Music, lights, and a crowd of more than 40,000 filled SM Seaside Grounds on January 16, 2026, but the rhythm of the night carried more than Sinulog celebration—it carried a message of solidarity for Cebu’s disaster-hit communities.
AirAsia announced P15 million in support of disaster rehabilitation and recovery in the city through its ASEAN-wide “To the Philippines With Love” campaign during the Concert for a Cause, held alongside the Sinulog festivities.
The campaign followed the reopening of AirAsia Philippines’ Cebu hub in November 2025, with the airline pledging P15 for every seat sold across its network from November 15, 2025, to January 14, 2026.
Ticket sales from ASEAN routes helped the effort reach its fundraising target.
AirAsia Philippines President and CEO Capt. Suresh Bangah said the initiative highlights Cebu’s importance within the airline’s Philippine and regional network.
The funds will be channeled through AirAsia Foundation, the airline’s philanthropic arm, and distributed in partnership with grassroots organizations such as Bike Scouts, which has more than a decade of experience in disaster response in the Philippines.
The foundation will manage the selection of beneficiaries and oversee project implementation.
Proceeds will fund programs focused on post-disaster resilience, livelihood rebuilding, and restoring community infrastructure.
Priority will be given to communities hardest hit by recent disasters, as well as vulnerable groups cut off from immediate aid.
Yap Mun Ching, AirAsia Foundation executive director and chief sustainability officer of AirAsia, said the campaign reflects the airline’s broader commitment to sustainability, including support for communities during critical times.
Since its establishment in 2012, AirAsia Foundation has raised and distributed over US$4 million for disaster recovery across ASEAN, including for Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the Palu tsunami in Indonesia, and flooding in Malaysia.
The airline said the current initiative continues its history of disaster relief in the Philippines.
In 2013, it raised P97 million to help communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross and Rags2Riches.
AirAsia also announced plans to launch new direct flights from Cebu to Thailand, Vietnam, and additional destinations in Malaysia, strengthening Cebu’s role within the ASEAN travel network.
