20 January 2014 – A“Concert for a Cause,” featuring Swiss-Filipina singing sensation Lica de Guzman, was held at the Centre d’Art de Conventions de Geneve on  January 11. Gracing the occasion was Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Ambassador Cecille B. Rebong.

The Concert was organized by the Visayas Mindanao Association (VMA). The proceeds of the Concert amounting to CHF 6,000.00 (approximately Php 296,000) will be donated to those affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), particularly in the provinces of Leyte, Cebu and Capiz.

In her remarks, Ambassador Rebong expressed her appreciation to Lica de Guzman for donating her talent for a good cause. As she thanked the members of the Filipino community for their continuing support and concern for the Philippines, the Ambassador assured them that the Philippine government is fully committed to the recovery and rehabilitation of areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

Lica de Guzman is a Swiss-Filipina, child singing sensation dubbed as "petite perle philippine"  (Little Philippine Pearl), whose big break came when she was eight years old and was invited to the Televison Suisse Romande (TSR 1) Show in their Christmas special presentation of "Les coups de coeur d'Alain Morisod." She was personally selected by British singer, song-writer and producer Phil Collins, as one of the 10 children from throughout the world to become a member of the Little Dreams Foundation, whose objective is to help children who have a gift or talent to fulfill their dreams in the artistic and athletic field. She is currently a recording artist under the Universal Music Group International label.

The Concert was hosted by Filipina-comedian based in Fribourg, Switzerland Evelyn Vargas and former teen celebrity John Paul Cañeros, now a nurse based in Switzerland.

Other concert performers included musically gifted children of Filipinos in Geneva. END