Cascades show promoter refutes local producer
Steve O'Neal Productions denied that it has entered into contract with any local producer other than VJS Productions to bring the popular American singing group The Cascades to Iloilo City.
Danee Samonte, president of Manila-based Steve O'Neal Productions, told The News Today in an interview that it has never signed a contract with Aris Demavivas, the local producer which is contesting the upcoming Cascades concert to be held at Central Philippine University (CPU).
Steve O'Neal Productions is the promoter of the Cascades Tour Concert in the Philippines.
The News Today earlier reported that a legal tiff is brewing over the Cascades' upcoming concert in Iloilo City.
Samonte said he met Demavivas sometime in April when he was in the city but they never agreed on a contract since the latter did not meet his terms.
Samonte said, prior to his meeting with Demavivas he has authorized Yodmem Tex Cimafranca to negotiate in behalf of Steve O'Neal Productions for the Cascades tour in the Visayas region.
Cimafranca entered into a Performance Agreement with Demavivas which turned out to be unacceptable to Samonte.
"I merely tasked Cimafranca to negotiate. I am still the approving authority," Samonte said.
Samonte explained that his arrangement with any interested local producer was the initial downpayment of 50 percent of the contract price of P1.2 million and the remaining balance to be given thirty days before the concert date.
Samonte said, Demavivas offered a different payment schedule--that is, downpayment of P25,000 with the remaining balance to be paid on a staggered basis--which he did not accept.
Samonte said there was the other group, the VJS Productions by Ramon Espinosa, who is also interested in bringing the concert and could meet the terms he had set, so he gave it to them.
"As manager of the Cascades it is my prerogative to give it to whoever is capable of paying," Samonte said.
Samonte said he has been bringing international artists to the Philippines for quite sometime and it is common practice to have them paid way in advance before they came.
Samonte also clarified that he does not have any partner, denying the earlier report that some of his partners may also initiate legal suits against him as a result of the controversy.
The News Today learned that Villa & Partners, lawyers for Demavivas, had sent a demand letter to Samonte dated May 9, 2006 to cancel the contract with VJS Productions claiming that the Steve O'Neal Productions has an existing contract with their client.
Atty. Oscar Tagamolila of Villa & Partners said the demand letter is an initial step towards further legal action that they may take against Steve O'Neal Productions for alleged breach of contract.
Meanwhile, Ric Patricio of the CPU clarified that the university is merely a presentor of the Cascades concert, not an investor.
"Our task is merely to provide production and marketing support," he said.
Patricio said CPU would have a share of the proceeds of the show which will go to the university's Work Study Service Program.