Preparations for Rockestra, a rock concert by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra organised as a fund-raising activity by the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF), are currently in their final stages. Rockestra will be held on Saturday, 12 September at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali and tickets are available online at e10. President George Abela made time to meet Annaliza Borg to discuss the concept behind the event and how the dream is being brought to life.

“I want to bring the music of the National Philharmonic Orchestra to the people, and Rockestra will be a concert for everyone to enjoy,” said President George Abela about the latest initiative being undertaken by the Office of the President.

The event will also provide a unique opportunity for Maltese singers and bands that have never performed with the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Dr Abela said he realised that the MCCF, which falls under his remit, could no longer continue to depend on one annual activity, namely l-Istrina, so he brought together his core team – which includes his Communications Coordinator Marica Mizzi, a well-known television presenter and actress – to see what could be done to address the situation.

Dr Abela’s motto, he explained, is to “act on what you believe” – a motto he has been seen living up to since he took office back in April, as evidenced by his recent statements on values and charity, as well as by the shift in mentality toward fundraising for the MCCF.

“You must set an idea rolling, have a clear aim and then you will get where you want be,” he said, adding: “The funds and resources will come.”

The President’s team took into consideration the fact that several musical events are held over the summer season and so decided to come up with an innovative concert involving a number of performers.

The best local rock talent, together with the 250-strong Malta Children’s Choir and the 65 musicians comprising the National Philharmonic Orchestra, will be presenting a three-hour show featuring the music of Queen, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Deep Purple, among others.

Performers will include Scream Daisy, Fakawi, The Riffs, sopranos Maria Abela and Claire Caruana, singers Raquela, Claudia Faniello, Neville Refalo and Daniel Cauchi as well as trumpeter Alex Bezzina and composer Ruben Zahra.

One of the concert’s main attractions will be the high power projections by Ross Ashton, known for having designed the spectacular projections on Fort St Angelo as part of Malta’s 2004 EU accession celebrations. He has also been invited to prepare projections for the next New Year’s Eve celebrations in London.

While enthusiastically discussing the concert’s details, Dr Abela also noted how the presidency should be “relevant” to people’s lives, and expressed his belief in creating incentives for people while at the same time injecting enthusiasm.

“You must be passionate about what you are doing,” he said.

Marica Mizzi soon joined in the conversation, remarking how even the President’s daily “Bongu” (Good Morning) with a smile makes all the difference to the atmosphere in the President’s offices at The Palace.

Dr Abela pointed out that the assistance and encouragement they were getting from people was “incredible” and that many were also proposing new ideas. Interest from the public in attending the concert was also very strong and performers who could not participate due to previous engagements were very apologetic, he said.

Dr Abela does not take any personal credit for the initiative, saying it is a team effort. “The group around me is very hard-working and energetic,” he said.

Education and Culture Minister Dolores Cristina and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech have also contributed to the project, and the orchestra is performing free-of-charge.

Rockestra, however, will not be the first and last event of its kind, and Dr Abela and his team are planning an annual cultural calendar of events. The President’s Charity Run, scheduled for 6 December, has an educational theme and will involve the participation of both children and dignitaries alike to raise funds for charity.

L-Istrina, on Saturday, 26 December and the Epiphany Concert at The Palace on 9 January will form part of the calendar, which is being devised with the aim of attracting young people and families to the concerts and events.

During our meeting we talked about the Malta Community Chest Fund and discussed the needs behind the 3,000 requests it receives every year.

Dr Abela pointed out that the MCCF is receiving a number of requests from non-governmental organisations as well as individual cases, many requiring medical care in the UK, as well as financial assistance for expensive medication, equipment, white goods and other basic needs.

A typical case is that of a mother who is donating a kidney to her son and who needs to undergo a medical intervention in the UK. The father is not able to pay for accommodation abroad to join his wife and son, and so they have asked for financial assistance from the MCCF.

“A family cannot be separated at such a difficult time, and assistance must be given,” Dr Abela said.

Then there are the families that are in financial difficulties due to gambling and similar problems, he noted. However, the President plans to give the MCCF a new dimension by helping people undertake rehabilitation programmes and training initiatives to enable them to adopt a new outlook on life and regain their dignity.

“Simply providing money does not solve the problem in such cases; we must help these people reintegrate into society,” he believes.

Dr Abela also pointed out that the MCCF has developed a sound structure, with new offices to deliver a better service to its beneficiaries and a new, computerised accounting system. Its statute has also been revised and will be approved at a general meeting to be held in September.

The MCCF is manned by a small core of full-timers as well as by a good number of voluntary workers. The core group meets twice a week to discuss individual cases and to evaluate claims, and meets with the sub-committee once a month to further evaluate these claims and decide on cases.

While the MCCF is implementing further internal controls to ensure accountability and transparency, Dr Abela urged people not to abuse the assistance offered, as they would thus be depriving others of help.

Earlier this year, Dr Abela announced that l-Istrina will no longer feature prizes, as it has for a good number of years. In addition, this year it is being organised by the MCCF for the first time.

“I wish to eliminate the concept of giving with the hope of winning a prize; this gives rise to the gambling culture,” Dr Abela said.

He explained that people are generous and that they would still give money in the knowledge that they will be helping people in need.

“The presidency must set an example for society in terms of values. I do not believe that I should offer a car as a carrot for people to help a family in need,” he said, emphasising the point that people would donate once they understood the needs in question.

“This is about the beauty of giving,” said Dr Abela. “There is no greater personal satisfaction than that”

L-Istrina was first held in 1995 and was organised by the Public Broadcasting Services in aid of the MCCF. In 2001, the President participated in the programme by attending the event to help raise funds and in recent years PBS has sub-contracted the event.

While agreeing that placing the event in the hands of the MCCF was a courageous decision, Dr Abela pointed out that he had decided to begin regulating and organising l-Istrina when he was appointed President. Running costs, he added, also needed to be reduced.

There was nothing in writing, he said, and so he decided to talk to PBS regarding the airtime required and other associated matters.

Although the event is four months away, preparations are already in full swing. The evening will provide a great show for the whole family, at the same time raising money for a great cause. There will be live links with Gozo for the first time, and appeals will be made from time to time.

The Lufthansa Technik hangar in Luqa, this year’s l-Istrina venue, offers a lot of space that will be used creatively, with an aeroplane serving as the event’s backdrop.

Although of the belief that l-Istrina is about small donations from the many, Dr Abela also plans to personally call on businesses in order to raise funds for this year’s event.

More information about the MCCF, its work and events is available on www.maltacommunitychestfund.org