Telethon for our Kapatid typhoon victims

When TV5 president and CEO Noel Lorenzana turned on his television set on Saturday morning to monitor the news about Typhoon Yolanda, he was disturbed by the footage he saw. Immediately, he called on his team and rallied everyone to mount a telethon for the typhoon victims, a call which everyone in TV5 (including its kapatid, the MVP group of companies) readily heeded.

It was akin to a gathering of the clans: Summoned by a common cause to give a helping hand to our kith and kin whose lives, homes and livelihoods have been devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) which according to climatologists is one of the strongest storms ever recorded on the planet. Even TV5 chairman Manny V. Pangilinan came in full support together with his key MVP group of companies officers, led by PLDT’s Napoleon “Polly” Nazareno, PLDT Smart’s Mon Isberto, Meralco’s Mon Segismundo, Philex’s Mike Toledo and Bong Sta. Maria, among others.

“The longer and much harder task in all this is the rehabilitation period, which includes putting up the houses, getting the telecommunications networks back, rebuilding the hospitals… The best model is what we have adopted for Typhoon Pablo in Davao Del Norte last year. We raised money not only for the relief goods but also for the houses and the classrooms that were destroyed. We will have to do the same this year but I think on a much bigger scale,” MVP shared.

Pictures and videos of the areas affected by Yolanda’s fury, along with live interviews and eyewitness accounts of people who were there when the powerful winds and storm surges struck, staggered the entire nation. Everyone I know who do not even have relatives in any of the affected communities were simply appalled by the extent of the destruction and the sad plight of those who survived the typhoon. The survivors now face the arduous task of surviving its aftermath where everything around them — their homes, livelihoods, their places of work and worship, their neighborhoods — have either been destroyed or severely damaged. So it was, when I got the an SMS last Saturday, Nov. 10, that TV5 will conduct a telethon to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda that I, without any hesitation, like the hundreds of my TV5 kapatid, mobilized and made ourselves readily available for the Tulong Kapatid, Sulong Kapatid fundraising telethon last Sunday night. Aired as a special live edition of The Mega and the Songwriter: Kanta at Biyaya, the telethon raised a total of P30M throughout its initial five-hour run.

Lorenzana, who also took calls himself, was amazed by the outpouring of support from everyone who helped make the Tulong Kapatid telethon a success. He said, “Television or the mass media has a vital role to play not only in disaster relief but in the rehabilitation of communities affected by the disaster. TV5 sees itself being proactive in these multiple roles during times of calamities — in providing warning for our people and coming in as first responders and, more so for the long term, to get them back on their feet.

“I want to thank everyone who gave their time, especially to the MVP Group of Companies who fully supported this endeavor, the network’s talents and employees, and also those who have been calling to pledge their donations to help us raise funds for the typhoon victims,” Lorenzana said.

The telethon was hosted by Sharon Cuneta and Ogie Alcasid, and proved to be an inspiring night of music and hope as it stayed true to its promise of Kanta at Biyaya, with over 60 TV5 stars, OPM artists and members of national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas, Meralco Bolts and Talk N’ Text players helping to man the phone lines and accept pledges and donations from donors all around the world. (The telethon also aired live in all TV5 international channels.) The telethon became a gathering of some of the country’s distinguished OPM artists as they filled the night with inspiring music and by way of their heart-moving songs, appealed to the generous hearts of Filipinos everywhere to help alleviate the devastation and suffering inflicted by Typhoon Yolanda.

Ogie was visibly moved by the outpouring of concern and pledges. “It’s incredible. To be honest with you, Sharon and I prayed before we started. We just wanted to ask God to really help us because we can’t just do this on our own. I know this is God’s work and we’re very pleased that in just a short span we were able to raise a lot of funds for Yolanda. So nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng tumutulong.” Looking around at the gathered stars, talents and broadcast staff all pitching in for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, he said, “It’s great! Nakikita mo naman yung spirit nila sa… It’s precious; it’s priceless, so thank you for their good hearts.”

Among those renowned artists present were Cooky Chua and Bayang Barrios who performed their duet of Uunahin and OPM icon Jim Paredes gave his moving rendition of Panalangin. There were also touching performances of Lift Up Your Hands by Jeffrey Hidalgo, Lead Me Lord by RJ dela Fuente, Alinlangan by Aia de Leon, Man in the Mirror by Luke Mijares, Beautiful by Abby Asistio, Saludo by Quest, Hawak Kamay by Claire Ruiz, Bagyo, Bagyo by Daryl Shy, and Light a Million Mornings by Lara Maigue. Noel Cabangon, Isabelle de Leon, Noel Mendez, Chadleen, Gabe Piolo, Arthur Manuntag, 5 Az 1 and AKA Jam also gave soulful performances dedicated to Filipinos around the world. Other celebrities who were there to give a helping hand included Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, Aga Muhlach, Alice Dixson, Gelli de Belen, Martin Escudero, Derek Ramsay, Ritz Azul, Eula Caballero, John James Uy, Gerard Sison, Empoy, Mr. Fu, Regine Angeles, Raymond Gutierrez, TV5’s Artista Academy finalists, the boys of Juan Direction, Lia Cruz, Shawn Yao, Manu Sandejas, Jason Webb, Coach Chot Reyes, Coach Norman Black, Coach Ryan Gregorio and Gilas Pilipinas players Chris Tiu, Kiefer Ravena, Larry Fonacier, Gary David, Jimmy Alapag, among others.

The Alagang Kapatid Foundation continues to accept donations and financial assistance to address the needs of people who have been struck by Typhoon Yolanda but not forgetting those families still living in tents and needing support in Bohol and Cebu displaced by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and where aftershocks are still being felt up to now.