Nighttime traffic going to Resorts World Manila (RWM) has been stressful lately. Last Tuesday, our friends Serafin Pua and Wing Inductivo had to get off the car and hop over the central island of the road across Naia 3 just to make it in time for a show at RWM’s Newport Performing Arts Theater. Meanwhile, the taxi we were riding barely squeezed itself out of a near gridlock not far from the venue.
Nonetheless, we were all glad to be there. The event, dubbed “Kami Naman ang Taya,” was a benefit concert for Supertyphoon “Yolanda” survivors and featured RWM’s resident talents as well as artists who have previously performed at the venue. It was probably the most outstanding of Yolanda charity gigs, thus far.
With dozens of artists in the lineup, what made the show noteworthy was its no-nonsense flow, as directed by theater luminary Freddie Santos. No spiels about the disaster in the Visayas was allowed, save for one in which comedienne Giselle Sanchez mentioned that “no one will be left alone” in this situation; afterwards she called a number of actual survivors who were invited to watch the show.
Instead of long-winded speeches, videos of news reports and footage of the storm before and after it landed were shown in between the performances. The images cast an eerie silence in the theater.
Awe-inspiring moments
The Draybers, a regular band at RWM’s Bar 360, was one of several front acts before the show formally opened. The band played the show’s theme, “Kami Naman ang Taya,” which turned out to be written by Draybers lead singer and “The Voice of the Philippines” grand winner Mike “Mitoy” Yonting. He didn’t join his band for that number, which was sung by his brother Mylo, but he would practically be all over the stage in several instances.
Early in the show, the shadow theater group El Gamma Penumbra of “Pilipinas Got Talent” fame gave a sample of its vaunted act, which included vivid images that define Philippine history and culture.
And then came more awe-inspiring moments: Dulce singing “Usahay” a cappella (after acknowledging the Visayan folk tune’s real composer, Greg Labja); an ensemble from RWM’s ongoing production of “Cinderella” interpreting “Seasons of Love” from “Rent”; Christian Bautista and Karylle in a duet of selections from Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge!”; and David Pomeranz covering “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko.”
Highest point
The CompanY provided what turned out to be the show’s highest point—after rendering a novelty song on what makes us truly Pinoy, the vocal harmony group called out Filipino-Australian singer MiG Ayesa who joined in for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Though a minus-one version (accompanied by videotaped music from an international orchestra), the performance was exceptional, The CompanY and Ayesa’s vocals melding seamlessly like an angels’ choir.
As if it wasn’t enough, Ayesa proceeded to do a duet with Yonting in another Queen classic, “We Are the Champions.” It left us dumbfounded.
Yonting would likewise join his “The Voice” co-finalists as well as Lani Misalucha in other numbers that reaffirmed his rare vocal range.
Notwithstanding Pops Fernandez’s failure to hide her mediocre singing skills (although she redeemed herself in a dance sequence with the Hotlegs), among other sore spots, the show may yet live on as the standard by which big Yolanda fund-raisers would be measured.
“Kami Naman ang Taya” raised P8 million in cash and pledges. At press time, RWM has yet to decide which government or private agency the money will go to. It would be ideal if RWM management considers channeling the fund to long-term rehabilitation efforts in the Visayas.