Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Mad About Mozart: Sex, Seduction, Death, And Transcendence All Set On April 22

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In the theater, the term ‘Black Box’ refers to a space devoted where daring experiments and new visions are tested through performance. Performers who choose to go and perform in a black box are usually the ones with the most open hearts and sincere desire to hone their talent.

With the success of Philippine Opera Company’s Young Artists Black Box Series now on its second season, the audience will witness a bolder and braver take on Mozart’s masterpieces in “Mad About Mozart: Sex, Seduction, Death, and Transcendence”, this time in collaboration with RankOne Productions.

Mad About Mozart: Sex, Seduction, Death, and Transcendence — will present excerpts from the seminal operas and oratorios of Mozart integrated with dance, stream of consciousness narrative, and mixed media. All performers - singers, dancers, actors, and musicians - will be integrated with the audience for an all-immersive 360-degree black box theatre experience. Mozart’s music is alternatingly sacred and profane, exploring the perennial conflict between the id, the ego, and the super ego. Ultimately, the programming of the scenes will demonstrate that we can attain a state of classical ‘balance’ and inner peace by exploring the layered dimensions of dark and light.

As RankOne President/ Executive Creative Director Jon Meer Vera Perez says, the show is, "An exploration of the subversive themes in the seminal operatic works of Mozart; by journeying into the shadow world does one enter into the full grace of Light and Resurrection." The music will be presented in a contemporary setting, with modern and contemporary imagery, to challenge our perceptions of classical music in the 21st century. Mozart’s themes, both the sacred and the profane, are as relevant in 2015 as they were in 1791 when he died, giving us extraordinary insight into how we manage our lives through the choices that we make, and how those actions affect our relationships and the world around us. Ultimately, we only find peace by acknowledging our weaknesses, resolving to learn from our mistakes, and inevitably surrendering to the healing power of forgiveness and eternal Love.

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For the past 10 years, Flickr has been a companion to millions of memories by people from around the globe, all eager to share inspiring photographs with the world. Since the birth of the first ever major online community that is able to store, organize, tag, and share digital photos, Flickr has not stopped redefining everyone’s experience of online photo sharing by providing you with world-class tools and displays that you can access almost anytime, anywhere.

Flickr knows that there are just too many memories to save and share. On Flickr, that is not a problem, since everyone gets 1 terabyte of FREE storage to save each memory that comes with every photo. In addition to a large depot of all these photos, thehigh quality of your images is retained simply because Flickr believes you deserve the best. Flickr preservesthe beauty of your photos so that each time you store and access your photos, you see the images the same way you remember them. Nothing less. Retained photo quality plus large storage space means you don’t have to worry about posting as much photos as you want.

With Flickr, you can use editing tools and choose a filter to fit your mood when taking that shot. In case you change your mind, you may also change the filters after you have taken the picture. Then you can edit the exposure, color balance, and levels to make the photo suit your taste. You will really feel like a professional photographer when you use Flickr as you can see the specs of your shot by simply tapping on your photo. You will be able to see the focal length, aperture, shutter speed and other details of the photo you have taken.

Wazzup Pilipinas!
In support of “Transforming Communities Through More Responsive National And Local Budgets,” Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) gave assistance to the 11th Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Philippines National Conference held last February at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City.

CBMS is a tool for local government monitoring and governance. It is used to provide relevant information to policy makers and program implementers to empower communities.

More than 750 participants attended this year’s conference. The list includes local chief executives, local development planners, and officials and representatives of national government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and the academe.

The conference tackled the uses of CBMS for grassroots participatory budgeting process (GPBP), disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA), local poverty reduction action planning, local programming and project prioritization, impact‐monitoring, and the improvement of local governance. Another highlight of this year’s session was the discussion of best practices on the implementation of CBMS for fostering transparency and accountability in local governance and sustaining development initiatives.

“For several years now, Epson has supported CBMS in their goal to empower communities,” said Donna Ferro, Head of Marcom and PR for Epson Philippines. “It’s another way on how we want to improve the quality of life of Filipinos,” added Ferro.

Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady Announces Cast

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Dalanghita Productions, in partnership with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), will be kickstarting its first season with “ Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady the Musical, ” from Carlo Vergara’s one-act play and graphic novel of the same title.

COMEDY. DRAMA. ROMANCE. ACTION. DECEPTION.

CONFESSIONS. SUPERHEROES. SUPERVILLAINS. FAMILY and a MAID.
“ Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady ” revolves story of two sisters named MELY and VIVA who both yearn to fulfill their dreams. Their sibling relationship and rivalry becomes more complicated due to an unsettled past and a budding romance, all in the context of an ongoing war between the superhero and supervillain teams. Being a maid is tough enough, but when Mely lands a job under a group of superheroes, she steps up to the unique challenge for the sake of her family. The musical takes us through the journey of the characters as each tries to find his/her place in the world where superheroes and supervillains exist.

“ Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady ” is bringing back the artistic team behind Zsazsa Zaturnnah ze Muzikal, which was a massive success with its multiple stage runs (the popular comic book and musical was adapted onto the big screen afterwards). The story of Carlo Vergara (creator of Zsazsa Zaturnnah), together with the music of Vincent de Jesus (Himala the Musical, Batang Rizal, Juan Tamad), will be brought to life by director Chris Martinez (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, Kimmy Dora, Temptation Island…Live!).

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Now on its 46th year, the CCP Summer Dance Workshop is once again paving the way for young dance talents to achieve their dreams to become professional dancers.

Starting on April 7, 2015, dance students from all over the country will flock to the Cultural Center of the Philippines for the five week-long summer dance workshop. Esteemed Ballet Philippines current company members and alumni will guide these aspirants in honing their craft. The workshop gives courses in Classical Ballet for all ages, Modern & Contemporary Ballet, Creative Movement, Jazz, and Hip Hop for kids and teens.

The workshop will conclude with two grand performances of a double-bill program: “Flower Festival” back to back with “Wonderland” on May 9 and 10 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).. “Flower Festival” will feature excerpts from Aguste Bournounville’s “Flower Festival at Genzano” along with other dances, while “Wonderland” adds a new kind of groove to the beloved classic, featuring the contemporary, jazz, and hip hop dance classes.

Scholarship auditions for the CCP Summer Dance Workshop will be held on February 28 and March 21, at the CCP Rehearsal Hall. Provincial applicants may also audition on April 7. Scholarships are available for students aged 9 to 13, intermediate & advanced students, and promising males from any dance background.

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Kalibrr, a Philippine tech start-up, recently joined the ranks of successful companies like AirBnB, Reddit, Dropbox, Scribd and 9-gag, which were initially funded by Silicon Valley venture firm, Y-Combinator. Headed by University of California-Berkeley alumni, Paul Rivera and Dexter Ligot-Gordon, Kalibrr is a cloud-based job-matching platform, which makes online recruitment not only faster and smarter, but also more reliable.

Kalibrr generated a whopping $2 million, the largest fund raised by a local start-up so far. This was made possible by a number of investors, 75% of which are foreign-based including Pierre Omidyar of eBay and Y Combinator, and 25% from PH-based Kickstart Ventures.

“We are proud to be the first Filipino company to receive support from the Valley, but we certainly hope that we are not the last,” says Rivera, Kalibrr founder.

The firm started local operations in the fourth quarter of 2014 and their platform is currently on beta, but the founders recently disclosed their plan of going full swing by the second quarter of this year.

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Looking for a way to up your hip hop game? Grab this opportunity to train under Italian choreographer and Hip Hop International Elite Judge Margherita Vasselli.

As part of the 46th annual CCP Summer Dance Workshop, Margherita “Meg” Vasselli joins in the Ballet Philippines tradition of bringing together budding dancers who are eager to learn. In this case, she will enrich advanced hip hop students’ vocabularies in New Style Hiphop.

Vasselli started her dance training at the age of 6 in ballet, contemporary, and modern dance. In 1999, she started studying hip hop with Italian and foreign choreographers. She also became a teacher in dance schools and a Hip Hop Presenter in Italy, Europe, and Brazil. In 2003 she started to work with Hip Hop International. This was the most important moment in her professional life, because she started to met the most important names of the Hip Hop movement, in USA and around the world. That same year, she became a certified international hip hop judge in Miami (Florida) and every year since then she attended the international course, focusing her attention both on the artistic side as well as on the technical side of the competition routines. She became an Elite Judge for Hip Hop International in 2014 and is currently is the judge director of Hip Hop International in Italy, Brazil and UK.

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The Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity of the College of Medicine in partnership with Regina Iustitiae Sorority of Ateneo Law gathered the wildest Medicine and Law Students in the Metro. The night was young, the room was filled with Med and Law students socializing and partying to the beats of DJs Flava Flyte, Curse&Bless and their very own Brod Kevin Ivan Penarverde Chan Φ 2011

The event started at 8pm, It was indeed a full house, There were a lot of people so as expected the place was a bit crowded. The crowd was wild and stoked for the event. Upon entering everyone was glammed up and dressed to party .All was ready to party just to take some time to have fun on their busy schedules.

Since we came in late, It was jam-packed and It was difficult to find a place to chill, drink and socialize. My friend and I found a place to chill at the lobby. People at the reception were very warming and it is understandable that the place is definitely crowded. Drinks were served, free flowing drinks from the bar. People who attended the event had a good time and enjoyed, I could hear people talking outside that they enjoyed and it was the best night they had. Here are some testimonials from the attendees:

Be a HERO with Guerilla Race

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Brace yourself for one of the toughest and most challenging races of the nation!

The first and only obstacle racing series within Philippine territories, TN-Guerilla Race Inc. is proud to announce the resumption of the GUERILLA RACE SERIES for 2015 with its entry level challenge, the URBAN GUERILLA RACE. After the success of its series in 2014, the founders headed by Col. Dennis Bumanglag are driven to intensify the obstacles and redefine the overall challenges of the race.

URBAN GUERILLA RACE is set on April 12, 2015 at the Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife in Quezon City. The benefit race will support the H.E.R.O. Foundation by donating a part of the registration fees to assist the education of the orphans of our soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the service of this country.

"The H.E.R.O. Foundation is truly close to our hearts especially since I, myself had also been in the service of our country," says Col. Bumanglag. "The government can only do so much and we, as citizens should also make an effort to help the families of these brave soldiers who defended our country without second thought."

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AXN’s highly anticipated “Asia’s Got Talent” premiere collectively topped ratings among English Pay TV channels in Southeast Asia.

During the show’s two hour debut on Thursday, March 12 at 8:05pm, AXN delivered more than 10 times the ratings of the next English general entertainment channel across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines[1].

“Asia’s Got Talent” was the top AXN program year to date in the country. During its telecast, AXN ranked #1 with more than 80 per cent share amongst all English general entertainment channels, and ranked #2 amongst all Pay TV channels.

In Singapore, “Asia’s Got Talent” led the ratings chart in its timeslot for English Pay TV channels and AXN was also the top English channel for the night on StarHub.

In Malaysia, “Asia’s Got Talent” was the #1 rated show in its timeslot across all English channels on Astro. AXN dominated the timeslot with over 80 per cent share across all English general entertainment channels.