The Cordillera Connection Concert for Life series 26 have culminated with a whooping success last night July 23, 2018. For the whole week of the performance date, the organizers, volunteers and the performers were worried because of the continues heavy rains caused by the persistent typhoons passing by the region, but as always, the event will not be postponed regardless of the weather condition. The campaign for the said concert for a cause was still strong despite such difficulty. They prayed hard that by Sunday, the storm would have passed and give respite to people from the heavy downpours and floods. Thank God, the rain let up a bit. Nevertheless, TCC didn’t expect to have a high attendance and understands that people will be reluctant to come for fear of their safety and comfort. Anyway, what is more important is the number of sold tickets ahead of time which means bigger help to the beneficiaries. But there was no cause for worry at all! The gym started fill up and got a full house, they were really pleasantly surprised.
The program started at 6:10PM as hosted by Ms. Jasmin Aeryll Lapnawan – the resident toastmaster of the group and Ms. Maricor Balucanag who is a first time volunteer for TCC and came all the way from Thailand. The growing number of people coming in the venue actually fired up the spirits of the performers whom were invited to entertain the audience. Mr. Lael Senio sang few of their original compositions together with the TCC Band while iGrab Talents and Teachers also rendered some numbers. The Father and Daughter Duo sir Gary and Pearl Padsing were so cute to watch when they gave their number and Sir Vic Suriaga, the Man of All Season was also there to perform some classic tagalog songs with sir Greg Taag.
The crowd was moved by Ms. Inna’s performance (sir Greg’s daughter) when she sang one of her father’s compositions while the performance of the band 16th Avenue was also much loved by the audience. However, one of the highlights of the night was when Ms. Gayle Torado stepped on the stage accompanied by the TCC Band and sang Try, Secret and her amazing duet Just a Fool with Kenneth; she has recently won as the Champion for The Voice La Trinidad competition and the audiences were really wowed by her number.
The princess of the group, Ms. Raiya Ruth Cuyan who has been a long time performer for these concert series was a pure delight when she sang an original composition of her and her sister Shaura – Let’s not Fall in Love and a cover song I love You, You’ll know it. The crowd couldn’t just get enough of her cuteness.
This was then followed by Jaymo Javier’s ever energetic and engaging performance, singing meaningful songs like One Day and Redemption song among the few. What is more, the TCC Cagayan travelled far amidst the typhoon just so they can join us in our campaign and shocked us with their praise and worship songs. It is safe to say that they brought the church to this event with their performance which was very much fitting since it was Sunday and that through their songs, they could reach out to people and extend their blessings to others.
Hagpatan Band – a Bay-yo community youth organization from Tiptop Baguio City made the event livelier when they lead the community dance with the Gangsas at the latter part of the program where some of the audiences participated to show their love for our culture. The crowd was not even contented with just one round that they requested for a second one.
As for the finale, the TCC Band together with Ms. Jasmin Aeryll, having a limited time, rendered few love songs, and it was when the band’s vocalist and Lead guitar player, Kenneth Inocencio really captured the hearts of many young and old ladies with their cover of In case you didn’t Know, Forevermore and Perfect while the band’s drummer Jayson Raras surprised the remaining people in the gym with his cool voice when he sang Two Less Lonely People. Definitely, it couldn’t have ended the program better than that.
This event has also been graced by the presence of the several core members of TCC Hong Kong : Ms. Rose Marie Ticag Amoy (President) and the group’s “Pambansang Momsy”, Ms. Josie Taag – wife of sir Greg Taag and others including their family members. According to the accounts of sir Greg during the concert, there are 118 individual and two group beneficiaries for this concert series and we pray that through this programs, we will be able to continuously help them in their struggles.
The TCC Group couldn’t have been more thankful and satisfied. Undoubtedly, with all the joined efforts of the members of TCC World, sponsors, donors, volunteers, scholars, beneficiaries together with their families and friends, ticket buyers, Bands and performers and only by God’s Grace, this event would have not been a success, if not possible.
Article by: Ms. Jasmin Aeryll Lapnawan
THE CORDILLERA CONNECTION 