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Special feature
A concert for peace in Nagoya
PEACE/KAPAYAPAAN/HEIWA. No matter in what language this word
is?said, all will agree that it is what our world needs today.
Recognizing this, the Filipino Migrant Center (FMC) and the
Philippine Society in Japan (PSJ) jointly organized A Concert
for Peace on Dec 1 at the Nagoya City Lifelong Learning Promotion
(Nagoya-shi Shougai Gakushu) Center, with volunteer performers
singing and dancing their way to make a stand for peace.
The two-hour afternoon concert fittingly began with a Prayer
for Peace led by former PSJ president Susan Laset, after which
everyone in the hall wished each other peace. Emcees Nanette
Fernandez and Joe Sichi read different definitions of peace
which Sichi had previously collected, using these to introduce
the songs in the concert.
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(l to r) Joy A., Tito Kobs, Joy N,
Mona, Menjie Kobayashi, Mariko, Nina (in white) and
the Generation Band
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Among these definitions were, "Peace is helping each
other with a warm heart" ; "Peace is the opposite
of war. No to the US war against Iraq. No export of war to
the Philippines" and the most popular definition, "Peace
is Love".
Reflecting these meanings given to peace, the concert featured
inspirational, as well as love songs, and OPM (original Pinoy
music) sung by, Geo, Jackie, Joy Aguas, Joy Nakamura, Mariko,
Mona, Nina and Raymond. Dance numbers by the Okusans (composed
of Airie, Darlyn, Dolly, Leonora, Nerissa, Stella, Tess, and
Vivian) and the professional La Covia Freestylers (AJ, Bryan,
Denden, Geo, and Sean) also enlivened the show.
Comic talent Bangbang brought the house down with his quick
costume change in the English rendition of Waray-waray, and
his Japanese Watashi no Uchiya Oide Yo, ala Eartha Kitt.
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THE SHOW'S PRODUCERS (l to
r, standing) Susan Laset, FMC president Virgie Ishihara,
PSJ president Noemi Oba and Elma Cruz of Misfits; (l
to r, seated) PSJ treasurer Rose Fujiwara and PSJ VP
Doris Yokoi
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Menjie Romano, who has performed all over Southeast Asia
and Japan, was the main featured singer. Showing the range
of her talent, Romano, backed up by the Generation Band and
Jackie, Joy and Mona, went from Gospel to Disco, finishing
off with the whole cast in the song Happy Christmas, War is
Over. As finale, the whole concert hall was filled with the
song Let There be Peace, as the audience joined the entire
cast in this peace anthem.
The Generation Band with Efren on drums, Eiji on keyboard,
Otto on bass, and Rey on lead guitar accompanied most of the
singers in this peace concert.
Before the show ended, three winners?for the separate Y500
raffle tickets were drawn. At stake were a round-trip ticket
to the Philippines from Interglobe, and two brand new bicycles.
Funds raised from the concert will support the FMC's peaceful
activities for Filipino migrants and PSJ's peace-leading programs
such as the Payatas-ERDA kindergarten project in the Philippines.
A portion will also go to the Mikokoro Center which has been
very supportive in promoting peace to both Japanese and non-Japanese
residents in Nagoya.
Other volunteers were stage manager Marie Bueno-Yagi (FMC)
and coordinators Susan Laset and Doris Yokoi, (PSJ); lights
crew Manny and Romy; backstage support Randy and Michael,
and stage designer/choreographer Bangbang, using decor donated
by Mary Ann Kobayashi.
Producers Virgie Ishihara of FMC and Noemi Oba of PSJ warmly
thank all the show's sponsors and friends for supporting this
peace initiative for and by Filipino migrants. *
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This article was originally written for The Chronicle
and is reprinted with permission from the author.
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