Talent, heart and charm exuded from the performances at the NYU Can Help benefit on Nov. 21, produced by the Student Senators Council. Performances included a cappella, Indian and modern dance, slam poetry, a stand-up comedy. The performers who chose to get involved barely a week after the disaster occurred.

Guest stand-up comedian Rich Kiamco was thrilled when he was contacted by the Skirball Center to participate in the benefit.

“Filipinos have a harsh life out there, and I grew up with stories of how my parents triumphed with little to eat and meager homes,” Kiamco said.

He added that storytelling is a big tradition, even if it’s not formally recognized.

“Being surrounded by powerful stories that moved my friends and family to tears, to laughter, to inspiration is probably one of the contributing factors I am a comedian,” he said.

CAS freshman Afraz Khan, a student poet, became involved in the benefit because he felt the struggles those in the Philippines were going through were relatable to other people.

“We have become numb to atrocities and I think many people, especially myself, allow our personal matters to get in the way of being mindful of and helpful towards all the problems around us that need help,” Khan said.

In an excerpt from Khan’s poem titled “Numb,” he spoke about how people should respond to tragedy.

“Brothers and sisters we have become consumed by social and academic demands of this world, our world. We are slowly killing ourselves, literally. Emotionless of what is going on around us,” Khan recited.

Analisa Balares is another fellow Filipino that graced the Skirball stage as the keynote speaker of the evening. Balares is the CEO and founder of Womensphere, a global community platform and social enterprise dedicated to unleashing the potential of women and girls.

Balares painted powerful images with her tales of a culture rich in integrity, love and selflessness, paying tribute to the Philippines and the Filipino people for developing her into the person she is today.

“The need of the Filipino people is similar to the need we experienced one year ago with Hurricane Sandy,” Balares said. “I am a daughter of the island Leyte. These people are my family, people like you and me. We all dream of a happier life. It isn’t about helping strangers, but it’s about helping people that are part of the global community and family.”