Biggest fan pays $80,000 to bring Filipino band to NZ

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Mon, 08 Mar 2010 7:19p.m.

Louella Docot

Louella Docot

How much would you pay for a ticket to see your favourite band? $100 or $200?

Well, one Auckland woman is paying at least $80,000 for her favourite group to come to New Zealand on their farewell tour.

If she doesn't sell enough tickets she will be out of pocket – it may even send her broke.

If you are Filipino, Louella Docot will track you down.

Click here to join the Facebook group or click here to see the Apo to NZ website

It's Sunday but she's not preaching the gospel, she's spreading the word that The Apo are coming.

The Apo Hiking Society are on their farewell tour.

Louella is bringing them to New Zealand out of her own pocket.

“I suppose I didn't really think of those things when I said ‘yes I will organise this’,” Louelle says.

“I didn't think of the financial, logistical or admin of it. I just wanted to do it; I wanted to be a fan and sit there and enjoy the evening with the guys.”

But only Filipino's really know the group and she needs to fill the venue.

“I've released about 1000. I need to sell another 1000 to break even,” she says.

Colleague Paul Connell has done his bit, helping design the tickets, t-shirts and website.

“When she tells us the stories how it's going, I think we've all been a bit concerned but if anyone was going to pull it off, she's a passionate enough person to make it happen,” Paul says.

There's six weeks until the concert and Louella still has sound and lighting amongst many other things to sort and pay for.

Louella believes there's a lot of love for this group; their music has become a signature sound in the Philippines during the years of corruption repression and human rights violations under the Marcos regime.

“In 1986 during the Marcos revolution where we toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, one of the band members composed a song that became integral to the Philippine culture,” says Paul.

You can think of it like Dave Dobbyn's ‘Loyal’.

“As a kid I couldn't afford to buy their CD's and watch them perform live, and when I heard about it I just couldn't pass the opportunity,” Louelle says.

She's hoping the event will bring the Filipino community together.

But will it be at her expense?

“For some people it's quite risky but for us Filipino's there's a lot of people helping her and it will be a huge success,” says Sam.

Today Louella paid the first instalment for the band into the bank – so there's no turning back.

“I'm really excited about this and I know it's a lot of risk but I'm sure when I see them face-to-face and when I tell them how they've changed my life and how they've influenced me and how they make me proud to be a Fillipino, I'm sure it will be worth it.”

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Comments

10 May 2010 04:47p.m.

Sam wrote:

The best Filipino concert the NZ Filipino community has ever seen. See photos:

http://tinyurl.com/LitratoItonApoTalaga

18 Apr 2010 11:09p.m.

fred wrote:

We know it will be a huge success! hope we could see the concert..Fred mendoza and Patrick Docot of Encore Phil.

25 Mar 2010 08:34p.m.

Manny F wrote:

As a Pinoy, this is worth including as one of the thousand things to do before you die.

16 Mar 2010 05:00p.m.

Sam the Supporter wrote:

Hi Margie, email mayaeventsnz@gmail.com to get your tickets.

14 Mar 2010 08:34p.m.

margie duff wrote:

Hi Its Margie Duff here from Blenheim,I would like to buy a ticket for this concert please email me where i can a buy a ticket..thanks....

10 Mar 2010 09:33p.m.

Allan Olandria wrote:

I already have my ticket thru Alvin. Thanks for organizing.

10 Mar 2010 07:33a.m.

Sam the Supporter wrote:

See Danny, Buboy, and Jim inviting Aucklanders to see their show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP-AI4Kv-Io

10 Mar 2010 01:20a.m.

junD wrote:

you can pre-order your tickets thru AKLnzPINOYS at this url www.tinyurl.com/itonAPOtalaga

09 Mar 2010 11:01p.m.

Sam The Supporter wrote:

Concert Details: 24 April 2010, 7.30pm, Logan Campbell Centre, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland.

09 Mar 2010 07:49p.m.

ePeP wrote:

what time will the show start?