Thousands rock to Apl.de.ap, Will.I.am, Taboo in Hollywood for PH rebuilding

• 5,000 fans pack Greek Theater for celebrity-filled show

• Other artists lend a hand to fundraiser

• Organizers expected to raise “six figures”

PHOTO BY TET VALDEZ/EVANGELINE RODRIGUEZ

HOLLYWOOD, California — The Philippines was in the spotlight at the Greek theater Sunday night, June 8 when the Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.ap and his band rallied celebrities to entertain a huge crowd in a fundraiser for post-Haiyan/Yolanda rebuilding efforts.

Some 5,000 fans filled the world-famous venue that has starred Neil Diamond, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Ringo Starr, Styx, Smokey Robinson even Harry Belafonte and others from the walk of fame list.

The audience was treated not only to a “come-back performance” of three of the BEP — Apl., Will.I.am and Taboo — but also  to an outstanding list of Filipino American talents, winners and finalists in top network shows “America’s Got Talent,” the “Voice” and “Sing Off.”

They included headliners Jabbawockeez, currently playing in major Las Vegas hotels, which deftly combined  comedy, drama and dance; the Jazmin sisters; The Filharmonic;  among others.

Well known Fil-Am disc jockeys and hip-hop artists as well as popular Fil-Am standup comedians shared the stage: Comedy Central’s Jo Koy and Improv’s Joey Guila, originally from San Francisco.

KTLA news anchor Cher Calvin, daughter of famous Philippine actor Roger Calvin, and actress Nia Peeples (“Fame,”  “The Young and the Restless”) introduced the guests.

LA’s popular singer-composer AJ Rafael and sensational 13-year-old Miguel Antonio were top-billed at the concert of concerts, which started at 7 p.m. and hesitated to end at past 11 (after Will.I.Am said theater would “fine” them for going over).

BEP’s all time favorite “I Gotta Feeling” brought the house down, with grandparents, parents and their kids jumping up and down to the music.  “It was electrifying!” said Tina Ocampo, a writer covering the event for her station.

Ted Benito said he expects to generate proceeds of up to six figures, which are earmarked for the relief efforts for the Haiyan victims in Tacloban.    Sunday night’s concert kicked off ADAFI’s  initiatives to raise approximately $650,000 in part through a series of concerts featuring Apl.de.ap and other artists in the next two years.

Apl.de.ap whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo told INQUIRER.net that the catastrophe caused by typhoon Haiyan has had an emotional impact on him.

“I visited Tacloban and Leyte  three weeks after the typhoon and I saw and smell the stench; I spent sleepless nights figuring out how I could personally help.   That’s when I thought, I’m an artist and I can lead others and counted on my friends — at first Will and Taboo and they were only too happy to lend their talents to support the cause.”

A dual citizen, Apl.de.ap  said he will deliver the proceeds of the concert to  non-governmental (NGOs) in Tacloban by  next month; but to the audience he joked, “I’ll deliver tomorrow na!”

The Grammy-winning rapper and record producer explained that his foundation is not giving dole-outs but has established, among others, an “art and music program for Leyte and Tacloban, which involves creating art therapy for children particularly those orphaned by the disaster that killed thousands.

“Many of these children have separation anxieties and we’d like to give them a tool to express their inner feelings through art,” he explained.  “We’re not only rebuilding classrooms and homes for the children, we’re rebuilding their mental stability to go on with their lives.”

At the concert, the singer announced other projects supported by his foundation, including partnering with distinguished pediatric eye surgeon from Los Angeles, Thomas Lee, MD, and his team of experts in the renowned Vision Center at Children’s Hospital in support of the “Campaign for Filipino Children.”

As the foundation’s first health care initiative, the campaign will provide a sustainable approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a widespread eye affliction in the Philippines that causes blindness in premature babies.

PHOTO BY TET VALDEZ/EVANGELINE RODRIGUEZ

Apl.de.ap said this cause is personal to him as he was born legally blind.   Until he was adopted and brought to the United States for eye treatments, his vision ailments brought about difficulties in school, self-esteem problems and often required special assistance.

In a press statement, his foundation stated:  “The preemies are victims of an eye disease called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which affects children worldwide. Many Filipino hospitals and physicians lack the training to diagnose the disease, which causes abnormal blood vessel growth from excessive oxygenation, destroying the retina, the eye’s innermost layer.  If not treated within 48 hours of diagnosis, the baby will become permanently blind.  He believes there are only 26 eye specialists in this area in the Philippines.”

Non-Filipinos who came to the Greek theater only to see the Black Eyed Peas, were startled by what they learned.   Lalande Jackson came with four of her friends from Riverside shocked to see the devastation caused by Haiyan to Filipinos.  “We would not have known about this terrible human calamity if not for this concert; we’re overjoyed to see the group but sad about this condition for his countrymen,” she told INQUIRER.net.

“Mainstream is not aware of a lot of these efforts to help the Philippines rebuild and especially about the projects to help vision-challenged babies,” said Leon Gilmore, who came to the concert to accompany a friend from San Francisco. “I understand there are only 26 doctors in the Philippines that can diagnose ROP.  Hopefully concerts like this will raise awareness so there can be more doctors to help afflicted children,” added Gilmore.

Foundation executive Benito said Apl.de.ap will lead celebrities on Sunday, June 15 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  in collaboration with the U.S. Philippine Society in a continuing series fundraisers for Rebuild Philippines!     Among the performers will be Lea Salonga, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charice Pempengco and tenor Rodel Rozelle.

“Apl. motivates us to keep on going with this series of benefits; in these circumstances when Apl. says jump; we say how high?  That’s the problem, but a happy problem,” Benito smiled.