A ‘Mega’ success in HK

As you must have heard or read by now, Sharon Cuneta’s concert in Hong Kong last May 12 was a huge hit – a "Mega" success. A Funfare-friendly Sharonian was there and filed the following "eyewitness" report:

What does a leading door-to-door balikbayan box cargo company in Hong Kong and a Philippine megastar have in common? A sold-out, super successful Filipino concert in Hong Kong, that’s what!

Last May 12, at 2 p.m., a one-day, full-length musical concert entitled Mega Concert Live in HK with Ms. Sharon Cuneta, was staged by Regent Forex Cargo HK Ltd. at the 12,000-seater Hong Kong Coliseum. The concert also featured John Lapus. It was a concert the likes of which has never been seen in Hong Kong. As early as 10 a.m., Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike were lining up at the gates. The heavy rains didn’t dampen their spirits.

It was a record-breaking concert, the first time a Filipino musical concert attracted a capacity-crowd at the Hong Kong Coliseum, which is one of the biggest arenas in Hong Kong. Judging from the absence of empty or "dead" space, it would be safe to say that the whole Coliseum was covered by cheering and screaming Sharonians.

It has long been the dream of Sharon to penetrate the international music market. Her latest CD under BMG Records, All I Ever Want, featuring compositions by internationally renowned artists like Ryan Cayabyab, Jim Brickman and Darrel Brown and a duet with Hong Kong Superstar Andy Lau, is definitely a step in the right direction. It landed on the Top 23 of HMV’s Top 30 sales chart within a week of its release. Who knows how high it will go after her sold-out Mega Concert?

It was a providential twist of fate that at the time Ms. Cuneta released her international album, Regent Forex Cargo HK was also planning to celebrate its sixth anniversary in "Mega" proportions as a way of thanking its clients and "loyalists" for their support.

The Mega Concert wasn’t the first big success of Forex Cargo HK. Two years ago, Forex Cargo HK also hosted the world premiere of the movie Anak, partly filmed in Hong Kong and topbilled by Vilma Santos and Claudine Barretto.

In a lot of ways, the Forex Group of Companies is like one big, happy family. That is why, in a show of support and solidarity, Hong Kong welcomed the delegations from Forex Cargo (Phil.) led by Benjamin Carino, chairman of Forex Cargo (Phil.) and Forex Cargo HK; Luz Mendia, EVP and Treasurer; Jacob Carino, EVP-Operations; Danilo Mendia, head of remittance operations; and the delegation from Forex California led by Teodoro Carino, chairman.

The Mega Concert was also sponsored by Equitable-PCIBank’s Express Padala Remittance Service, New World Telephone (a leading telecom company in Hong Kong), Philippine Airlines, Studio One, Holiday Inn Golden Mile, and Holiday World Tours Ltd.

Executive Producers were Alvin Dayrit, Managing Director of Forex Cargo HK, and Arnold Dayrit, Director for Marketing and Operations of Forex Cargo HK. The show was a production of Artist House Inc.

Sex and the City promo

Meanwhile, here’s the third of 10 sets of questions in the joint Funfare-HBO quiz promo for Sex and the City, for the episode What’s Sex Got to Do With It? airing tonight at 9 with a replay on Saturday, June 1, same time on HBO Channel:

1. Which part of town does Ray King live?

2. On her second date with Ray, Carrie goes to his apartment and confesses that a) she doesn’t like jazz, b) she doesn’t like him, c) she can’t cook, or d) her past with Big.

3. When Carrie goes to visit Ray with the first jazz CD she has bought, what’s Ray doing when she gets to his apartment? a) making cookies, b) making margarita, c) making sushi, or d) making music

(Note: Send entries with your name and address and the title of the episode to: SATC-Funfare Promo, c/o Virtusio PR, P.O. Box 512, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila. Or e-mail to: [email protected]. The first seven senders of the set of correct answers will each get a SATC notebook and poster.)