A birthday to celebrate, a concert to entertain, and a message to inspire
AT A GLANCE
Most of the proceeds from the 3:16 Concert aim to benefit The Holy Bible Giver Foundation, Inc.
A celebration that hopes to entertain and inspire. That is the theme of Kuh Ledesma's birthday concert, "3:16," which will be staged at the Music Museum in Greenhills San Juan on March 16.
"3:16" is the numeric equivalent of Kuh’s birthdate, March 16. During a recent media conference held at La Virginia in Timog, Quezon City, Kuh shared that her upcoming concert is special because her friends will share testimonies about how God changed their lives.
"May laman yung mga songs na stories na maririnig nila. Very short stories lang from different people I've known. Maricris Bermont will share a testimony. Napaka-powerful ng testimony niya of how she came to know Christ. Pero dito shorter version lang. Testimonies from other friends. I have a good friend who will testify. She's gorgeous. She takes care of herself. Hindi siya naghahanap ng boyfriend. But in the past, it was sex, drugs, and rock and roll. She will share why that's not the kind of productive life for our children," Kuh said.
(The songs that they will hear are full of stories. These are just very short stories from different people I've known. Maricris Bermont will share a testimony. Her testimony of how she came to know Christ is very powerful. But here, it is only a shorter version — testimonies from other friends. I have a good friend who will testify. She's gorgeous. She takes care of herself. She's not looking for a boyfriend. But in the past, it was sex, drugs, and rock and roll. She will share why that's not the kind of productive life for our children.)
Kuh said that her fans will also get to hear her OPM hits. Asked about her most requested songs during the concert, the pop diva said: "Sabi nila 'Till I Met You' raw. I think one of the requested songs during my concerts abroad was 'Ako Ay Pilipino.' You could see some of them crying as I sang the song."
"One of the songs I will sing is " The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. It's a really nice song. They will hear songs about love. The power of Jesus Christ has given us an example; even before we loved Him, He already loved us. Ang talagang naghe-heal sa atin ay ang Panginoon. Ang buhay mo ay hawak ng Diyos. So basically, that's the show's message in songs and stories," Kuh also said.
Up-and-coming singer Nathan Randal will join Kuh, with the special participation of 70s Movie and Music Icon Mr. Tirso Cruz III, award-winning actress and director Gina Alajar, and Kuh’s daughter Isabella. "Gina will act out something from the Bible. Pipo naman will sing. May duet kami."
She added: "I've stopped spending on gowns, and we've stopped spending too much. It's a different situation this time because the proceeds will go to the beneficiary. But our guests meron din naman silang love gift. We never do a show na wala silang matatanggap."
Kuh mentioned that she maintains her singing voice by ensuring that she gets enough sleep.
"I've never smoked. I try to sleep early. Kapag na feel ko na pagod na (ang voice ko), hindi na ako masyado nagsasalita. You have to know the disciplines of being a singer. Kapag rested ako, mas mataas ang boses ko. So sleep is very important to singers."
Ultimate goal
Kuh is currently enjoying the best days of her life. Aside from her music and business, Kuh also reads and spreads the word of God. As she celebrates her birthday, the "Dito Ba" singer says she has learned to stop worrying. Her secret to being strong and lively all this time is the inner peace of the Lord.
"I read the Word of God everyday and pray. Para sa akin, kapag nagdasal tayo, nagiging mas madali ang buhay natin. Connected kasi si God sa atin eh. We are His creations. When you run away far from God, we are on our own. Wala tayong lakas.
"My strength is the inner peace of the Lord. Dati worrier ako eh. Hindi na ngayon. I just learned to surrender everything to God. There's no point in worrying. You're worrying about something na puwede namang hindi mangyari," she said.
Kuh revealed her ultimate goal: to serve God. "My ultimate goal is to serve God more than anything. In my concert, I included the message of God's love. I can talk about mga kalokohan, but I don't want my life to be like that."
The concert is Kuh’s heartfelt way of thanking and celebrating the many blessings she and her family have received through these years, a celebration she wants to share with her beloved fans.
Despite the numerous trials and challenges that Kuh has faced in her professional and personal life, her unwavering faith has kept her head above water, and she has demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage against all odds.
Kuh hopes that through her 3:16 Concert, people will not only be entertained by the songs that she will be performing but that through her testimony, people will be inspired to learn more about the significance of the number 3:16 in her life.
Proceeds
Most of the proceeds from the 3:16 Concert aim to benefit The Holy Bible Giver Foundation, Inc.
The Holy Bible Giver Foundation Inc. (HBGFI) is a non-profit, non-government organization founded by Kuh. Its goal is to distribute Bible copies in depressed areas nationwide and conduct healing conferences and Inspirational Concerts all over the Philippines.
Kuh has continued supporting HBGFI in its efforts to successfully distribute Bibles in Metro Manila, Cavite, Tacloban, Davao, Cebu, and Cagayan.
The Foundation has also organized big healing conferences in Cagayan, Bacolod, and Cebu. It has been supporting non-government organizations that care for abused children, like The Kalipay Foundation of Bacolod and the Samaritan’s Inc. in Cavite.
In addition to her hectic professional life, Kuh has visited prisons, rehabs, and orphanages as part of her calling and commitment to sharing God’s good news and love.
Kuh believes that more than just providing financial or material support to incarcerated individuals or abandoned or orphaned children, the spiritual welfare and needs of these individuals are just as important or, if not even more important, as they face the stigma of imprisonment and neglect.
She believes that by paying it forward through her faith, she is also helping society by imparting positive and encouraging values to people whom society has somehow shunned or forgotten, thus giving them hope for a second, third, or even fourth chance at a better, more productive life.
In line with the theme of her concert, Kuh will be performing familiar Pop ditties with inspiring messages that she hopes will entertain and impart a positive spiritual vibe to her audience.
3:16 is one concert that Kuh hopes will not only entertain people who will go to watch it but, more importantly, be able to take home an inspiring message that will give them hope and encouragement as they face the many challenges in their daily lives.
