Ortigas Malls Holds Online Fundraising Concert for the Benefit of Live Production Workers

It’s no secret that the entertainment industry has borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic as closed live spaces from cinemas, concert venues, and theaters, meant that thousands of live event workers went out of work. And despite the gradual easing of restrictions, the industry has yet to recover from one of the longest lockdowns in the world.

Ortigas Malls, understanding the plight of entertainment workers, launched a holiday campaign and a fundraising concert to help get the industry back on its feet. Titled Christmas with the Stars, the online fundraising concert will see performances from the country’s brightest stars featuring the Kilabotitos--Ogie Alcasid and Ian Veneracion—Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Jose Mari Chan, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, and many more on December 11, 7 p.m.

 

“Filipinos love going to performances and to concerts and this is an industry that employs thousands of Filipinos, many of whom found themselves out of work because of the pandemic. Until now, data has shown that unlike other sectors, the entertainment industry is still suffering from 90% loss in revenues since the lockdowns started,” said Arch. Renee C. Bacani, Vice President of Ortigas Malls. “This is why Ortigas Malls, in its aim to leave no one behind in recovery, created Christmas with the Stars to encourage Filipinos to help the entertainment industry, while enjoying the heartfelt and beautiful performances from our biggest stars.”

 

Funds raised for the concert and accompanying programs will be in support of the Independent Production Workers Group (IPWG), an organization that seeks to professionalize the production industry in the country and represents thousands of live events workers nationwide.

 

The concert is in partnership with Alcasid Total Entertainment and Artist Management (ATEAM).

 

"These workers have been the backbone of every single live production and seeing the industry has been so badly affected makes us feel we need to help. We are thankful for Ortigas Malls for this opportunity," said Ogie Alcasid, Founder/President of ATEAM and OPM President.

 

Those who want to attend the concert can donate a set amount on the Christmas with the Stars ktx.ph page to gain a ticket to the concert. Select mall-goers can also score a free ticket for a P1,000 minimum purchase (single or accumulated) at Ortigas Malls from Nov. 4-Dec. 10. They just need to log on to www.ortigasmalls.com and upload their receipts.

 

“Thousands of live event workers are still grappling with the effects of the lockdowns on their incomes which remain a fraction of what it used to be. Fundraising concerts like these help workers not only through monetary benefits but also impart hope that everything will get better soon,” said Aio Hernandez, President of IPWG.

Beyond the fundraising concert, Ortigas Malls will also be holding a series of online mini concerts titled KUMUnity Nights on Nov. 20, 27, and Dec. 24 as a lead up to the main concert where viewers can watch performances with an option to support the cause online. The concerts will be streamed live on the KUMU app with recorded replays on the Ortigas Malls’ Facebook pages (Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria).

 

“Christmas is the season of giving and we hope that our patrons and fans can join us for several nights of good music and company all while supporting a good cause,” Arch. Bacani added.

 

Mall visitors can also shop freely and safely while enjoying great holiday tunes with the Community Live Sessions starting Dec. 6 in Greenhills, Tiendesitas, and Estancia. They can also support the cause onsite via donation boxes located at the live session locations and at the Greenhills Night Market.

 

##

 

About Ortigas Malls

Ortigas Malls prides itself in developing leisure destinations that enrich the community. For more information, visit the Ortigas Malls website at ortigasmalls.com, and the official Facebook pages @greenhillsofficial, @tiendesitas, @EstanciaPH, @IndustriaAtCirculoVerde. Download the Ortigas Malls app on App Store or Google Play.

Gabby Alipe Pays it Forward

With the success of his debut solo EP A New Strain, former Urbandub frontman Gabby Alipe is riding high these days. “Visions,” his first single as a solo artist, became a radio hit—and its successor “Paalam” is poised to do the same.

            Since so many good things have come his way lately, Gabby and his record label MCA Music decided to pay it forward by supporting School-in-a-Bag, a program run by Smart Communications. The program aims to make learning easier for students in disadvantaged areas by giving them digital learning tools. Those tools include a solar panel for electricity, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, a pocket WiFi with starter load, an LED TV, and a wide variety of study modules.

According to Darwin Flores, Smart’s Vice-President for Community Partnerships, School-in-a-Bag is the leading telecom company’s attempt to bring people together using technology.

         “The people of the Philippines have been divided by geography for the longest time,” says Darwin. “So Smart came up with School-in-a-Bag to unite them by giving people internet access. This is part of our digital inclusion efforts. We want to enable children in even the most remote of areas to participate in the global knowledge economy. There’s so much to learn out there, and School-in-a-Bag will help them gain access to that wealth of information,” Flores said.

            So far, School-in-a-Bag has made learning easier for the students in far-flung ‘unenergized’ schools like Rawang Elementary School in Tanay, Rizal. Most of the children who go to school there have never seen, much less used, desktop computers and tablets. But thanks to Smart, second grader Katrina Apelada can now familiarize herself with such gadgets and figure out how to use them to improve her grades. Teachers can also make their classes more dynamic and interesting, using the learning tools School-in-a-Bag contains.

Rawang Elementary School is just one of 18 schools in remote areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that have already received School-in-a-Bag units. Most recently, two island schools in Coron, Palawan—Banuang Daan Elementary School and Cabugao Elementary School—got their own units, and Gabby himself delivered the MCA Music School-in-a-Bag package.

            Gabby decided to get on the School-in-a-Bag train because he’s a big believer in the power of education. The schools Gabby went to shaped him as a musician and songwriter. Not only did his classes teach him how to write well, but it was in high school that he began his musical journey. Had he not been able to finish his studies, his life would probably have turned out very differently.

That’s why the Cebuano rocker was so eager to get involved with School-in-a-Bag in the first place. He wanted to give students a chance to change their lives by encouraging them to stay in school. He believes School-in-a-Bag will help them become more motivated to do so. Luckily, Gabby has the full support of his label. After all, MCA Music is all about music, charity and hitmakers like Gabby who love to pay it forward.

Interested parties can also give the gift of digital learning to more schools all over the Philippines by sponsoring a School-in-a-Bag. Each unit costs P100,000. For more information, email TechnoCart@smart.com.ph.

For booking inquiries, please contact Kerwin Rosete of MCA Music Artist Management at 916-2504 local 107, 0920-9682991 or email mcabooking@umusic.com.

OPM Playlist This October from MCA Music