Tacloban Mayor Cristina “Kring Kring” GonzalesRomualdez recalls meeting David Beckham, and missing that chance with Justin Bieber

Tacloban Mayor Cristina “Kring Kring” GonzalesRomualdez was in the mood for light talk when Bulletin Entertainment visited her during this year’s Sangyaw Festival.

The conversation gradually gravitated towards the international stars she has met.

One of them is former professional footballer David Beckham who came to Tacloban 100 days after typhoon Yolanda devastated the area in 2013.

Kring Kring recalled thinking upon seeing him, “ang gwapo niya.” Their talk was short, though, as in “chit-chat lang.”

Another international celebrity who visited Tacloban around the same time is Justin Bieber. However, she was in Manila then.

“When he (Justin) came kasi it was so hush-hush, so I was in Manila,” she said.

The global pop superstar sang Christmas carols like “Holy Night” to children of City Central Elementary School, which suffered a great deal of structural damage. He also played basketball with young survivors and posed for some photos.

Justin visited the area to boost international aid for survivors of the typhoon. In the end, he raised over $500,000 for Yolanda survivors.

“About to go perform the last #believetour show. The real last one and the most important one of the tour. #GiveBackPhilippines,” he tweeted back then.

The singer also posted on his Instagram a photo of him interacting with the children which he captioned “most touching trip of my life.”

Because of the good heart of the singer, particularly going out of his way to help Taclobeños during its saddest, the mother of Tacloban, Mayor Kring Kring, hopes to meet Justin to thank him personally. The singer will be back this September to perform at the Philippine Arena as part of his “Purpose World Tour.”

If it happens, her daughter Sofia will likely be there. The teenager is a singersongwriter who wants to be known as artist.

“She wants to be known for her music, ayaw niya to be known for just like a pretty face, ganu’n,” Kring Kring said.

Aside from singing, Sofia plays guitar, ukulele and piano.

The mayor added, “She’s (Sofia) the type who just want to (showcase) her art... she’s more of like an indie (artist).”

“Mas type niya ’yung music na out-ofthe-box, she’s not into like pa-cute-cute, ayaw niya ng mga pabebe or whatever.”

Sofia joined her mother at the celebration of Sangyaw Festival of Lights where she showcased her talent in singing.

She joined Michelle Vito and Joseph Bitangcol at the Sangyaw Parade of Lights, where they rode a decorated float.

Other singers and celebrities who helped the mayor entertain the people of Tacloban during the festival were Ima Castro, KZ Tandingan, Lloyd Umali, Joey Generoso, Callalily, True Faith, Neil Coleta, and “StarStruck” winner Migo Adecer.