FROM the vantage point of the press center, it was a sight to behold: Celebrities and ordinary folk alike congregating at the Quirino Grandstand for the inauguration of President Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III on Wednesday morning.

While the masses sweated it out on the park grounds and as VIP guests fanned themselves frenziedly in the bleachers, the entertainers for the inaugural ceremony were herded to a tent cooled by eight air-conditioners ? the exact same type of accommodations provided for the media. Even the portalets were air-conditioned and perfumed.

Back in the artists? tent, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Danny Javier and Boboy Garrovillo of the APO Hiking Society, Gary Valenciano, Christian Bautista, Nina, Jed Madela, Gail Blanco and La Salle Green Hills? Kundirana waited patiently for their turn onstage.

Madela doodled on his iPad; Javier rehearsed with his iPod. Madela later showed off his drawings to Garrovillo, Valenciano and Velasquez.

For most of these performers, the inauguration was an experience.

?I?ve been invited to other victory celebrations before, but this is my first presidential inauguration in my 27 years in show biz,? Valenciano said.

It?s also her first in ?25 years in the biz,? said Velasquez.

Bautista noted how ?exciting? it was, that stars from rival networks were united by the inaugural song, ?Bagong Pilipinas,? composed by Alcasid and Noel Cabangon.

?I hope to work with them more often in the future,? said Bautista.

Same passion

?I am doubly thrilled to perform with colleagues who share the same passion for our country,? said Alcasid.

It was also memorable for Kundirana, La Salle?s all-boys? choral which produced some of the country?s best vocalists, including Valenciano and Alcasid.

Montet Acoymo, dean of the UP College of Music and music director of Kundirana, said: ?Our part in the show isn?t that big, but we are honored to be here. It?s not about prestige and fanfare...we want to serve the country in our own little way.?

Acoymo is pleased that people from rival camps were united at the Grandstand ? not only Kapusos and Kapamilyas, but also UP, La Salle and Ateneo graduates.

?The Kundirana boys are from La Salle, but President Aquino is from Ateneo,? Acoymo said. ?It?s a good sign that... even artistically, no one is considered an outsider, for as long as he or she can contribute something worthwhile.?

The same theme of unity was observed during the street party that started late afternoon at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

?It?s amazing. This can happen only here,? Valenciano told Inquirer in the air-conditioned artists? tent at the Circle. (Curiously, there was no such accommodation for the media, and other press people were later barred from entering the artists? tent.)

Valenciano was referring to the sight of GMA 7?s Kyla and ABS-CBN?s Madela, sharing earphones while going over their number on Madela?s iPad.

Backstage chatter

Backstage, Kapuso Velasquez chatted with Kapamilya Zsazsa Padilla (about the former?s sore throat); on the other side of the room, Valenciano and Arnel Pineda discussed Gawad Kalinga projects.

Onstage, ABS-CBN?s ?ASAP XV? and GMA 7?s ?Party Pilipinas? ?merged? as Madela and Nina joined Jay R and Kyla.

Later, Kapuso couple Alcasid and Velasquez sang with Kapamilya stars Padilla and Valenciano.

All for love

Velasquez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that she didn?t receive a single centavo to campaign and perform for Aquino. ?I believe in his principles, his anticorruption crusade,? she said.

?From the very beginning, it was like that for all the volunteers,? Alcasid confirmed.

?I did everything for free,? Cabangon also said. ?Even the song I wrote with Ogie (?Bagong Pilipinas?).?

ABS-CBN channel head Cory Vidanes said all the Kapamilya stars likewise waived their talent fees for the day?s events.

International performer Billy Crawford described the feeling of performing for the Circle crowd: ?These are the same Filipinos who marched for [the President?s late parents] Ninoy and Cory. When you see a crowd like this, the energy rubs off on you.?

Added Jay R: ?It?s always amazing to see a crowd united in spirit and purpose ? especially when it?s in celebration of their triumph as a nation. Not even a storm of epic proportion can drench such a spirit.?

Alcasid agreed: ?People didn?t leave, though it rained at the start. It was touching to see families walking home with their children after the party. They really came in droves to celebrate with the new President.?