World Vision Offers Free Concert to Commemorate Yolanda Anniversary

In celebrating three years of recovery and resilience after super typhoon Yolanda, World Vision held a thanksgiving concert for free at the refurbished Tacloban Astrodome last November 7, 2016. More than two thousand people trooped to the musical event which had the theme Paghinumdum ngan Pagpasalamat (Remembering and Thanksgiving).

Generous artists offered their time and talent to pay tribute to the Taclobanons. Performers included Filipino rap Icon Gloc-9, World Vision Ambassador and Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista, and World Vision youth ambassadors Perkins Twins, a rising young music duo. Local group Tacloban City Band also joined and opened the evening with prayerful songs and soothing harmonies. Home-grown DJs Maria Morena and DJ Chino Chinito of Love Radio Tacloban graciously hosted the fun filled event.

“Keep being an inspiration to all Filipinos,” Gloc-9 addressed to the Taclobanons, after performing hits like Simpleng Tao and Hari ng Tondo, to the delight of the audience.

“I’m so happy seeing all of you with all your smiles and different colors of love, and I am very grateful to be here tonight,” Christian shared as eh wooed the crowd with his ballads and upbeat music.

“We are just so thankful and grateful for all the love here in Tacloban. We are so inspired by the people of Tacloban to show how resilient and persevering they are even though all these things have happened to them,” related the Perkins Twins after their enjoyable performance that thrilled the crowd.

Attended by survivors and their families, a part of the concert was also dedicated to remind the audience about disaster preparedness. World Vision Ambassador for Disaster Risk Reduction Marc Nelson and World Vision resource development director Jun Godornes shared three simple tips that can help save lives – have an emergency plan, prepare an emergency kit, and stay alert and up to date.

Tacloban Astrodome Children’s Park and Playground

This year also marks World Vision’s closing of recovery programs in Tacloban, serving more than 1.6 million Filipinos including children who are in the heart of World Vision’s work. As part of the culminating activity, World Vision officially turned over the newly rehabilitated Tacloban Astrodome Children’s Park and Playground to the city government led by Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez, joined by Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin World Vision-Philippines acting National Director Rommel Fuerte and other special guests.

“We laud World Vision, for coming up with this project that will nurture the bonds between children, the families, and their communities. It is our commitment to the city government to maintain this park and playground intended to create safer spaces for children to live, play, and learn,” Mayor Romualdez acknowledged in her speech.

Children and adults alike were elated by the opening of the park and playground. Ken and Intang, 10 years old shared, “our school is very near the playground, we hope to come here every day after school so we can play.”

World Vision hopes that the park and playground will continue to be a secure and happy place for all children to enjoy in Tacloban.