Sa Wakas, a New Pinoy Rock Musical Featuring the Songs of Sugarfree

Following the footsteps of Mama Mia (play and movie which featured the songs of ABBA), Across the Universe (movie which feature the songs of The Beatles) and the local film I Do Bi Doo Bi Doo (which featured the songs of Apo Hiking Society), a new musical that weaves together the songs of one of the country’s most beloved rock bands, Sugarfree.

Sa Wakas, a New Pinoy Rock Musical featuring the songs of Sugarfree, co-written by Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan and Mariane Abuan with the music beautifully arranged by Ejay Yatco, promises to bring together the world of pop rock and musical theatre.The show will feature Sugarfree's hit songs such as "Mariposa," "Burnout," "Wag Ka Nang Umiyak," "Makita Kang Muli," and "Hari ng Sablay," among others. "Sa Wakas" cast members are young, talented and no strangers to the stage: Fred Lo, Vic Robinson, Caisa Borromeo, Laura Cabocha, Justine Peña, Kyla Rivera and many more.

Sa Wakas will be staged on April 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, 2013 at PETA Theater Center at 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.  Ticket Prices are Php 500, Php 700 and Php 1000.

Tickets to Sa Wakas, A New Pinoy Rock Musical featuring the songs of Sugarfree will be available at any Ticketnet outlets located at SM Department Customer Care Service Area or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph or you may call 911-5555.For more information about the musical show, visit its website www.sawakas.com.

Ang Bagong Harana 2012

For the 2012-2013 season,  Philippine Opera Company reprises "Ang Bagong Harana" which was a success during last year's staging.  "Ang Bagong Harana" will take on a newer and fresher version with an array of immortal and classic Filipino songs that will be interpreted in "never before seen performances." 

The show shall integrate the past and the present -- mix old and new songs, re-arranged and re-edited -- with the goal of reaffirming "who we are as Filipinos" and validating "where we have all come from," and will showcase the best of all the Filipino composers from different music genres, namely Nicanor Abelardo, Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Resti Umali, George Canseco, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Jose Estrella, Constancio de Guzman and Felipe de Leon, among others.

Philippine Opera Company's celebrated singers

On a limited run from June 6 - 10 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza in Makati City. For ticket sales, please call Philippine Opera Company at 881-7168 or 0917-5272880 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.

Freddie Mercury: King of Queen

As usual, I was surfing the Internet when I chanced upon Google's homepage and found the artsy Google doodle -- how cool! Mousing over the graphics revealed that it was a tribute to Freddie Mercury on his 65th birthday. Freddie Mercury, Queen's lead vocals, would have been 65, had he not lost his battle with HIV and died in 1991 at the age of 45.

Google homepage: click the doodle button to start video

The animated Google doodle showed Freddie in various scenes and costumes that are as lively and colorful as he was -- from singing on stage in front of screaming fans, to riding a bicycle wearing a checkered body suit, to sitting on a throne wearing a crown and cape.

The accompanying video is set to 1978 Queen hit Don't Stop Me Now.

Select frames of the colorful video

Queens was a popular British rock group in the 1970s and 1980s best known for hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We are the Champions","Another One Bites the Dust","We Will Rock You","Keep Yourself Alive","Under Pressure", "Love of My Life","A Kind of Magic" and "Radio Ga Ga", among others. The original band consisted of Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar, vocals), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals).

Select frames of the colorful video

Also as a tribute, London's Dominion Theatre is hosted a West End Summer Tea Party For Freddie For A Day with a rare chance to view Mercury's personal stamp collection. The Dominion was the home of the hit musical musical We Will Rock You based on Freddie Mercury and Queen songs.

Lotus produced a one-off Evora S in honor of Freddie Mercury. The pearl white coupe, with red and gold accents, features the Queen frontman's signature. The cabin is yellow as an homage to Mercury's 1986 stage costume and the seats feature a Union Jack. The car will be auctioned off for charity as part of the celebrations tied to Mercury's 65th birthday party at the Savoy Hotel for the benefit of the Mercury Phoenix Trust, an HIV AIDS charity founded by band mates Brian May, Roger Taylor and Queen manager Jim Beach after Mercury's death.

He may not have been a model citizen but Freddie Mercury was definitely a rock star who inspired his generation through the songs that have immortalized his memory -- the king of Queen.

Doodle art from Google

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