KC Concepcion tapped to sing at Opening

PALEMBANG, Indonesia—Popular actress-singer KC Concepcion will perform during the opening ceremony of the 26th Southeast Asian Games here, Philippine delegation officials confirmed Sunday.

As work ground to a halt as this quiet city of about 1.6 million celebrated a Muslim holiday, word came that Concepcion will arrive here on Nov. 9 to prepare for her number ahead of the Games opening.

Concepcion will sing “Together We Will Shine” with Indonesian actress-singer Agnes Mojica and Malaysian belter Jacklyn Victor.

Also expected from the capital Jakarta are the Philippine Embassy’s administrative attaché Abdullah Rasuman and Richard Billedo, the country’s cultural officer who is based in Manado.

The two were dispatched by Ambassador Ma. Rosario Aguinaldo, who will join Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. in the Nov. 11 opening rites at the newly built track and field stadium at the Jakabaring district.

Palembang, which is hosting 19 sports of the biennial Games, is experiencing difficulties meeting the needs of the athletes, according to PH officials.

“They are experiencing serious accommodation and accreditation problems,” said Romeo Magat, the PH contingent’s co-deputy chief of mission. “The venues are ready but the working crew here seems inexperienced.

“It is a good thing we arrived here early to make arrangements for our more than 270 athletes competing here. We are getting all-out support from our embassy in Jakarta.”

Five days before the opening, organizers have yet to make final arrangements on where to house hundreds of dignitaries, royalties and technical officials expected to see the Games.

Only one of three ships offered by business tycoon Tommy Winata to supplement the lodging needs of Games officials has arrived in Palembang.