LOS ANGELES – Philippine Consulate General Officials attended the fundraising concert to benefit the victims of Typhoon Haiyan organized by the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown in collaboration with APO GLA and UP APO Foundation on March 15, 2014 at Incarnation Community Center Gym, Glendale, California. The concert features the REO Brothers, Raymart, RJ, Ralph and Reno, who were Taclobanons and survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.
Acting Head of Post, Deputy Consul General Imelda M. Panolong gave the opening remarks during the concert. Dep. Con. Gen. Panolong highlighted the resiliency of the Filipino people amidst tragedies and calamities as embodied by the REO brothers. With their guitars, a few cookies and a business card of an acquaintance in hand, they started their musical journey in the road to recovery not only for themselves but also for their fellow Taclobanons. This journey has brought them all the way to the United States with performances at the Madison Square Garden in New York and now in Los Angeles.
The Mayor of Glendale, Hon. Dave Weaver, and Atty. Alma Luna from the Office of Sen. Leland Yee also graced the occasion and presented certificates of commendation to the REO brothers, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown, APO GLA and UP APO Foundation. The event Chairperson, Mr. Ben Aranda, and Rotary Club President Leo Pandac told the public that this benefit concert and their fundraising activities are in line with Rotary International’s 2013-2014 theme of “Engage Rotary, Change Life.” They even recently held a successful martial arts benefit event raising $1,500 to build homes in Bantayan Island with the help of The Peace Project of Ms. Lisa Schultz. APO GLA and UP APO Foundation also found this recent collaboration with the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown as a success and hopefully a start of future collaborations.
The REO Brothers had an amazing standing room concert covering songs from the Beatles, Beach Boys, Chicago, and many more. The REO Brothers even sang some Original Pilipino Music of the VST and Company bringing the crowd to their feet dancing. They had numerous standing ovations and requests for encore. Their manager, Mr. Tom Banguis Jr., mentioned that the REO Brothers are truly a testament as to how Filipinos rise above challenges with courage, resiliency and determination.
