Filipino Americans from Mindanao’s SOCCSKSARGEN region in the New York metro area are staging a fundraising concert in Queens to support families recovering from the powerful earthquake that rocked General Santos City and nearby provinces in June.
The event, called “Bangon Socsksargen Benefit Concert,” is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, at 5 p.m. at The Palace in Queens, with proceeds earmarked for relief and recovery efforts in General Santos City and other affected communities in Region XII.
SOCCSKSARGEN, often shortened to “Socsargen,” is a regional acronym for South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City, an area that has been grappling with the aftermath of a magnitude 7.8 offshore quake that damaged homes, livelihoods and infrastructure.
General Santos City and parts of Sarangani have spent weeks clearing debris and restoring essential services, as residents cope with displacement and economic losses in fishing and agriculture, key drivers of the local economy. Aid groups and government agencies have been distributing food packs, shelter materials and other assistance, but local officials say long-term rebuilding remains a challenge, especially for low-income families and hard-to-reach coastal and upland communities.
The quake also underscored the vulnerability of the Socsksargen region, known for tuna exports, festivals and vibrant cultural traditions, to natural disasters that can quickly upend daily life.
SoCSKSarGen USA Inc. (founded in 2018), an expatriate network of Filipinos originating from the region, is leading the concert in collaboration with The Palace, RJP Gems, Tito Rad’s Grill, Queensborough West Rotary, JCI North Jersey and other Filipino American civic partners.
Adviser Darlene Boromeo is coordinating ticket sales and donations, with general admission priced at $50 and VIP at $100.
More than 20 volunteer performers from the Fil-Am arts community have signed on, including TOFA singers Rasmin Diaz, Morris Montilla, Marcus Oche and Hanz Mendoza, offering a lineup meant to evoke both the resilience and grief of communities back home.
The show will be hosted by Jon Borromeo and Patricia Dinglasan and directed by Michelle Cuizon, who said organizers want the evening to feel “like a hug from New York” for families in GenSan and across Socsksargen.
Socsksargen diaspora organizations in the Tri-State area regularly join broader Filipino American events such as Philippine Independence Day civic celebrations, using cultural gatherings to raise funds for disaster relief and community projects in their home region. For many attendees, the July 26 concert will be both a night of music and a way to honor relatives and friends living through the quake’s aftermath.
Organizers said those interested in tickets or making additional donations can reach out to Boromeo, emphasizing that even small contributions can help families in General Santos City and surrounding provinces rebuild homes and livelihoods.
