Pasay City was featured in a video clip shown during the "One World: Together at Home" benefit concert curated by Lady Gaga in support of healthcare workers all over the world who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto Rubiano said the city and its people are drawing inspiration from the song “The Prayer” that drew raves around the world after it was first released in 1999 and which was performed by world-famous singers such as Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, John Legend, Andrea Bocelli, and Lang Lang during the benefit concert in April this year.
It showcased a number of stars who honored the work of frontline medical workers and raised fund for coronavirus relief efforts.
The song was especially meaningful since its accompanying video featured different cities in the world, including Pasay City.
Among the cities shown in the MTV were Brussels, Belgium; Singapore; Chambery, France; India, California, Wuhan, China; Madrid, Spain; London, England; and Pasay City, Philippines which was the last to be featured.
The cut on Pasay City shows residents of a condominium building unfurling a huge banner with the word Salamat (Thank You) as medical workers of Adventist Medical Center in Pasay City on the ground acknowledge their appreciation by blowing them with kisses.
Also shown in the same MTV was actress Angel Locsin who was garbed in a medical suit complete with face shield and face mask symbolizing the Filipino health workers' continuing fight against the pandemic.
Rubiano said the moving performance of the five famous musical artists have inspired them to work harder and never give up despite the hardships brought about by the pandemic on the city and its people.
“Parang naging theme song na nga po namin ang kantang iyon dahil tuwing nagkakaroon po kami ng matinding problema tulad noong sumipa ang mga kaso noong Marso at Abril ay naaalala namin ang kanta kaya naman nabibigyan kami ng inspirasyon. Kaya nga po talagang nagsumikap kami at sa awa ng Diyos ay mukhang nalalagpasan na natin ang krisis sapagkat ang ating lungsod ay isa sa may pinakamababang kaso sa Metro Manila at sa bansa na rin (The song became our inspiration because every time the city encounters a problem, we always remember the song especially during the surge of the pandemic last March and April. This is why we continue to work hard and with the guidance from our Lord, we feel that we can overcome the crisis since Pasay is one of the cities in Metro Manila with the lowest case of the virus)," Rubiano said.
Lady Gaga sang at the culmination of Global Citizen's One World: Together at Home and teamed up with her fellow artists and pianist Lang Lang for a moving rendition of "The Prayer."
The artists recorded their respective parts from their homes, all dressed in black, except for Dion, who stood out in a bright blue suit.
When "Together at Home" was first announced in April, Global Citizen and its partners had already raised over $35 million for COVID-19 relief efforts.