Welcome dinner thrown by Francisfest Committee Chairperson, Petrona Lim on October 2, 2012
CONCERT NIGHT at Resorts World Manila, Oct. 3, 2012
OH, WHAT A NIGHT!
FRANCISFEST with DAVID BENOIT
“Francisfest with David Benoit” Concert was held at the Newport Performance Art Theater in Resorts World Manila, October 3, 2012, where a sumptuous buffet of appetizers, salad, sushi, pasta, pizza, chicken barbecue, cheesecake, welcomed the VIP and Premium ticket holders at the reception hall, before the show.
Retro band, Mulatto, opened the show with some popular 70s and 80s favorites with crooner, Thor, rendering James Ingram’s, “There’s Just No Easy Way” to set the mood for the night. It was followed by PPC President and Producer of the Concert, Mike Limpe, who gave a welcome speech, thanking everyone who came and the generous support of the sponsors. Then, Santuario de San Antonio’s Parish Priest, Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM, gave a short background on the life of St. Francis and to say the opening prayer while Chairperson of the Francisfest 2012 Committee, Petrona Lim, briefly spoke about the beneficiaries of SSAP Foundation, who would gain so much with the help of the Francisfest.
Just when the main show was about to begin, the 1,340 people in the audience were not aware that the star of the show was suddenly pulled out, backstage, to have a meet and greet with the President of the Philippines. President Aquino, who was viewing the show from a private box, above the Theater, was not sure he could stay throughout the show and wanted to make sure he meets David Benoit, personally. Mr. Benoit felt very privileged that he lost track of how much time he was chatting with the President. So Director/Producer, Doy Bitanga, had to get the escorts to bring him back on stage.
The jazz pianist was still abit flustered when he came on stage. Once he started playing the piano, the delay was all forgotten. Benoit made it an intimate evening, humbly confiding to the audience about the tough selection of songs chosen by the Director/Producer, which he hadn’t been asked to play, live, before. Afterall, he has recorded 500 songs in his career of 35 years. Once he got himself warmed up on the piano, the audience can feel his excitement building up with the rest of the songs, jumping from his seat a few times and even dancing while playing the synthesizer.
Saxophone player, Michael Paulo, also wowed the audience. 2 of the 20 songs Benoit performed, “Chichi’s Eyes” and “Rainbows” were accompanied by a ballet dance, performed beautifully by 7 of ACTS Manila’s best dancers, choreographed by their directress, Chelo Gemina. 4 of the songs were performed with the lead vocals of Mulatto, Joey Bautista, Anna Jomeo and Jonathan Tamayo, individually, while 1 was performed with Thor. Migi Domingo lent his voice to do the voice-over for the night. It was a show like no other! It sure was a night to remember.
FRANCISFEST is the annual fund raising event of Santuario de San Antonio Parish. Beneficiaries of this event funds the different programs and projects of the Parish Foundation like PGH and Rizal Medical Hospital Ministry, the educational scholarship program of SSAPF, the poor and elderly amongst the little Friends of St. Francis in the Friendship Home and Friends of St. Anthony in our parish and the Prison Ministry.
Our deepest gratitude to all who supported this event!
Santuario de San Antonio Parish 