A night of music with Kuh Ledesma for a heavenly cause

The call to raise brighter, taller, and stronger Filipino children reverberated throughout The Manila Hotel’s Tent City last Sunday.

- FINDING ANSWERS FORMER SENATOR ATTY. JOEY D. LINA

Between song numbers, the audience passionately joined the chant: “B-T-S... Brighter... Taller... Stronger... B-T-S!” The aspiration to improve the physical and mental health of the next generation of Filipinos rang powerfully.

The occasion was the Greatest Love of All: Christmas Special, a benefit concert in support of the Children’s First One Thousand Days Coalition (CFDC). In partnership with The Manila Hotel, the CEDC staged the yuletide evening of high-caliber performances led by iconic OPM diva Kuh Ledesma, whose powerful voice — rich, resonant, and soulful as ever — captivated the multigenerational audience as she sang Dito Ba and her other timeless hits.

Sharing the stage were equally fascinating personalities whose spheres of influence extend far beyond the performing arts: former Press Secretary Atty. Mike Toledo and DOST Secretary Dr. Rene Solidum Jr. Guided by the musical direction of Timothy John Cruz and the overall direction of George Sison-Tagle and Paul Dizon, the concert also featured the talents of Isabella, Bobby Alvarez, Egay Rubiano, Egay Banaag, Jeffrey Panado, Rachel Verns, Pam Esquivel, and Rachelle Rule. lalso performed a few songs, including The Prayer and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

What made the night extraordinary was its unshakeable sense of purpose. At its core, the event championed a mission far more profound: ensuring that Filipino children in need receive the nutrition, care, and support vital during the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to age two.