SMB holds concert for typhoon survivors

CHUGGING down beers for the benefit of the Yolanda victims, the San Miguel Brewery (SMB) Inc. held a two-night fundraising concert dubbed Sagip Mo Bayan drink-for-a-cause on November 14 and 15 at the Plazuela de Iloilo in Iloilo City.

While the whole country and world mourned for the damage and casualty wrought by Typhoon Yolanda, it was a guilt-free event for beer drinkers as they had a chance to help SMB's Keep Hope Afloat program for the typhoon victims. Proceeds from the ticket sales and P5 for every beer sold were donated to the program.

The event was highlighted by performances from Brownman Revival, Callalily, Rivermaya, Banda ni Kleggy and the Dinagyang Festival 2013 champion the Panayanon Tribe.

Also featured in the event was the staging of the 14th National Beer Drinking Contest which featured six five-man teams from all over the country who made it all the way to the finals after a series of tedious and grueling qualifying rounds.

At the end, it was the Sugar Barons of Visayas who reigned supreme after clocking in at 39.51 seconds and breaking last year's record of 43.37. The Balintawak Heroes of GMA North placed second after posting a time of 43 seconds while South Luzon's Beer Wonders of Palawan placed third with 44 seconds.

The Silay City-based Sugar Barons composed of Marlon Pogosa, Jospeh Abayon, Rufino Hechanova, Carmelo Batadlan and Jic Catanghal went home with the P500,000 cash prize while the second and third placers pocketed P200,000 and P100,000, respectively.

Sugar Barons captain Catanghal, in an interview, said: "Tulo ka bulan mi nga adlaw-adlaw ang training amoang gyud gipraktisan ang laing strategy kay para way usik nga time. (We have been training everyday for three months as we practiced the different strategies so that we won't be wasting any time)."

Co-captain Batadlan, meanwhile, said: "Pasalamat gyud mi nga gihatag ni sa ginoo sa amoa. Pasalamat pud mi sa SMB nga natagaan mi ug chance nga makaapil. Amoa pang sabutan kung pila ang pwede namong mahatag dadto sa mga biktima sa Yolanda, (We thank God for giving this to us. We also thank SMB for giving us a chance to join. We are still discussing how much are we going to give to the Yolanda victims)."

SMB Trade Promo and Merchandising Manager Bobby Minosa said the national beer drinking contest has always been SMB's core programs that invoke the values of unity and companionship but the recent typhoon has intensified the call for actions to assist to the victims.

"This year, these values take on a deeper, more significant meaning. And we are committed to doing our best to put out a good show and use the event to help our countrymen who are in need," Minosa added.