unSAULicited

We've all heard of the critically-acclaimed 2014 film and I regret missing its first run last July. Every review I've heard from friends are positive, even explosive to the eyes and heart. On this second run, fueled by demand, I'm sure that I'll see it and but I'm not sure how to prepare myself. The Normal Heart will have its second run this year starting this weekend. Click on the poster above to view the details. Saw that tickets are available at TicketWorld. With all those HIV stats that we hear from time to time, I'm sure every human who'll be able to witness its second staging would be able to relate. Seriously, how should I prepare?

Orignally posted  here . With permission from Carlo Ople.  Last Saturday AlDub, the phenomenal segment of Eat Bulaga, shattered local (and maybe even regional and global) Twitter records as they recorded over 25M tweets for the hashtag #ALDubEBforLove in less than 24 hours. This was truly an unprecedented feat in the history of social media in the Philippines. The big question now on everyone’s mind is how does AlDub keep doing it? There are four critical factors that deliver the tweets and quite possibly even the ratings for the program. #AlDubNation: Organized and Not Just Rabid Fandom The fans of the show have organized themselves into a massive alliance consisting of various geographies all over the world. There are specific Twitter accounts that are considered leads for cities and countries (for OFWs). These accounts have thousands of followers ranging from 20,000 to 50,000. When a final hashtag is agreed upon, all of these “lead” accounts kick-in and they al...

Prepare to be entertained by the latest Original Pilipino Musicale this year! Stages Production Specialists, Inc. brings to you this weekend (September 25-27) Chuva Choo Choo, The Mr. Kupido Musicale featuring the songs of Vehnee Saturno. Joining Stages and the undeniably talented Vehnee Saturno are the multi-awarded director George de Jesus III, and the renowned producer Alvin Trono. It was a wonderful experience to have witnessed the first-rate talent of Ms. Joanna Ampil up-close. Morissette Amon fully delivers and amazes as she proves that she is at home on stage. Joanna and Morissette headlines the show as sisters who search for fame and true love. Their quest takes a sharp turn when they witness an event where that they have no choice but to run away from. Their misadventures continue to take  unexpected  turns that leave the audience laughing and in awe! A glimpse of our rehearsal yesterday. #ChuvaCooChoo #ChuvaChooChooMrKupidothemusical #wearestages thank...

I remember first seeing The Vincent de Jesus' Songs to Slash Your Wrist By being sold at PETA. At that time, I stupidly declined the offer to buy since I was actually going through something. I had to learn to move on on my own. After all that drama in my life, I was given the chance to not just hear the tracks in the album but witness divine movements by Ballet Philippines 2. Hugot Sa Rosas was staged again last September 20 at CCP Little Theater. It shows how love and heartaches are both universal. The voices of theater greats and the equally great performers and choreographers of Ballet Philippines gave life to every way hearts are attempted to be restored. You see the reality of every hugot, but in the end the beauty of the movement makes things lighter. The Blogger and The Composer Congratulations, Ballet Philippines and Sir Vincent de Jesus!

Nothing delivers a message in a more sublime way than the product of the marriage of ballet, music, and film. Screen capture from the trailer at https://vimeo.com/131184896 Where The Light Settles is the collaboration of Ballet Philippines , Sindikato Productions, Alter The Native Films, and Smashed Pumpkin Projects.  Directed by AJ Orlina, Ballet Philippines' Denise Parungao and Timothy Cabrera acts and moves to the music of the country's most remarkable musical acts Autotelic , Maya's Anklet , and The Sun Manager . The film shows how even in much darkness due to mental illness, light will always be there and that it will always shine through. AJ encouraged those who were able to attend the premiere to continue to give love to those who experience mental illness. Some of the collaborators. Ren Aguila, producer, at the center. Music featured are: Unstable by Autotelic Kung Alam Ko Lang by Maya's Anklet In Darkness by The Sun Manager Here...

Living far from SMX, I made sure that I was at the venue early. Got there about 10 minutes before they started letting people in and this crew practicing near our Meeting Room caught my attention. Curiously, I was looking around but my ears were focused on what they were talking about. I heard "birtud" and I just had to observe some more. I quickly noticed that they were wearing SLU shirts and I was already impressed with their movements. The word "birtud" caught my attention because the event that I attended was the book launch of Moymoy Lulumboy, Ang Nawawalang Birtud. Cover art from http://www.jmtejido.blogspot.com/2015/09/and-thats-wrap.html as provided by the illustrator. Moymoy Lulumboy is written by Segundo "Kuya Jun" Matias, Jr, a Palanca Awardee and writer for TV, film, and chlidren's literature.  I was honored to be able to witness the greatness of Tanghalang SLU. A short performance, showcasing the plot of the second book wa...

Just came from a 99U Local event and I'd say that Manila needs more of this! 99U is by Behance and it is a creative space where people could be motivated and get acquainted with others who just might be their future collaborators so they can make ideas happen. To start the evening of connecting and even reconnecting, 3 speakers told their inspirational stories of success to the select group of 200. "Creating for me is not about the minute details. It's about setting the stage where you can lose control." - @pepediokno #99ulocal #99ulocalmnl A photo posted by Shutterpanda (@shutterpandagram) on Sep 16, 2015 at 6:01am PDT "Some parts of your career journey will be very fast, while some parts will take time." - @taldeguzman #99ulocal #99ulocalmnl A photo posted by Shutterpanda (@shutterpandagram) on Sep 16, 2015 at 6:05am PDT "We have to have these conversations, make unique strategies, do road maps." - @julia_nebrija #99uloc...

Last August 24, Western Union launched  Heroes for Better .  WUHeroesForBetter.org  showcases the stories of 25 Filipinos around the world who are making positive changes in their communities. Photo: http://www.wuheroesforbetter.org/ These individuals have been voluntarily giving their time, resources, and talent to their causes and now is the chance to further the advocacy of one hero by winning for him/her USD 25,000! Simply go to the voting  site  and click on the Share button below the picture of your choice. Act fast because voting ends on September 22, 2015 at 1150PM! The winner will also receive a roundtrip ticket so that he or she would be able to personally attend the tribute ceremony on October 20, 2015. It's time to honor a hero and motivate others by sharing his or her inspiring story! Each share counts! To know more, watch the video below and go to  Western Union Heroes for Better .  WU Heroes for Better The herois...

The latest Original Pinoy Musicale is coming the weekend of September 25-27! It is set to be the first production to be staged at the Power Mac Center Spotlight black box theater at Circuit Makati. Chuva Choo Choo, The Mr. Kupido Musicale promises to be a singalong fest of celebrated hits by the multi-awarded composer Vehnee Saturno. Directed by the talented George de Jesus III and headlined by veteran stage performer Joanna Ampil and actress-singer Morissette Amon, the musical follows the misadventures of sisters Dina and Darla as they search for fame and love. Also joining the cast are recently seen in Macho Dancer: A Musical, Jojo Riguerra, fresh from being a Cagelle at La Cage Aux Folles, Cheeno Macaraig, and the very talented recording artist Jay Chan Marquez! For tickets, contact Cheng Pimentel of Stages Production Specialists, Inc. at 09178596544. For more info, you may go to  Stages' Facebook Page.   There will only be 4 shows! So make sure to ...

Reading through the programme reminded me of my short days in a literary folio. Verses were natural then while my head went and stayed up in the air. I'm more in the ground these days but the appeal of poetry never faded. Losing a loved one is probably the universe's way for everyone to feel pain. It's the inescapable interplay of fates that leave the living with the important task of how to cherish the past. Ginugunita Kita is very personal yet universal. Pain begets pain but pain forces love to grow. Reading the words of Maningning Miclat's verses is an experience of discovery. Seeing its performance is awe-inspiring and knowing the context of her work pierces the soul. In the end, your soul is imprinted with the divine. Under the direction of Roeder Camanag, the genius of Jesse Lucas' music and the pure talents of Renato Lucas and Banaue Miclat-Janssen, poetry and music meets, merges, and evolves. With guests Al Gatmaitan and Delphine Buencamino, indi...

A few minutes before the play started, the room dimmed and traditional Filipino music played. The theater was small and simple. The dimmed lights ushered you into getting in the mood to hearing the “deepest” Filipino words you’ll ever hear in this day and time. This tragicomedy is part of a trilogy written by The Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio. The material explores being in love while in your 70s, when the need to be loved and the want to love another is still very much present in the human heart. When the lights turn on, an old woman is seen crocheting while sitting on a bench. The old man enters, noticing the woman, preparing to catch her attention. The exchange that came would test your vocabulary and how well you are able to get meaning from context. “Sumambit ka ng kahit anong paksa, puso at utak ko’y tumatalon sa tuwa.” There’s a certain tickling in the ears and light drumming in the heart with every flowery word. You fall deeper into the story as the characters f...