Leaving 2011 with Gratitude and Greeting 2012 with Hope

2011 has been great for My Happy Realm as I was able to blog full blast with 141 entries and I am so grateful to my followers and readers who have kept me company on my various adventures. Since I placed a statistics counter last January 2011, it has recorded nearly 17,000 visitors from the Philippines and all over the globe.

I hope to continue to bring you better reads for 2012 so keep visiting my blog. Feel free to drop me a line or two for some comments and recommendations on what you would like to see the next time you visit.

Cheers to a great 2011 and here's hoping for a greater 2012. Happy New Year!!! :)

Christmas Scene: Ayala Triangle Gardens

Since last year, Ayala Triangle Gardens have spruced up for the holiday season with lights and a light show. As an adult, I felt like a kid just staring up at the gazillions of color-changing lights that hung on every tree in the garden. Never mind that the huge crowd that came to ogle at the spectacle walked in every direction in the open space.

There's also a huge diorama of the Nativity and I mean HUGE! See it for yourself and bring along your family to enjoy a night of lights and sounds and good food from the row of restaurants in the area.

Filed under SIGHTS

Cirque du Soleil's SALTIMBANCO in Manila

For those who missed Varekai last June and July 2011, you will get the chance to watch another magical performance as the international entertainment group Cirque du Soleil will perform in Manila with its vibrant signature production Saltimbanco from August 9 - 19, 2012 at Mall Of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Saltimbanco is Cirque du Soleil’s longest-running touring show and has performed since 1992 to wide-spread acclaim to sell-out audiences in Europe, North and South America, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.

Be prepared to see a thrilling and kaleidoscopic celebration of awe-inspiring artistry and agility, spectacular costumes, amazing light effects and enchanting music. With a cast of 50 high-caliber artists from 20 different countries, Saltimbanco features breathtaking acrobatics and unbelievable athleticism -- be a witness seemingly impossible balancing, jumping, and spinning during the Chinese Poles or the Russian Swing to the gravity-defying Bungees and Trapeze, the crowd pleasing Juggling and Acrobatic Bicycle, to the celebrated and very unique Clowns. Full of colour, amusement and amazement, Saltimbanco is a fun show for the whole family.

Saltimbanco is from the Italian “saltare in banco,” which literally means “to jump on a bench,” the show explores all facets of the urban experience -- the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likeness, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. A signature show, it is inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants.

Advance tickets for Saltimbanco are available online exclusively to Cirque Club members began last November 30, 2011. Cirque Club membership is free and benefits include access to advance tickets, special offers and exclusive behind the scenes information. To join, go to Cirque Club.

Tickets for the general public are now available online. You may reserve and buy through the following websites: Cirque du Soleil, Hoopla and SM Tickets, and or call +632 470-2222.

Show Schedule:

Thursday, August 9 at 8:00 pm

Friday, August 10 at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm

Saturday, August 11 at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm

Sunday, August 12 at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm

Tuesday, August 14 at 8:00 pm

Wednesday, August 15 at 8:00 pm

Thursday, August 16 at 8:00 pm

Friday, August 17 at 8:00 pm

Saturday, August 18 at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm

Sunday, August 19 at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm

Ticket Prices (Adult/Child):

VIP PhP 10,500 / PhP 8,400

PATRON CENTER PhP 7,500 / PhP 6,000

LOWER BOX CENTER PhP 5,500 / PhP 4,500

PATRON SIDES PhP 5,500 / PhP 4,500

LOWER BOX SIDES PhP 3,500 / PhP 2,800

UPPER BOX PhP 2,500 / PhP 2,000

GEN. ADMISSION PhP 2,500 / PhP 2,000

Filed under SHOWS

Oh, 'Mama Mia!'

"I've been cheated by you since I don't know when; so I've made up my mind, it must come to an end..." goes the classic song of 70s group ABBA titled 'Mama Mia'. If those lines made you sing, then chances are: a) you are a fan of ABBA; and b) you were able to watch the film 'Mama Mia!' starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosnan.

But did you know that even before the movie come out, 'Mama Mia!' has been touring around the globe as a theater production? Yes, 'Mama Mia!' on stage started way back in 1999 in London, has been seen by over 50 million people worldwide and has been on Broadway for more than a decade.

At the recent launch in Dusit Thani, Lunchbox Productions and Concertus brought two of the lead stars in ‘Mama Mia!’, Sara Poyzer and Charlotte Wakefield, who portray the mother and daughter characters Donna and Sophie, respectively, to give the guests a sneak peek of the exciting show.

In January 2012, we will have the chance to watch the smash hit musical 'Mama Mia!' on stage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

‘Mama Mia!’ is a musical based on the music of Abba, the popular Swedish group that ruled the music charts in the seventies. The musical includes such Abba hits as ‘Super Trouper’, ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’, ‘Take A Chance On Me’, ‘Thank You for the Music’, ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘The Winner Takes It All’, ‘Voulez Vous’ and ‘SOS’.

Shows will be from January 24 until February 5 -- Tuesday thru Sunday at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 3 pm matinee show. Tickets are now available at Ticketworld.

UPDATE as of Jan. 25, 2012:

Mama Mia is extended until February 19!

Filed under SHOWS

2012 Regular and Special Holidays

There will be six long weekends in 2012, according to the list of regular and special holidays released by Malacañang for 2012. Below are the details to help you plan your vacations.

Based on Proclamation No. 295 , the longest of these long weekends — five days — will be from April 5 (Maundy Thursday) to April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan).

The first special non-working holiday will be on Jan. 23 (Monday) for the celebration of Chinese New Year.

All in all, there will be 16 regular and special holidays to be observed next year. These are:

January 1 (Sunday) - New Year's Day
January 23 (Monday) - Chinese New Year
February 25 (Saturday) - EDSA Revolution Anniversary
April 5 (Thursday) - Maundy Thursday
April 6 (Friday) - Good Friday
April 9 (Monday) - Araw ng Kagitingan
May 1 (Tuesday) - Labor Day
June 12 (Tuesday) - Independence Day
August 21 (Tuesday) - Ninoy Aquino Day
August 27 (Monday) - National Heroes Day
November 1 (Thursday) - All Saints Day
November 2 (Friday) - Additional special (non-working) day
November 30 (Friday) - Bonifacio Day
December 25 (Tuesday) - Christmas Day
December 30 (Sunday) - Rizal Day
December 31 (Monday) - Last Day of the Year

The EDSA Revolution Anniversary was declared a special holiday for all schools.

"Proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations," the proclamation said.


Source: www.gmanetwork.com

Repertory Philippines 2012 Season

2012 is very special for Repertory Philippines as it marks the theatre production company's 45th anniversary. Their first play in 1967, "Miss Julie" only had seven people in the audience and only three were paying customers. Since then, under the wings of Ms. Zenaida "Bibot" Amador and Ms. Baby Barredo. Repertory has come a long way, having established itself as the country's premiere English speaking theatre company.

At the recent launch of its 2012 season's line-up at Enderun College in McKinley Hills, Repertory Philippines presented excerpts of the five shows and introduced its cast members.

"Next Fall" by Geoffrey Nauffts is a beautiful and funny story of modern romance -- a gay couple who, five years into their relationship, is still agonizing over differences in religion. Headlining the play are Bart Guingona and David Bianco, directed by Audie Gemora. "Next Fall" won the 2010 John Gassner Award and, in the same year, was nominated for the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Play; Tony Awards for Best Play; Outer Critics Cirlce Awards for Outstanding New Broadway Play.

8 pm shows on January 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28; February 3 and 4; with 3:30 pm matinee shows on January 1, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29; February 4 and 5.

"Leading Ladies" is a comedy which will show the answer of two very unfortunate English Shakespearean actors to the question "How far would you go for three million dollars?" Jack and Leo will do whatever it takes to hatch a plot to pass themselves off as two English women to scam an elderly woman of her fortune. Directed by Michael Williams.

8 pm shows on February 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25; March 2 and 3; with 3:30 pm matinee shows on February 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26; March 3 and 4.

"Jekyll & Hyde" dares to show that "Everyone has a dark side." This evocative tale of the epic battle of good and evil based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story about a brilliant doctor whose experiments with human personality create a murderous counterpart.

A musical play, "Jekyll & Hyde" features the hit song 'This Is The Moment' and will be given life by three well-known personalities in the field of music and theatre -- Michael Williams, Cris Villonco and Jett Pangan. "Jekyll & Hyde" will be directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo.

8 pm shows on March 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31; April 13 and 14; with 3:30 pm matinee shows on March 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31; April 1, 1 and 15.

Another show to watch out for is "The Wizard of OZ" based on the book by Frank Baum. Who doesn't know Dorothy and her ruby slippers, the yellow brick road and three unforgettable characters -- the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman and the Cowardly Lion.

"The Wizard of OZ" will once again showcase the powerful vocals and acting bravado of Bituin Escalante, this time as the Wicked Witch of the West. Directions under Ms. Joy Virata. Note that this stage version is not based on the famous MGM film and will not include songs from the movie. Showing from August 18 to December 16, 2012.

"Disney's Camp Rock: The Musical" is a stage adaptation of the Disney Channel's "Camp Rock" films about young people exploring their talents in a summer music camp. This adaptation will give kids and tweens the opportunity to experience "Camp Rock" in a deeper way and will introduce them to the world of theatre.

"Disney's Camp Rock" will feature a bunch of talented young stage actors, the new Rep generation, under the helm of Audie Gemora. Showing from November 16 to December 16, 2012.

For tickets, call (632) 571-6926 or logon to Ticketworld.

Filed under SHOWS and EVENTS

BULAWAN: Gold Jewelry from Camarines Norte

One event that I always look forward to yearly is Bulawan, the exhibition of handcrafted gold jewelry from Camarines Norte, Bicol, primarily because I am half Bicolana (my dad is from Daet, Camarines Norte) and secondly, I love handcrafted jewelry.

Going to Bulawan always reminds me of the jewelry collection of my grandmother and her sisters and the pieces that were handed down to me. As young as 7 years old, I was already familiar with the Bicol gold (24k and 18k) and trademark hadcrafted designs such as the alupihan (centipede), pinalay (rice grains), and tambourine and filigree (spanish-influenced designs).

I was reintroduced to these gold jewelry back in 2009 when the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte, through the Camarines Norte Investment Incentive Board (CNIIB) headed by then Honorable Governor Jesus O. Typoco, Jr., requested internationally-renowned sculptor and artist-designer Dr. Joaquin Gasgonia Palencia, a native of Daet, Camarines Norte, to design a series of elegant, one-of-a-kind jewellery that were executed by members of the CNJPAI for their national and international clientele.

Thus, the exhibition “Bulawan: the Gold of Camarines Norte” was born -- a showcase of 18k gold jewelry in natural motifs and unique cultural heritage of Camarines Norte, rendered through elegant and daring designs, and executed with high precision and faithfulness to the concept by their respective jewellers. The exhibit was held at the Ayala Museum from November 5 to 9 and was unveiled with a fashion show and a simple cocktail party.

The exhibit at the Ayala Museum paved the way for the invitation and participation of the Camarines Norte jewelry Producers Association, Inc. (CNJPAI) in the Hongkong International Jewellery Show last March 5-9, 2010 wherein the intricate and handcrafted jewelry products of the province were promoted not only at the Philippines but also in the international market.

In 2010, under the leadership of Governor Edgardo A. Tallado, the Bulawan returned and was on exhibit at the Yuchengco Museum from November 15 to December 4, showcasing a variety of jewelry collection classified from vintage, antique, traditional and modern designs thereby evoking "The Evolution of Camarines Norte Jewelry" and highlighting the gradual development in the design, craftmanship and quality of the jewelry items in Camarines Norte.

Long known for its rich deposits of gold, the province of Camarines Norte is becoming a major player in the Philippine jewelry industry through the efforts of the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte, and the Department of Trade and Industry-Camarines Norte Provincial Office (DTI-CNPO), who have been supporting the initiatives of local jewellers.

This time around, the Camarines Norte gold exhibit returns to Manila with "Bulawan: The Renaissance." The exhibit boasts of innovative designs that were culled from the recently concluded 2011 Jewelry Design Competition, as inspired by nature and other things the Bicol region is known for. It was formally opened last November 13 by Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and the First Lady of Camarines Norte Josie Tallado (wife of Governor Edgardo Tallado), together with project chairman DTI-Camarines Norte Provincial Office Director Ernesto Pardo.

Also launch during the event is the official website of Bulawan at bulawanjewelry.com. You may also "like" their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter soon.

"Bulawan: The Renaissance" is on view at the Metropolitan Museum from November 13 to Dec. 13. Catch a glimpse of the breathtaking precious creations and while you are at it, buy a piece or two for your own collection.

Filed under EVENTS

F is for FEVER...

Shopping fever at FOREVER 21...November 25 to December 4. Enough said. Time to shop. :)

Filed under FINDS

Cafe Laguna: Filipino Cuisine Made w/ Love

Whenever I go on out-of-town trips, I always make it a point to seek out a homegrown restaurant in the area that I can try. It was on my 7th trip to Cebu that I "discovered" this classy but relaxed Cafe Laguna in Ayala Center Cebu. The well-lit restaurant interiors has a garden theme that makes you feel like you are dining al fresco.

Cafe Laguna menu

Light wood and green motif of the interiors

Browsing through the menu, I noticed that they offered traditional Filipino food that were created from the recipes of the Urbina family that Lita Urbina wanted to share to everyone. My friends and I went to Cafe Laguna for merienda and so we ordered light fares to gives us energy for the afternoon's sightseeing activities.

Me looking at the menu

High school friends Gesel and Emy

My favorite noodles dish is Sotanghon Guisado and this is what I ordered, along with a refreshing glass of very Pinoy cooler, Sago at Gulaman. The Sotanghon did not fail my expectations as it is so delicious and had plenty of chicken strips and vegetables for toppings. The noodles are well cooked and seasoned just right that I did not find the need to add patis (fish sauce) to the squeezed calamansi.

Sotanghon Guisado

Sago at Gulaman

Emy ordered Adobo Manok sa Pandesal that was light yet tasty. Not the usual sandwich, it has shredded pork cooked Adobo style (with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black corn peppers and laurel leaf)..

Adobo Manok sa Pandesal

Gesel tried the mouth watering Manggang Hilaw with Bagoong -- thin strips of green mango, tomatoes and onions, with yummy alamang bagoong (shrimp paste) on the side. Just typing this sentence made me crave for it.

Manggang Hilaw with Bagoong

For dessert, Halo-Halo won hands down. The colorful concoction made of red beans, boiled saba bananas, kamote, sago and gulaman, pinipig, topped with shaved ice, ube (sweetened purple yum) and leche flan, was a pure delight by sight and by taste.

Halo-Halo

Cafe Laguna also serves local food at reasonable prices such as lumpia, a variety of pancit, bibingka, puto bum-bong, palitaw, kare-kare, lechon kawali, and bulalo steak, among others. View the full menu here.

As described in their website, Cafe Laguna, formerly known as Mother's Best, began as a labor of love in 1979 in a rented apartment with just ten tables. Because business went well, they eventually bought the place, renovated and expanded the carinderia to become a "place of dining" in 1991. In just three years, Cafe Laguna opened in Ayala Center Cebu and five years more, opened another one as Laguna Garden Cafe.

Cafe Laguna facade at Ayala Center Cebu

Today, the hard work and culinary genius of Lita Urbina paved the way for Cafe Laguna to achieve its dream of becoming a "showcase of Filipino cuisine." Because Cafe Laguna was a labor of love, their customers loved them back enough to help them grow branches in Cebu, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Ilo-ilo, and Davao. Cafe Laguna, when are you opening in Manila?

Filed under FLAVORS

The Midas Touch

Midas (King Midas) is a popular Greek mythology character known for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold, thus the "Midas touch" phrase. In the Philippines, Midas Hotel and Casino is a newly established hotel in Manila, an exceptional luxury rising from a landmark building (formerly Hyatt Hotel) along Roxas Boulevard. I visited the 227-room hotel for an ocular for an event and I was impressed with what I saw.

Midas Hotel and Casino

Although Midas is out to make a name for itself in the field of hospitality, certain details of the original structure were kept and integrated with the new interiors that can be described as modern glam and luxury. The lobby boasts of a high ceiling fully emphasized by the fiber optic chandeliers and towering chrome shelves that contain dozens of orange boxes (which, I was told, were Hermes boxes from the owner's Hermes collection). Modern Italian designer furniture complete the luxe look.

Fiber optic chandeliers all throughout the hotel

Modern luxe Italian designer furniture

Orange Hermes boxes filled the chrome shelves

Want to have cocktails after a long day at work? Head to the 2702 Lobby Lounge where they serve a variety of cocktails, beverages, wines and spirits. The "Weekend Lounge Nights" every Friday and Saturday treats guests to a relaxing piano music from 6-8 pm, followed by a lady singer from 8:30 pm onwards.

Lounge Nights at Midas

Spacious and high-ceiling lobby lounge

Midas also offers sumptuous food at the Cafe Midas where they have several buffet stations to serve a variety of dishes to their guests. The cafe is spacious and has that garden feel because of the green leaves motif and comfy seats.

Yummy bread spread for starters

Several buffet stations for a gastronomic feast

Relaxed and comfy dining seats

Spacious dining area

The hotel has several function rooms for events and celebrations. I noticed that the garden theme extends there as well as seen on the design of the carpet, wood cut-outs on walls and ceiling, which were made more dramatic by the color-changing lights.

Garden-motif function rooms for various events

Vine cut-outs and changing lights adorned the ceiling

Our event set-up, round tables to seat 100 pax

Midas has great prospects for the future as several facilities are expected to open soon -- a Japanese restaurant, a Chinese noodle house, and the casino. But as it is now, Midas is a breathe of fresh air, a break from the traditional hotel. Even Manny Pacquiao, the People's champ, has made Midas his official hotel residence this year. That surely is a sign that indeed, the hotel has that magical "Midas touch."

Filed under SIGHTS