Celebrities help ABS-CBN Foundation heal nation
by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 07/06/2009 5:00 PM
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MANILA - Celebrating its 20th founding anniversary, the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) held a star-studded concert for sponsors and beneficiaries at the Meralco Theater last Friday, July 3.
The concert, hosted by Edu Manzano, Atom Araullo, and Karen Davila, was held in honor of the men and women behind the AFI's many programs - Bantay Bata 163, Bayan Foundation, Sagip Kapamilya, Bantay Kalikasan, and Bayanijuan, among others.
The two-hour-long show opened with a powerful number from Lea Salonga, followed by Erik Santos, Jet Pangan, and international singing sensation Charice Pempengco who sang "A Note To God."
There were also ensemble songs by the Ryan Cayabyab singers, Pinoy Dream Academy contestants, and a show-stopping number from young stars Makisig Morales, Amy Nobleza, and Rap Salazar.
Musical family pairings were also a big hit during the evening's festivities, like Gary Valenciano and his daughter Keana, and Kuh Ledesma and her daughter Isabella.
Singer Rachelle Ann Go and leading soprano Rachel Herodias also sang renditions of two songs about the Pasig River, in honor of the AFI's current big project, "Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig."
Music legend Ryan Cayabyab, who provided the musical accompaniment throughout the evening, said that most of the concert participants decided to lend their talents for free.
"Music is a uniting factor in many of the things that we do. Most of the ABS-CBN artists performed [for free]. Instead of being paid, it becomes a donation already. For me, in my capacity as a musician, that is how I help out AFI," he said in an interview.
The concert ended when the show's cast assembled onstage with AFI director Regina Paz-Lopez and sang Michael Jackson's anthemic song "Heal The World."
Stellar campaigns
Lending their star power to boost the AFI's campaigns, many ABS-CBN celebrities were featured in AFI informercials shown in between song numbers during the concert.
Power couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo, as well as "Miracle Boy" Zaijan Maranilla, stood in for the Bantay Bata 163 promotional video, while ace comedienne Ai Ai delas Alas narrated Bayan Foundation's short documentary.
John Lloyd Cruz promoted the E-Media project, journalist Bernadette Sembrano provided information on Sagip Kapamilya, while sexy stars Anne Curtis and Piolo Pascual told audiences about the achievements of Bantay Kalikasan and Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig, while "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame told audiences about Bayan ni Juan.
Eighty-year-old comedy icon Dolphy even made a surprise appearance near the end of the concert, and praised ABS-CBN's charitable and philanthrophic activities.
"Higit sa pera, sa jokes, o sa kasikatan, ang hangad naman nating lahat ay magturo ng mabuting asal, para naman sa ganun ay may maiwan tayong magandang alaala. Kaya maraming salamat sa AFI dahil kayo ang nagpapalaganap at nagpapanatili sa mabuting asal ng ating lahi," he said.
Dolphy also stuck around for the final performance, happily singing "Heal The World" along with other stars from the comfort a chair placed at the corner of the stage.
Gina Lopez, in response, said that the AFI staff are proud to have touched the lives of millions of Filipinos throughout two decades, from child abuse victims to poor communities hit by disasters.
"I think the AFI's greatest achievement is that it has been able to forge very sincere and well-meaning partnerships with other sectors--the government and the private sector--and being able to maneuver that to do a lot of work for the needy. It's also changed my life in the sense that I've had to step up my leadership and communication. It's also been a joy to me, without a doubt," she said.
Tireless work
The concert was attended by many high-profile guests, most of whom had given hefty donations to AFI projects, including Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, and other international dignitaries.
With the help of volunteers and sponsors, Lopez said that the AFI is currently focusing much of its manpower for the "Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" project. The program aims to clean up the Pasig River and relocate informal settlers from the riverbank.
"It's very challenging because the river's so dirty. It means resettling thousands and thousands of people out of the riverbanks, so we need to raise the money. Many of them were born on top of open sewers and then we're going to try and transform their lives. This is going to be our main project for the next couple of years," she said.
Before and after the concert, guests and valued sponsors were encouraged to make further donations for various AFI projects and agencies.
Bantay Bata 163, one of the first AFI agencies, was founded in 1997 as a child abuse hotline and now serves as a rescue and response agency for abused children. Rescued children are either put up for adoption through the Department of Social Welfare and Development or are brought to the Children's Village, a haven for Bantay Bata's rescuees.
The Bayan Foundation or Bayan Microfinance, meanwhile, provides livelihood opportunities for the needy through loaning programs, entrepreneurship training, and scholarships. This is in line with Bayanijuan and Sagip Kapamilya, both of which help rebuild communities ravaged by disaster or poverty.
E-Media, launched in 1994, is an educational program that utilizes media and award-winning educational shows to help public elementary schools nationwide. Bantay Kalikasan, meanwhile, has been ABS-CBN's main environmental program since 1998.
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