unSAULicited

Last October 10 and 11, one of the biggest and best food fairs celebrated it's 5th anniversary at the Rockwell Tent. Best Food Forward 2015 housed the familiar, the innovative, and the most indulgent food cravings that could be gathered in the Metro. Coming from a morning from at National Museum, I was famished and was looking forward to seeing and tasting different kinds of gastronomic treats that would fill up my stomach until I can't take it anymore. There weren't much meals inside but Natalia's Rustic Kitchen caught my attention. I got an order of Homamade Meatloaf in Tomato Chickpea Sauce with smoked bacon, preserved lemons and rice. The rice was normal but the rest is as good as it sounds. The meatloaf is the kind that you expect from a family gathering, except this time, it is accentuated by the smokiness of bacon and the tangy taste of the tomato and some lemons. Partly full, I continued going around the Tent. Thirsty, I was on the lookout for the no...

Red Turnip Theater has produced five plays since 2013: Closer (by Patrick Marber), Cock (by Mike Bartlett), Pulitzer Prize winner Rabbit Hole (by David Linsay-Abaire), Pulitzer Prize nominee Time Stands Still (by Donald Margulies), and 33 Variations (by Moisés Kaufman). Now in the middle of its third season, Red Turnip’s drive remains just as strong. They are intent on delivering plays that are focused on wonderfully written text and great ensemble acting. For its mid-season offering they are launching a bite-sized Turnip experience, featuring an electric cast and an exciting new space (A SPACE_GALLERY) --- a mid-season curveball that is sure to become this year's pint-sized, comic surprise. Presenting, Red Turnip Theater’s, RT 0.5 Series. Jenny Jamora, “We took a risk when we decided to do 33 Variations. It was our biggest production so far and we certainly have no regrets. With the 0.5 series, we wanted to take on, not just a different space, but an even more intim...

Poster from the Facebook Page of Axinite Digicinema Inc After having its world premiere earlier this year at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Dressmaker graces Philippine cinemas soon, thanks to Axinite Digicinema Inc. Starring Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth, The Dressmaker is a strong narrative of family drama, revenge, and romantic comedy. Tragedy strikes small-town Dungatar in Australia as 10 y.o. Myrtle Dunnage (Winslet) is accused of killing a schoolmate. This leads to Dunnage being sent away. Traumatized by the tragedy, Dunnage flees to Paris and pursues being a dressmaker under the guidance of Madeleine Vionnet. Years later, unsure, forgetful, of what really happened, Dunnage returns to Dungatar to learn the truth. In the process, she reconnects with the town, including Mad Molly, her mother. With her skills, Myrtle transforms a country town to a runway of haute couture while falling in love with its Rugby star (Hemsworth). As dress after dres...

Continuing its series of international tours, BP sets off once again to perform in China this October. The company will be at the Chongqing Guo Tai Art Center in Chongqing on October 26, the Jinrong Theater, Xiamen Little Egret Art Center in Xiamen on October 29, and Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theater Performance Center on October 31. The tour is co-presented by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Similar to the Middle East Tour in August, this trip is an initiative in cultural diplomacy by the Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, led by Undersecretary Laura del Rosario. It marks the 40 th Anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-China diplomatic relations. BP will showcase “Master Pieces”, a mixed bill showcasing a collection of some of Ballet Philippines’ most acclaimed works. The repertoire has garnered glowing reviews and standing ovations since it was first toured, with raves such as “a...

Dahil sa kagalingan ko sa pagsabat, minsan ay nakabuo ng pangalan ng libro. [ View the story "Mga Pusong May Sariling Tibok" on Storify ] Wala pa masyadong plano. Gusto ko lang na mailagay dito para maipagyabang na kami ang nauna sa pangalan. Wala rin naman kasing lumalabas sa Google. Parking lang ng bragging rights. Haha. Magandang araw.

Coinciding with SM Supermall’s 30 th  Anniversary Celebration Manila, 20-October-2015 : Instagrammers Manila or IGersManila Philippines, the global community for Filipino Instagrammers (or IGers, pronounced ay-ji-ers) and Phoneographers, is once again celebrating Filipino visual artistry with the 4TH PHILIPPINE INSTAGRAM PHOTO EXHIBIT #IGMNL #PIPE4, a 4-month long series of Instagramming activities that culminates into an exhibit from October 24 to 30, 2015, in partnership with SM City North EDSA, Smart Communications, and Storytell Prints, supported by Power Mac Center and Valda Pilipinas. Coinciding with SM Supermall’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, the exhibit melds portraiture and street phoneography – a collection of visual stories snapped at SM City North EDSA’s famous locations – that highlight the Filipino malling lifestyle. Launched last June 2015, qualifiers were picked and shortlisted from the #KalyePH #KalyePH2015 submissions on Instagram, who later participa...

Photo from IGersManila's Instagram account. From IGersManila: IGersManila , in partnership with SMNorthEDSA ,  SmartCares ,  StorytellPrints , invites you to the opening ceremonies of the 4th Philippine Instagram Photo Exhibit #IGMNL #PIPE4 at the Upper Ground Floor, The Annex, SM City North EDSA this Saturday 24-October-2015, 1:00pm. For over four years now, we have been proudly celebrating Pinoy visual artistry through our Instagram'ing habits, this time melding portraiture and street phoneography to highlight the Filipino lifestyle. See the gallery of more than 50 visual stories captured by our fellow IGers depicting the Filipino malling lifestyle. Special thanks to our major sponsor PowerMacCenter , minor sponsor ValdaPilipinas , and media sponsors BlogWatchPH , PinoyExchange , TweetUpMNL , TheSoshalNetwork , and  MozillaPH . For questions, follow and tag #IGersManila #TheMods @cclozano ,  @edcalaycay , @ipetim ,  @pinkipop27 , @igersphilippines ...

Remember those back story sequences of villains or antagonists where you only get snippets, usually with time lapsed, and there are only limited elements of their past experiences? This is the first impression that I have with Audire. The stage is intimate with walls that get more and more restrictive as it goes further, with walls where the character could go through, with walls that the character could interact with. The set is accented by artwork by Nasser Lubay. Before entering, you are requested to choose a prop. The improvisation of the production starts even before you see the stage. The audience determines the mix of items that would be used for the performance. Audire is a Latin word that means "listen carefully." With music, including those  by Jesse Lucas, in the forefront of this production, Angelina "Mailes" Kanapi reacts and reveals her soul on stage. This villain or antagonist turns out to be the beautiful soul of Mailes. Under the directio...

Hey, all! Artist Playground will be having a unique play-of-the-senses performance starting this weekend! Hear and see how sounds can move you in this one-woman show starring the one and only Angelina "Mailes" Kanapi! Details and media below from Artist Playground's Facebook Page : We hear, but do we actually listen? Artist Playground brings you Audire, starring Angelina Kanapi, directed by Jeffrey Camañag. Catch it on October 17, 24, 31, and November 7 Time: 3:00 pm/5:00 pm/7:00 pm AUDIRE {Listen Carefully} Audire /aʊˈdiːre/: a Latin word which means 'listen carefully'. A one-woman show that explores on how sound can be a powerful stimulus for improvisation. Through sensitivity and awareness it can inspire interesting verbal and non-verbal responses that will create an interesting chain of events. From vibrations to cognition that leads to interpretation. Interpretations that command subjective reactions. Reactions that are translated into series...

Photo: http://www.ballet.ph/shows/sarong-banggi From October 16-18, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo will house Sarong Banggi. Ballet Philippines' latest offering will showcase reimagined folk songs danced to never before staged choreographies by Carissa Adea, Ronelson Yadao, Cyril Aran Fallar, Paul Alexander Morales, Nonoy Froilan, and Carlo Pacis. During the first night, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will play the classic songs as orchestrated and arranged by the renowned Ryan Cayabyab. There would be costumes designed by Rajo Laurel whose materials are sourced by HABI: The Philippine Textile Council. Grab your tickets now and witness this unique celebration of the arts that comprise of what is truly Filipino! Tickets are from P412 to P2060 and are available at TicketWorld: https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/Online/sarongbanggi The set, as shared on Ballet Philippines' Facebook Page. Set design by Ohm David. Photo by Jairo Ibarrientos.

When I first heard of the concept of monologues by millennials, I was unimpressed. All I've heard of of my (Yes, technically, I'm still one.) generation consists of the stereotypes that tick me off. This comic by Gemma Correll sums that up nicely: Yes, I do need my bottle sometimes. No, I don't have skinny jeans. Maybe, I crave recognition too. All the time, I do want to be heard. Who doesn't? Like other millennials who get curious with successful things, No Filter slowly drew me in. Thank you Sandbox Collective for sowing seeds of FOMO in me. Thank you also for Sandbox for staging an upgraded version of what I missed! No Filter 2.0 features the great talents of Sam Concepcion, Cai Cortez, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Mikael Daez, Sarah Facuri, Carla Humphries, Khalil Kaimo, Saab Magalona-Bacarro, Micah Munoz, Paolo Valenciano, and Lauren Young in monologues. Director Toff de Venecia shares that it's like Vagina Monlogues but featuring Millennials. I thought th...

The whole day yesterday, I was asking how I should prepare for The Normal Heart and after watching it, I realized that there really is no way to prepare yourself fully for it. The Normal Heart is a play written by Larry Kramer that was originally staged Off-Broadway the year 1985. The play is set in New York during the years 1981-1984 when HIV-AIDS wasn't discovered yet, while it was already taking lives within the gay community. Identity, acceptance, and the rise of an unknown disease. These are the problems of Gay America then. These are actually mirrored today in our country in differing degrees. The only main difference is that the disease has been identified and some treatment is available. The sad similarity is that every year, the number of cases is growing in the Philippines. There are no words that would be worthy to describe the quality of the  performances of all the actors on the stage. Each one effectively supports the others in the scene, and every emotion...