Phl theater talents star in COVID YouTube musical

In celebration of World Environment Day (WED) 2020 last Friday, June 5, PLDT and Smart, through Gabay Kalikasan, premiered a timely and relevant all-original musical revue billed “Songs for a Changed World: COVID and Climate Change.”

The Gabay Kalikasan show featured popular music interpreted by outstanding talents in Philippine theater, specifically the cast and production team behind the widely successful musical “Ang Huling El Bimbo.”

“Songs for A Changed World,” with concept and libretto by Floy Quintos, musical direction by Myke Salomon and direction by Dexter Santos, was streamed on the Gabay Kalikasan Facebook page and YouTube channel at 8 pm last Friday.

The musical revue, with cast members Gian Magdangal, OJ Mariano, Jamie Wilson, Jon Santos, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Sheila Francisco, Gab Pangilinan, Bibo Reyes, Boo Gabunada, and Phi Palmos, is a depiction of how different people in lockdown due to Covid19 gain a better appreciation for the world outside and commit to becoming better stewards of the earth.

It also featured Gabay Kalikasan celebrity-advocates Dom Roque, Derek Ramsay, Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Gabby Concepcion, Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid who prefaced each act with messages that come from the heart.

Gabay Kalikasan believes that even in the midst of the effects of COVID-19, people should never lose sight of the significance of encouraging awareness and action for the protection and preservation of our environment because neglecting it poses as much threat to the survival of every human being as the pandemic does.

WED has grown to become a global platform for public outreach, with participation from over 143 countries annually. This year’s theme is “Time for Nature” where major corporations, NGOs, communities, governments and all celebrities worldwide adopt to advocate environmental causes.

It is along this line that PLDT and Smart have launched new videos called “Rewind” advocating for paperless billing and “Cloud” encouraging people to delete old files from the net, both with the hope of informing and educating the public how these practices affect and place additional burden on the environment and the planet as a whole.

For more information, visit Gabay Kalikasan Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages and find out how we all can do our share in helping save our planet earth.

You can still catch this on YouTube until today.

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It is scary that Sen. Manny Pacquiao is saying or declaring that he is running for President in 2022.

Although it is too early for Pacquiao to make us all aware of his intention to seek the highest post of the land, we hope that he would drop his bid and spare us Pinoys the agony.

When he ran for the senate, the Pambansang Kamao said “Once I am elected as senator, I have to give up everything including boxing and focus on my job as lawmaker.”

Of course, he did not fulfill his promise. Pacquiao did not quit from boxing but fought anew and was among the lawmakers with the most number of absences.

We can only pray that Pacquiao will abandon his plan to seek the presidency and let a more competent candidate run as president, someone who can lead the Philippines back on the right track to progress and political stability.

He can always fight if he wants to. Or he can help the Filipinos in some other way, but not in politics. He can always be of service if he wants to. There is no need to run for a public post, or as President of the Philippines. Have mercy on our people.