Concert proceeds prop up six patients

By Ramon S. Dacawi 

BAGUIO CITY -- When played by those who, for years now,  have been fleshing out its humanitarian message, folk and country music goes a long, long way.

That’s precisely what happened in the aftermath of “Baguio Reunion”, a concert-for-a-cause mounted last May 20 by the Association of Government Information Officers-Cordillera (ASGIOCO), initially to help three gravely ill patients in their battle for medical deliverance.

Given the spontaneous audience and sponsorship response to the three-hour musical treat led by expatriate lead singers Conrad Marzan and MhiaTibunsay, gross collection breached the P110,000 mark, allowing a total of 99,600 cash support released as of last week to six patients and to a musician in need.

The latest beneficiaries who each got  P5,000 were Jail Officer 1 Jonathan Bayubay Bulwayan of the regional office of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, jeepney dispatcher Randy Almoite of the Crystal Cave route and Eufemia Santos, an employee of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

Guitarist and vocalist Dolpo Pedronio, who almost skipped his folkhouse set just to perform with the reunited Foggy Mountain Band that evening,  received P3,000.

Midway into the concert, support of P27,200 each was distributed to the three original beneficiaries: 10-year old Chelsea Benito, the youngest among 179  hemodialysis patients at the BGHMC; Jun Willy of PTV4 who is also undergoing dialysis for kidney failure; and Linda Fines, a staff member of the Department of Tourism who is fighting cancer.

Jail officer Bulwayan, who will turn 27 on June 17, has been also on twice-a-week hemodialysis treatment for over a year now. He is looking forward to an organ transplant.

Almoite, a 46-year old father of five and dispatcher of the Crystal Cave jeepney line, can now hardly work due to cancer diagnosed as adenoid cystic adenoma of the parotid gland. With nowhere to turn to, he stopped his scheduled six-session chemotherapy last February, after the third session.  

Santos, 60 and afflicted with breast cancer, will have her sixth chemotherapy on June 15 at the Notre Dame Hospital here.

The idea for the reunion concert came from Conrad, who is now based in Northern California, and Mhia, now an event organizer for a top hotel in Singapore.

Before coming home for a summer break, the two asked friends here to arrange a reunion concert-for-a-cause with fellow musicians here.

Setting the tone of the musical treat, the two blended through the refrain of Billy Dean’s  song of gratitude, “If It Hadn’t Been You”:  If there hadn’t been you, where would I be/If there hadn't been you here for me/I made it through timesI never would've made it through/If there hadn't been you. And Garth Brooks’ “I Will Sail My Vessel (The River)”: “Too many times we stand aside/And let the water slip away./And what we put off till tomorrow/Has now become today/So don't you sit upon the shore line/And say you're satisfied/Choose to chance the rapids/And dare to dance the tide.”

The ASGIOCO led by Dr. Manuel Quirino took the cue and did the preparations, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency headed by regional director Helen Tibaldo.

The Cordillera Association of Regional Executives headed by environment regional director Clarence Baguilat served as ticket and sponsor outlet.

To whittle down the costs, Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong, the regional police director, lent the services of his command’s  band and musical instruments.

To further save on administrative expenses, BGHMC medical center chief, Dr. Jimmy Cabfit, lent for free the Cancer Building as venue.

Baguio-based  musicians,  mostly pioneers in the local folk and country scene, signed up for the May 20 fund-raiser. It was their latest in years of pro bono performances go all the way back to the ‘70s at the Gingerbreadman, the first folkhouse here.

Lawyer-lead singer Jose “Bubut” Olarte teamed up with Liza Noble, March Fianza and Dick Oakes in interpreting the Bible-inspired “The Weight”, a composition of the American-Canadian group The Band.  

Liza, Alma Angiwan and Dianne ended their three-song number with another The Band original -“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”.

Bryan Aliping contributed his Igorot love song “Lungayban” while Alfred Dizon belted out James Taylor’s “You Got A Friend”.

The PNP folk and band arranged by Supt. Davy Vicente Limmong, the regional information officer, and led by Sr. Inspector Henry Domogan provided the opening and finale pieces. It’s composed of SPO2 Greg Guisdan, SPO1 Jerry Soriano, PO2 Dirk Tomas, PO2 Stephen Carantes, PO2 Joel Bastian and PO1 Eugene Ganga.

“Folk and country music has been our response to calls for help since way,way back,”Mhia said before her flight back to work in Singapore last May 28. “It’s been inspiring to see many coming to celebrate with us the music of simple folks like us, and, in so doing, be able to reach out to the sick and needy.”

Before his return to California last May 27, Conrad led fellow musicians to experiencing the Eco-walk environmental program at the Busol Watershed.

“Performing in a concert-for-a-cause and then planting trees have been always part of our visits home,” he said.