CERRITOS, CA – The City of Cerritos-sponsored benefit concert on December 19 raised at least $50,500 for victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The donations, which are still coming in, will go to the American Red Cross. Performers, sponsors, and local businesses and residents generously supported the fund-raiser at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Aside from the event’s main attraction – a concert featuring popular Filipino entertainers Society of Seven, Martin Nievera, Nonoy Zuñiga, and Lhey Bella – there were various performances by local school groups, dancers, and musicians. Clothing, shoes, and other essentials were also collected for distribution to hard-hit areas in central Philippines.
Cerritos Mayor Bruce Barrows applauded the success of the effort: “The community has really come through tonight in a profound show of support and generosity for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Without the performers, businesses, patrons, and various groups that turned out for the show, this night would not have been possible.”
The deadly storm (known as Yolanda in the Philippines) pummeled the central Philippines on November 8, killing 5,598 people and displacing an estimated 3.8 million people. Roughly 1.2 million homes were damaged or destroyed.