MANILA Prepares for Manila International Dance Festival

Something really big is happening over at the city of Manila, it's the Manila International Dance Festival (also called MIDFestival) happening on September 8, 2023.

In a grand press conference a couple of days ago at the Manila City Hall's historic Session Hall, they announced details about the three day festival aimed to celebrate diversity, peace and unity through dance and music. The word international must have already given you an idea that this will involve several countries in the region that will also showcase their cultural dances at the event. This includes our neighbors Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, plus friends from India and South Korea.

What's quite different about this festival is that it'll be happening in different areas of the city simultaneously. From the biggest malls in Manila like Lucky Chinatown and Robinsons Place Manila, schools, universities and Fort Santiago in Intramuros, they'll be performing in these places then culminate in Rizal Park later on in the evening.

Vice Mayor Yul Servo says "4 of our newest projects in Manila is happening this last quarter, with the help of our Mayor Honey Lacuna and the different organizations in the city of Manila, we are asking for your support and cooperation to make this a very successful one in the coming months to benefit the young Manilenos and Manilenas. We will have 16 dance groups from the Manila and different parts of the Philippines plus other countries like Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand. This project aims to showcase the talent of Manilenos, and our neighboring countries too. We would like to thank those who have cooperated and arranged this project like the National Parks Development Committee, Concert at the Park, Archiestic Events Production, Office of the Vice Mayor of Manila, Department of Tourism, the National Center for Culture and the Arts, Verde Creatives, and the City of Manila who will fully support this much awaited event and prestigious dance festival in the region. We will also be holding the "Mr. Manila" pageant, which is now a separate entity from the previous Mr. and Ms. Manila pageant where talented Manilenos who work, live and study in the city could join and represent Manila in international tilts. We sincerely thank our Mayor Honey Lacuna for her full support on these endeavors."

Here's our interview with Festival Director Archie Dema-ala who also shared some details about the upcoming MIDFestival:

MIDFestival is also supported by the honorable Senator Loren Legarda, Hotel Sogo, Lyf Hotel, and the City of Manila. If you want to become part of the celebrations (for partnerships) you may email them at midf2023@gmail.com or through their social channels facebook.com/manilainternationaldancefestival.

The sheer number of participants just make me feel so excited for what's about to happen. This is a big event for the city of Manila, we can't wait to see this in the coming weeks!

HERBERT BAUTISTA Bares Plans on Senate Run: Help Industries Grow for the Future

Spent an afternoon in the suburbs of Quezon City for a chance to talk to Senatorial hopeful Herbert Bautista. Who doesn't know the former Quezon City Mayor and the one who reprised the role of several iconic characters during the 80's and 90's, quite popular with the boomers, Gen X, Gen Z's and millenials too. He is "Bistek" to many... and to boot, he's got over 30 full years of experience in public service specifically the workings of local government matters.

During the small conversation, Mayor Herbert lauded the IATF decision to open theaters in the country as this means a lot of workers in the entertainment industry would have jobs again and start making films. He's seen a lot of his friends in the industry suffer a lot, losing their jobs because of the work arrangements just deem it impossible to be normal once again. It just broke his heart to also see people who he's known for years also pass, COVID-19 really has crippled this industry he loves. He sternly hopes that people start to support worthy shows, programs and films to make up for loss time. He's also keen to see how Filipinos would also see the lineup of films at the Metro Manila Film Festival. By the way, her equally popular sister Harlene Bautista and Heaven's Best Entertainment Productions will be putting one called "Huling Ulan sa Tag-Araw" starring Ken Chan and Rita Daniela. The film will also have the participation of Lotlot De Leon and Richard Yap. It'll concentrate on two individuals that will spark romance in the most unexpected circumstances so it'll surely be interesting.

 Here's a few minutes of our conversation that afternoon:

 

Aside from that, Mayor Herbert is running for a Senate seat which is a national post. He's raring to not just file bills for the industries he's worked in but also several things that could push locally produced products in the forefront so everyone could make a living. He's crafted several ordinances that also have benefited the LGBTQIA+ sector and also supports the move to have domestic partnerships. To get to know him even more, he's plannig to put out more personal vlogs to showcase what he loves with Filipino culture, how he adores traveling and share his passion. He's got a lot up his sleeve and hopes by sharing much of his story, he could also get to know more people, places and things he's discovering in the Philippines. 

He wants to help, and he hopes you get to be a part of that movement.