EXCLUSIVE!  STING’S ABORTED CONCERT AT PHILIPPINES' SM MOA ARENA, Background News about on-going Legal Battle

What are your opinions on this controversy? Any fans of Sting out there, your views?






EX-LAWYER OF 'PROJECT SAVE 182' WROTE STING AGENTS ON MANILA CONCERT

A certain Cheryl L. Daytec-Yangot posted on Facebook: “I wrote a letter to Sting’s agents appealing that they abandon SM-Mall of Asia Arena as the venue for the musician’s December concert. Sting, a voice of the oppressed, cannot sing in the halls of an oppressor!”

Daytec-Yangot used to be the lead counsel of the group Project Save 182 who filed a case against SM for its Baguio branch’s redevelopment plan.

The case is now awaiting the judge’s final verdict, but the months before that was a busy episode for the anti-SM group who fought their own battle against the company via online – mostly via Facebook and blog posts.

SM MOA ARENA'S EXPLANATION ON SEPERATE SM BAGUIO CASE

The SM MOA Arena has nothing to do with the case in Baguio except for the fact that it is also under the same holding company as the Baguio branch.

SM MOA Arena defenders told me: "However, with this letter to Sting, it seems that the activists behind Project Save 182 are bent on taking down the SM brand in general."

STING IS ENVIRONMENT ADVOCATE, SM PRIME HOLDINGS FAILED TO CONVINCE

SM Prime Holdings revealed that it exerted all efforts to work things out with Sting and his management.

Understandably, the well-known environment advocate artist Sting was left with no choice in spite of the SM representatives’ appeal.

So in the midst of all the anticipation of the upcoming December 9 concert by Sting, SM MOA Arena management has confirmed that the event has been cancelled upon the decision of the artist himself.

Those who have already bought their concert tickets will most likely not take this development lightly, but the MOA Arena management also respects Sting’s final decision.

SM BAGUIO CITY PLANS


For the record, SM Baguio City plans to redevelop its facilities in order to address a topsoil erosion problem covering its private property. In the process, 182 trees will be unavoidably affected through earth-balling.

SM Baguio stressed: "The redevelopment plan has complied with all applicable laws and obtained all the necessary government permits, including the DENR and Baguio City government."

DEFENSE OF SM MOA ARENA

With this successful move to stop Sting from holding the concert at SM MOA Arena, and referring to the venue as an “oppressor “, SM MOA defenders told me "it is now looking more like the court battle has extended from saving trees, to ruining a corporate giant’s reputation completely". Do you agree?

Please share your opinions?

Should the Sting concert in Manila have been spared this controversy?

Defenders of SM MOA added: "This is no longer just about a court battle between environment activists and corporate entities. We are also talking about the possible detrimental effects it will have on the Philippines’ image in the global entertainment industry."