International Gamefowl Festival 2015: Cockeyed Crazy at Cocks and Chicks

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The recent International Gamefowl Festival 2015 held last January 22 and 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum was a stunning success as the venue was jam-packed with gamefowl or fighting cock enthusiasts, trainers, owners and experts.

We've seen a great number of gamefowl related booths showcasing not only gamefowls but feeds, equipments, cages, accessories, and other related products that are necessary for cockfighting business or leisure. I came in late so I missed the opening ceremonies where they had the traditional ribbon cutting.

They also have a series of talks happening at a quieter portion of the coliseum up at the 2nd floor where several speakers take turns in sharing valuable information to the attendees. A stage in another area of teh coliseum was also setup to provide a venue for entertainment, contests, giveaways and additional information.

Many are aware that cockfighting is a multi-million business. I've seen an actual cockfighting event at the La Loma cockpit during a tour organized by Smokey Tours and I was overwhelmed of the numerous passionate cockfighters present. There's a lot of money involved since there's also too much preparation at stake in caring for and grooming these fighting cocks to stand out as winners.

Where Are The Women? Where Are The Street Children of Manila!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Our grandparents would remember the days when the previous governments would build walls to hide the poor communities and their almost dilapidated shanties especially the ones lined up along the railroads. Our government would always find ways to make the Philippines look good whenever there's an event that would have visitors from other countries.

However, this latest deplorable act of the government is far more insulting as they not only "dressed-up" the areas where the Pope will be passing and staying, they also hid the people whom the Pope should have seen in the first place.

Who else needs more prayers of but our countrymen who belong to the poorest of the poor, the street children who litter our streets because their families have no means to send them to school and feed them at least three times a day, the indigents of Metro Manila who left their provinces thinking they would have a better life here in the city.

When the Pope asked where are the women? He should have also asked where are the street children - if only he knew they were swept out of the streets and taken to a resort somewhere away from his sight.

I pray for "Mercy and Compassion" for the people who thought that hiding the street children of Manila was a great idea. Now maybe the same people are behind what happened during the recent APEC. Is this deceitful short-term strategy our only way to make our country look good in the eyes of foreign visitors?

Below is a repost from the official Facebook page of Lito Atienza. Not that I totally support the man, but I sort of agree to what he and his group are fighting for.

Seasons Of Desire: A Story Of Love, Treachery And Vengeance

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As a pre-Valentine treat, come and watch Elaine Lee (soprano), Ivan Nery (tenor), Lawrence Jatayna (baritone) and Dingdong Fiel (piano). Directed by Nazer Salcedo.

" SEASONS OF DESIRE " is a tribute to the Filipino Asianovela craze, as well as an attempt to extend the love for opera to a broader audience. Using selected opera pieces from Mozart and Verdi, " Seasons of Love " features tropes from local and international dramas - the sudden tragedy, a betrayal of trust, a plot of revenge, a redemption --- and incorporates these tropes to songs from famous operas such as Le Nozze de Figaro, Magic Flute, La Traviata and Rigoletto.

Repertoire:
1. Mozart: Marriage of Figaro Overture
2. Mozart: Cinque, dieci, venti... (Marriage of Figaro) - duet
3. Mozart: Ein Madchen oder Weibchen (Magic Flute)-solo
4. Mozart: In Uomini (Cosi fan tutte)- solo
5. Mozart: Deh vieni alla finestra (Don Giovanni)- solo
6. Mozart: Papageno/Papagena duet (Magic Flute) - duet
7. Verdi: Mini Overture from Rigoletto
8. Verdi: Questo o Quella (Rigoletto) - solo
9. Verdi: Signor ne principe (Rigoletto) - duet
10. Verdi: Caro nome (Rigoletto) - solo
11. Verdi: Cortigiani (Rigoletto) - solo
12. Verdi: Mio Padre...Tutte le feste (Rigoletto) - duet
13. Verdi: Si vendetta (Rigoletto) - duet
14. Verdi: La donna e mobile (Rigoletto) - solo
15. Verdi: V'ho ingannato (Rigoletto) - duet
16. Verdi: Addio del passato (La Traviata) - solo

" SEASONS OF DESIRE " – a story of love, treachery and vengeance in an opera concert set on FEBRUARY 7, 2015 – SATURDAY - 8 p.m. at the Abelardo Hall, College of Music in U.P. Diliman, Q.C.