Gary V., Rivermaya topbill Labor Day concert at Jobapalooza

After a grueling day at the JOBapalooza ’09, where throngs of workers are expected to converge for the job and livelihood fairs highlighting this year’s Labor Day commemoration, a special concert is set to entertain workers and their families to cap the day’s celebration.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the concert, dubbed Alay sa Manggagawa Concert will feature today’s talented artists led by Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano and the popular and multi-awarded band Rivermaya. The country’s different labor unions, whose musically-inclined members have formed themselves into bands, will also perform during the re-launch of “Hatid Saya” together with father and daughter tandem of Hajji Alejandro and Rachel Alejandro.

“Labor Day celebration is always a whole day activity. For this year, we expect a large crowd of workers to join the job and livelihood fair at the Mall of Asia and we just want them to enjoy the day by having this concert in their honor,” Roque said. He added that the Mall of Asia is a perfect venue for the event, having been the site of many crowd-drawing performances of foreign as well as local artists in the past.

The concert, made possible by Globe Telecom, will also serve as the launching of Hatid Saya 2, a revival of the mid-1980’s to late-1990’s program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) that brought cheers to millions of OFWs at their jobsites.

Aside from Roque, OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon will be on hand during the concert to celebrate with the workers.

Television host and popular product endorser Paolo Abrera will host the event which will run from 4 in the afternoon to late evening. The concert promises to be a sight and sound extravaganza specially prepared for the Filipino workers. –DOLE Information and Publication Service