist at rvnepal...@yahoo.com and read his blog,
“The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.
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