Benefit Concert Successfully Held at Berlin City Hall: German Private Donations at Almost 50 million Euros for Typhoon Yolanda

28 November 2013, Berlin. The Filipino Community and Philippine Embassy in Berlin, together with several high profile partners, successfully staged a benefit concert for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) on 27 November 2013 at the Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus).  The concert, organized in less than a week, was made possible through the valuable support of the Federal Foreign Office (Auswäertiges Amt), Berlin Senate Chancellery (Senatskanzlei von Berlin), Willkommen in Berlin, and Germany’s Relief Coalition (Aktion Deutschland Hilft).  Dr. Abelardo Galang II, a German-trained Filipino pianist based in Berlin, served as musical director.

In the spirit of solidarity, hundreds packed the main hall of the Rotes Rathaus to learn more about how the general public could help those in the disaster-stricken areas of the Central Philippines.  Mr. Christoph Waffenschmidt, Chair of World Vision Germany and Board Member of Aktion Deutschland Hilft, emphasized the importance of these charity events, which ensure that the plight of the typhoon victims remains in the public limelight.  Mr. Waffenschmidt and Director Clemens von Goetze of the Federal Foreign Office both highlighted that although many German and international relief organizations are now ramping up the delivery of assistance, much more needs to be done.  Ambassador von Goetze emphasized that the Federal Government, in addition to the 6.5 million Euros provided in immediate humanitarian assistance, was committed to help the Philippines in the recovery and reconstruction phases.  Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, for her part, thanked the German government and people for their steadfast support.  She highlighted: “Tonight, just as we pay respect to those whose lives were cut short and to those who have survived, we also pay tribute to those who stood by us in our time of need, and to those who continue to stand by us as we clear the rubble, pick up the pieces, and rebuild… And Germany, the Federal government, and the German people, stood by us at the darkest hour.  If there is any silver lining in the dark cloud that was Haiyan, it is this hand of friendship extended to us by Germany, and by the international community.”  Private companies and citizens in Germany have now donated almost 49.6 million Euros (PhP 2.95 billion) to the NGO alliances of Aktion Deutschland Hilft and Aktionsbuendnis Katastrophenhilfe, which are now providing food and potable water as well as sanitation, shelter and medical services to the typhoon victims.  Almost PhP 350,000 was raised during the evening’s concert and at an earlier concert at the Filipino community’s Bayernallee parish.

The audience witnessed a medley of classical and contemporary songs, which included performances by Barbara Leifer, twin Indonesian pianists Sonja and Shanti Sungkono as well as Andion Fernandez and Dr. Abelardo Galang, who are Berlin-based Filipino artists.  Wilkommen in Berlin, the Federal Foreign Office’s diplomatic club, had its WIB Choir serenade the audience with Ryan Cayabyab’s “Paraiso” while the Philippine Embassy’s Mylah and Jose Mari Rubio closed the evening with a moving rendition of Cayabyab’s “O Bayan Ko.”

Aktion Deutschland Hilft, an NGO coalition composed of: Action Medeor, ADRA Deutschland, CARE Deutschland-Luxemburg, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Malteser Hilfsdienst, Habitat for Humanity, and World Vision, among others, is continuing to raise support for the typhoon victims.  More information on the organization may be obtained here: http://www.aktion-deutschland-hilft.de/de/hilfseinsaetze/taifun-haiyan-philippinen-vietnam/kurzinfo-taifun-haiyan-philippinen/
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