MANILA, Philippines -- Some of the country’s established bands and singers are joining forces to help the Psoriasis Philippines (PsorPhil) achieve its goals of helping the millions of Filipinos suffering from psoriasis. They are performing in a concert slated on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Baypark Service Road in Roxas Blvd. (beside Rajah Sulayman).

Entitled “PsorRocks!” the concert will feature 6Cyclemind, Callalily, Cueshé, Even, General Luna, Gracenote, Kenyo, Slapshock, Tricia Garcia and Up Dharma Down. After party music will be provided by DJ Buddah.

Psoriasis Philippines is headed by Josef de Guzman who said that one to two percent of the country’s population is afflicted with psoriasis, a serious inflammatory but non-communicable auto-immune disease that has no known cause and cure. Around 125 million people are believed to be suffering from psoriasis worldwide.

Josef said their group originally was composed of just five of them with psoriasis. “We only wanted a venue to vent out our frustrations, share our dreams and articulate our hopes. Subsequently, an online support group for Filipinos with psoriasis was born – Psoriasis Philippines.”

Josef said that people with this disease suffer discrimination, “there were times we weren’t allowed to board airplanes, swim in public pools, and many have been forced to drop out of school.” He recalled receiving a call from a stranger whose female friend, because of severe depression brought about by her skin disease, was about to commit suicide.

Her family thought she was cursed and fearing that she might infect them, they drove her away, and on Christmas day yet.

Josef is enjoining everyone to help them in their fund-raising concert.

The concert is supported by San Miguel Beer, PLDT, Dickies and Gold Gym among others.

‘Project Runway Philippines Season 3’

A grand designers’ event, the “Project Runway Philippines Season 3” has been launched, and participants are invited to log on www.etc.com.ph.

Auditions nationwide start this month.

Prospective participants may also go to the following audition sites: Pryce Plaza hotel, Carmen Hill, Cagayan de Oro, Aug. 20-21; Marco Polo Hotel, Lahug, Cebu, Aug. 27-28; Hotel Supreme, Magsaysay Ave., Baguio City, Sept. 3-4, and Jungle Gym, Kamagong Street, Makati City, Sept. 6-7.

Those interested to audition must bring with them their portfolio of work including three completed outfits of their own design.

The prizes for the winner are: A 10-page fashion spread in Mega Magazine, P500,000 in cash, start-up business package of 10 units of sewing machines, a short-term fashion design course at a top European Fashion School, a two-month apprenticeship with Asian Institute of Fashion’s top industry designers, and a full scholarship for a four-year design program at the Asian Institute at iACADEMY.

Former president of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines Tweetie De Leon-Gonzales will host the designers’ grand event which will premiere in February 2012 on ETC.

The Solar Entertainment Corp. is producing “Project Runway Philippines Season 3.”

First ‘Kotse-serye’ on Studio 23

The first-ever “Kotse-serye” entitled “Sparkada Trip,” will be shown tomorrow, Aug. 14, on Studio 23, and making its first starring role is Chevrolet Spark! The two-episode show, presented by Chevrolet Philippines together with Studio 23, will highlight the amazing features of Chevrolet Spark.

The cast of the show, presented to the media last Aug. 9 at the Chevrolet Showroom along EDSA-Greenhills, and who compose the Sparkada ng Bayan, are Xian Lim (as Pretty Boy Alex Agbayani), Helga Krapf (as Fil-Am Nora Taylor, the rich girlfriend of Alex), Ketchup Eusebio (as George Marquez, (the funny boy of the group), Charee Pineda (as the conservative and superstitious Ynah Filemon), and Gee Canlas (as Joy Manalastas, a call center agent).

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Saturday, Aug. 13, go to ABS-CBN’s top honcho Gabby Lopez, Gen. Vidal Querol, historian Ambeth Ocampo, Mrs. Aurora Udarbe Gonzalez, Menchu Suntay, Concordia Goco, Ace Palabrica, Rosita Arcenas, Sunny dela Luna, Prof. Reynaldo A. Tamayo, Daisy B. Vergara, Joaquin Anton Cu-Unjieng, Cedric Tuazon Ranada, Josephine Zarate-Angelo, Joel M. Garcia, Mrs. Nellie Samson and Ryza Richelle Tobias Rigos… “Manny Many Prizes” will be held today for the second time at the AFP Theater with Julie-Elmo, Akihiro Sato and John Hall as guests…