A Memorable Eventure

This post is not about the event itself (although the photos are) but more of a recounting of the behind-the-scene adventures of organizing a big and important event (or what I like to term as eventure for event adventure). Just wanted to share, even vaguely, this kind of experience, not to brag about, but to learn from.

Host Issa Litton and BW president Anthony Cuaycong

talking about the countdown to the silver anniversary

BusinessWorld (BW) traditionally throws the big parties every 5-year increments of their anniversary. With that in mind, we were set on getting busy for the 25th anniversary next year in 2012. But since silver anniversaries are special, management wanted to hype it a year earlier and do a party to announce the countdown towards the 25th anniversary.

The reveal of the 25th anniversary logo

My Marcom group was tasked to put together a cocktail party for the company's friends and clients with barely a month from the date of the company anniversary and it wasn't until a week after that the venue has been fully secured. What ensued after are days filled with coordinating with the venue's events team plus the F&B people through phone, sms, emails and face-to-face meetings.

Ceremonial toast led by BW officers and board members,

with vice chairman Cesar Virata

Resorts World Manila (RWM) became my alternative work place, together with a staff of mine, as we discussed details for BusinessWorld's 24th anniversary party. Met with the events group, the theater group plus the tech group to give our requirements and also to know the restrictions of the venue. I can say that it was a breeze working with the RWM people because they are all professional and really made us feel that we are in good hands.

Clem Castro of Camerawalls rendered acoustic songs

The main venue was the 3rd floor Vestibule of the Newport Theater while the cozier 2nd floor Vestibule was to be the reception hall for guest registration and the photo wall. We were told that all they have was a simple wooden platform for a stage, basic sound system and lights. That had me worried because we had to stage a party good enough for the VIPs attending, without creating a big dent in the company's pocket. Maybe the guests can just focus on the delectable food that RWM will prepare for us.

The Company made the guests sing along and dance

Come ingress day, I was delighted to see the stage set-up. the plain platform I expected was instead a classy see-through acrylic stage that lights up beautifully. OMG! The guys in-charge surprised me to tears (well, almost to tears). Now, all we needed were the balloon pillars we ordered and the extra stage sound monitors we rented then we are good to go...for the main venue, that is.

A well-attended event despite the far venue and stormy weather

At the reception area, staff were propped down on the carpet with their hands busy cutting paper and tape, and piecing together a simple photo exhibit depicted "a day in a newspaper publishing company." At least, the RWM events team took care of installing the photo wall tarp on the steel frame...the minute they found out where the frame was relocated because it was used for another event. News of the frame's disappearance earlier that afternoon almost gave me a heart attack but since my blood pressure and heart is good, I got a terrible migraine attack instead which lasted until the party started. And I almost went to the event dressed as I was during ingress because I no longer had the energy to dress up for the occasion. I thank my joyful sparing partner for the event for pushing me to relax and take an energizing shower and prepare for the party.

Colorful musical excerpt of Repertory Philippines' Seussical

(currently showing at Onstage Greenbelt until Dec. 2011)

So the purpose of the gathering was to start the countdown to the silver anniversary, now what will we do for the programme? Where to source the entertainment? What else can we offer the more than 600 invited guests who will be coming from areas far from RWM? Its a good thing we have cultivated deep partnerships with the entertainment industry in terms of theater and music. With my able team, who did not give up on the follow-ups, we were able to invite artists who provided great entertainment for the night.

Saxophonist Michael Young from Manila Chamber Orchestra

Of course, my team did not accomplish the feat on our own. On the event night itself, the NTM group took charge of the programme implementation and tech stuff, and did a soft launch of BusinessWorld's mobile application; the creative group also pitched in for areas where art requirements were needed; the advertising group took care of the invitations, RSVPs and the event registration; and management and editorial supported the event.

Thanks to Resorts World Manila and our partners Lilystars Records, Viva Entertainment, Repertory Philippines and Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation that the event was a success and everyone was happy. We are the happier bunch to see that the efforts paid off nicely. Now on to the next eventure as we prepare for the big 2-5 for 2012.

Filed under EVENTS

Seussical Equals Magical

If there is one childhood memory that I still vividly remember, it is that of reading books of Dr. Seuss, the Cat in the Hat, as early as kindergarten. Maybe its because of the red and white striped top hat or the whimsical creatures in the stories that got my attention early on.

I have been waiting for Repertory Philippines' staging of Seussical when I learned about it as early as last year and after watching the press preview a few weeks ago and the full production this morning, I can say that the long wait is so worth it. Because Seussical is under Repertory Philippines' Children's Theater, the shows are done in the morning and early afternoon -- my ticket was for the first show this morning at 10:30 so I had to wake up earlier than my normal weekend wake-up call and for the love of theater and Repertory Philippines, I made it on time (for the show proper but missed the press call before that so am using photos I took during the press preview).

Opening scene with Cat in the Hat and Jojo

From the first scene where the Cat in the Hat magically appeared, I was instantly glued, watching everything on stage intently, my eyes only removed from the play every time the young girl beside me would hit me with her elbow whenever she moves to fix her ponytail. I was transported into dreamland, witnessing the story of a young boy's wild imagination which led to the creation of a place called Jungle of Nool, the Circus McGurkus and the invisible world of the Whos, and the colorful characters that live there.

Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!

Seussical is an amazing musical extravaganza! Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty ("Ragtime," "Once On This Island") have magically brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, among them being the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird and Jojo, the little boy with a big imagination.

Arnel Carrion as Cat in the Hat

Repertory's Associate Artistic Director, Ms. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, shared that since Seussical will run from August to December each actor had to master and play 2-3 characters each so that in the eventuality that one cast member is not available on any day, another one can stand-in. Kudos to the great talents for such hard work, dedication and love for theater, I can just imagine how confusing juggling roles can sometimes be. And because they have a long list of cast members per character, am just going to mention the notable roles and the actors who played them today:

Cat in the Hat - Arnel Carrion

Jojo - Noah Ramos

Horton the Elephant - Oliver Usison

Sour Kangaroo - Bituin Escalante

Gertrude McFuzz - Charity Grace Walthrop

Mayzie La Bird - Liesl Batucan

Bird Girls - Cara Barredo, Ayam Barredo & Janine Tolentino

Wickersham Brothers - Rem Zamora, Hans Eckstein & Gabs Santos

Bituin Escalante (right) as Sour Kangaroo

Everyone gave a performance worth the loud applause of the audience but most excellent were Bituin Escalante's belting Sour Kangaroo (she also did a great job as a ventriloquist for the baby kangaroo on her pouch), Charity Grace Walthrop's lovable antics and facial expressions as Gertrude and Liesl Batucan's energetic Mayzie.

Horton Hears a Who

Ms. Joy Virata, artistic & stage director/executive producer of Rep's Children's Theatre wanted to make the visual extra special for the song Solla Sollew, where instead of flashing pictures of beautiful spots on a screen during the song, a slide show of children's drawings of their own concept of a beautiful spot full of love, peace and joy will be displayed. She espoused the idea in the hopes that children today will continue the art of drawing, if not to become professional artists, at least to grow up having an appreciation for the visual arts.

Amayzing Mayzie (that's how 'amazing' was spelled)

Joining Ms. Virata and Ms. Yulo in Seussical's artistic team are: Baby Barredo, artistic director; Rem Zamora, assistant director; Edna Vida-Froilan, choreographer; John Batalla, lighting designer; Onyl Torres, musical director; Gidget Tolentino, sound engineer; Adul Lasin, scenic artist; Raven Ong, costume supervisor; Ayam Barredo, company manager; Jojo Amboy, stage manager; Ronnie Cruz, assistant stage manager; and Deana Aquino, assistant stage manager/dance captain.

The stage design was inspired by the art of Vincent Van Gogh and was crafted through coordination using various technologies between New York, where set designer Oliver Roxas-Green is currently based, and Manila, where Ms. Virata closely supervised the design implementation.

Seussical cast at the press con

Seussical is showing at Onstage, 2/F Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Makati City from August 13 to December 18, 2011. Call (632)571-6926 to inquire about the show's time and ticket prices. For tickets, call (632) 571-6926 or log on to Ticketworld.