HOTSPOT
We originally just wanted to end the year with a party. But the idea quickly changed into something more potent: Gather and send help to fellow Filipinos mercilessly battered by typhoon Odette.
And so on Thursday, Dec. 23, about a hundred Sari Sari club members and friends gathered on the Clubhouse app and later on Zoom for “Sari Saring Pakulo”, a variety show fundraiser.
The mere few days of preparation were a challenge. We’re used to having a couple of weeks mounting big events. But the club members and guests delivered.
All told, more than two dozen performers stepped up to entertain friends and to show solidarity with our people in the south. Thanks to them, we enjoyed about 40 audio and video presentations ranging from songs to poetry, dog tricks to a ramen cooking tutorial, a radio report to gym flexing, concert greats to authentic caroling.
Performing songs were ScrambledEdge, Will Atanacio, Alexander Magno, Paw Cortes, Maui Villegas, Dee Jay Pili, Francis Sales, JP Manahan, Trina Salcedo, and Ray Lacsamana.
Marco, a newfound friend from Italy, played the piano.
Candy Galero, Nicko Caluya, and Tessa Mendoza recited poems.
Betang Paglinawan and daughter Mayumi sang from Italy. We also had Jim Jareno and sons form a group called The Jarenos.
Zandro Ochona reported on what he saw and what the people he met told him in his recent coverage at much-devastated Caraga.
Marian Fabul gave office-related tips. Bianca Mate showed us her ramen-cooking prowess. Drino Roscios flexed at the gym. Aside from hosting, Jana Ciaravolo gave us a quick tour in her part of Italy.
No Sari Sari conversation is complete without pets, so we are thankful to Vernadette Carullo for showcasing Sarao’s tricks, and to Aldrin Magno for his video vignettes with Chief. Sarao and Chief are corgis from Nebraska (US) and Darwin (Australia).
Special props to our friend Kevin Raymundo, the artist behind the fearless Tarantadong Kalbo comics. He donated a Tumindig collectible art toy for bidding.
Side A co-founders Rodel Gonzalez, Mar Dizon and their manager Lito Fugoso returned to Sari Sari to the delight of fans. We were touched by their “Di Pa Huli” and “O Diyos Ko”. Mar gave a special drum recording, while Joey Benin offered his “Puso ng Pasko” to the night’s cause.
Before I forget: In-charge of tech, audio and video was MJ Pineda, while Richard Rivera served as co-host and production head.
Sari Sari started the ball rolling by donating its year-end event budget of P13,000. By the end of the night, the donations have reached P62,921 through GCash, Diskartech via InstaPay, Venmo and Paypal. We thank everyone who pitched in. (We still await the fund transfer of pledges from some old and new friends.) Proceeds will be split four ways. One-fourth each to farmers at Yamang Bukid Farm in Palawan, to a water-related project for Cebuanos by UAP Sugbo, to a feeding program in Bohol, and to the people of Siargao through the Diocese of Surigao.
We could only wish that adequate help would reach the people in the huge area devastated by typhoon Odette. The gravity of the situation demands our attention. Restoring our people's dignity is important as we mark the happiest days in our calendar.
After we end the fundraiser and remit the funds to the beneficiary-organizations, I’m quite certain that not only will we look and find more ways to help. I have this feeling that we will vigilantly check how authorities are responding to the humanitarian crisis, and also find inspiration by the fortitude of our kababayans.
The variety show fundraiser, past events we’ve organized, and the rooms we’re known for could give us signs of what’s in store for Sari Sari in the next two months as we move closer to our first anniversary. Then, there are the lessons: The power of community. Making new friends and forming new networks. Building trust, rejecting intrigue. Finding common ground, and managing differences. Diversity as an asset, Protecting privacy, identity and security. Encouraging participation and collaboration. Social awareness and solidarity. Having fun, but also finding a higher purpose.
If we could already do these online given the limitations due to the pandemic, we cannot begin to imagine the possibilities once we could freely go out. It would be more fun, and we could do a lot more.
But for now, all eyes on the people in the south. We can’t leave them behind. We can’t move forward without them.