Police ready to secure K-pop concert in Lapu

THE Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) is ready to secure the concert featuring Korean pop or K-pop artists that will be held at the Mactan Newtown open grounds on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.

Col. Elmer Lim, LCPO director, told SunStar Cebu that they will be maximizing their force in securing the venue and the crowd, but he did not divulge the exact number of police officers who will be deployed to the event dubbed “Be You 2: The World Will Care.”

“Queen of K-pop” BoA and her fellow K-pop artists Chen and Xiumin of EXO and TVXQ are slated to perform in the first leg of the concert. This is the first time that Cebu will witness Korean acts perform.

The concert’s second leg featuring the same artists will happen at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Metro Manila on Dec. 9.

In a separate interview, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said he’s hoping that there will be no untoward incidents during the event, which is a tribute to the elderly and raises awareness for their welfare.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Julius Neri Jr. said the arrival of the K-pop group has been coordinated with the organizers, police and other stakeholders.

Neri refused to divulge the arrival date of the K-pop artists as the MCIAA does not want to jeopardize its security preparations.

K-pop fans queued to buy tickets starting Sunday, Nov. 27, at SM Seaside in Cebu City.

Ann Flores, production manager of the Neuwave Events and Productions, said “Be You 2: The World Will Care” is the second installment of their event. The first installment happened in Manila last July and it was called “Be You 2: The World will Adjust,” a tribute to people with special needs.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, the Nuewave Events and Productions held a tribute to the 30 elderly from 30 barangays in Lapu-Lapu City.

The company conducted activities or games for the participants with prizes as well as tokens and it served the elderly with lunch.

Flores said Pilita Corrales and Ian Venercaion also gave tribute to the elderly, saying that the 30 representatives were given a special treat.

She said they also invited some elderly and their families from other local government units in Cebu to witness the event.

The production manager said they also partnered with the Lapu-Lapu City Government and supported their stimulative and therapeutic center for people with special needs.

“It’s really about awareness. It’s about our elderly. What is nice about ‘Be You’ is that it’s not just like an event for the benefit of, or sponsored for the benefit of. It’s really doing more than that,” said Flores in a mix of Cebuano and English, adding that their producer has an advocacy for people with special needs and is doing something for the elderly in Manila. (MKG)