To celebrate the start of the new year, world-renowned Filipino pianist Cecile Licad will perform a one-night-only special concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ main theater, the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, on Jan. 28, 8 p.m.

The show is for the benefit of the Philippine-Italian Association’s (PIA) Endowment Fund and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s US 2016 tour in June. The PPO will perform at Carnegie Hall.

The program, to be conducted by Olivier Ochanine, features Rossini’s “Overture to Italian Girl in Algiers,” Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

Not only is Licad supporting this wonderful opportunity for the PPO, she will perform on the prestigious Hamburg Steinway grand piano.

This much-admired instrument was shipped from Long Island, New York, for two other exclusive events last year—the concert at Santuario de San Antonio Church in October, and the Apec welcome reception dinner for heads of state in November.

PIA’s Endowment Fund was created in 2002 under the leadership of PIA president Zenaida Tantoco, and is supported by generous patrons and sponsors who donate to the fund.

Main beneficiaries are major charities organized by Italian-Filipino missionaries who provide food, housing, educational and medical needs for the “poorest of the poor.”

Notable self-funding projects are initiated by PIA and supervised by the Missionaries of the Servants of Charity, the Sisters Handmaids of Charity, the Canossian Sons of Charity.

Cosponsors for the concert include the CCP, Rustan Group of Companies, Calata Corp., The Peninsula Manila, Starbucks, Royal Duty Free Shops, Inc., with Bulgari, Megaworld Corp., Mercedes-Benz, Philippine Tatler, SSI Group, Inc. and Amanpulo.

Tickets are available at P5,000, P3,000, P1,000 and P500 at the CCP box office, tel. 8323704; TicketWorld, 8919999; the Secretariat, Maricar Alamodin, 8952109, 8773412/07, 0917-5384508.

E-mail [email protected] for tickets and for tax-deductible donation.