Token of love & charity

MANILA, Philippines - Who would have thought that a simple Ilongga, known as the Charity Diva, would make a big difference in the lives of others through her concerts?

Token Lizares has done so many concerts in the Philippines and abroad, but most of them were not for personal gain but to raise funds for the orphans, elderly, abandoned, homeless and sick in the society.

The charity shows of Token have helped the St. Vincent’s Home for the Aged; Lingkod E.R. in Bacolod; Bantay Bata 163 in Negros; Holy Family Home; St. Paul (Paulines) Catholic Media in Bacolod and Baguio; Philippine General Hospital Children’s Surgical Ward in Manila; St. Mary’s Home for the Aged in Bacolod; Bacolod Boy’s Home Foundation in Bacolod; Breast Care Foundation; Corazon Locsin Memorial Hospital Surgery Department; several Catholic churches in Negros; and indigent individuals who need major surgeries.

Token started her professional singing career when she was 19 years old, singing at the Manila Garden and at the then Philippine Plaza Hotel (now Sofitel). She began performing in other Asian countries, the first of which was Singapore in 1984.

In 1985, she performed for a year at the Holiday Inn in Kuala Lumpur, then at the Kamaishi Hotel and at the First Hotel in Tokyo. In 2003, she came home to perform regularly at the Calesa Bar of Hyatt Regency Hotel (now Midas Hotel & Casino) for two years. In 2007, she returned to Japan to perform at the Yuzankaku Hotel. Token also had the rare opportunity to perform at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York in 2011.

She had been an in-house singer at Equatorial Hotel in Singapore; Holiday Inn Hotel, Kuala Lumpur; Kamaishi Marine Hotel, Japan; First Hotel, Tokyo, Japan; Yuzankaku Hotel, Japan; and at Celebrity Cruise.

While doing concerts abroad, Token had come home to organize charity shows, especially in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, where she was tagged as the Charity Diva.

She had also worked in a bank but she decided to pursue her passion — helping others through her voice that she owes to God.

Token also had stints in such TV shows as Penthouse Live, Kwarta O Kahon, Student Canteen and Swerte Sa Siete, among others. She also sang the theme song of The Impossible Kid, starring the late Weng-Weng.

Token was a mainstay on German Moreno’s GMA 7 show Walang Tulugan with The Master Showman.

Nominated at the Aliw Awards as Best New Female Artist in 2003, Token had released two albums titled Ikaw Lamang Sinta and A Token of Love.

Token is a graduate of Business Management but a singer by heart and soul, who is always generous to others.

Apart from singing, she has also composed songs such as Bakit May Ulap Ang Landas for Eva Eugenio and What Makes Me Love You for Pops Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Token has embarked on a series of concerts, the first one of which was held last Dec. 17 at the L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod.

Comedians AJ Tamisa and L’Chazz spiced up the concert. Proceeds of the show were for the benefit of Balay Dalangpan.

Second on the list is on Feb. 18, 2015 to be staged at L’Fisher Hotel with singer Jun Polistico and several other artists. All proceeds will go to the St. Vincent Home for the Aged. The concert is organized by the Damas de la Caridad led by Dr. Corazon Ham.

The third concert, organized by her manager Norma Japitana, will be held on March 21, 2015 at The Library, Metrowalk in Pasig with guests Anthony Castelo, Michael Pangilinan and Boy Mondragon. The Hospicio de San Jose that houses abused and special children, and the elderly, as well as the Aetas of Boracay will benefit from the concert.

Token has also been recording her third album under songwriter Vehnee Saturno.

Token vowed that up to the day that the good Lord will allow her to sing, she will always offer it to the poor and the underprivileged.