Concert for a cause: Pagbangon on Dec. 12

MANILA, Philippines - Sarah Geronimo, Celeste Legaspi, Gina Alajar, Cocoy Laurel, Cesar Montano, Marco Sison, Christian Bautista and Leo Valdez will join highly-acclaimed UP talents to perform for a cause in Pagbangon, a benefit concert for helping rebuild the lives of Ondoy flood victims. Produced by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA), the performance will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12, with show times at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the UP Theater in Diliman, Quezon City.

Directed by theater luminary and UPAA 2nd vice president Behn Cervantes, Pagbangon is a unique concert experience that celebrates hope in the midst of tragedy. It is both a musical and a literary performance. UP president Emer Roman, UP Regent and UPAA president Fred Pascual, UP Diliman Chancellor Gerry Cao and well-known UP alumni such as theater great Ceclia Diaz-Laurel, newscaster Jessica Soho and stage, film and TV actor Joonee Gamboa will be reading inspiring and uplifting poems. Literary readings will be interspersed with musical performances by classical guitarist Lester Demetillo and flutist Sonny Yangco, renowned singers and performers Fides Asencio, Jonathan Badon, Jonaf del Fierro, Ana Feleo, Maricris Joaquin, Lara Maigue, Pinky Marquez, Joseph Olfindo, Dondi Ong, Bibeth Orteza, Bing Pimentel, Susan Tagle and Jeanne Velasco Vicars — all from UP.

The UP Manila Chorale, the newly-organized UP-JMEG Choir, and the Maria Dela Strada Chorale will also be onstage. Other well-known UP alumni who will participate in the program are Senators Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda and Manny Villar. UP Professors Winnie Monsod and Edru Abraham will be the emcees. UP College of Music alumna Emlyn Olfindo-Santos is the musical director.

Pagbangon follows the various programs successfully staged by the UPAA during the UP centennial celebration last year to showcase the talents of its alumni. Based on these 2008 presentations, the UPAA was chosen by the Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. this year as a recipient of a Special Award — the first ever conferred to an alumni association by this 33-year old award-giving body in the entertainment industry.

“Relief efforts have been encouraging, but rehabilitation of flood victims is now the bigger national challenge. Through this concert, we hope to redirect the focus of donors and volunteers accordingly. Through this concert, we hope to redirect the focus of donors and volunteers accordingly. Funds raised will be allocated for those who have very little means to recover on their own. This is the UP community’s joint effort to bring hope and renewal to needy flood victims,” said UPAA President Fred Pascual.

Tickets to the gala performance at 7 p.m. are set at P1,000 and P500, and are available at the UPAA Secretariat, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman (tel. 920-6871 & 920-6875) and from TicketNet (tel. 911-5555).