Byline: ROY C. SINFUEGO

http://www.articlearchives.com/international-relations/national-security-foreign/539746-1.html

Defense Secretary Avelino J. Cruz Jr. said yesterday he will tap private sector support to a program that will extend medical and educational assistance to soldiers and their dependents.

Cruz said part of the program will be the setting up of mobile hospitals

Under the educational assistance program, private schools will be harnessed to provide scholarships or tuition fee discounts to AFP personnel.

Cruz, Jr. outlined the welfare programs for soldiers as he led the 18th year celebration of the Alay sa Kawal Foundation in a simple ceremony held at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City yesterday.

The Alay sa Kawal is a major non-governmental organization dedicated to providing help to soldiers wounded or killed in action and so far given a total of 22 million pesos in direct cash assistance to families of about 3,710 soldiers killed in action and 265 wounded in action.

The Foundation is headed by private banker Edgardo B. Espiritu as Chairman and Ramon A. Pedrosa as President.

“We have barely scratched the surface of what the synergy of civilian perspectives and military talent, organization and discipline ca bring about.

The cooperative efforts among the Alay sa Kawal Foundation and the DND and AFP can yield so much to the welfare of the enlisted men and women,” Cruz said.

“The importance of civilian support to the vanguards of our freedom and democracy becomes all the more pronounced in these times of austerity,” the Defense chief added.

Secretary Cruz saluted the organization for its unrelenting support being extended to the member-beneficiaries of Alay sa Kawal (ASK) that include financial assistance, livelihood projects, and scholarship programs.

Alay sa Kawal (ASK) was set up in May 1986 by a group of civilian professionals who want to establish rapport with the new armed forces, who was then going through an intense period of formation after the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

The civilians felt the needed to reach out to the reformed military and express their gratitude for their sacrifices. ASK is the oldest active NGO dedicated exclusively to the welfare of the Filipino soldier and his family.

This milestone paves the way for Trend Micro participation in the project. As per matching-program guidelines, the Sino-Japanese security giant will match the funds that employees raise. This doubles the total amount that the foundation will receive.

While donations from the Trend Micro Cupertino office brought qualified the project for the match, Taiwan-based donors are expected to push the project above the minimum. Taipei-office donations are due for deposit on Sunday, October 12, 2008.

The fund-raising phase of the program ends in October. Matching funds will be made available sometime in November.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/22/yehey/life/20071022lif3.html

Perhaps getting inspiration from the world-famous classical tenors, Il Divo, a local version of an all-male classical-pop tenor group is ready to conquer the music industry with their soulful voices and boyish charms. With the ability to give unique classical renditions of romantic, popular and upbeat songs, Angelos is out to prove that classical music need not be formal and boring.

Five gorgeous young men from different singing and performing backgrounds come together and make up Angelos. Theirs is a formidable combination of winning looks, exceptional talent and world-class entertainment. Audiences who have seen earlier performances of the group have dubbed them the “Asian version of Il Divo.”

Although trained individually in pop, classical and Broadway, the five-member vocals group blends in perfect harmony. They are as follows: 2006 World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) overall Broadway champion Jon Joven, who also had a successful stint playing Thuy in the German staging of Miss Saigon; Las Vegas Pinoy Pop Superstar runner-up James Uy; noted pianist and instrumental recording artist Angelo Ortiz; commercial model and former Ateneo de Naga Music Ministry soloist Floyd Tena; and classical-pop recording artist George Sison-Tagle, who is also a successful concert artist.

These young men have individual careers, but because of their love for music, they have decided to get together to bring classical music closer to a wider audience by way of introducing the classical pop genre. “It’s a big challenge to please the Filipino audience, especially those who are not used to listening to classical songs or Broadway music,” says Joven. “But we are confident that someone who has an ear for good music will appreciate what we do. We have a repertoire that will appeal to everyone,” adds Tagle.

For his part, Tena stresses that the group is not a clone of the famous Simon Cowell-managed group Il Divo.  “ We do not deny that we are inspired by their success, but I’d like to think that this all Filipino group has its own musical identity.”

Catch Angelos on October 27 at the Teatrino in Greenhills. This early, the group is already booked for a repeat on November 20 at the Music Museum. The concert will be backed by a 10-piece orchestra and part of the proceeds will go to the Alay sa Kawal Foundation, which gives financial support, scholarships and livelihood programs to families of noncommissioned soldiers who were either permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. Special guests are Beverly Salviejo and Miss Saigon Germany cast member Meliza Reyes.

The concert series is supported by Essensuals Toni & Guy, Arnel Palomares and Child’s Play. For ticket inquiries, please call 911-5615 or 438-7200.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/06/yehey/life/20080206lif2.html

The power of two musically-brilliant women will be highlighted when Ivy Violan and Nanette Inventor team up in a Valentine show titled as “Our Hearts R For U (Kalabaw Lang Ang Tumatanda)” on February 14 at the Rigodon Ballroom of Peninsula Manila.

This is also a show with a cause since part of the proceeds will benefit the San Martin de Porres Parish Church and Alay sa Kawal Foundation. “We feel that it should also be an opportunity to share our blessings to those in need,” intones Inventor, who has teamed up with Violan for several successful high-energy shows here and abroad.

Both Inventor and Violan have invited their close friends Rey Valera and George Tagle to join them for the show. Also making a special appearance is the hot all male vocals group The Angelos, whose popularity is on the rise for their wonderful pop-classical repertoire. Mel Villena will be musical director and Rico Mortel takes the role of stage director and scriptwriter.

Violan, who is also producing the show adds that the artists just want to have a good time. “We just want to share our gift of music to everyone who is willing to listen and watch the show. We have a great team of performers and we promise an unforgettable night of music and fun on Valentine’s Day.”

For inquiries, please call 823-2974 or 0917-901-1333.

MANILA, NOVEMBER 12, 2003 (BULLETIN) By Walden Sadiri – “You should always think of (new) ideas because ideas will always make you successful in life.”

This philosophy is from MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando, one of the prominent people behind the “Salute” project, a concert-for-a-cause series that started last May and is into its second leg tonight at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel.

The MMDA chief who will turn balladeer again tonight is joined by DILG Secretary Joey Lina and Ambassador Angie Reyes in an aptly titled show “Salute 2.” The group which is now popularly called The Three Tenors will raise funds for the Alay Sa Kawal Foundation, Inc.

The Alay Sa Kawal Foundation, Inc. is a private organization that provides various support and assistance to Filipino soldiers who risk their lives to protect the Filipino people’s freedom and democracy.

“We want to make the soldiers feel loved. It is no joke to be on stage singing in front of a lot of people. But we are doing it for them,” said Mr. Fernando.

He also added that never in his wildest imagination did he dream of performing on stage. His experience in singing was only from his bout with his karaoke system at home and nothing more. Singing also traumatized him when he was a Grade 3 student. It happened when he failed to hit a high note!

“It took time to overcome that incident. Maybe now the only difficulty I’ll have is when I memorize my lines,” Mr. Fernando smiled. “But right now I encourage people to sing to unwind and relax.”

Lending their support for “Salute 2” are known celebrities in the showbiz industry led by two of the most respected singers in the country, Ivy Violan and Dulce. The others are the Solid Gold Dancers, Jenny Hernandez, George Tagle and Pipo Lina. Congressmen Miguel Zubiri, Ace Barbers, Nonoy Andaya and Ricky Sandoval and HUDCC Secretary Mike Defensor who make up the original Spice Boys will also take centerstage to render various medleys and one of the popular hit songs of F4. Other government officials to perform tonight are Finance Secretary Lito Camacho, Usec. Gutierrez, Mayor Marites Fernando and Mrs. Tessie Reyes.

According to its producer, Ms. Elizabeth Sison-Tagle, “Salute 2” which will be directed by Angie Magbanua with Gerry Matias as musical director will be a longer show given the number of talents performing. They hope to surpass the R5 million raised during the first “Salute” concert last May which was for the Free Legal Assistance for Good Cops or FLAG COPS. They expect to fill up once again the 1500 seating capacity of the Fiesta Pavilion.

“This time, our beneficiary is the Alay sa Kawal Foundation, a private organization helping the soldiers especially those killed in line of duty and their families. The foundation takes care of the widows and the children and they usually give R20,000 for their livelihood projects. This time we hope to have more because we have more participants,” shared the producer.

The “Salute” project came about when DILG Sec. Joey Lina expressed interest in the work that Ms. Tagle does as the former Aliw Awards president. So in trying to come up with a worthwhile project with the DILG secretary, she fielded the idea of Joey Lina and two of his colleagues, Bayani Fernando and Angie Reyes in a concert-for-a-cause.

“Sayang naman kasi if it will only be Joey Lina,” Ms. Tagle said. “So I suggested Bayani whom I have known for a long time. He and my son usually jams until 2 a.m. before when he was still mayor of Marikina. While Angie also sings but usually for his friends only and sometimes for the media. So we decided to raise funds and turn their voices into cash!”

With a possible third “Salute” also in the works, Ms. Tagle admires the dedication of the “ Three Tenors” for the “Salute!” projects. She explained that when they earned the monicker “Three Tenors” it challenged them to hone more their singing skills. They even hired private vocal coaches to ready them for tonight’s “Salute 2!”

Putting their heart for a good cause in “Salute 2” also makes the “Three Tenors,” the “Mr. Suaves” of Philippine government!