‘Hug from New York’ concert for quake-hit Soccsksargen on July 26

By Elton Lugay

Filipino Americans from Mindanao’s Soccsksargen region in the New York metro area are staging a fundraising concert in Queens to support families recovering from the powerful earthquake that rocked General Santos City and nearby provinces in June.

The event, called “Bangon Soccsksargen Benefit Concert,” is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, at 5 p.m. at The Palace in Queens, with proceeds earmarked for relief and recovery efforts in General Santos City and affected communities in Region XII.

SOCCSKSARGEN is the acronym for the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City, a region that has been badly hit by a magnitude 7.8 quake that damaged homes, livelihoods and infrastructure.

General Santos City and parts of Sarangani have spent weeks clearing debris and restoring essential services, as residents cope with displacement and economic losses in fishing and agriculture, key drivers of the local economy, according to concert organizers.

Aid groups and government agencies have been distributing food packs, shelter materials and other assistance, but local officials say long-term rebuilding remains a challenge, especially for low-income families and hard-to-reach coastal and upland communities.

The quake also underscored the vulnerability of the Soccsksargen region, known for tuna exports, festivals and vibrant cultural traditions, to natural disasters that can quickly upend daily life.

SoCSKSarGen USA Inc., founded in 2018, is a network of Filipinos originating from the region. It is leading the concert in collaboration with The Palace, RJP Gems, Tito Rad’s Grill, Queensborough West Rotary, JCI North Jersey and other FilAm community organizations.

Adviser Darlene Borromeo is coordinating ticket sales and donations, with general admission priced at $50 and VIP at $100.

More than 20 local performers from the FilAm arts community including TOFA singers Rasmin Diaz, Morris Montilla, Marcus Oche and Hanz Mendoza have volunteered their talents in support of the effort.

The show will be hosted by entertainment producer Jon Borromeo and standup comic Patricia Dinglasan and directed by Michelle Cuizon. Organizers want the evening to feel “like a hug from New York” for families in GenSan and across Soccsksargen.

Soccsksargen diaspora organizations in the Tri-State area regularly join broader Filipino American events such as Philippine Independence Day civic celebrations, using cultural gatherings to raise funds for disaster relief and community projects in their home region. For many attendees, the July 26 concert will be both a night of music and a way to honor relatives and friends living through the quake’s aftermath.

Organizers said those interested to buy tickets or make a donation can reach out to Borromeo via Facebook.  

“Even small contributions can help families in General Santos City and surrounding provinces rebuild homes and livelihoods,” Borromeo said. — TOFANews