Canadian singing sensation Justin Bieber brings cheers to Tacloban City residents

TACLOBAN CITY — Canadian singing sensation Justin Bieber made Taclobanons, especially children, momentarily forgot Yolanda with his presence here last Monday.
Bieber arrived by private plane in Manila and hours later took a chopper to the Tacloban Grandstand past 1:00 p.m. and proceeded to the City Central School where he held a mini concert rendering five of his popular songs and one Christmas song before the awed audience, mostly children.

The 19-year-old singer tweeted earlier that he was about to perform “the real last (show) and most important one” of his “Believe” world tour. Justin has 47 million followers on Twitter.
Justin began his charity tour with a pick-up game of basketball with Smart Gilas coach Chot Reyes and some children of the city most devastated by supert yphoon Yolanda last month.
Bieber also distributed T-shirts while his manager, Scooter Braun, played with some of the children.
Afterwards, he performed in an impromptu concert for dozens of children at City Central School. He sang “Happy Birthday” and a medley of Christmas songs for his young audience, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar which he later signed and left to the school.
Justin’s surprise visit to Tacloban came just five days after he launched a charity drive GiveBackPhilippines for Yolanda victims, which aims to raise $1 million within 10 days. The funds will go to Unicef, Action Hunger and Philam Foundation which in turn will help the typhoon victims. 
“The typhoon has affected the lives of millions. Everyone knows that I’ve got the best fans in the world. So the moment I heard about the tragedy a few weeks back, I know I can count on you guys to make a difference. So I’m looking for you guys to help me help them. Check prizeo.com/Justin. Every time you’re giving back, I’m doing something I’ve never done before. I’m (going to) bring a winner to come show him the studio with me next year. I want you guys come help me in the studio. Just give me some ideas. But first you guys gotta give back. Come help raise money and come to studio with me. So please, please, help me, help them,” Justin said in the promotional video.
Those who want to help can donate $10 or more, which also earn them a chance to win an exclusive pass in Justin’s studio. Donors will also receive various items, such as shirts, signed Justin Bieber photo, bracelets, depending on the amount they will donate.
With five more days to go, the campaign has already raised over $613 million as of Tuesday noon on Prizeo.com.
Justin said those who will make donations will get a chance to hang out with him next year as he records new songs.
 He said on Twitter: “im launching a very special campaign for the Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts.. help me give back to the Philippines and you’ll be entered for a chance to hang out with me in the studio http://prizeo.com/justin?#?GiveBackPhilippines”
Justin flew to Manila from Perth, Australian, where he concluded his “Believe” world tour last Sunday.
Dyzny Pagobo, who just turned 16, was one of the fortunate kids to have closer encounter with Justine. Aside from Bieber’s singing for her a birthday song, he also gave her a shirt, a pink-colored Frisbee toy and a skipping rope.
Pagobo, an avid fan of Bieber, said that she was very happy despite being homeless and even lost two aunts and a cousin to Yolanda. Her family currently stays at the evacuation center at the Leyte National High School (LNHS).
While the concert was primarily intended for children, 53-year old Marivic Sab was able to make her way to the venue, PNA reported. Sab, who described the singer as handsome, shared that she hugged Bieber twice.
Meanwhile, 15 year-old Chelsey Gabriola shed tears after she failed to catch up with Bieber. An avid follower of the pop singer, she traveled for almost two hours from Paranas, Samar just to see him.
She and her companions arrived and waited at the Tacloban Airport since 7:00 Monday morning only to learn later that Bieber  proceeddc directly to the Tacloban Grandstand.
Bieber through his concerts has been raising funds for victims of Yolanda, especially children. One of the beneficiaries of the concert’s proceeds is the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“We are really excited that Justine has come here to do this concert for the children of Tacloban,” said Kathryn Donovan, spokesperson of UNICEF.