Songs, poetry for flood victims

MANILA, Philippines?Celebrities Sarah Geronimo, Celeste Legaspi, Gina Alajar, Cocoy Laurel, Cesar Montano, Marco Sison, Christian Bautista and Leo Valdez will join acclaimed University of the Philippines talents in ?Pagbangon,? a benefit concert to help ?Ondoy? flood victims. Produced by the UP Alumni Association (UPAA), the show is set Dec. 12 at UP Theater, Diliman, QC.

Directed by the alumni group?s second vice president, Behn Cervantes, ?Pagbangon? is a musical and a literary experience. UP president Emerlinda Roman, regent and association president Fred Pascual, chancellor Gerry Cao, alumni Celia Diaz-Laurel, Jessica Soho and Joonee Gamboa will read poetry. Musical numbers will be rendered by classical guitarist Lester Demetillo and flutist Sonny Yangco, singers/performers Fides Asencio, Jonathan Badon, Jonaf del Fierro, Ana Feleo, Maricris Joaquin, Lara Maigue, Pinky Marquez, Joseph Olfindo, Dondi Ong, Bibeth Orteza, Bing Pimentel, Susan Tagle and Jeanne Velasco Vicars?all UP alumni.

The UP Manila Chorale, UP-JMEG Choir, and Maria Della Strada Chorale will also go onstage. Other alumni expected are Senators Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda and Manny Villar. UP professors Winnie Monsod and Edru Abraham will be the emcees. Musical director is College of Music alumna Emlyn Olfindo-Santos.

?Relief efforts have been encouraging, but rehabilitation of flood victims is the bigger challenge,? said Pascual. ?We hope to redirect the focus of donors and volunteers accordingly?and bring hope and renewal to the flood victims, who need it most urgently.?

Tickets at P1,000 and P500, are available at the UPAA Secretariat, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman (call 920-6871 or 920-6875) and via TicketNet (911-5555).