Charice concert: Organisers disappear after no-show

Organisers of the Charice Pempengco concert in Dubai, which was cancelled for a yet unknown reason, are nowhere to be found, said irate fans.

Manila's vocal prodigy was supposed to perform on March 12 at Dubai's Zabeel Park alongside Manila-based rock band Parokya ni Edgar and Filipina singer Kyla.

Fans gathered outside the gate when news of the cancellation broke out. When Charice made a brief appearance at the gate, fans took the chance to click pictures with the diva who gained popularity via the website YouTube.

Lowell V., who bought six tickets worth Dh1,500, said: “The event management company is nowhere to be found. No one is picking up the mobile and landline telephones. I'm afraid my money will not be reimbursed.''

Mint Lemon Events LLC, which organised the no-show, could not be reached for comment. Problems with budget

The concert was reportedly called off when organisers encountered problems with the budget and sponsors. Members of the Parokya band were unable to board their flight to Dubai as their e-tickets were not paid for, XPRESS has learnt.

Among those who were left disappointed was an Indonesian fan from Bahrain and a Filipino fan who travelled all the way from Abu Dhabi to watch the concert. In an interview, Charice told the ABS-CBN news channel: “I was surprised when I learnt that the event had been cancelled. Of course, I'm disappointed because I'm unable to perform for the numerous fans who went out of their way to watch the concert.''

An official from Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), which regulates events, said they would probe the matter, adding that people who purchase tickets for events that are cancelled “must'' be reimbursed.