O.C. at the PICC will push through in Pasay City on October 8 despite a recent setback that put its producers in a bind.
The concert—which will feature all-original Pinoy music—brings together Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and singer-composer Ogie Alcasid for a one-night-only event at the cavernous Philippine International Convention Center.
PNoy-inaugural-day sensation Noel Cabangon and Concert Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas will serve as special guests.
The concert aims to raise funds for the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), which is headed by Ogie Alcasid, its newly elected president.
In the September 20 press conference held for the concert, at the Spicy Fingers restaurant in Makati City, the concert producers talked about the treatment they received from the Pasay City council.
Pelita Peralta Uy, managing director of Beginnings at Twenty Plus Inc., and Carmela Honrado, of Star Express, led the call for clear-cut rules stating who can enjoy exemptions from amusement taxes.
In line with this, the OPM has released a statement urging lawmakers to "amend the amusement tax provision of the Local Government Code to exempt all locally produced cultural productions including theatrical plays, dance and musical concerts featuring Filipino talents."
Pelita rued how they were denied an amusement-tax discount for O.C. at the PICC, while producers of foreign acts are granted amusement tax exemptions.
She disclosed that a personal friend, the promoter of the Adam Lambert concert, told her they got a permit without delay and were granted tax exemption without needing to explain their chosen beneficiary.
The Glam Nation concert of the American Idol Season 8 runner-up will be held on October 10 at SM Mall of Asia open grounds, or just two days after the O.C. at the PICC.
She said she was also puzzled because, for the APO Hiking Society concert last February 13 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, their company got a tax exemption.
In other words, she said, the rules of the Pasay City council were not standard.
GETTING A PASAY CITY PERMIT. Pelita detailed the lengthy process they went through to secure a permit for the O.C. at the PICC benefit concert.
"We applied for a request for tax exemption. We requested it for our beneficiary OPM [Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit], but we were declined after several days. Then we applied again for a flat rate or discounted rate.
"Ang tagal bago nila i-release yung permit. Carmela and I then received an invitation to appear in the city council's office to discuss our request for a flat rate.
