On Pointe! with Ballet Manila at the ALIW Theater

I was in Aliw Theater last year for the showcase of shows of Ballet Manila. It was so inspiring to see on stage several local original shows, and this season proves they’re not about to let go yet of that success. They call this On Pointe! and they got us in comfy glass chairs in S Maison at the Mall of Asia grounds for a little treat featuring Ballet Manila’s prime dancers.

Lisa Macuja Elizalde says “This is our 24th season and I can’t believe it. This morning you will get a glimpse of the 4 productions we will do this year. As you see with the excerpts later, it is the fitting theme in the kind of shows Ballet Manila wants to put together. Our season will open with Snowhite, a visit to my princess trilogy, including Sleeping Beauty. We will also be showcasing Giselle which is romance in two acts, plus a collaboration with Osias Barroso, the Carmina Burana and La Traviata. This will end our season on a high note.”

Giselle is much about heartache, romance, death, but a pretty fine piece for classical ballet. It was enchanting to see it live. Sleeping Beauty also has original choreography by Ms Lisa Macuja Elizalde, stunning to see characters come to life, it was like children’s book turned fantasy turned movie on stage. Sleeping Beauty is also about romance, it’s highs and lows, it’s journey, a more fun interpretation of it. World class ballet, opera and live orchestra music makes this Carmina Burana and La Traviata double bill a great presentation of gigantic leaps, fun songs, and a short trip to the bull ring with matadors and maidens. There is also human emotions, so Ms Lisa take it as the hardest to do because it’s all original work.

Lisa added “The 25th season will be carefully curated, we won’t be doing over the top productions that the 26th won’t be able to do. We have plans to take Ibong Adarna in other places in the country and it’s where we want our resources to concentrate on. We also have been invited in several places like Israel, Cyprus, other places but we have to do more here.”

Abigail from Giselle says “We rehearse this ballet in one go, it’s how quickly you can change, you can’t hide flaws so this is the hardest to do among the lineup.”

Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty had different degrees of difficulty especially since Snow White didn’t have music to begin with. There were no other choreography either but on Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, there exists shows and music with it. Wether there will be more, it can only be answered soon!

Snow White will be on September 7 2pm and 6pm, September 8 at 3pm. Giselle will happen on October 19, 2pm and 6pm and October 20 at 3pm. Sleeping Beauty will happen on December 7 2pm and 6pm, December 8 at 3pm whilst Carmina Burana will be next year February 29 2pm-6pm and March 1 3pm (as double bill) at the ALIW Theater in Pasay City. You may also get tickets via Ticketworld 8919999 or call 8777696 (for bulk tickets). You may also email them at info@balletmanila.com.ph.

Julie Anne San Jose Sings the Divas at The Theatre at Solaire

Loving Julie Anne San Jose is easy because the darn girl is just so good at what she does, may it be singing or dancing, you’ve seen that in my social media posts. A few weeks ago, she had a concert in Cebu and Mindanao with Christian Bautista via The Sweetheart and the Balladeer. That was a very successful one and this July 20, she’s letting it all out at The Theatre at Solaire on her new concert “Julie Sings The Divas!”. A tall order, but she’s good that you can hand her a phone book and sing it like crazy.

In this concert, she’ll be doing performances based on songs by timeless icons Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. She will be performing with an orchestra (UP Arco String Orchestra) under the baton of Maestro Danny Tan of UP . This is something she has wished for in the past and her new approach will certainly delight audiences who want to see her shine in this stage.

Danny Tan her Musical Director says “We produced this as we knew how much Juloe is talented, from her audition in Fairview where she sung divas already, to her youthful pop persona these past few years, we want to showcase. She is a musician’s dream, she doesn’t go flat, very nice to listen to and she picks up songs fast, she craves to learn more. Now she knows beats, she knows notes, it is the reason why it is a dream to work with her. She satisfies you as a musician. She does beyond expectations.”

Direk Louie Ignacio says “We want our diva a chance to be in this kind of concert, we are pushing because we love her. We produced this big show just for her. She is only our lone diva in the network and she deserves this all! It will not be effect ridden, more classy and orchestration will be there, our opening will be a surprise. The musicality of it, we will offer to the audience, including her really good outfits and gowns. Julie has a different flavor from all our superstars, she prepares, she does her work and a nega diva, she’s a diva but doesn’t know she is. She is very humble.”

Julie says “I had to learn new songs, I felt this is challenging and exciting because the of the different arrangements we are doing with the songs. It is my first time performing with Arnel Pineda and a couple of people from the clash (a surprise). I think I have to sing around 23 songs after picking from around a hundred. I am really having a hard time with the Celine songs, plus the one from Lara Fabian, I don’t know how I will attack it but it’s hella different renditions. We have been doing the leg work with my vocal coach and I am preparing, the version will surely surprise the audience. I want to make my own mark in the industry and not just copying someone else, it’s the authenticity, as myself and as an artist. I don’t know how to feel but I am grateful, to be able to sing, to hunger exploring my capabilities and the process that goes with it. I want pieces that challenge me, I don’t do safe ones, I want to gain knowledge and hopefully impart it with the next generation of singers. I will be doing multi tracks, you should watch out for that.”

“I don’t care about my detractors, I will only make them my motivation to do better, but for those who love me, I promise to give everything that you have given me back. I appreciate all your efforts and I hope in my own way I would be able to do that.” 

She will also be joined by Journey front man Arnel Pineda and the UP Concert Chorus, some world class talent right there. This is produced by Sunny Side Up Productions and GMA Network in cooperation with Solaire Resort and is Directed by Louie Ignacio. Again this will be on July 20, at 8pm. You may get tickets at Ticketworld.com.ph or via 8919999.

You might want to see this one, a Julie Anne like never before!

Derrick Monasterio Prepares for RAK OF AEGIS Stint

If you haven't watched Rak of Aegis yet, this might be a good time to do that. Kapuso hunk Derrick Monasterio just landed the role of Tolits in the musical and he's raring to perform at the PETA Theater in Quezon City.

Derrick is no stranger to singing (album and shows to boot) and the caliber of talent in the musical is a bit daunting, but he did the deed and auditioned for it. He wasn't too confident because when he did the short audition, he was basically told that they will call him (a bit of an excuse sometimes to nicely say no in job interviews) but he was surprised when they called back and said they will have him play the role.

Previous actors who have done this have been raved by critics, he's ready for it and promises he'll do his best (did it well according to Twitter noise this week) so if you're looking for a different take on Rak of Aegis, this might be a good month to watch it. Repeat watchers included.

Here is our interview with Derrick during a blogcon by Artist Center.

Go get them tickets now!

The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale in Pampanga

Woke up very bright and early for this popular Big Bad Wolf Book Sale which is currently happening in San Fernando Pampanga's Lausgroup Event Centre, a pretty rough drive from Manila where I live. I guess it was the call of books that got us all through the distance, and weird traffic (which later we learned a bus fell off the highway) but we safely arrived in this air-conditioned warehouse of sorts.

It's not my first time, but they've done it in different locations for years now. The book prices are just ridiculous to ignore so people really flock these places, including bookstore owners so they could earn a buck over the sale... People really hoard, I couldn't blame then at all.

The place is filled with books to the brim, even the outside shelves had customers scavenging for more. Big Bad Wolf in Pampanga had bout 400-500 square meters of floor space, an L shaped place for all the books and about a quarter for the payment counters. 

There were about 4 tables full of fiction and non fiction books, 3 of Childrens books and tons more in between. It was a little scattered where the nice titles were so you have to scan a lot if you wanna get a good one. It's called Treasure island for a reason and I got a few that cost around 90 bucks. Not bad eh?

There were no Marvel books, but several DC ones with Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman posters in it. (I dropped it before I went to the counter). Doh!

It's not a place for references, but when we got there for the VIP event, there were a few childrens books good for IT inclined kids. Coding!

Romance, adventure novels abound from great authors. They even have best sellers on paperback and hard bound versions.

There are tons of childrens books and activity laden ones too, people were bringing along kids and students to purchase their own. Believe me, there were even babies in tow. 

This box set of JK ROWLING's Harry Potter for pottterheads cost Php 3,900 for a complete set. It's a steal considering how much this cost elsewhere. Not even joking.

There were several leadership themed books, this Starbucks one is just in front. You can't miss it!

Found a Snoopy book in the Children's section. Tons more where that came from.

This was also selling a lot, Paulo Coelho is still breaking brains in the rack. You should get this as it costs less than the Harry Potter line and he's also on Twitter if you had questions.

Then after a few books on my cart, I had to check out. This day was pretty busy so there was a line forming at the payment counters, the difference though was how fast it was going because they were pro active in asking customers to go to the counters and also the payment options during this event.

I paid via Paymaya as it was their official payment system partner this year. I have been using the QR Code payment scheme for a while so I know how this works. I just waited for them to tell me the total and put the price on my app. Clicked PAY and voila! It's done! I didn't get an ecobag because it was priced 20 bucks each. I opted to out it in my backpack and called it a day.

Almost after my transactions I got the surprise of my day, I GOT CASH BACK from Paymaya, the whole 100% was returned to me, so I literally just went there and got the books for FREE! It's random so even if my friends didn't get it when they paid, I was super happy I got my CASH BACK :) 

You too could get the chance to have cash back if you purchase books during the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale with Paymaya, so make sure you download it before you go there. They have loading stations in the front so it would be easy. Who knows you might just get as lucky as I did! 

Go get them books!