DESCRIPTION:
BANIG performing "One Moment In Time" live at her concert at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila, Philippines.

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Banig's show rained out!

by Boy Abunda,Jr. - Peoples Journal Tonight - Miyerkules, Hunyo 13, 1990

Over half-a-million people witnessed the major musical event in Philippine Entertainment history, "Banig, Iba ang Pinoy" - a free Independence Day concert at the Luneta grandstand. The concert was composed of three songs but at the finale, there were no cofetti, no stars, only the rain.
The dusky little girl from Meycauayan, Bulacan popped from nowhere and stormed the grandstand with a frenetic rendition of "Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky and Get Loose." She was met by deafening applause. Banig ranted. She kicked, strutted, ran. wiggled, giggled and sang and conquered the magnitude with her first song. When she sang her second number "Pandangguhan" in its rock version, she displayed, in spite of her youth, the grit, the presence the she had developed in the last few months in the U.S. And then it started to drizzle.
By this time, the people were awed by this irreverebt little girl who looked so much like most of them and yet she's so good yet they begun to understand by she conquered America. By the third song - her forced finale - Hell broke loose! Whe she sang "One Moment in Time" by her favorite Whitney Houston - the song of a winner-people cried their voices out in approval. They sang with her. And then the rain joined in.
In the middle of the song, an umbrella came to her rescue but it didn't stop her from delivering a poignant interpretation of the official themesong of the last Olympiad. Yet, not even the rain could upstage Banig who, unknown to her mesmerized, was running a 39 degree fever. Banig had to be dragged backstage. People demanded-"We want Banig! We want Banig!" More rains poured.
Backstage she was sitting on the lap of Katherine, her trusted yaya. I touched Banig's neck. She was feverish and strangely quiet. She whispered to me, " Hindi ko po ine-expect na ganoon karami ang tao. Hindi po ako makapaniwala. Habang umuulan, naawa po ako sa kanila."
She stood up and went to huge mirror in the room. She stared at her face, stuck out her tounge and her dimples showed. She played with her face. Banig was having fun.
Outside there was chaos. Securuty was ridiculus. Thanks to the Viva stuntmen who were incharge of security, they had difficulty controlling the crowd. Maybe because at the grandstand. they weren't allowed their stunts and tricks.
I saw a handful of policemen eating. Outside, the rains had mercilessly driven away a large part of yhe crowd but thousands stayed. You could see an ocean of multicolored umbrellas, as if praying for the rains to stop and for Banig to come back. In front of the stage were distinct faces you have seen around Manila, urchins whose silent dignity you can feel. They waited and defied the rains for Banig and for themselves.
Listen to what peaple said after the concert; Sister Anne, Banig's principal at St. Mary's College in Meycauayan, Bulacan exclaimed, "Thre's a meaning to all of this!"
Maria Fatima Vender of Cebu gushed, "Gusto ko po maski masilayan lang si Banig. Gustong gusto ko po siya!"
Liza Portes of Manila declared,"Maski mabasa po ako, maghihintay po ako!"
Monette Lao of pangasinan pleaded, "Tulungan ninyo po kami. Nawawala po ang Tatay ko. Pumunta po kami rito sa Maynila kasi gusto pong makita ng Tatay ko si Banig. Pakitingnan ninyo po sa backstage. Baka nasa kuwarto ni Banig."
My dear friend, tats manahan, who scripted the show concluded, "It only reminds us that there is a more powerful force than show business."
I couldn't agree more. Once upon a time, it stopped the concert of the venerable Diana Ross at the Central Park, New York. Yesterday. it was Banig's turn. Welcome to the Big League, Banig.

Wrtten by: albert hammond, john bettis