WMC Team Kickin' It With Switchfoot

The WM Communications Asia-Pacific team in Manila, Philippines toured around and hosted Switchfoot, the alternative rock band and Contemporary Christian artists earlier this month.    The band was in town for a benefit concert entitled “Dare You to Move” at the Cuneta Astrodome.  Jordan, our Perfect Rhythm (youth program) DJ, had the time of his life as he helped pick up the group from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and became their official tour guide. 

It all started with a request for promo posters by a friend in the events industry who runs One Mountaintop Promotions.  As the WMC AP team formally talked with the organizer, they committed to fully support the cause for charity in bringing the rock band to Manila.  The main beneficiaries of the concert are the abused Filipino women and children under the care of International Justice Mission.

WMC promised and delivered not only the promo posters but also a promo video for the charity concert and a press invite design in exchange for media mileage and concert tickets for all the WMC AP staff in Manila.

At the last stretch of the preparation, Greg Taylor of  Work & Witness was requested by the organizer for the use of their coaster (mini bus) as the official coach for the group. It became a ministry in itself as Jordan and Kuya Nanding toured them to and from the airport and Diamond Hotel, and to Fort Santiago  a famous landmark to reminisce old Spanish Manila. Then barely four hours before the concert, our guys were able to take them to Mall of Asia, and literally hang out on a jeepney with them, on the return ride back to the concert venue just before the scheduled press conference.  Jordan, was able to interview them along with the front act band “Salamin” for an episode of Perfect Rhythm. The guys then "chilled out" with Switchfoot some more back at the hotel to have dinner and freshen up before the concert!   How cool is that?  A whole day  just  "kickin'  it" with a great group of musicians.

During the concert, Jordan emceed and challenged Switchfoot on stage to eat balut (fetal duck eggs).   He sang to them, “Dare you baloooot!  Dare you baloooot!”   They ate it in the middle of their concert, and were still able to sing several more songs after that.

In the same event, we were able to have a soft launching of the Life in A Minute service for SMART and Talk N’ Text subscribers. In order to benefit from this service,  subscribers only have to text "LIFE" and send it to 8970.

It's pretty cool the way God often gives little serendipitous “bonus stuff” to those who follow Him and make themselves available to serve! 

 For more pictures and blogs about the Switchfoot event visit:  http://www.sendusout.com/wmc/switchfoot-live-in-manila-philippines/ (written by our Director of New Media). 

this post was filed under Press Releases on Sep 21, 2007