CLOCKWISE: Jeff Tam, Cesar Montano, The Author with Noel Cabangon; Leo Valdez and Nyoy Volante; Dingdong Dantes, Mark Escueta, Brod Pete, Mike Elgar and Norby David
Less than 48 hours after Bohol was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, Cesar Montano and Noel Cabangon were already on television calling all artists to help them do a fundraising concert for the victims. I had to call Sunshine (awkward!) just to ask for Cesar’s number (because I lost it) and she gladly gave it. My father is from Clarin, Bohol and I really wanted to help. Last Friday, I think Teatrino had more number of stars onstage than the actual audience who volunteered to help. I asked some of them, why help, and how else do they help. Here are their answers:
Dingdong Dantes
“Kung ’di tayo, sino? We are just one nation – ’yung spirit of kabayanihan never mawawala sa atin. I think it’s a Filipino habit to really help one another everyone should actively participate.”
Jeff Tam
“Mahirap na sila, sila pa (ang) nasalanta. Kailangan talaga natin silang tulungan… Ang sakit sa dibdib makita ang mga bata na may nakasulat na placards na ‘Please give us food’… naawa ako.”
Leo Valdez
“It breaks my heart to see people homeless, lives lost, homes wrecked – sincerely, nakakaiyak. The good thing about this is that all proceeds will go to the victims, it’s not much but it will help. I hope people reading your column can do something as well to help. To be part of ‘Sagip Bohol’ is a very tiny way to share what God has given me.”
Noel Cabangon
“It’s our duty to share. Likas na sa ating Pilipino ang tumulong lalo na sa ganitong pagkakataon na marami tayong kababayan na nasalanta. This is part of our culture ‘ang bayanihan.’ We exhibit this kindness and trait to those who are in need of help. Everytime there is a calamity, I really try to organize fundraisers like this to extend our help. Hindi man tayo makapunta doon at least we can do something here and we send we whatever we can raise for the Filipino in need.”
Nonong Buencamino (Director of the concert)
“Cesar made me train the Loboc children. Very close sa akin ang Loboc Church and Loboc kids. So my heart goes (out to) them. Right now, we can’t really see the extent of the damage because there are a lot of places the media cannot reach. Bohol really needs help.”
Luke Mejares
“Maraming kailangan talagang tulungan dun; hindi lang ’yan buwan, siguro years na kailangan nating tulungan. As a Boholano, I did my own fundraising on Facebook – R25,000 na ang nai-raise ko. May isang game show din sa TV5, nanalo ako R59,000 and I’m donating that to Bohol.”
Jimmy Bondoc
“Suki ako ng fundraiser; half of my schedule is dedicated to causes like this. It’s my personal advocacy and it inserts a meaning in what I do.”
Mark Escueta (Rivermaya)
“Because I know the feeling ng biglaang trahedya lalo na sa pamilya. Hindi directly sa family namin, my relatives, hindi ka prepared… In this case, ibang level ng destruction ang nangyari sa Bohol… Kung pwede lang tumugtog sa lahat ng fundraisers gagawin namin. We are just thankful na-invite kami to perform tonight.”
Nyoy Volante
“Everytime I get to perform for a cause para makatulong, I do it. Iba ’yung magamit mo ’yung music mo for something good… Actually sa ganitong pagkakataon ako ang nagpapasalamat because, as performers, we rarely get to use our gifts for something.”
Brod Pete
“I help because I know the feeling to be helped. I was an Ondoy victim and my friends organized a fundraising concert to help me. I realized na mas masarap pala ang tinutulungan kaysa tumutulong… Joke!”
Cesar Montano
“Help has to be immediate. Ang problema ngayon sa Bohol, everyday kailangan mapakain ’yung mga tao sa lugar na hindi maabot dahil nasira ang tulay at ang mga daan. The grounds have been split up… I went there to see it for myself, what the people need and the extent of the damage. Kahit maraming nagbibigay, mga pribadong mga tao, marami pa rin ang nangangailangan. Hindi talaga umaabot ’yung tulong sa interior ng Bohol, lalo na (sa) Loon. ’Yung mga matatanda, paano sila makakalakad ng dalawang kilometro para humingi ng isang kilong bigas at ng dalawang boteng mineral water? You really have to go out of your way to give the help that they need. Every now and then may earthquake pa rin. Bohol averages 15 earthquakes a day (three seconds a quake), so the residents of Bohol sleep outside.
“My intention for this fundraiser is to buy toldas, tents for residents ’cause they sleep outside… because the malls and colleges… have been condemned like the ICM mall, and the Divine World Hospital. How can they go to a hospital when it’s a risk to go there? I just plead for more prayers for Bohol and more funds to help. We should all unite.”
For those of you who wish to donate and help Bohol, you may contact the Giselle Sanchez Foundation at 09175379948. Thank you very much.
Stars unite to help Bohol earthquake victims
Source: Mb.com.ph (October 29, 2013 at 10:00PM)
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