Celebrities sing to help

“Where words fail, music speaks.” — Hans Christian Andersen

ABS-CBN recently let music work its magic via a fundraising musical event titled, Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na! An All-Star Benefit Concert. And true to the bayanihan spirit, Filipinos were united in the cause to help the victims in calamity-stricken areas.

The concert was mounted in just five days. The outpouring of support was overwhelming. Tickets were sold out. People subscribed to SkyCable Pay-per-View and tfcnow.tv to watch it live. Celebrities volunteered to perform for a good cause. People from all walks of life gathered at the Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s humbling and at the same time very overwhelming that all tickets were sold out. It really showed that a lot of people want to do their part in helping our fellowmen,” said Piolo Pascual in an interview with TV Patrol.

Bituin Escalante, meanwhile, considered the concert close to her heart as her family members were among those affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

“Unlike my other relatives who were brave enough to fly to the province and fetch our loved ones, I am left here. I was not able to do anything. That’s why I am really grateful to this concert because I was given the opportunity to help my kababayan through my music,” shared Bituin in a TV interview.

ABS-CBN’s benefit concert veered away from the usual inspirational speeches and kicked off the night with the singing of ABS-CBN’s timely Christmas Station ID theme song Magkasama Tayo sa Kwento ng Pasko, led by Lea Salonga, Gary Valenciano, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Jamie Rivera, Bugoy Drilon, Liezel Garcia, Jovit Baldivino, Marcelito Pomoy, Roel Manlangit and Darryl Shy.

Some 60 of the biggest names in the TV, movie, and music industries came together and let the messages of hope, unity, love for country and faith in God be shared through meaningful songs like Bayan Ko performed by Lea; The Answer, Gary V.; Heal Our Land, Jamie Rivera; Mahiwaga, Fatima Soriano; May Bukas Pa, Rico J. Puno; Pananagutan, Bugoy Drilon; Kanlungan, Noel Cabangon; Grown Up Christmas List, Martin Nievera; and The Prayer, which was interpreted by El Gamma Penumbra’s hair-raising shadow play performance.

Not only did the Big Dome turn into a “sea of white” as everyone — stars and crowd alike — wore the now famous ‘Tulong T-shirt,’ it also transformed into a “sea of lights” when Gary V. asked the crowd to light up their cellphones while they were singing and swaying along Yeng Constantino’s classic unity song, Hawak-Kamay.

The four-hour fundraiser further stirred the emotions of the crowd with back-to-back-to-back empowering and uplifting songs like Stand Up For Love sung by Toni Gonzaga; Don’t Stop Believin, Mitoy Yonting; Alab ng Puso, Abra; Sandalan, 6Cyclemind; Pyramid and Smile, Charice; and the mash-up of I’ll Be There For You and I Will Be Here, Gary V. and Martin.

Throughout the show, the country’s biggest celebrities and ABS-CBN top executives led by its chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III and president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio sang along with the crowd to the lyrics of the touching playlist featured that night.

During the concert, ABS-CBNmobile also announced it is giving away 100,000 SIM cards for free along with relief packages in tandem with Sagip Kapamilya to the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda to help them connect and communicate with their loved ones. Each ABS-CBNmobile SIM card has free prepaid load worth P50, free 15 texts to all networks and 5 MB of Internet that can be used.  At the same time, ABS-CBNmobile will make available another 100,000 SIM cards to sell in Metro Manila and other areas not affected by the typhoon to enable the sharing of load with the survivors.

Amid the roaring cheers and applause during the concert, one thing shone clearly — the spirit of helping was so alive among Filipinos. To take part in ABS-CBN’s continuous Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na! relief efforts, visit ABS-CBNnews.com/TulongPH for details on how to donate and volunteer. Everyone can also share the worldwide call for donation on Twitter using the hashtag #TulongPH.