After the Rain
The title card of the television special
Title card
Directed byLouie Ignacio
StarringRegine Velasquez
Country of originPhilippines
Original languageTagalog
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Darling de Jesus
  • Paul Chia
  • MeAnn Regala
Running time120 minutes
Original release
NetworkGMA
ReleaseDecember 13, 2009 (2009-12-13)

After the Rain is a Christmas benefit concert television special by Filipino recording artist Regine Velasquez. It originally aired on December 13, 2009, in the Philippines on GMA Network. The charity event was organized by the GMA Kapuso Foundation to raise money, relief, and awareness in response to the loss of life and human suffering that resulted from Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy). It was directed by Louie Ignacio and executive-produced by Wilma V. Galvante and Joseph Paolo Luciano. The special was performed to a live audience of more than 800 typhoon victims, who were also among the aid recipients.

The program was interspersed with various interviews that showcased stories of grief, heroism, and overcoming adversities following the natural disaster. These were accompanied by tribute numbers, which included popular holiday standards. After the Rain featured performances by guest musicians, including Pops Fernandez, Kuh Ledesma, Jaya, Kyla, Jay R, and La Diva. Various celebrities also appeared and made commentaries in the special.

Background

In September 2009, Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) became the most devastating tropical cyclone to hit Manila.[1] During the 2009 Pacific typhoon season, a state of calamity was declared by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, encompassing most of Luzon.[2] Ondoy caused widespread flash flooding and power interruptions in the cities and nearby provinces.[3] It resulted in 464 fatalities and caused infrastructure and agriculture damage estimated at ₱11 billion. Approximately 70,124 people were displaced and sheltered in 244 evacuation centers.[2]

Initial plans for a Christmas benefit concert television special were announced by GMA Network on November 10, 2009, two months in the aftermath of Ondoy.[4] Entitled After the Rain, the two-hour musical documentary featured Regine Velasquez and was described as an "homage to the Filipino spirit that has remained resilient despite the seemingly unending odds".[5] It featured performances to a live audience of more than 800 typhoon victims, and is spliced with a series of interviews that showcased grief, heroism, and overcoming adversities after the typhoon struck. The singer collaborated with various musicians and special guests for the special, which aired on December 13, 2009.[5][6][7] During a press conference for the program, Velasquez commented.

The purpose of this concert is to uplift their spirit a little bit. It's very important. Because right now, some people may think, the typhoon is already over, [it's been] how many months ... they still [need help] ... I think one of the reasons why GMA did this is, we wanted them to feel a little bit happy, and make them forget whatever problems they are going through.[8]

GMA and its social programs and outreach division, the GMA Kapuso Foundation, organized the production.[9] Joseph Paolo Luciano served as executive producer, while Louie Ignacio directed it. Darling de Jesus was the supervising producer, with Paul Chia and MeAnn Regala as associate producers. Juel Balbon was in charge of floor production and Grace Toralde as head editor. Bang Arespacochaga was the program manager and Wilma V. Galvante was in charge of the executive production. Raul Mitra was chosen as the musical director.[10] Guest performers included Pops Fernandez, Kuh Ledesma, Jaya, Kyla, Jay R, and La Diva.[5] Various actors and other celebrities made commentaries, such as Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, Marian Rivera, Mel Tiangco, and Mike Enriquez.[8]

Synopsis

The special featured three stories documented through a series of video presentations and interviews.[9] The first, showcased a couple who carried on with their wedding plans amidst heavy rainfall and significant flooding. In the second feature, a father who lost his wife and kids as a result of drowning. The final story centers around an orphanage, House of Refuge, hard hit by flooding due levee breach and the rescue of its residents.[10]

Velasquez performed eleven production numbers, which included a collection of classic Christmas songs. She opened the program with a medley of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Silent Night" backed by the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. For the featured stories, these were spliced with accompanying musical numbers where Velasquez was joined by musical guest performers: Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You", which was mashed with the Wonder Girls's "Nobody", the show tune "Home" from the 1974 Broadway musical The Wiz, and Twila Paris's "The Warrior Is a Child". She also sang the Filipino holiday standards "Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko" and "Kumukutikutitap". "Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?" was performed with Eva Castillo and Kyla, while Tyler Collins's "Thanks to You" was a duet number with Jay R. Velasquez and La Diva did a rendition of Barry Manilow's "I Made It Through the Rain". The show closed with a performance of the gospel song "Light of a Million Mornings".[10]

Set list

Set list adapted from the special itself.[10]

  1. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" / "Silent Night"
  2. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" / "Nobody"
  3. "Home"
  4. "The Warrior Is a Child"
  5. "Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko"
  6. "Kumukutikutitap"
  7. "Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?"
  8. "Thanks to You"
  9. "I Made It Through the Rain"
  10. "Light of a Million Mornings"

Personnel

Credits adapted from the special itself.[10]

Band members

Production

Guest appearances

See also

References

  1. ^ "Metro Manila, 25 provinces placed under state of calamity". GMA Network News. September 26, 2009. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Olan, Sarah Jayne (September 26, 2014). "Looking back: the records of Ondoy". Rappler. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  3. ^ Ubalde, Mark Joseph (September 26, 2009). "Storm 'Ondoy' makes landfall, causes widespread flooding". GMA Network News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "GMA-7 reveals upcoming TV shows for 2009 and 1Q 2010". Philippine Entertainment Portal. November 11, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Regine Velasquez leads Christmas special of GMA-7, Dec 13". Philippine Entertainment Portal. December 12, 2009. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Ramirez, Loretta (December 11, 2009). "After the Rain: GMA's tribute to the victims of typhoons" (in Tagalog). GMA Network News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  7. ^ "Second chances, new beginnings". The Philippine Star. November 27, 2009. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Regine Velasquez bats for typhoon survivors' urgent need for homes". Philippine Entertainment Portal (in Tagalog). December 10, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Bringing Hope 'After the Rain'" (in Tagalog). GMA Network News. December 12, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e GMA Network (2009). After the Rain: A Hopeful Christmas (Television special). Regine Velasquez.
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