MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine/USA Society joined forces with a united effort of various Fil-Am organizations to raise much-needed funds for victims of typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.
Held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Philippine Ambassador to the USA Jose Cuisia and wife Victoria welcomed attendees to a concert titled “After The Storm.” Fil-Am celebrities and performers showed all-out support by offering performances by Apl.de.Ap of Black Eyed Peas fame (born Alan Pineda, he supports the empowerment of Filipino youth through his Apl.de.Ap Foundation).
Lea Salonga, together with Glee star Darren Criss, made waves with the audience of over 2,400 guests, who contributed generously to the cause.
Other performers were Charice Pempengco, Rodell Rosel, (a rising star and Grammy-nominated tenor who made a successful Metropolitan Opera debut) Christine Rocas, (a member of the Joffrey Ballet and awardee of the Arpino Awards and New York International Ballet Competition.)
Hosting the event was Lou Diamond Phillips, multi-awarded actor who is well known for his breakout performance as Ritchie Valens in the blockbuster movie La Bamba. Phillips is a dedicated veterans awardee and is currently the National Spokesperson of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Acclaimed fashion icon Josie Natori also attended the event.
“After the Storm” platinum sponsors were Manuel V. Pangilinan’s group of companies, the Philippine Nurses Association of America, and Prime Scape Solution Inc. The US Philippines Society is co-chaired by John D. Negroponte and Pangilinan with Washington SyCip and Maurice Greenberg as honorary chairman.
Gold sponsor was Agda Corporation, bronze sponsors included The Phil-American Foundation, Philippine Medical Association of Metropolitan Washington DC, SVG foundation, US Education Finance Group, The Boeing Company, BPI Foundation, Chevron, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Dr. and Mrs. Jorge Garcia, Megaworld Foundation, Lino and Toni Palenzuela, and Norman and Biba San Agustin.
Silver sponsors were BDO Foundation Inc., Gawad Kalinga USA, ICTSI, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Philam Foundation, Philip Morris Foundation, and Procter & Gamble.