Belgian and Filipino Dance Collaboration “Coke” Showing at the PETA Theater Center

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Belgian dance company Kobalt Works, in cooperation with the PETA Theater Center and the Goethe Institut Manila, present COKE, a contemporary dance performance at the PETA PHINMA Theater this June 13-14, 7:00PM.

Arco Renz, the artistic director and principal choreographer of Kobalt Works collaborated with an ensemble composed of PETA Senior Teacher Artists Ian Segarra, Mean Espinosa and Carlon Matobato, dancers Lyg Carillo, Rafflesia Bravo and award-winning pole dancer Eisa Jocson to create the said performance. Guest artists from the famed dance group Sexbomb Dancers were also invited to give input to the movement vocabulary depicted in COKE.

COKE is about entertainment as survival and survival as entertainment. As described on the Goerthe Intsitut website: “The name COKE refers to the relationship between entertainment, pleasure, consumption and danger.”

Market Tour of Manila: Discovering the Best Buys and Bargains Plus a Lot More (Part 2 of 2)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To continue with our Market tour of Manila organized by Smokey Tours, your pambansang blog once again brings you more stories about our recent adventure along old downtown Manila. Last time we explored the many vendors selling different wares around Quiapo, the Muslim community, some of their prime products, and their majestic Golden Mosque, and also a glimpse of the Bahay Nakpil. Now, we bring you this time to more iconic places that are also very popular sights in Manila.

The commemorative monument located at Plaza Lacson was our next stop. The plaza, originally named Plaza de Goiti after Spanish conquistador Martin de Goiti who led the conquest of the kingdoms of pre-colonial Manila, is a tribute to the "self-styled Don Quixote" and arguably the greatest mayor of the City of Manila, Arsenio H. Lacson. The monument was made by renowned sculptor Eduardo Castrillo. Manila has erected other monuments of their former mayor in other parts of Manila like the Freedom Triangle plaza grounds near Manila city hall and along Roxas Boulevard. Both were sculpted by Julie Lluch, along with other heroes like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto.

Lacson, who earned the moniker “Arsenic” for also being a hard-hitting radio commentator, was elected mayor of Manila in 1951 and was considered by many to be the finest mayor the city ever had. The man died of a heart attack while in office in 1962 at the age of 49.

Gerry's Grill Belly Warmers: Perfect for the Rainy Season

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It's already the month of June and with it comes the rainy season again. We're already beginning to witness several instances of rain every now and then, and it won't be long before the entire nation experiences a cold wet season.

To help warm us up, Gerry’s Grill introduces the perfect-belly warmers for the coming rainy season - soup comforts - that can even warm the soul. While a few of its variety contains a lot less calories than the main dish, they aren’t any less nutritious or filling. Enjoyed solo, this hearty Pinoy fare is the perfect prelude to Gerry’s other tasty offers. Served hot and fresh, this menu item is tempting thus impossible to dismiss.

Choose from among Gerry’s Grill Soup selections: Nido Soup, Nilagang Bulalo, Sinigang na Baboy, Molo, Sinigang na Bangus Belly, at Sinigang na Isda (Catch of the Day).

Foodies can never go wrong with this homegrown chain. Gerry’s Grill is a "must-to-go" restaurant that topped lonelyplanet.com’s “Restaurants in the Philippines” list in 2013, as well as the year prior to it.