PHL joins 1st  ASEAN concert in Laos

The Philippines participated in the first concert of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Vientiane, Laos as part of the "Visit Laos Year 2012" program.   Dubbed "Samakhee ASEAN" (solidarity among ASEAN countries), the concert was held on January 21 at the Lao National Cultural Hall, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.   "Eight ASEAN countries ... Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam participated in this first joint concert," the DFA said. At the start of the concert, the flags of the 10 ASEAN member countries were showcased.   Then, DFA said the representatives of the ASEAN countries sang love songs, country and pop music in their mother tongue and in English.   Paolo Antonio Palileo represented the Philippines in the event, with an interpretation of the Beatles' "In My Life" and Anthony Castelo's "Dakilang Lahi."   The DFA said Palileo was also in the same group of singers from ASEAN and three other countries that performed in a concert held last year in Bangkok, Thailand. - VVP, GMA News