Hope sings out loud with Voices for Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - It took three people, two days after the storm, to come up with one momentous spectacle to benefit the numerous lives displaced by typhoon Yolanda. Through the efforts of architect Emmanuel “Manny” Miñana, his brother, event organizer Miguel “Mike” Miñana, and model philanthropist and former showbiz personality Nanette Medved-Po, the country’s most respected performers will lend their voices to help rebuild the displaced communities in the Visayas, proving there is so much strength in uniting as one.

With over a hundred artists coming together at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World this Jan. 15, “Voices for Visayas” will mark the occasion when the damage and destruction of our country’s recent weather disaster will finally make way for hope and optimism through rebuilding and rehabilitation. “Usually, stars are busy, their schedules don’t match, or they’re contractually obligated or restricted from doing various things, but they all came together for free. There was such unity and humanity, and we’re very surprised about that,” shares Medved-Po.

Imagine the country’s leading voices — like Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Kuh Ledesma and Ogie Alcasid — sharing the stage with classic stars like Mitch Valdez and Pilita Corales, or the emerging tones of Karylle, Bituin Escalante and Anna Fegi, and the theatrical abilities of Audie Gemora, Isay Alvarez, Leo Valdez and Richard Seña. This may very well be the show of the year — now add that it’s for a selfless and urgent cause, and you can very well claim it to be the show of a lifetime.

“This is really the coming together of artists. You have classical artists, pop artists, names from Filipino and international theater, children’s choirs, Madrigal singers, folk dancers, and Powerdance; all types of performing artists are represented,” says ThemeWorks president and creative head Mike Miñana. “The way I look at this event, by putting all these artists together, is kind of like what happened in EDSA (People Power Revolution). Considering, EDSA is a manmade war, and this is a war from nature, both are massive and they made such a dent. In my mind, it needed a song,” he adds.

Thus the song Just Believe was born. Penned by writer/director Joey Reyes and composed by maestro Ryan Cayabyab, the inspirational hymn will have its debut as the finale of the concert, sung in harmony and accord of all the participating artists. “The show has a story. It takes you on a journey through song — from unexplainable pain to so much hope and joy,” Miñana asserts. Directed by acclaimed stage and TV director Rich Ilustre, under the musical direction of Cayabyab and Mel Villena, “Voices for Visayas” will chronicle the fall and rise of the country’s spirit, its melodious answer, full of hope, to the wails and cries of the distressed.

With all ticket proceeds benefitting the Philippine Disaster Relief Foundation, the “Voices for Visayas” concert aims to raise enough funds to aid in the rebuilding of the most damaged communities. “Our principal beneficiaries would be Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanities. The main component of our rehabilitation efforts would be housing, to build shelters for the people who lost their homes,” explains architect Manny Miñana. “We did not expect such wonderful goodwill coming from the private sector. Just an amazing infusion and support, we have co-players in the business community paying homage to these artists who agreed to perform pro bono for a cause in such an amazing display of unity,” Miñana adds.

With sponsors like Coca-Cola Philippines, Smart Telecoms, Banco de Oro, Ayala Land, Resorts World Manila, Stores Specialists, Inc., Bench and Nutri Asia, it seems as though the event not only gathered the stars of the music scene but the most prominent industry players as well. “Given that everyone was doing so many things at the time after the typhoon, we were fearing that there’s going to be donor fatigue. But what we found out was that they were immediately on-board. It took them no time to commit,” says Medved-Po. “There was no discussion of how what media mileage we would get from this, how many TV spots, how many billboards. In fact, the only thing they were concerned about was the beneficiaries. That just goes to show that it’s not about the publicity, that there is a genuine concern for the people on the ground. They’re very generous of this whole process,” she says.

Other private companies have lent their generous contributions, in kind, to ensure the success of the show. Margarita Fores’s Cibo pledged to cater the backstage fare, Mary Pauline Salon committed to offer grooming for the stars participating, and Spinnr.ph, the country’s leading music portal, agreed to provide music download access for the theme song Just Believe, with all further proceeds going to the Voices for Visayas rehabilitation efforts.

After their notable efforts with the “More Fun in the Philippines” and the “#Unselfie” campaigns, leading Filipino advertising agency BBDO Guerrero lends its creative genius in support for the milestone concert. Managing director Francine Gonzales explains, “We wanted to come up with a striking visual to match such a tremendous cause. We have artists coming from all genres, and that is quite unique in itself.” The result is the use of the equalizer as visuals, in the colors of the Philippine flag, forming the shape of a house — the main component of the program’s rebuilding efforts. “They came out with something so spectacular, we were simply blown away,” says Medved-Po of BBDO Guerrero’s straightforward yet striking concept for Voices for Visayas.

“This is so inspiring in the sense that it is such a big community coming together. We have gone beyond our initial expectations. That is really the crux of what we are doing. We’re going beyond ourselves. We’re going beyond climate change, and we’re really trying to move a change for others. Each and every one of us has come to make a difference in our own humble way, and for that alone, it has been a rewarding experience for all of us,” Manny Miñana shares of the epic efforts and influx of support that have brought the once seemingly impossible work of recovery into being.

And now that everything has come into place, as artists signify their support, companies pledge their sponsorships, and the displaced families beam with the hope for normalcy in their lives, Mike Miñana credits only one thing. “It was definitely grace, and in that spirit of grace, we want to share to our brothers and sisters in the Visayas. Through that same grace, in our own little way, we have become conduits for these artists to share their talents,” he says.

When the cause is great and the people’s efforts combine, nothing, it seems, can stop the force of good. As Medved-Po recounts, “When we started, we didn’t know where we were going, but we knew we were going to get there together. And, if you look at how this tragedy is unfolding, it’s sort of like that. We don’t know where we’re going but as long as we stick together and say, ‘I’m going to bring 100 percent of myself when we do this,’ it kind of brings, as we found, wonderful things.”

And very soon, the voices of happiness will once again be heard in the Visayas.

The Voices For Visayas Benefit Concert will be held on Jan. 15, 2014, 7:30 p.m., at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City. Tickets will range from P6,180, P4,120, and P2,060.