"Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah sa Kalakhang Maynila" PREVIEW NOW OUT.

"Sa buhay, madalas tayong inaanyayahang makipaglaro sa isang misteryong kung tawagin ay pag-ibig. Sa bawat paanyaya, sabay lumilinaw at nabubulag ang ating paningin. Tumitibay at naghihina ang ating puso. Tumutuwid at bumabaluktot ang ating dinadaanan. . ."
-Opening monologue of Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah sa Kalakhang Maynila by Carlo Vergara


As promised by the Author in his blog, the first six pages of the sequel to the hit ZsaZsaZaturnnah graphic novel are out. Here's the first plate:


If you want to read the rest, visit his blog! He intends to release a few new pages each week. Even from just these first six pages it looks like it's going to be another hit. Does this mean a sequel musical as well? :-)

PETA: 41st Season

Looks like a great lineup as well from PETA. Here's the link to the article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

PETA’s 41st season focuses on writers and their work
By Walter Ang
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tanghalang Pilipino 22ng Season: Change

Got the lineup and subscription info via email already. Here it is. There are supposed to be five shows, but there were only three listed so far. Anyway, I'll probably renew my subscription. Let's hope the undecided shows are interesting as well.

TANGHALANG PILIPINO
22nd Theater Season 2008-2009
CHANGE (Pagbabago)

The productions in this season all deal with individuals confronting changes in their lives and the world they know.

---

August 2008
Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

GOLDEN CHILD
By David Henry Hwang
Directed by Loy Arcenas
(in English and Filipino)

From the playwright of the hit play M. Butterfly, a tale of the unbinding of a traditional Chines household as it comes increasingly under the influence of the moral, artistic and economic values of Western Culture; with the Obie Award-winning director of The Romance of Magno Rubio.

Presented in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

----

November 2008
Tanghalang Huseng Batute

MGA GERILYA SA POWELL STREET
Stage Adaptation by Rody Vera
Directed by Chris Muillado

Benjamin Pimentel’s novel about Filipino war veterans who chose to become Americans and habitués of Powell Street in San Francisco; adapted for the stage by Rody Vera.

---

February 2009
Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

Eddie Romero’s
GANITO KAMI NOON, PAANO KAYO NGAYON?
Stage adaptation by Jose Victor Torres
Music by Lutgardo Labad
Directed by Dennis Marasigan

National Artist Eddie Romero’s landmark film set at the turn of the 20th century about a young man caught slowly becoming aware of his Filipino identity, reworked as a modern sarswela.

Virgin Labfest 4 Lineup (25 June- 6 July 2008)

Exciting. Will make sure to catch as many as I can if not all sets. Finally, the new theater season's starting again.

Lineup from Gibbs' site:

Kapamilya, Kapuso, Kabisyo

Amoy ng Langit by Hase Hiroichi

Las Mentiras de Gloria by Layeta Bucoy

Ang Mga Halimaw by Carlo Garcia



Katotohanan, Katarungan, Kapatiran

Dong-Ao by F. Sionil Jose

Masagang Ekonomiya by Allan Lopez

Pamantasang Hirang by Tim Dacanay



Pagbabago, Paghahanap, Pagkakataon

Ang Kwento ng Menginga ng New York City Na Kamukha ng Bee-Stung Lips ni Julia Roberts by George Kabristante

Gumamela by Dennis Teodosio

Ang Bayot by Ogie Braga



Pagkagahaman, Panlilinlang, Pananampalataya

Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna by Floy Quintos

Mga Babaeng TooBright by Debbie Tan

Ang Paulit Na Libing by Koh Jun Eiow



Mga Premyadong Kuwentong Pambata

Victoria Anonuevo's Terangati, adapted by Niel de Mesa

Ma. Corazon Remigio's Bruhihi, Bruhaha, adapted by Argel Tuazon;

Edgar Samar's Nanay Ko Si Darna, adapted by Job Pagsibigan



Virgin Labfest 3 Revisited

Ellas Inosentes by Layeta Bucoy; dir. Tuxqs Rutaquio

Three Sisters by Yoji Sakate; dir. Jose Estrella

Mga Obra ni Maestra by Niel de Mesa; dir. Niel de Mesa



Staged Readings

Billboard by Jovy Miroy (full length play)

Kung Paano Maghiwalay by George de Jesus

Newtopia by Khavn de la Cruz

Ang Mga Mananahi by Ogie Braga

Ama Namin by Anna Gonzales

Asunto by J. Dennis Teodosio

Excerpts from Savage Stage (plays by Ma-Yi Theater Company, New York)

Excerpts from The Virgin Labfest Lab



Symposium: From Novel to Stage



The Virgin Labfest 4, now on its fourth year, offers an exciting and provocative lineup of “untried, untested, unpublished and unstaged” one-act plays from playwrights both young and old.



This year's festival runs June 25-July 6 and is presented by the Writers Bloc and Tanghalang Pilipino with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. For further inquiries, please call the CCP Dramatic Arts Division at 8321125 local 1600, or Tanghalang Pilipino at 8323661, or send an SMS to 0928-5054424.

The David Cook EP Album and Finale Song: Links

Again, go to the New Music Now Blog. It's one of the best AI and new music resources online.

Sa mga fans, download na if you still haven't. Sa mga hindi siya kilala, here's a good set to be acquainted with DC.


Here's the link featured there for the EP release. Features the following songs:

1. Always Be My Baby

2. Billie Jean

3. Day Tripper

4. Eleanor Rigby

5. Hungry Like The Wolf

6. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing

7. I'm Alive

8. Innocent

9. Little Sparrow

10. The Music of the Night

Here's the link to his studio version of Time of My Life, the official Idol song for this year.

And the next Idol is David...

Peralta.

Joke lang.

It's David COOK! Yay! Natakot siguro ang fans sa comments ni Simon kagabi kaya nagwala sa pagboto. Really one of the best seasons of AI.


For the Cook and Archuleta fans out there, here are their Guitar Hero advertisements shown during the finale. Super funny! Sinong mas bagay sa ad?


David Archuleta's Guitar Hero Ad


David Cook's Guitar Hero Ad

90210 Reborn

The twentysomethings now will remember this. And since Gossip Girl is not enough for the CW, they're bringing this back. Kookie, excited ka ba? Haha.

1991


2008

American Idol: Great finale performances

One of the best AI finales ever. Both Davids are terrific performers, but it looks like Archuleta's fighting to win it. Ang daming moments na mangiyak-ngiyak na siya at hindi makapaniwala sa comments ng judges. Baka himatayin si Archu bukas kung siya nga ang manalo, haha.

It's good too that they let the finalists choose the "Idol Song" that would best suit their own styles. I liked Cook's non-traditional finale song. Miles away from "This is my now" and "Inside your heaven."

I really want Cook to win, but I have a feeling Archu's going to be celebrating tomorrow if people just base everything on the finale performances. And Simon's made his prediction already. Has he ever made a mistake? (Unless reverse psychology na naman ito.) I can't remember anymore with all the Idol seasons. Looking forward to tomorrow.

AMERICAN IDOL FINAL TWO PERFORMANCES



David Cook

Producer's pick: U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"


Idol songwriting contest pick: Emily Shakelton's "Dream Big"


Personal pick: Collective Soul's "The World I Know" (Abangan ang kindat ni Simon.)

David Archuleta

Producer's pick: Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"


Idol songwriting contest pick: Ryan Gillmor's "In This Moment"


Personal pick: John Lennon's "Imagine"

been there seen that 2008-4: MNNV, May Day Eve, Marisol

Monday Nights New Voices: The Music of Vince de Jesus

Held at Mag:Net Bonifacio High Street last May 12. Had a blast at this event I wrote about some time ago. The five Voices (Nicolas Atienza, Amos Francia, Pamela Imperial, Cinderella Mayo and Monica Reynoso) were really good. They sang some Broadway staples during the first set. The second set featured the music of Vince de Jesus and was more enjoyable, in my opinion.

In the second half, you really see the five Voices having a great time singing Vince’s wonderful music. Since the music and medley arrangements were original, the talents were able to show what they can really do without worrying about being compared to Broadway originals.

Rem Zamora and Bituin Escalante hosted the show and were a riot, especially in introducing and lambasting (only in friendly jest, of course) Vince’s work. Mag:Net was packed (SRO!) with theater personalities. You could see mini-delegations here and there: PETA, TP, Blue Rep, DUP, REP PHIL. Even Cynthia Culig-Guico, a favorite of mine since Himala, and CB Garucho of PETA were there. Of course, Gibbs was there. (He was described by Rem and Bituin as a theater luminary, alongside Ms. Garrucho. Grabe, luminary ka na pala. Hindi na lang “professional kibitzer”. Hehe.)

I’ll look forward to the next MNNV come June. Watch out for their announcements too.

Congrats to Mahar, Laura, Vince, and the five New Voices for a memorable event.

(Images: Vince de Jesus' site)



May Day Eve (Tanghalang Ateneo)


Got to catch the English show last Saturday. It’s Alberto J. Florentino’s stage adaptation of the Nick Joaquin classic. For those unfamiliar with the original text, May Day Eve tells the love story of Badoy and Agueda. The backdrop of their story is the superstition about seeing one’s loved one through an antique mirror in the mysterious time of May. Does the mirror’s promise of love follow through, or did the young Agueda see something else that magical night?

The adaptation uses a non-chronological narrative device that really works well for the story. Bodjie Pascua (yes, Kuya Bodgie of Batibot fame) plays the older Badoy, while Gelo Brillantes acts out the part of the young Badoy. Nadi Xavier (Mrs. Xavier, the Ateneo Boys Choir’s pianist!) plays the older Agueda while Ysabel Yuzon handles the role of the young Agueda. Naty Crame Rogers does a cameo appearance as Anastacia, the nanny who shares the supersition with young Agueda.

The play just runs for a little over an hour: short and sweet. Pascua’s performance as Badoy is something to look forward to. I loved the moments when he accompanies himself on the baby grand and sings while recalling his youth. You can feel the pain and regret his character bears.

May Day Eve still has shows in Filipino (translated by Dr. Jerry Respeto) tonight at 6:30, and Saturday at 3:00 and 6:30 pm. Tickets at P150 only.



Marisol (UP Dept. of Speech and Communication and PAEF)

Production in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Fullbright program in the Philippines. Rody Vera’s Filipino adaptation of Jose Rivera’s 1991 play of the same name.

Originally set in Manhattan, the production is changed to portray an apocalyptic Manila. Society is collapsing from extreme poverty, violence, corruption, and environmental decay. People live in confusion in this new Manila. Original playwright Rivera “imagined a world falling apart, disintegrating from a terrible fear and loss of faith: a poverty both of economics and spirit.” (fr. programme)

Marisol is at the center of this world and the action starts when her guardian angel decides to leave her to rebel against the weakening god. (The initial plot is highly similar to Paradise Lost and His Dark Materials Trilogy.) According to her, it is the decay of this god that is bringing chaos and death to the world. It is only by setting a new hevenly order that a new world order is to survive. Marisol is left to fend for herself in the dangerous world, now “dragged down by systems and beliefs that held it up for so long.” Now, “change, truth, and power lie with those who are voiceless: the poor.”

The first act was very engaging and fast-paced. By the second act, the “war” was in progress, but I started getting restless. The scenes where Marisol struggled to survive in a world where time and space were losing meaning started to get lost on me. Then the scenes turned weirder, and, finally, better leading into a climactic end. The play was ripe with recurring symbols I can’t even process at the moment so just watch it for yourself. I think I still need to digest everything right now.

Mailes Kanapi, another of my fave actresses, was amazing as Marisol. Sabs said it seems that whenever we saw her, she always assayed a character, complex and oozing with sexuality, in stressful conditions. (We last saw her in Goethe’s production of “Slipped Disc” and last year’s in Insiang) The performances of Sigrid Bernardo and Nicco Manalo are also something to look forward too. Loved the set design by Lex Marcos (last seen as Abdalap in DUP’s Orosman at Zafira) The minor characters were good too. These guys doubled as the stage crew as well- fixing the scenes while always in character, even during intermission!

Make sure you catch Marisol this weekend. Last two shows this Friday and Saturday. Admission is free, so sulit talaga. Just come early so you get good seats. Shows at Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, Faculty Center, UP Diliman.. Show starts at 7pm and runs for almost two hours.

American Idol: Davids on Top

What more can I say? A David's just born to excel, hehe.

Exciting showdown next week when the two Davids (Archuleta and Cook) face off in the Idol Finale. The two really deserved the top spots and I'll be happy with whoever wins. Based on over-all season performance though, it's going to be Cook for me.

Who do you think should win?
The rocker or The crooner?

For the Zsazsa Zaturnnah fans out there

Was looking through different blogs when I stumbled upon these.

After nearly five years, he/she's making a comeback!

Check out Carlo Vergara's site for the news about the sequel: Zsazsa Zaturnnah Sa Kalahkang Maynila. Can't wait for it, especially since the original had me laughing out loud nonstop. Carver's really a talented guy.

The following images are from his website.

Kinema is looking for new members- Sali na! (1 of 2)

Sa kalalahikan diyang interesadong kumanta, please contact us. Does not need to be ADMU-based, but being a student currently enrolled here is a plus.

Check out the full ad below.

--------------

We started out small: no formal plans, just a small group of students from the Ateneo High School who, with the help of a few songs, wanted to make the Days-with-the-Lord retreat of one of their friends just a bit more special. But as fate would have it, soon followed invitations to sing at various events, until two years later in 2001, the newly-formed group held its first concert at the Dulaang Sibol theatre. Thus, Kinema was born.

Pronounced Kee-nee-mah, our name is Greek for movement, for that is the goal we strive to live out in the work that we do. By our songs, we hope to move people to prayer and reflection at Masses in and outside of the Ateneo. Occasionally, we also sing for weddings, thereby moving couples to strengthen the love and commitment they pledge to each other. And by performing at a multitude of other engagements, from concerts to carolings, and from fetes to feasts, we move people to joyous celebration.

But ultimately in this mission of moving others, we have come realize that it is really ourselves who are the ones most-deeply moved; moved by a harmony not just musical in nature; a harmony which arises from a genuine community of friends and companions sharing life and work in the Spirit. Not bad indeed, for a small crew of high school students that has evolved into a thriving circle of college students and young professionals, growing together in music, friendship, and faith. And it is with this in mind that we would like to invite you to be part of us as we continue moving towards ever-greater heights.

Currently, we are finishing our first album to be released mid-2008. Applicants accepted soon may even get the chance to join the recording and launch concert come July 2008.

Join us, as we dream big.

Kinema auditions are currently ongoing for tenors, basses, and everyone in-between. Special auditions for pianists may also be scheduled. For information and audition scheduling, do not hesitate to contact Dappie at 0918-6982366 or kin3ma@yahoo.com. To learn more about Kinema, visit our website at http://kin3ma.multiply.com

Check out the continuation post to learn more about Kinema.