A three-hour online fund-raising event by the Diocese of Butuan in partnership with a local church-run university and the city government was able to raise more than 15 million pesos on May 2.
“The live-streaming event was a success,” said Father John Young, chairman of the board of the Father Saturnino Urios University Foundation Inc.
He cited the “kind generosity” of home-grown artists and those who helped organize the event for its success.
The fund-raising campaign, which aims to helping those most affected by the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, will continue until May 6.
After the online concert on Sunday, May 2, Father Young said they received a total of Php15, 870,993.49 cash donations and pledges.
He said he expect the fund to continue to grow as people send in their donations.
The live-streaming event dubbed “Beyond Physical Distance” kicked off at one o’clock in the afternoon on May 1 and featured local talents who got recognitions in the country and abroad.
Among the performers were Voice of the Philippines Season 2 winner Jason Dy, Tawag ng Tanghalan champion Elaine Duran, 2019 Idol Philippines third place Lance Busa, The Voice Kids contender Hannah, Jay Roy Asedilla, and US based band JAGMAC.
Father Chito Butardo, vice president for administrative and student affairs at the university, said they launched the project because it is the “moral responsibility” of the Church to look into the needs of the people.
“The target beneficiary of the concert will be the poorest of the poor who may have been left out in the different listings that were made as reference in the distribution of relief goods,” said the priest.
“It is in this light that we thought of coming up with an event such as this concert … to evoke some sense of concern from the citizenry,” he added.
