Free concert features Manila’s sites and sounds

AN online Concert at the Park will usher in the holidays in the metro by promoting tourism destinations in the city of Manila, and featuring songs by the pioneer of the Manila Sound in the ‘70s, Hotdog.

In a news statement, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat announced the free virtual concert titled “Hinahanap-Hanap Kita Manila,” with Hotdog’s songs performed by various Original Pilipino Music artists. The project is a partnership between the DOT, through its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), with The Manila Heritage Trail and Manila Heritage Alliance.

“The Hinahanap-Hanap Kita Manila concert will give us the warmth of nostalgia just in time for the holidays. Get ready to sing along to hit songs of Hotdog — Annie Batungbakal, Bongga ka Day, Beh Buti Nga, Ikaw ang Miss Universe, and of course, Manila, which are just a few of the tracks that have contributed so much to the city’s colorful musical and cultural scene, all while visiting iconic Manila sites from the comforts of your home,” said Romulo Puyat, who will be joining Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno”Domagoso, at the online event on December 13 at 8 pm.

The DOT chief said the virtual concert is a continuation of the long-running “Concert at the Park” and “Paco Park Presents” events of the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC), an attached agency. Among the sites to be featured in the concert are Manila City Hall, Luneta, Paco Park, Intramuros, the Museo Pambata, National Planetarium, and Jones Bridge. 

“In addition to promoting local travel and the live events industry, we want to offer inspiration to all Filipinos in these trying times,” Romulo Puyat explained.

Jones Bridge was spruced up last year by Domagoso with the reinstallation of the iconic La Madre Filipina, a work of art by sculptor-painter Ramon Lazaro Martinez, consisting of four sculptures. Three of the four pieces, originally in 1921 at Jones Bridge, survived World War II, one of which came into the possession of the NPDC, and now entrusted to the City of Manila’s safekeeping.

The walled city of Intramuros, was recently recognized as the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the recent 27th World Travel Awards. It beat out 15 other international attractions such as the Acropolis in Greece, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Grand Canyon National Park in the US, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Taj Mahal in India, among others.

Ironically, Intramuros remains closed to the public with the National Capital Region continuing to be under general community quarantine, as government attempts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

 Performers at the free online concert are Bras Pas Pas Pas Pas with Raymund Marasigan, Ebe Dancel, Armi Millare, Yeng Constantino, Blaster Silonga, Nicole Laurel Asensio, Bing Austria, Bea Lorenzo, Rubber Inc., and Gary Valenciano. Boyet Sison will host the event with the concert’s various legs creatively directed by Juno Oebanda, RA Rivera, Paolo Valenciano, Jason Tan, Alco Guerrero and Quark Henares.

The concert is produced by Juno Oebanda, Dindin Araneta and Jezreel Apelar with DOT Culture and Arts of Manila Chief Charlie Duñgo and NPDC Executive Director Cecille Romero at the helm.

The concert is co-presented by the City of Manila, Juancare Foundation Inc., and Viva Music Publishing Inc., and will be available for streaming on the Facebook pages of the DOT, TPB, Intramuros Administration, Nayong Pilipino, and NPDC.