Free concert for Yolanda victims, heroes

MANILA, Philippines - An interesting pool of artists is initiating a free concert event to happen today on the eve of the first anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda tragedy.

The thanksgiving concert dubbed Handumanan: Pasasalamat sa mga Bayani ng Haiyan will be staged at the Quezon City Memorial Circle beginning at 4 p.m. Handumanan is a Visayan word for tribute; Haiyan the international name for Yolanda. 

Initiated by the Haiyan Disaster Governance Initiative (HDGI), the event will feature performances from noted musical artists and the presentation of Handumanan award to people who have significantly helped during the crucial hours and aftermath of what is known as the strongest typhoon in history to hit land.

Among those who committed themselves to perform are South Border, Imago, Banda Ni Kleggy, Mayonnaise, Myrus, Geo Ong and international act Steve Steadman. Rico Blanco, a Leyteño himself, authorized the use of the Rivermaya hit song Liwanag Sa Dilim as the show’s theme tune.

“Let’s continue to give hope. What we want is initiative that is pure, not bounded by anything like politics or grandstanding,” actor-producer Carlo Maceda told The STAR. He and former Tacloban City administrator-advocate lawyer Tecson Lim are spearheading the free concert.

HDGI will hand over the said award to deserving individuals, including Anderson Cooper of CNN, Karla Estrada, a native of Tacloban City, and son Daniel Padilla, who attracted thousands when he did a show for free at the affected area last year.

According to Maceda, the late comedian Tado will be given a posthumous award for his effort to go to Tacloban City right after the disaster. He said of the TV figure who met his death in a public vehicle accident, “Right away he went there to help, even without money. His presence alone rallied the spirits of those whose lives were forever altered by Typhoon Yolanda.”  

“I witnessed everything and I believe that it is my responsibility to turn this experience into practice so that we may be able to react better and in effect save more lives and protect survivors from unnecessary suffering in the future,” related Lim.

HDGI, a movement with a primary goal of ensuring that such disaster “shall never happen again” (by instituting new paradigms in managing calamities), was established just last September. 

(The author’s group Blanktape-Syato which is releasing digital singles care of Ivory Records will perform at the free concert.) — Yugel Losorata