I think all the runners set a personal best time so they could rush off to see the Pacquiao fight
DON?T STOP BELIEVING!

Yes, that famous line from the classic song by Journey is so universal, whether you?re 40-something or pre-teen. My 11-year-old Annika counts as one of the newer fans of Arnel Pineda and Journey, having probably caught his incredible story on YouTube.

Together, we sang along to the anthem as proudly Pinoy Arnel recently rocked the stage at ?Katy Perry Rocks for Relief.?

MTV Philippines made it all possible, melding multi-generations in a music mix at the Mall of Asia. The original schedule was victimized by ?Ondoy,? but it turned out to be a lucky finale for Katy Perry?s world tour, this time made bigger by fantastic front acts like MAE, Jed Madela and, of course, Journey, featuring Neal Schon and Arnel.

Tail-end

Annika and I just made it to the MOA, as the concert was the tail-end of a three-part day for me. My blonde wig and outfit were well-used that day, which started at the finals of ?Celebrity Duets Season 3,? where perfume entrepreneur Joel Cruz was declared grand champion. The finale was super tight, as actor Jomari Yllana and model-turned-actor Akihiro Sato put up a good fight.

From GMA?s state-of-the-art stage, I hurried to The Lounge, the sleek, new, all-white chill-out place of fellow ?Duets? alum Hayden Kho. I was officially Hayden?s first guest to the star-studded opening that included show biz mega-couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, vampy Christine Reyes and other guests of honor.

The Lounge will be a fantastic place to chill at night, replete with electric lasers and cool music. During the day, it will also cater to corporate and social events. Hayden?s new bar is located at 2/F, Bellagio Square, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. For reservations, contact Francis Palec at 0915-6243221.

By the time I collected Annika and her cadre of cousins and made it to the concert, Journey was just starting. MTV Philippines? head Francis Lumen spotted us sneaking in and, in a wink of an eye, we were right next to the stage itself.

Listening to Arnel reminded me that we had recently sung together, at the awarding ceremony of the 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival last month. I had been invited there by event director and Taguig First Lady Kaye Tinga, accompanied by Mayor Freddie.

Bedlam broke loose when Katy started, the pretty Californian giving us rousing renditions of her hits like ?I Kissed a Girl? and ?Hot N Cold.? Even more charming was that Katy actually did rock for relief by going to Marikina to distribute relief goods.

All the net proceeds of the fundraising concert were donated to the Philippine National Red Cross, the concert?s only beneficiary. Katy told the giant crowd she was ecstatic to be finally performing in Manila. Since it was the last leg of her world tour, at the end of the show, she threw all her stage props to the audience, and one giant, inflatable strawberry went to Annika and her cousins.

Full Sunday

After that three-gig Saturday, I had a full Sunday as well, starting at 5 a.m. at the Timex Run at The Fort. None of this is really tiring when your running date is Piolo Pascual. His awesome time of 47 minutes for a 10K run was quite impressive.

It?s great to be running again. A week ago, I joined 22,000 runners at the ?Philippine International Marathon: A Run for the Pasig River.? Organized by true champion solicitor Gina Lopez and Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) and under the helm of race director Rudy Biscocho, the Pasig Run hopes to one day rehabilitate the river that runs through Manila.

They raised over 5 million pesos that day. Bravo, Gina!

Just like the Pasig Run, Coach Rio de la Cruz was overwhelmed at the turnout of the well-organized Timex Run. All the top category runners won cash prizes, but more importantly, Timex watches.

Timex also donated to the Timex Unicef School in Masbate, and to ABS-CBN Foundation, getting managing director Gina Lopez teary-eyed two Sundays in a row, as the twin runs both donated to her foundation.

The Timex Run was backed by Robinsons Land, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, 100 Plus Isotonic Sports Drink, Summit Mineral Water, Nesvita and Nike. I think all the runners set a personal best time so they could finish and then rush off to see the Manny Pacquiao fight.

I went off to the Araneta Coliseum to see the Pacman, along with 18,000 other frenetic fans. Of course, we were not disappointed and, I must say, there?s nothing like the crowd energy of the Big Dome when watching a big event. I?ll be sure to be there again for Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year!

We were all so proud to be Pinoy, especially when La Diva (Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia) sang the national anthem. These melodious girls also performed at the Dennis Lustico Show for charity. Catch their Music Museum concerts on Nov. 28 with Dingdong Dantes and Dec. 6 with Aljur Abrenica at 8 p.m. Tickets at National Book Store and all Ticketworld outlets.

Great project

Don?t stop believing, indeed! Another great project is Mongol Pencil?s ?Isang Milyong Mongol Para sa Isang Milyong Pangarap.? The iconic pencil is distributed by Star Paper Corporation, and the Pinoy owners Jeremy and Ann Margaret Tan are giving back with their new campaign, which will provide underprivileged public school children school supplies and writing tools.

Dynamic personalities like Boy Abunda, Diether Ocampo, Tim Yap and Joey Mead are part of the advocacy launch on Thursday, Nov. 26, at Sofitel Hotel.

Creative photographer Raymund Isaac is also involved and has masterfully conceptualized the display of the Mongol brand on the icons.

Lovable National Book Store grand dame Socorro Ramos gives her approval, too.

Through this campaign, Star Paper will be helping a million students take a step toward fulfilling their dreams. Among the supporters of the campaign are National Bookstore Foundation, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, K.I.D.S. Foundation, Ayala Foundation?s Centex and the Department of Education.

?Tis the season to give back already, and it all starts with the annual UST Christmas Concert at the UST Chapel on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. The socially shy UST fathers don?t usually agree to events, but thanks to the efforts of Maricris Zobel and Fr. Didoy Abaño, OP, the UST Christmas Concert will even be followed by a cocktail reception at the UST Museum.

The UST Gala is for the benefit of the heritage conservation efforts and Conservatory of Music scholarship funds. This is just one of the events leading to the big UST quadricentennial celebration in 2011.

My two-year architectural studies in UST make me a Thomasian, so I am looking forward to all the festivities.

E-mail the author at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph.