unSAULicited

When I was younger, Sound of Music was one of the videos that I could watch again and again. I knew every word to all the songs and I'm sure I sang at the top of my lungs each and every time it was played. It was quite a special memory and so I was excited and a bit critical of the musical that's now being staged at The Theatre at Solaire. Prior to watching the show, I listened to the Broadway soundtrack on Spotify and I noticed that there were several new songs. Like every film to musical adaptation, there are some things that are changed. I was a bit of a skeptic until I saw the opening scene. There it was, on the small stage of the The Theatre, the mountain and Maria! Even from afar, the details were amazing. The orchestra played and I was taken to Austria for the next few hours! Through quick and dynamic set changes, the seamless transitions ushered each scene smoothly. The beloved songs of my childhood were sung so perfectly that I almost was not able to stop mys...

L-R: Jack Champion (Javier “Spider” Socorro), Trinity Bliss (Tuktirey of the Sully Family), Bailey Bass (Tsireya of the Metkayina Clan), Jamie Flatters (Neteyam of the Sully Family), Britain Dalton (Lo’ak of the Sully Family), Filip Geljo (Aonung of the Metkayina Clan), and Duane Evans Jr (Rotxo of the Metkayina Clan). 20th Century Fox has revealed the newest cast members of the AVATAR SEQUELS who recently explored Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for inspiration. Concurrent production began in Manhattan Beach, CA on Monday, September 25th on the four sequels, the first of which will be released December 18, 2020. The Sully Family Jamie Flatters - Neteyam (neh-tay’-ahm) Jake and Neytiri’s first born son. Britain Dalton -Lo’ak (loh’ ahk) Lo’ak is Jake and Neytiri’s second born. Trinity Bliss - Tuktirey: (took-tee’-ray) She goes mostly by “Tuk” (rhymes with “nuke”) She is youngest of the Sully family. Of the Metkayina Clan Bailey Bass - Tsireya ...

Currently staged at Ateneo de Manila's Black Box Theater, "Si Janus Silang at ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang" is more intimate yet more engaging compared to the first installment in the series. For the second part, Janus Silang continues to discover new enemies and build relationships with new allies as they try to unleash the Paraluman, a powerful force that is believed to be inside Janus. The viewer is transported into a new world as adapted and directed by Guelan Varela-Luarca. The set by Gwyn Guanzon and lights by D Cortezano shows this world, Arvy Dimaculangan's Sound and Music Design provokes the audience's imaginaton, and Delphine Beuncamino's choreography grabs you and pulls you into middle of the fantasy that is Janus Silang. The play makes it friendly for those who haven't read the books, and even those who haven't seen the first play. It opens with a look-back to what happened and then plunges directly into the action. Despite ...

“Myths of Love” is a dance-theater event that tackles our notion of romance. Based on the book, “Seven Myths About Love…Actually” by British author Mike George, it talks about why it seems to challenging to get a hold of genuine love. For so long, we equated love as approval and assumed that love and happiness were found in relationships, acquisitions and even places. However, the satisfaction was fleeting and the disillusionment was bound to happen. We recognize they are blind alleys. George says you don’t have to seek love anywhere as it is already found in our own heart. OCT 5, THURSDAY, 7:30 pm POWERMAC CENTER SPOTLIGHT, CIRCUIT MAKATI DIRECTED BY MELVIN LEE CHOREOGRAPHED BY JED AMIHAN PERFORMERS: MARGE ENRIQUEZ, ROSE CAMACHO, KATHERINE TROFEO, JED AMIHAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENISE WELDON ART DIRECTION BY MARK CONSTANTINE INDUCIL FOR DETAILS, CONTACT 0917-9803541

The country’s preeminent ballet and contemporary dance company, Ballet Philippines, reintroduces internationally acclaimed classics of the company’s vast repertoire to a newer audience. This production provides a rare opportunity to shed light on the long-unseen works that established the company’s signature style and identity as an internationally and locally renowned dance company, paving the way to 48 years of artistic excellence and cultural contribution. This was made possible by patrons of the arts San Miguel Corporation, Phoenix Petroleum and Sanicare. "The Exemplars" will showcase the company’s classic works such as Alice Reyes’ “Amada.” As one of the first pieces ever performed by the company, Amada is based on “Summer Solstice” by National Artist for Literature, Nick Joaquin. Set in Catholic, Hispanic, 19th century Manila, traditional male-dominance is shaken by the Tadtarin, a native festival in which women suddenly reign supreme shattering the established...

In the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze. It’s a heist movie this time,” says director Wes Ball, who has helmed each of the movies in the trilogy. “It picks up six months after the last movie, where we started in the desert, and then we come into the world of WCKD, which is a city: The Last City.” The series started in the Glade, a lush open space surrounded on all sides by giant walls, and beyond them the maze that kept them prisoner. For the group of young people trapped in the Glade, with no memory of who they once were or why they were there, breaking out was their first priority. “But now, they’re breaking i...

Everyone is treated as a suspect, even a powerhouse cast that includes Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi and Willem Dafoe in the thrilling and breathtaking greatest detective story of all time in “Murder on the Orient Express.” The exciting mind-boggling movie takes the audience on a train ride through Europe – from Istanbul to London, back in time to the Golden Age of rail travel. As the story unfolds, someone is murdered where thirteen strangers are stranded on the train in a snowdrift. Every one of them is a suspect. Transported into a world of glamour, opulence and danger, nothing is as it seems on the Orient Express, as we are swept up in an intriguing tale of deception, loyalty, love and revenge. Climb aboard nationwide when “Murder on the Orient Express” opens this November 29 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Take a deep breath and plunge deeply into the latest genre-defying romance fantasy movie “The Shape of Water” starring an impressive cast that includes Academy winner Octavia Spencer with Academy Award nominees Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon and Richard Jenkins along with Doug Jones, known for his pivotal nonhuman roles. From master storyteller, Guillermo del Toro (Pacific Rim, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Book of Life), comes “The Shape of Water”, an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. “The Shape of Water” opens February 2018 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

EXHIBITING OUR CURRENT STATE OF UNREST AND DEMONSTRATING OUR POSITIONS IN THE TIME OF CHANGE WHEREAS, Proclamation of 8, will be issued on September 23, 2017 with eight (8) artists declaring our current and varied states of unrest, and signifying our clearest to the obscurest positions in this time that change has come, on account of the extant situation of the land; WHEREAS, part of the reasons for the issuance of Proclamation of 8 exhibition are the series of existing ambiguities in the territory of the Republic of the Philippines or any part thereof, such as, the medial of contempt and approval in our people, the medial of action and apathy in our generation, the medial of accord and opposition in our freedom, the medial of disregard and honor in the human condition, and the constituting wholly or partially, the medial of assurance and intimidation in our truths and the public’s prerogatives. Thus, the need for a proclamation; WHEREAS, in the Sections...

Savor soulful singing of original songs and well-loved tunes given new arrangements by award-winning composer Jesse Lucas There was a time when tenor Al Gatmaitan found himself at a crossroads. He journeyed solo to Europe, even entertaining thought of never going back to the Philippines. Gatmaitan was already doing well then, performing for local theater groups in Manila but he wanted to pursue further studies. Early into his three-year soul searching in Italy, Gatmaitan felt like the odd man out singing Italian songs, which lyrics he mostly didn’t understand. “I eventually fell in love with the language, and slowly warmed up to it because is very romantic,” he recalls. Gatmaitan would win a scholarship for a Diploma in Teaching Italian Language Abroad from the University of Dante Aleghieri and scored more grants to study at Teatro Calabria (Acting and Diction); Spazio Teatro (Actor’s Formation); and Conservatorio “Torre Franca” di Vibo Valentia (Intensive Vocal Formation...

Tanghalang Ateneo, the longest-running theater company of the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University, opens its 39th Season: Performing Change with Guelan Varela-Luarca’s adaptation of Edgar Calabia Samar’s award-winning Si Janus Silang at ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang. The Janus Silang series is critically acclaimed with the first book, Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon, winning the 2016 National Book Awards’ Juan C. Laya Prize for Best Novel in a Philippine Language and the 2016 National Children’s Book Award for Best Read for Kids. The second book, Si Janus Silang at ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang, also won the 2017 National Book Awards’ Best Novel in Filipino early this year. Aside from adapting the book into a play, two-time Palanca First Prize winner Guelan Varela-Luarca is also tasked to bring it to life at the Ateneo de Manila’s Black Box Theater starting Wednesday next week. Theater veterans Jenny Jamora, Carlo Vergara, Renante Bustamante, a...

Guys, ang bilis talaga ng panahon, last year eh mga ganito nung hindi ako nakapunta sa press con ng Ampalaya Monlogues, hehe. (Sorry na, hindi ako successful sa paghati ng katawan.) Pero bawal magpatalo. For this year, isang exclusive interview tungkol sa buhay-buhay, patay-patay na feelings, at mga pagmo-move-on sa mga mas mabubuting bagay ang binigay sa akin ng ating celebrity writer na friend na rin ngayon na si Mark. Hinga ng malalim. Basa: Saul: Hi, Mark. Congratulations on the release of your book and I'm sure the anniversary show will be a success! Balik-tanaw muna tayo. Tell me, what was the last project you were working on before you started your first monologue.   Mark : Thank you Tito. 2015 was a very busy year for me cause that was the year I decided I’m gonna go back to doing theatre. So I just finished attending workshops with Sipat Lawin Ensemble and Tanghalang Pilipino. Tapos, TAP just had its first prod, which was the site-specific theatre-in-the-dark pl...

Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence is irresistibly hot as a spy temptress in her latest movie “Red Sparrow” on the reveal of its teaser trailer: Directed by Francis Lawrence (“Hunger Games” series, “Constantine”), “Red Sparrow” brings a powerhouse cast that includes Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons and Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling with Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts and Mary-Louise Parker. Lawrence is highly-trained Russian spy Dominika Egorova in “Red Sparrow”, a devoted daughter who protects her mother at all costs, a prima ballerina whose ferocity has pushed her body and mind to the absolute limit and a master of seductive and manipulative combat. When she suffers a career-ending injury, Dominika and her mother face a bleak and uncertain future. That is why she finds herself manipulated into becoming the newest recruit for Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people like her to use their bodies and minds as weap...

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), recipient of the 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Awards is organizing a week-long festival that highlights the role of arts in development, as exemplified in the various advocacy campaigns the pioneering theater company has engaged in the past 50 years – Children’s Rights, Women, Gender, Health and Sexuality, Youth and the Millenials, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction, and Human Rights. Happening on October 24-29, 2017, the festival will feature PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES and DISCUSSIONS. It will showcase some the best advocacy PLAYS of PETA and its partners. There will be 13 performances from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, 3 Performances from Cambodia and Thailand. Festival participants can expect to learn new skills through workshop sessions on songwriting, Shadow Puppetry, Physical Theater, Improvisation, BOAL Forum Theater, Circus Techniques and more! Exciting Keynotes, Lecture Performances and Special Interes...

Anabel (Natalie Umaña) is a beautiful young woman who manages to live a normal life with her modest job. Innocent and cheerful but her sweetness seems to make her a willful victim. Oskar Pratz (Alejandro Estrada) is a brilliant and handsome entrepreneur amassing an impressive fortune. At age 32, his lifestyle goes beyond the limits of imagination. Oskar lives with an inner emptiness that no possession or experience can fulfill his life. One day after almost running over Anabel with his car, a spark of mutual attraction is inevitable and a torrid romance ensues. Not too long after the romance, Anabel begins to fall into Oskar’s sexual games in erotic world. Although Anabel tries to stay open-minded and plays along for a while, Oskar wants more. With the self-destructive nature of Oskar, the fun and sexy games begin to decay and spiral downward into dangerous acts that lead to tragedy. “Decadence” is shot in location in the beautiful and historic city of Guadelajara, Mexico, t...

Coming to life soon on the big screen is the story of the phenomenal and iconic British rock band Queen in “Bohemian Rhapsody” starring Rami Malek, directed by Bryan Singer and produced by Graham King. 20th Century Fox/New Regency has just released the first look photo of the movie – Rami Malek takes center stage in the movie as the rock icon, Freddie Mercury. “Freddie Mercury was larger than life and seeing Rami completely transform into him has only further solidified that he is the perfect choice for this role. Between Bryan's innovative direction, Rami’s extraordinary talent and the incredible team we’ve assembled, I couldn’t be more excited to see the remarkable story of Freddie Mercury and Queen’s iconic songs coming to life,” shares King. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a 20th Century Fox/New Regency film coming to Philippine theatres soon.

I was so impulsive yesterday that I bought beer online just because I saw it on a Facebook ad and it's on sale! A few months ago, I was able to taste Hoegaarden Rosee because a friend ordered one at a bar. I love the taste of the normal one so I took a sip. It's almost like the original but it has a fruity taste, making it even more friendlier to drink. Usually though, it's also more expensive. A bottle online is about P149, and that's only 250ml. I didn't need to think thoroughly when I saw that it was discounted at P449 for 6 bottles! I've also wanted to try Boozy.ph's service and so I ordered almost immediately. Registration and ordering was simple. If you've ordered anything online before then it would be familiar. Paying was quick too and they accept PayPal. Based on the email confirmation, the order was received September 1, 2017 at 3:14PM. I did get a good deal but there were add-ons to the listed price like shipping and VAT. Stil...