Justin Bieber Goes To Philippines: 'Most Touching Trip Of My Life'
Justin Bieber arrived in the Philippines Tuesday to aid in recovery efforts and called it one of the most meaningful experiences of his life.
Bieber, the 19-year-old Canadian crooner, flew from Australia where he was performing on his "Believe" tour to the Philippines spread cheer to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan which displaced millions and killed thousands last month. The singer performed and played basketball with children, while touring an evacuation center made from a school and distributing shirts, toys and basketballs.
"#pray4philippines most touching trip of my life. #givebackphilippines," Bieber tweeted, urging his fans to make the hashtags trend on the social media website. "Help and get involved. I saw the devastation first hand today. They need our help."
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Angela Kearney, UNICEF's emergency coordinator for Haiyan response, spoke about Bieber's impact in the troubled nation.
"Justin brought a lot of joy, hope and cheer to the hundreds of children who were there," Kearney said in a statement obtained by USA Today. "(The money Bieber raises) will give some of the children who were caught in the path of Haiyan access to education, vaccinations, better nutrition, clean water and sanitation."
Bieber decided to team up with prizeo.com to aid in relief efforts to the country. Bieber is calling for his fans to donate money for the chance to spend time with him in the studio next year.
After making donations, his fans will be entered into a drawing that will name two people the recipients of some one-on-one time with Bieber as he records new music.
"Everyone knows I've got the best fans in the world," Bieber said in a video explaining the charity effort linked to his Twitter account. "So the moment I heard about the tragedy a few weeks back, I knew I could count on you guys to make a difference."
