Bulawan, Camarines Norte's Finest

Bulawan, Camarines Norte's Finest -- the annual exhibit of finely handcrafted gold jewelry from Camarines Norte, Bicol, usually held in Manila every November/December -- is here by special invitation to be part of the 75th Anniversary of GSIS.  The jewelry exhibit, which is currently located at the GSIS Museum of Art in Pasay City, opened last May 21 and will be on display until June 2, 2012.

Organized by the city government of Camarines Norte and the Camarines Norte DTI through its provincial director Ernesto Pardo, the opening was led by Camarines Norte governor Edgardo Tallado,  DTI regional director Engr. Jocelyn Los Baños Blanco and GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony (l-r): Jocelyn Blanco, DTI regional director,
Robert Vergara, GSIS president and  Camarines Norte governor Edgardo Tallado

Gov. Tallado with Camarines Norte DTI provincial director Ernesto Pardo 

The exhibit features original creations from past Bulawan events held at the Ayala Museum, Yuchengco Museum and most recently at the Metropolitan Museum.  There is also a selling area where you can buy pure gold or silver jewelries handcrafted by Bicolanos.

Bulawan will return to Manila before the end of the year with new jewelry designs to marvel at, so watch out for updates from this blog.




Filed under EVENTS

American Idol S11: Philip vs Jessica

I've been a fan of American Idol since the season of David Cook, having followed the show from auditions to finale.  But I would always try to watch whenever a Filipino is in the contest and root for that person to win or at least land in the finals. 

AI S11 Top 2: Philip Philips and Jessica Sanchez

So far, the highest place a contestant with Filipino blood has ever reached is third place, in the person of Jasmine Trias, in the season where another Filipina reached the final 10 -- Camille Velasco. Another Filipina, Ramiele Malubay, joined American Idol and placed 9th during the batch of Cook.  With Jessica Sanchez, the petite 16-year old who has reached the top 2,  American Idol Season 11 is much more exciting.  

Last week, America (and most of the Philippines) voted and chose Jessica Sanchez and Philip Philips as the final two performers to compete for the top spot. Find out who will be the next American Idol during the Grand Finale LIVE via Satellite this Thursday, May 24 at 8 am on ETC.


The Grand Finale night will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, where we shall see the return of the American Idol Season 11 Top 10, as well as guest performances with the likes of Rihanna, Jason Derulo and Aerosmith.  


Prior to the announcement, Jessica and Philip will perform for the last time for votes during the Top 2 performance show that will be aired on ETC tonight, May 23, Wednesday via satellite at 6 pm, with a primetime telecast at 7 pm and 10 pm. 


This is it! The moment we AI fanatics are waiting for.  Let us vote for Jessica to show support for her talent that truly deserves the win!




Filed under SHOWS

Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012

Philippine Fashion Week has been at it now for five years in raising awareness for the works of talented local designers whose creations can compete globally in design and quality. Witness the PFW Holiday 2012 shows starting today, May 22, until May 27 at the SMX Convention Center and SM Mall of Asia.

I've been attending some shows for two years now so I can say that each year provides new and exciting showcases for everyone. Seeing the trendy and chic guests is pretty much like watching a fashion show in itself. I look foward to the shows that sent me invites and I will gladly share my photos and experiences here in my blog.

Below is the whole week schedule:

Filed under EVENTS

A (somewhat different) Art Talk

Join members of Epoch for a fascinating discussion on the inspiration behind their exhibit Somewhat Different: Contemporary Design and the Power of Convention with topics ranging from product concept and design, transforming design ideas, and the sustainability and marketability of products.  The talk will be on May 24, Thursday, from 6 to 8 pm, at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Epoch is a group of six young international artists and designers -- Jinggoy Buensuceso, Martha Cech, Olivia d'Aboville, Daniel Latorre Cruz, Stanley Ruiz and Wataru Sakuma -- driven to show beauty and meaning in experimental designs.The group has evolved into a movement that challenges old concepts, provoking the mind to think of alternative perspectives.


Presented by Goethe-Institut as part of the exhibit Somewhat Different: Contemporary Design and the Power of Convention, the talk will be moderated by designer Tony Gonzales and Tes Pasola.


Designers Talk comes with admission: P100 for adults, P50 for students, P25 for children and seniors.  To register, contact Luisa Zaide of Goethe-Institut at program@manila.goethe.org or call (632) 817-0978.


Filed under EVENTS

Globe-SM Advantage Rewards Program

For Globe users and SM Advantage members like me, there's good news!  A rewarding shopping experience is made possible by the collaboration of Globe Telecom's customer loyalty programs My Rewards, My Globe, TM Astig Rewards and SM Advantage.

Globe and TM subscribers, who are SM Advantage members as well, can now instantly convert Globe and TM Rewards points to SM Advantage points, as Globe has added SM Departments Stores and Supermarkets, and other affiliated retail establishments as part of the expanded rewards catalog.  The points can be used to redeem anything sold in SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, Save More and other SM retail establishments such as Ace Hardware, Baby Company, Forever 21, Kultura, Our Home, Toy Kingdom, Watsons and many more.

At the recent launch held at the newly renovated SM Prestige Lounge in SM Makati, Marketing Convergence, Inc. and Globe Telecom officials joined forces to give consumers a rewarding experience.  The power partnership was sealed and revealed before friends, clients and members of media. 

(l-r): Iya Quintana, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager, Marketing Convergence, Inc.; Rey Maclang, Senior AVP for Sales and Marketing, Marketing Convergence, Inc.; Baldwin Golangco, President, Marketing Convergence, Inc.; Ernest Cu, President and CEO, Globe Telecom; Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business, Globe Telecom; and Jay Beltran, Head for Customer Lifecycle Management, Globe Telecom. 

To convert Globe or TM Rewards points to SM Advantage points, simply text REDEEM < space > ITEM CODE < space > SM Advantage Card Number and send to 4438.  To get the list of SMAC item codes, text ITEMS to 4438.

So convert those rewards points now and go shopping!  Know more about how you can enjoy exciting rewards by staying Globe-connected by www.rewards.globe.com.ph.

Filed under PROMOS

Asian Film Fest 2012

An interesting and educational event is happening at the Shang Cineplex -- the Asia As Our Society Film Festival.  The film festival will be running from May 17 to May 21, 2012 and will feature an array of films  from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Japan, Lao DPR, China, and South Korea. Organized by the Asia Society Philippine Foundation, Inc., the film festival is open and FREE for all.

Below are the screening schedules and summary of each participating film.


May 17 (Thursday)
7 - 9 pm
DINIG SANA KITA (If I Knew What You Said) by Mike Sandejas (Philippines)


May 18 (Friday)
12:30 pm
3 DOA 3 CINTA by Nurman Hakim (Indonesia)
3:00 pm
THE GUAVA HOUSE (MUA OI LA SAISON DES GAYAVES) by Nhat Minh Dang (Vietnam)
5:30 pm
ONLY LOVE by Anousone Sirisackda (LAO DPR)
8:00 pm
FOREVER ENTHRALLED by Chen Kaige (China)


May 19 (Saturday)
12:30 pm
AGNI DAHAYA by Jayantha Chandrasiri (Sri Lanka)
3:00 pm
LASKAR PELANGI (The Rainbow Troops) by Riri Riza (Indonesia)
5:30 pm
WANKO - The Story of Me, My Family and My Dog by Isamu Nakae (Japan)
8:00 pm
HWANG JIN YI by Chang Yoon-hyun (South Korea)


May 20 (Sunday)
12:30 pm
NOSTALGIA FOR COUNTRYLAND (Thoung nho dong que) by Nhat Minh Dang (Vietnam)
3:00 pm
ECLAIR by Akio Kondo (Japan)
5:30 pm
SPEEDY SCANDAL by Kang Hyeong-cheoi (Korea)
8:00 pm
THE FOUNDING OF A REPUBLIC by Han Sanping, Huang Jianxin (China)


May 21 (Monday)
12:30 pm
GLITTERING DAY by An Zhanjun (China)
3:00 pm
DEEWARI by Salinda Perera (Sri Lanka)
5:30 pm
JAKARTA MAGHRIB by Salman Aristo (Indonesia)
8:00 pm
HALAW by Sheron Dayoc (Philippines)

For those planning to watch the films, please be at the Shang Cineplex at least an hour before the showtime to claim the free ticket/s as they are issued on a first come, first served basis.




Filed under SHOWS

Forbidden Broadway: Musical Parody At Its Best

I have blogged about "Forbidden Broadway" last month as a teaser, having been invited to the press launch for a taste of things to come.  For those reading about the play for the first time, let me give you a capsule of what the fuzz is all about.

"Forbidden Broadway" is what New Yorkers call "the funniest show in New York" and is the Off-Broadway smash hit that is all about spoofing show tunes, characters and plots of contemporary and current Broadway musicals. Conceived, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini, a then unemployed actor who wanted a showcase for his talents.  The original show opened in January 1982 in New York. The show has mocked popular shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Les Miserables, Mama Mia!, Cats, Hairspray, and Rent, among others.  It also targets famous Broadway actors, writers, composers, directors, choreographers and producers but you'll have to watch the show to know who these are. 

Upstart Productions, through the talented actor, writer, director and producer Joel Trinidad, brings this musical parody to Manila for a limited run this May 2012.  "Forbidden Broadway" is a two-act, four-person show, with two men and two women playing pivotal roles and playing about 20 or more roles individually. The four actors who were tapped for the show are Liesl Batucan, Caisa Borromeo, Lorenz Martinez and OJ Mariano.

The fab four (l-r): Caisa Borromeo, Lorenz Martinez, Liesl Batucan and OJ Mariano  

At the recent press preview, I was somewhere in-between knowing what the show was about and anticipating which Broadway musicals and personalities are going to be spoofed plus the variety of costume changes that had to be done quickly throughout the show.  Boy, what I witnessed I wasn't ready for and so I kept on laughing the whole time without the guilt of offending those on the other side of the globe. As Joel Trinidad shared, "Forbidden Broadway pokes fun at all the big hits of Broadway, but in a good-natured way that's never petty and mean." 

I loved everything in the show but my most favorite was the "Wicked" suite.  Watch out for the witch, the cute flying monkeys and the...as much as I'd like to share the wackiest scene ever, I have to restrain myself in divulging too much, so I leave this to your imagination.  I also loved "Annie," "The Phantom of the Opera," and the showdown of Rita Moreno and Chita Rivera because of "West Side Story."

Liesl, Caisa, Lorenz and OJ -- all of whom I've seen perform in previous productions -- were all naturally funny! I wonder how they were able to finish the show without bursting into laughter or even breaking into a grin?  With a script that's so hilarious, if I was one of the cast, I can imagine myself giggling and choking midway through songs.  Kudos to the four talented cast members for being great and disciplined performers. I also commend the lone pianist, Dingdong Fiel, who provided good music and crazy antics as well.  


As mentioned in my previous post, guest artists like Aiza Seguerra, Nyoy Volante, Jett Pangan, and many more will be popping on stage but only one surprise guest per show.  Luckily, the special guest at the preview is none other than respected actor Noel Trinidad, who delayed his trip abroad just to participate in his son's (yes, he is Joel's father) show for the first time ever.

The cast with the night's special guest Mr. Noel Trinidad (center)

and here with director Mr. Joel Trinidad (center)

"Forbidden Broadway" will run from May 11 to 27, 2012 with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm.  Venue will be at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC PLaza, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.


Related Reading: A Good Kind of Forbidden

Filed under SHOWS

Happy Mother's Day

To the woman who carried me in her womb and cared for me when I was born, who laughed and cried with me, who loves me and fought for me...Happy Mother's Day! 

This message also goes out to all the moms around the world.


Hugs and kisses,
My Happy Realm :)

A Perfect Ten with HerWord.com

It is summer but when rain comes, it is such a nice feeling to curl up under the blanket with a good book.  And what better way to get a new book than to win one!

HerWord.com, in partnership with The Book of Ten, is giving away 10 copies to lucky HerWord subscribers. Promo period ends on May 17, 2012.

The Book of Ten is a "life planner."  But instead of the typical planners where we jot down our daily schedules and things-to-do's for a year, The Book of Ten will make you think deeper and give you the push to look at your entire life and see if where you are headed is where you really to be. 

To join the promo and know the full mechanics, visit http://www.herword.com/promo/main.php?id=perfectTEN

Filed under PROMOS