Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Jean Marc Cordero as Apolinario Mabini in "La Revolucio Filipina"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Jean Marc Cordero discovered dance through theater arts. As a Theater Arts major at the Philippine High School for the Arts, he performed the lead in the dance-drama Ang Hatol ng Guhit na Bilog, which was collaborated on by Agnes Locsin, Shamaine Buencamino, and Biag Gaongen, and performed at the 8th Asian Arts Festival in China. With Tanghalang Pilipino, he performed in The Slanting Dance of the Buluklik Hawks directed by Fernando Josef and choreographed by Agnes Locsin.

At age 18, he joined BP as a scholar with Noordin Jumalon as his teacher, and was promoted to apprentice a year later. He became a company member in 2007, and his training continued under Augustus Damian III and Alan Hineline. He has since performed in all of BP’s productions including principal roles in La Revolucion Filipina, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Crisostomo Ibarra, and Don Quixote among others. He has a Bachelor of Performing Arts Major in Dance from De La Salle—College of Saint Benilde.

He competed at the 2007 New York International Ballet Competition and became the first Filipino male to reach the semifinals at the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition. He won the 2010 Gawad Buhay Outstanding Male Lead Performer in a Modern Dance Production for his work in Crisostomo Ibarra and the award for Outstanding Male Featured Performance for Sleeping Beauty in 2011.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Wow ! A rap-through musical ? Yes, yes, yes .....

Presented by the CCP and Tanghalang Pilipino, this original Filipino musical is inspired by the Napoles scandal. This will highlight the struggle of a group of young Filipino student leaders to check and police their own ranks against their own early inclination and natural lust for power and the strong temptation toward materialism, corruption and dishonesty. A reality search for the future President, senators and congressmen of our country, hopefully, all of a different breed from all those in our midst right now.

All songs are in the form of the rap song, all dialogue happen like a fliptop battle. Taking from local hiphop culture, the dance and movement that are part of this story’s telling is distinctly of the present, even as it refuses to fall into the trap of foreign mimicry.

Working with local hiphop culture’s roots in speaking out against oppression and creating a community, and inspired by the songs of Gloc-9 and its ability to critically engage with issues that are important and relevant, Kleptomaniacs is the story of our common and current struggle against the need and hunger that corruption breeds.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Sandbox Collective will be mounting the Off-Broadway musical, Dani Girl, a heartwarming and uplifting tale of a young girl’s battle with leukemia.

Told from a child’s perspective, this provocative new musical by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, winners of the 2010 Jonathan Larson Grant, explores the universal themes of life in the face of death, hope in the face of despair, and the peerless power of a child’s imagination.

Far from sitting back and letting her condition take over her, nine year-old Dani Lyons embarks on an imaginary adventure alongside her teddy bear Mr. Fritz, her guardian angel Raph, and her geeky roommate Marty to win back her beloved hair and find the answer to the question, “Why is cancer?”

The show has played successfully Off-Broadway, as well as in fringe festivals and regional theatres across Australia, Canada, and the United States. Dani Girl will be making its Asian premiere through The Sandbox Collective. Toff de Venecia directs.

Dani Girl runs up to July 27.
Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza.
Call TICKETWORLD 891-9999.

See you at the theater !!!!!

Celia Diaz Laurel's "The Colors of My Life" Coffee Table Book Launch

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Celia Diaz Laurel is an artist par excellence, prolific stage actress, writer, poetess, set and costume designer for more than six decades.

Just recently, a treasure trove of her artworks on different subjects were launched via a coffee table book aptly titled ‘The Colors of My Life Celia Diaz Laurel – Painter’ at the Executive House, U.P. Diliman, Q.C.

The book was launched by the UP College of Fine Arts Alumni Foundation Inc. (UPCFAAFI) headed by its President, Romeo Carlos.

Special guests of honor were UP President Alfredo Pascual who delivered the keynote address and his wife Menchu Pascual, who led the ribbon cutting ceremonies together with noted visual artist Araceli ‘Cheloy’ Dans and world-class sculptor Ramon Orlina.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

What price is our freedom? The Ballet Philippines season ends with the cult dance rock musical Manhid, co-presented by Tanghalang Pilipino. Set in an alternate present day Philippines where the EDSA revolution failed, this musical features heroes and villains with superpowers, and a people sick with Kamanhiran (Apathy). Celebrating a nation of heroes, Manhid promises to be a must- watch event for 2015.

Manhid is a dance rock musical written by Auraeus Solito, Vincent de Jesus, Carina Evangelista, and the Eraserheads. It is choreographed by Paul Alexander Morales and Alden Lugnasin.
“Ballet + superheroes + the music of Eraserheads (back when they were in UP)” sums up Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical. This will surely be something interesting to watch as all elements of the the musical are the things that really catches my attention.

CCP Main Theater | February 20-28, March 1-8, 2015

You may purchase tickets in the following options:
1. Ticketworld: Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or call (02) 891-9999
2. CCP Box Office: (02) 832-3704
3. Ballet Philippines: (02) 551-1003 | (02) 551- 7919

Recommended for group buys (10 or more), show buys, and subscriptions.

Vigan as New 7 Wonders Cities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The 21 Official Finalists that have been voted through to the next round of the New 7 Wonders Cities campaign are: Bangkok, Barcelona, Beirut, Chicago, Doha, Durban, Havana, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, La Paz, London, Mendoza, Mexico City, Mumbai, Perth, Quito, Reykjavik, Saint Petersburg, Seoul, Shenzhen and Vigan.

I am encouraging everyone to vote for Vigan - that historic city in Ilocos Sur- more popularly known for
Calle Crisologo, the nerve center of the city's historic district.

No less than Vice President Jejomar Binay says that “Vigan reflects our country’s rich culture and history. As Filipinos proud of our own heritage, let us help make Vigan our very own world wonder.”

As the lone nominee from the Philippines, Vigan aims to duplicate the success of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.

We can do it! Pause for a while doing selfies, groupies, chats, status updates, shares, likes, rants, hate posts and tweets, it's time to make our country proud by making Vigan one of the New 7 Wonders Cities.

Put Down the iPad and Spin the Globe

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Any dad knows the challenge of trying to come up with new bedtime stories for his children. After exhausting every variation of bunny, frog, knight and princess stories he could come up with, Edward Moldenhauer took notice of the globe on a dresser. He got the idea of asking his kids to help him with a story topic by spinning the globe.

Edward’s children would use their finger to stop the globe, and wherever their finger landed, their dad had to tell them an impromptu story about that particular country or area. And that’s how the Frederick von Wigglebottom book series was born.

Spin the Globe: The Incredible Adventures of Frederick von Wigglebottom is book series where Frederick is transported to a new and exciting country to explore in each edition. The first story of the series and takes place in Australia, the second one takes readers to Norway.

“My goal is to instill in young children the desire to learn and experience the many wonders of our world,” says Moldenhauer. “Unfortunately, many children and adults will never be able realize or visit these locations in person, so this book can open their minds to new and exciting topics.”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Last time I've met Chef Jessie was at her 100 Revolving Restaurant in Eastwood. My family and I had a wonderful time dining on the sumptuous buffet dishes at her restaurant while enjoying the spectacular 360 degree view of Metro Manila.

My family and I will often laugh at each other when we find ourselves located at another part of the restaurant and desperately trying to figure out where the buffet table was now located. I would get lost and would sometimes miss our table going back, but my kids were having the best time going back and forth enjoying mostly the dessert.

This time, I got to try Chef Jessie's Top of the Citi restaurant located on top of the Citibank Tower. Just like at 100, many of her dishes at this Makati restaurant also boasts of the same superior quality dishes but this time the presentation were works of art beginning with the Appetizers, the Salads, the Soups, the Main Entree, all the way up to the Dessert.

I ordered one for each category so I could really sample how it is like at the Top of the Citi. Many have been missing on these wonderful feasts since some people think that the restaurant above the Citibank Tower is exclusive for the building tenants, and some even thought it's exclusive for Citibank employees. Oh, boy! They were all wrong. It is such a shame they haven't discovered this awesome restaurant right at the top of Makati. get on your feet guys and instead of going to fast-food restaurants killing yourself with oily fried foods filled with cholesterol, spend a little more on healthy foods that's reasonably priced.

Fluid: A Reinterpretation of Palanca Award-Winning Play All Set to Open on July 24

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Technical Theater Program Batch 111 proudly presents a reinterpretation of the Palanca Award-winning play, “ FLUID ”.

Written and directed by Floy Quintos, the comedy is about young Filipino contemporary artists struggling to make a name for themselves as they negotiate the tricky terrain between Love, Art and Compromise.

“ FLUID ” is set to open on July 24 and shall continue to run on July 25 and 26 (1:00 pm and 7:00 pm) at the 5/F SDA Theater, School of Design and Arts Campus, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 950 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. A press preview is set on July 23 at 7 p.m.

“ FLUID ” is written as a series of scenes in different locations featuring three pairs of characters who seemingly have nothing to do with each other. Amir is a struggling and frustrated young painter whose life is about to be changed by Mira a wealthy art collector who dreams of discovering new talent. Jom and Alben are passionate theater actors torn between their passion for their craft and the lure of fame. Renata is a seemingly batty orchestra coordinator out to defend the dignity of her orchestra when it is hired to play at a society wedding by the overbearing events coordinator, Simone. All these unique and clashing characters come together unexpectedly at an art exhibit where their impulses lead to joyful mayhem.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Last June 27, a group of volunteers brought smiles to the faces of children afflicted with cancer through the “Portraits of Love” charity event. Organized by renowned photographer Pilar Tuason and in cooperation with the Kythe Foundation, the event gave the children a magical day full of laughter and love.

“This year, I wanted to do something with Kythe. I asked them if they had something set up and they said they didn’t have anything. If I wanted to come up with something then I’d have to do it on my own. They said that if I want, I could just take pictures in the ward. But it’s not the same. In the ward they’re getting their treatment. They’re sad, they’re lethargic. So I said I’ll do it. I have a lot of good friends, volunteers. We can’t call this as my project – I think it’s everyone’s project,” said Tuason.

When asked why she initiated this activity, Tuason replied, “They’re having a great time; for them, it’s a huge party. Everyone is a celebrant here. And for the parents, it’s a good break from being in the room, waiting for treatment every Friday. This is something different for them.” The kids enjoyed several attractions, including a magic and puppet show, a dancing Jollibee, and a football tutorial by Team Socceroo Football Club from the United Football League (UFL). Pilar Tuason took portraits of the children and with their parents, which were printed with Epson’s L800 genuine ink tank system photo printer.