Carlos Talks Tours and other things

Carlos Celdran, Manila’s most entertaining multi-media cultural tour guide, will share with us his thoughts, ramblings and legendary humor regarding the Philippine’s most pressing national culture issues.

Thursday, August 14 at 6pm
For more details please call 631.12131 locals 222 and 228

Knowledge Struggle

Those who have real hunger for knowledge are the ones who don't mind the pain of erring, being constructively critiqued, and struggle to correct the mistakes haunting them--mistakes that keep excellence out of reach. They are the ones who have high regard to individuals who honestly tell them when mediocrity is transpiring.

Mag Watch: July Edition

We're very late this month but we'll never break our tradition of bringing you updates of the latest printed magazines available in our local news stands and book stores.

So here is the list:

Bounce (July-August): James Younghusband
Candy: Megan Young
Cosmopolitan: Heart Evangelista
FHM: Diana Zubiri
Good Housekeeping: Claudine Barreto
Health Today: Marian Rivera
Manual: Alessandra de Rossi and Francine Prieto
Marie Claire: Dawn Zulueta
Mega: Lucy Torres-Gomez
Metro: Marian Rivera
Mod: Marian Rivera
Preview: Angel Aquino
OK: Jennifer Aniston
Seventeen: Leighton Meister
Smart Parenting: Carmina and Cassy Villaruel
Star Studio: KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez
T3: Angel Locsin
Town&Country: Wynn Ong
Uno: Priscilla Meirelles
Yes!: Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo

Filipino storybook characters come to life at Museo Pambata

Come to Museo Pambata this Friday, July 25, and see your favorite Filipino storybook characters come to life! As part of the celebrations for National Children's Book Day, our friendly bunch of theme room guides will dress up as characters from well-loved tales such as Emang Engkantada at ang Tatlong Haragan, Ang Bi-ag ni Lam-ang, Si Putot, The Cat Painter, Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Raquel, and many more.

There will be a storytelling session at 10 AM, followed by a meet-and-greet and photo opportunities with the MP Guides in their costumes.

The museum is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. For inquiries, call 5360595 or email programs@museopambata.org.

FHM's 100 Sexiest '08

100. Victoria London
99. Aina Gonzales
98. Kristine Hermosa
97. Bianca Valerio
96. Nicole Hernandez
95. Sachie Sanders
94. Rich Asuncion
93. Belinda Bright
92. Sofie
91. Lindsay Lohan
90. Aliya Parcs
89. LJ Reyes
88. Alyssa Alano
87. Anna Scott
86. Anna Leah Javier
85. Ella V
84. Jamilla Obispo
83. Myles Hernandez
82. Precious Lara
81. Kristine Jaca
80. Amanda Griffin
79. Jeri Lee
78. Paloma
77. Renee Summer
76. Kris Bernal
75. Arra Castro
74. Michaela Espinosa
73. Jewel Mische
72. Jenny Miller
71. Kat Alano
70. Cristina Garcia
69. Krista Ranillo
68. Pops Fernandez
67. Nikki Gil
66. Jackie Rice
65. Scarlett Johansson
64. Rufa Mae Quinto
63. Gail Nicolas
62. Ornusa Cadness
61. Angelina Jolie
60. Sheena Halili
59. Luningning
58. Ryza Cenon
57. Raine Larrazabal
56. Jaymee Joaquin
55. Valerie Garcia
54. Cherry Ann Kubota
53. Bubbles Paraiso
52. Wendy Valdez
51. Ariani Nogueira
50. Joyce So
49. Keeley Hazell
48. Maxene Magalona
47. Maureen Larrazabal
46. Gaby dela Merced
45. Sarah Geronimo
44. Jacq Yu
43. Kim Chiu
42. Beyonce Knowles
41. Jennifer Lee
40. Iza Calzado
39. Joyce Jimenez
38. Roxanne Guinoo
37. Bianca Gonzalez
36. Gwen Garci
35. Toni Gonzaga
34. Mariel Rodriguez
33. Yasmien Kurdi
32. Kitty Girls
31. Hazel Ann Mendoza
30. Niña Jose
29. Valerie Concepcion
28. Shaina Magdayao
27. Heart Evangelista
26. Pauleen Luna
25. Asia Agcaoili
24. Rhian Ramos
23. Nancy Castiglione
22. Precious Adona
21. Maja Salvador
20. Michelle Madrigal
19. Riza Santos
18. Iya Villania
17. Francine Prieto
16. Bea Alonzo
15. EB Babes
14. Jennylyn Mercado
13. Bianca King
12. Alessandra De Rossi
11. KC Concepcion
10. Angelica Panganiban
9. Anne Curtis
8. Cristine Reyes
7. Iwa Moto
6. Ehra Madrigal
5. Diana Zubiri
4. Angel Locsin
3. Katrina Halili
2. Megan Fox
1. Marian Rivera

Source: FHM.com.ph

Gantimpala Theater Re-creates The World of Florante at Laura

Choreographed entrances, fast-paced skirmishes, an epic battle between warring Christians and Moors, and a romance that blooms, blossoms and endures despite the uncertainty of times - all these and more comes alive on stage as Gantimpala Theater ushers the beginning of its 31st year with Francisco Balagtas’ “Florante at Laura,” re-created as a modern day komedya.

Florante at Laura is a Filipino awit, a love story that happens in the kingdom of Albania. Florante is the son of Duke Briseo, betrothed to Laura, daughter of Haring Linceo, and the many hardships that their relationship faced and how their love withstood the onslaught of tragedies. It also presents their unusual kinship with Flerida and Aladin, who are of Moorish lineage.

This awit is dedicated to Balagtas’ sweetheart Maria Asuncion Rivera or Selya, who unfortunately married Balagtas’ rival Mario Capule. Despite being a love story, Florante at Laura had underlying nationalistic tones that escaped the eyes of the Spanish censorship permitting it to be shown in theatres and plays.

Gantimpala Theater reincarnates the classic awit as a komedya, considered as an authentic Filipino theater form.

This Roobak Valle directed production stars Arkin Da Silva (Florante); Nelia Aguado (Laura); Ronald Concepcion (Adolfo); Dong Aturong (Duke Briseo); Pamela Hundana (Reyna Floresca); Abel Napuran (Haring Linceo); Abner Delina Jr.(Batang Florante/Taga-Pagsalaysay); Christian Parado (Menandro); Billy Parjan (Antenor); Jerald Napoles (Sultan Ali-Adab); Yutaka Yamakawa (Aladin); Lailanie Ann Tejuco (Flerida), and Julius Empredo (Osmalik).

Assisting Valle realize the world of Florante at Laura are Andy Villareal (Lights Designer); Sergio Anlocotan Jr. (Choreographer); Charyl Chan-de Guzman (Production Manager); Lailanie Ann Tejuco (Assistant Production Manager); Joey David (Stage Manager), and Tony S. Espejo (Artistic Director).

Tony Espejo, Gantimpala Artistic Director says, “Our season once more focuses on the educational role that live theater provides to our student audiences and the general public. Our performances bring flesh and blood to the famous characters of the stories we dramatize, making them more believable and accessible to the audience. We also emphasize the values inherent in the stories and underscore such virtues as love for country, caring for environment and honesty, truth and justice. Watching Gantimpala’s Florante at Laura is a lesson in Philippine literature and theater history. I guarantee our audiences that this historical dramatization of the exploits of Florante and his romance with Laura will make them appreciate our country’s rich literary heritage.”

Florante at Laura is fully supported by the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC).

Performances are slated on July 27, 6pm, Concert at the Park Open Air Auditorium in Luneta, Manila; August 1, 2, 3, 15 & 16, 10am/2pm, AFP Theater in EDSA, Quezon City and August 8, 9 & 10, 10am/2pm, SM South Mall in Las Piñas City.

For information, bookings and ticket reservations please call: the Gantimpala Theater Marketing Office, 899-5745/896-3503/474-5198 or email: gantimpalaproduction@yahoo.com.ph

Quotes on Creativity and Solitude

"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone." Lord Byron

"In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone." Rollo May

"When I am, as it were, completely myself, entirely alone, and of good cheer - say, traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly." Wolfgang Mozart

"I feel more and more detached from the outside world, from crowds, from the public and from anything mechanized. I prefer mainly to be alone." Leonore Fini

"The artist must actively cultivate that state which most people avoid: the state of being alone." James Baldwin

"I try more and more to be myself, caring relatively little whether people approve or dissaprove." Vincent Van Gogh

"I am aware of connectiveness, it is impossible to be isolated completely, but my interest is in solely finding my own way. I don't mind being miles away from everybody else." Eva Hesse

Source: http://judithpordon.tripod.com/poetry/quotes_creativity_solitude.html

"The Marriage of Art and Science" Workshop

"The infinitely competent can be uncreative. "

-- John Edensor Littlewood


Arguably, one of the productive skills that every one should acquire is the aptitude to write. Unfortunately, even when we take several subjects in technical writing and spend months learning communication and literature, effectively producing a sound and exceptional writing output is still relatively hard to achieve—even for those who are already teaching and practicing in this field. Poor application of writing techniques can be blamed to exposure to wrong form of media, inability to analyze, choice of readings, taste and aesthetics to name a few.

A workshop dubbed “The Marriage of Art and Science.” The workshop will include discussions on the Advent of Creative Writing, How to Critique A Film, Functional Language Theory, and Conversational Patterns. By the end of each session, the participants will be asked to create their own outputs. Afterwards, scrutiny of the participants’ work samples—involves reviewing, evaluating, and critiquing—by the speaker and co-attendees will be held.

This is tentatively slated on August 2008. Early reservation is advised. See poster for further details.

E! Clips

• KC Concepcion's album dubbed Cassandra is ranked number 1 based on total sales of all Odyssey branches nationwide
• Lobo of Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin will bid viewers its last farewell tonight
• Codename Asero of Richard Guttierez and Heart Evangelista will start next week
• Claudine Barreto, Diether Ocampo, and Gabby Concepcion lead the roster of stars of ABS CBN's upcoming soap opera Iisa Pa Lamang
• KC and Richard's first movie will be shot in Greece
• Aiza Seguerra wins 1 million pesos in The Singing Bee
• Nikki Uysiuseng will be Hannah of My Girl
• West Side Story is topbilled by Christian Bautista and Karylle
• John Llyod Cruz and Sarah Geronimo pair on big screen at A Very Special Love

Dean Of UP is ASEAN's Top Scientist

Filipinos have another reason to rejoice as another Pinoy is currently being commended for his immense contribution in Science and technology. Dr. Caesar Saloma, dean from the University of the Philippines.

His significant work in photonics and signal processing made him earn the honor of being ASEAN's Most Outstanding Scientist and Technologist. His work was said to 'have resulted in the development of novel and cost-effective techniques in optical signal recovery and retrieval.” His work was undertaken in collaboration with colleagues and students at the National Institute of Physics (NIP).

Saloma has been a recipient of various other awards, including the 2007 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award (Higher Education Category), the 2006 UP Diliman Gawad Chanselor para sa Natatanging Guro, and the Gawad Chanselor Hall of Fame in two separate categories, the Pinakamahusay na Mananaliksik, and the Pinakamahusay na Nilathalang Pananaliksik.

Buhay Pinoy at Museo Pambata

John Lauren “Pope” Bacay, a 13-year-old artist from Oriental Mindoro, will hold his first solo exhibit at Museo Pambata in Manila. Entitled “Buhay Pinoy,” the exhibit will be on view from July 5 to 19, 2008.

“Buhay Pinoy” is composed of 14 acrylic and oil paintings inspired by the culture of Mindoreños.
Known as Oriental Mindoro's "Batang Pintor," Pope started painting at the age of ten. At age 11, he won an Achievement Award at the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. He also studied under the tutelage of artist Fernando B. Sena. At present, he is a high school student at the Lourdes School of Quezon City.
All of Pope Bacay's artworks are for sale.
Museo Pambata is located at Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila. For inquiries, call 5231797 to 98, 5360595 or e-mail exhibits@museopambata.org.

Most Beautiful Pinay Celebrities

(As listed on QTV 11's Ang Pinaka)

Last Sunday, July 6, Ang Pinaka gave us a rundown of top 10 Most Beautiful Pinay Celebrities, noted and admired for their classic finery. Weallexist presents you the name of those who made it to the meticulous screening of the show:

10. Iza Calsado
9. Roxanne Guinoo
8. Gretchen Barreto
7. Jodi Sta. Maria
6. Bea Alonzo
5. Ruffa Guttierez
4. Kristine Hermosa
3. Dawn Zulueta
2. Marian Rivera
1. KC Concepcion


Interesting enough, names of equally gorgeous women like Lucy Torres-Gomez, Charlene Gonzalez, Mirriam Quiambao, Angel Aquino, and others did not make it on the list.

Exhibit Reveals Manila Leaders’ Favorite Places in the City

Find out Mayor Alfredo S. Lim's, Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso's and the city's 36 councilors' favorite spots in Manila in the exhibit “The Manila I Love,” presented by Museo Pambata. Snapshots from their private collections, quotes and personal stories offer a glimpse into the lives of Manila’s top officials. The photo exhibit opened to the public in June at the Museo Pambata and will then be exhibited at the Bulwagang Rodriguez at the Manila City Hall from July 4 to 11, 2008. The exhibit also features interactive activities for children highlighting the City of Manila as it celebrates its 437th anniversary. “The Manila I Love” reveals the dreams of Manila’s leaders for the children of Manila today, being born and raised in the city themselves. By sharing their favorite places in the city, they hope that the children will take pride in being citizens of the “Noble and Ever Loyal City.” After its week-long run at the Manila City Hall, “The Manila I Love” will tour nine (9) different high schools in Manila: Tondo HS (July 10 to 17), Torres HS (July 18 to 24), Lakandula HS (July 25 to 31), C. Arellano HS (August 1 to 7), R. Magsaysay HS (August 8 to 14), M. Araullo HS (August 15 to 21), M. Marcos HS (August 22 to 28), E. Aguinaldo HS (August 29 to September 4), and E. Rodriquez Vocational School (September 11 to 18). For more information, call 523-1797 to 98 or 536-0595.