Asian Games Centennial Music Gala in Boracay featuring JYJ postponed

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

The Asian Games Centennial Festival (AGCEF) scheduled to be held in Boracay in Aklan from Nov. 27 to 29 has been postponed following the onslaught of super typhoon “Yolanda” (internatioonal name “Haiyan”) in the country.

Part of the AGCEF was the Asian Games Centennial Music Gala that was supposed to feature K-pop boy band JYJ, composed of Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu, and other Asian artists.

Boy band JYJ (Photo courtesy of 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)

Gina Calaguas of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) told Bulletin Entertainment that the entire event has been scrapped.

“Yes it is confirmed, the Centennial celebration for Asian Games and the OCA General Assembly will no longer push through this November due to current conditions the entire country is facing,” said Calaguas, executive assistant to POC President Jose Cojuangco Jr.

The AGCEF was to host the 64th executive board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Asian Food Festival, the music gala and 32nd OCA General Assembly.

Bulletin Entertainment yesterday got a copy of the letter of OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah that announced the postponement of the Boracay event.

In his letter to OCA executive board members and National Olympic Committees of Asia, the OCA president said because of the tragedy in the Philippines, the Boracay event is postponed.

“As you are well aware Philippines has recently suffered one of the biggest tragedies in modern times brought about by the typhoon Haiyan which has affected lives of millions in the Philippines,” he said.

He added, “Considering the scale of the tragedy, the OCA has decided to postpone the 32nd OCA General Assembly and the Asian Games Centennial Festival Celebrations to be held in Boracay from 27th to 29th of November 2013.”

The OCA General Assembly is tentatively scheduled in January.

JYJ’s visit to the Philippines was part of the group’s role as Goodwill Ambassadors of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

The boy band was supposed to perform at the music gala in Boracay scheduled on Nov. 28.

Fans of JYJ have already booked their flights and hotels in Boracay before the postponement was announced.

The Asian Games Centennial Festival was in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1st Far Eastern Championships, which was held in Manila, Philippines in 1913. The Championships gave birth to the Asian Games, which began in 1951.

Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online http://www.mb.com.ph/asian-games-centennial-music-gala-in-boracay-featuring-jyj-postponed/

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