Senator Richard Gordon was at ABS-CBN recently for the official launch of the album “I Move, I Give, I Love” which was in conjunction with the Philippine National Red Cross’ “Our World, Your Move” campaign a project conceived to help alert the public about the recent pandemic, Infuenza A (H1N1) virus. The launch coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino on that day (June 24), which is the birth of the Red Cross worldwide.

It is recalled that in Solferino, a young Swiss businessman Henry Dunant organized civilians to help thousands of unassisted wounded soldiers and non-combatants. And so this year, Red Cross chose the theme “Our World, Your Move” to show the enduring importance of Henry Dunant’s humanitarian gesture.

“With a series of public events around the glove, the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement are highlighting the challenges faced by people in need as well as the power of individual action that changes the world,” said Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang.

She added: “But this year, it is far more than the wounded soldiers of Solferino that the new breed of Henry Dunants will encounter. It is not only about armed conflict, hunger and disaster – it is now about global health concerns.”

The Red Cross’ campaign aims to impart the knowledge about Thursday’s most feared virus Influenza A (H1N1) to the public. With their tagline “Kasama Ka” that promotes the spirit of solidarity, it also wants to build involvement and intends to tie up with all possible sponsors and corporations in one meaningful mission.

More than the objectives of the campaign, “Our World, Your Move” is a call that everyone should take part in making a difference. We only have one world, and as it faces several obstacles that continue to challenge humanitarian experience, our simple move can bring a big change to the society.

“Our call to action is to encourage Filipinos to act together to address the humanitarian challenge of today’s world. The PNRC will focus its material and human resources in crafting and implementing a national campaign for the early detection, control and prevention of the spread of the H1N1 virus,” said Sen. Gordon who is the indefatigable PNRC chairman.

As part of the celebration, there will be simultaneous information dissemination in five barangays and five schools per chapter.

Last June 24, the Philippines’ recording giant, Star Records, and the PNRC, the premier humanitarian organization in the country led by Senator Gordon, launched their tie-up album “I Move, I Give, I Love,” with songs from some of the country’s most versatile artists: Multi-Media Star Toni Gonzaga, Rock Princess Yeng Constantino and Prince of Pop Eric Santos. The album shares the key principle of the Red Cross – to bring assistance without discrimination to people in need – through an inspiring list of tracks sure to move its listeners.

First on the list of the inspiring tracks is the theme song of Red Cross entitled “Bagong Umaga,” sung by the three versatile singers. The other songs in the album are: “A Hero Has Arrived” (Nyoy Volante), “Hawak Kamay” (Yeng Constantino), “I Believe I Can Fly” (Erik Santos), “Power of The Dream” (Toni Gonzaga), “Kasama” (Aiza Seguerra), “Free” (Rosella Nava with the Bukas Palad), “Today” (Raki Vega), “It Can Only Get Better” (Charice), “Tara-Tena” (Kyla and Kaya with V3), “Kaleidoscope World” (Akafellas), “Today I’ll See The Sun” (Karel Marquez) and “What A Wonderful World” (Charlie Green). Two bonus tracks are also included in the album: “Life Power” and “Always First, Always Ready, Always There.”

The singers who took part in the project were carefully chosen. “Choosing the artists who will be part of this project was a tedious task,” Ms. Gwendolyn T. Pang shared, Secretary General of the Philippine National Red Cross. “We really have to consider artists with great sense of compassion.”

Their participation in this project was primarily out of their desire to encourage the listeners of the album to join and become involved in helping. Meaning, the artists offered their voices for gratis and did not expect anything in return.

The endeavor of Red Cross and Star Records to aid doesn’t stop with providing music alone. In fact, it extends up to the sales of the album for the proceeds of “I Move, I Give, I Love” will go to Red Cross also.

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Performing artists to give tribute to Fr. James Reuter

A musical tribute to the late Fr. James B. Reuter will be held on July 4 at 7 p.m. at the Philamlife Theater along U.N. Ave., Manila. The special concert entitled “One With You Forever,” which is Fr. Reuter’s own words, is in cooperation with The Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines.

The musical event will be in honor of Fr. Reuter’s contribution to the arts, theater and his untiring service to the Filipino people. It will depict his life in music and song. It is open to the public.

Leo Rialp will direct a multi-talented cast from the performing arts and media including: Francisco Aseniero, tenor; Leo Martinez, singer-actor; Chinggoy Alonzo, actor-singer; Karla Gutierrez, soprano; Rachel Gerodias, soprano; Irwin Cuyugan Asencio; Nonnon Baang, baritone; Greg de Leon, baritone; and Fr. Reuter’s Ateneo Alumni Glee Club.

A group of audiophile enthusiasts headed by Bert Bacsal will provide orchestra-like music minus-one for the concert which will include selections from musical such as “My Fair Lady,” “Carousel,” “Sound of Music,” “Show Boat,” “Kismet,” “Oklahoma,” and other Broadway shows. The Ateneo Alumni Glee Club will sing Fr. Reuter’s composition during the war years.

Odette Alcantara, an indefatigable environmentalist, is the show’s executive producer; Fides Asencio, musical director and Ese Dans and Co., production manager with special live internet feed by Emer Guingon. Support from sponsors will go to Fr. Reuter’s ongoing projects.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Thursday, July 2, go to former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Cecile “Baby” O’Brien, Yvonne Salcedo, Techie Agbayani, Venus Salangsang, Ellie Concepcion, Mary Jean Tiples, Sylvia “Ging” Cruz, Dwight Morales, Ramy Diez, Ciara Sotto and MB’s IT editor Red Samar…