It was a night of music, dinner, and giving back last Nov. 26, at the Tent City of The Manila Hotel during the charity dinner concert entitled "Yes, I Believe" with the theme "Malusog na Bata, Malakas na Bansa."
The concert also served as the official launch of the National Nutrition Program of the Alliance for Healthy Filipino Children (AHFC).
The AHFC aims to increase awareness on the serious children malnutrition problem in the country and to implement barangay-based nutrition intervention program especially during the child’s first 1,000 days. The organizations include Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Jaycees, Midwives and the World Vision and others. The AHFC will work in tandem with government, particularly with the National Nutrition Council (NNC).
Some of the former Philippine government’s officials: former Presidential Executive Secretary, Atty. Salvador Medialdea, former Press Secretary, Atty. Mike Toledo, and former Senator and former DILG Secretary, Atty. Joey Lina, together with the country’s premier music artists: Lara Maigue, Isay Alvarez, and Rachelle Gerodias, serenaded the audience with uplifting tunes accompanied by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra.
The concert opened with the song “Umagang Kay Ganda” by all performers. Former National Security
Adviser Ret. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., was seen attending the concert who granted the three
attorneys' requests to perform on stage.
The crowd was also treated with a very special number from the gentlemen who sang BTS’ Permission to Dance with a special participation from Atty. Lina’s 3yo grandson, Evan Lina Mandap.
The show ended with the song "I Believe," originally sung by Andrea Bocelli and Katherine Jenkins, the
inspiration behind the concert’s title.
In a message sent from the Office of the Vice-President of the Philippines, Sara Z. Duterte, she lauded the efforts of the organizations and said: “Yes I Believe is one of the ways you can generate support and generosity from the public and engage them in our agenda to support the needs of the most vulnerable group of our community.”
“The concert is just the first step of the many to help combat the malnutrition/undernutrition problem in the Philippines.” Lina mentioned during the concert.
“Yes, I Believe” concert was presented by Rotary Club of Makati Central (RCMC) and The Manila Hotel, co-presented by Century Peak Cement and sponsored by Aboitiz Power, Meralco, Pioneer Insurance, PLDT-Smart, PAGCOR, BF Corporation, Diamond K. Corporation Holdings, EMME, The Herma Group, JB Construction, Muebles Italiano, Philtrust Bank, CMW Trading of Wong Chimen, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SM Kenko Sauna Corp., City Government of Meycauayan, City Government of Las Pinas, City Government of Quezon, and City Government of Manila with other donors and supporters from other LGUs and private sectors. Official media partner Manila Bulletin.