Before
2007, Arnel Pineda was just one of the many talented but striving singers in
the Philippines. Starting at age 13, he
began making a living out of singing. He worked as a cover band singer for
Journey, James Brown and Robert Plant. He dabbled on singing solo, made an
album but it was not his time until five years ago. In 2007, Arnel Pineda rose
to stardom when he became the new front man and lead vocalist of the legendary
American rock band Journey.
Arnel’s
biggest break came when he was discovered by Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon on
You Tube just at the time they were desperately looking for a new vocalist.
Arnel was asked to audition in San Francisco and got the thumbs up of Journey’s
band members, thus Arnel’s new exciting journey begun.
So
when I heard that the band would do a concert at Baltimore called “One Night
One Show One Cause” to benefit the John
Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center on October 14, I immediately secured myself and my
family tickets to the concert. I may not be a big rock band fan but I am Arnel
Pineda’s fan. A week before the concert,
I thought of getting a sit-down interview with Arnel for Manila Mail so
Filipinos in the US can get to know more this precious talent. So when I got
the go signal from our publisher, I
made the necessary arrangements.
Fortunately, I got the email address of Journey’s
handler, Mr. Howard Cromwell. I emailed him my interview request and it did not
take a day for him to reply. In his email he wrote, “The best I can do is give you a few
moments on the Red Carpet with Arnel, The band will not be doing one on one
interviews as their schedule doesn't allow.”
I have learned
that the band was coming from a concert at Florida as part of their five month
tour, then head to Baltimore a day before their benefit concert. Given this
tight schedule, understandably Arnel and the band might not be able to
entertain one on one interviews.
But a “few
moment” with Arnel at the red carpet was just enough.
So on October
14, with my volunteer photographer Robert HowelL and his son slash assistant
photographer, Brennan Howell, I was at the Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing
Arts Center at the Lyric Opera House three hours earlier than the time of the
benefit concert at 8:30 pm.
At exactly 5:30
pm, the famous band arrived at the red carpet for the meet and greet. Then, Mr. Cromwell went to me and said that
Arnel was ready for the interview. So I
hurriedly went to Arnel, shook his hands and quickly introduced myself. It’s the first time
I saw him in person and he has this very warm and welcoming aura which I find very
Pinoy, then he said “I can’t talk too
much I have to rest my voice.”
With the two minutes I was given with Arnel, he explained
how artists like him can help cancer patients through their music, “It’s about
giving back, helping out a lot of people out there from some hospitals, they
are hopeless. But with this hospital, John Hopkins they get
the chance to get
better in a way that a lot of hospitals weren’t able to provide,.” Arnel said.
Arnel who is no
stranger to charity works with his own foundation in the Philippines supporting
children’s education, called out to make a difference in the lives of cancer
patients, he added, “We gotta help these hospitals to be able to give hope to
others.”
The fund-raising concert also integrated a VIP pre-party
with a fashion show and auction. Two of the items in the auction were a signed painting
of Journey band members and a signed painting of their album cover painted by
Bolivian artist David Banegas. It was sold for $4500 and $11,000 respectively.
So when I asked Arnel whether the band will continue to
support benefit concerts and events like
this, he said, “Yes, yes, I hope so!”
While we recognize the band’s efforts to help, still, many
of the attendees were just plain big fans of the quintessential band but both fans
and supporters of the fund-raising event were stunned to see the legendary iconic
band perform their greatest hits including
Open Arms, Don’t Stop Believing and Faithfully. On the other hand, I, joining the wave of crowd, was very proud
to see a Pinoy with an all American band, rocked the house with his all-out performance.
It is not
surprising how Arnel continues to inspire many Filipinos to never give up and
as their song goes, Don’t Stop Believing,
“I just wanna thank everybody for
supporting my cruise with Journey. Im hoping I’m giving them a lot of pride and
I am inspiring a lot of Filipino,” he told Manila Mail.
Arnel will be back in Manila by November but not to
perform, “After, three more shows, I’l be home. But il be home only for like a
week because I’m just gonna pick up my family. But I will come back here to
resume our tour for another month”
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