You’d think Emerson Reyes’s MNL 143 took inspiration from Jafar Panahi’s Taxi, or Steven Knight’s Locke — both very good films that largely take place inside a public transport vehicle — and you’d be wrong; Reyes’s film came out three years before Panahi’s, and a year before Knight’s. Not that I’m suggesting Panahi or Knight were inspired by Reyes (Though who knows? The film screened in the Edinburgh festival the year it was released), just that the Filipino filmmaker is every bit as capable of conceiving a reasonably novel concept and now — thanks to digital filmmaking and fund-raising efforts to support that filmmaking — are able to realize them on the big/small/online screen.
Videogame Review Romance of the Three Kingdoms 13 PlayStation 4
By Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong
ROMANCE of the Three Kingdoms 13 (ROTK 13) is the latest installment in Koei’s long-running series. The series has certainly come a long way, establishing a dedicated fanbase not only in Japan but also in China and America since its inception in the 1980s. ROTK 13 uses Luo Guanzhong’s novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms as the baseline of its plot, and has players experiencing key events in the book, allowing them to either relive it faithfully or to change it as they see fit. The game lets players take part in the Three Kingdoms era of China as one of many officers during the time period or even as their own self-inserted avatar. Whether starting small or starting big, the players’ ultimate objective is to unite factions together under one banner by instigating conflict or engaging in diplomacy.
ALREADY ONE of the largest fitness equipment manufacturers in the world, Johnson Health Tech is not resting on its laurels and is continuing to evolve. One way it is going about it is through introducing new products which are in tune with the demands of the market.
SAN FRANCISCO-BASED wearable technology company Fitbit has introduced a new feature to its slimmest fitness wristband — a heart rate and sleep monitor to guide wearers into “reaching (their) wellness goals in style.”
GLOBE TELECOM’S #CreateCourage branded film “Mask” has been shortlisted at the Tangrams Effectiveness@Spikes Awards, an Asia-Pacific award which honors outstanding marketing strategies that deliver remarkable business results.
STUDENTS from three leading fashion schools in the country joined the Aboitiz Foundation’s recent Green Fashion Revolution, a fashion design competition that challenges participants to transform what is considered to be waste or trash into wearable and practical apparel, shoes, bags and accessories.
THE “Healthy Asia Pacific 2020” Roadmap called on APEC economies to develop sustainable and high performing health systems by adopting or adapting “health in all policies” and a holistic approach, namely “whole-of-government,” “whole-of-society,” and “whole-of-region” to achieve people’s health and wellbeing by the year 2020.
SHANGRI-LA PLAZA mall is offering a respite from the hot summer heat — albeit virtually — with its newest offering, the augmented reality experience “Arctic Explorer.”
CREATIVE AGENCY MCCANN Worldgroup calls it its Jollibee brand love series, referring to its Kwentong Jollibee vignettes inspired by real-life stories of Jollibee patrons.
PERFORMANCE
THE Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) present Spirit of ASEAN, The Madz et Al Choral Festival 2017, with a series of performances throughout May.Madz Et Al is a network of choirs led by members and alumni of the Madz. The festival will showcase various choral works from different member ASEAN countries. One country is featured in every show for both matinee and gala. Performances will be on May 19, 7:30 p.m.; May 20, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; May 21, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; May 26, 2:30 p.m.; May 27, 2:30 p.m.and 7:30 p.m.; and May 28, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the CCP Little Theater. For tickets, contact the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or TicketWorld at 891-9999.
Comedy Manila’s Funny Fridays, stand-up comedy nights every Friday until May 26 at Teatrino at Greenhills Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan. Featured artists are Alex Calleja, GB Labrador, Victor Anastacio, Red Ollero, James Caraan, Ryan Rems and Nonong Ballinan. Showtime is at 8:30 p.m. Tickets, available through TicketWorld (891-9999, www.ticketworld.com.ph), cost P579.20.
MUSICARTES restages its first Broadway rock opera Godspell, on May 19-21 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave., Makati City. Led by the international hit, “Day By Day,” Godspell features a powerhouse cast with Jef Flores, Myke Salomon, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Caisa Borromeo, Poppert Bernadas, Topper Fabregas, Abi Sulit, Maronne Cruz, Rhenz Gabalonzo, Gab Pangilinan and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. Tickets range in price from P1,045 to P2,612.50 and are available through TicketWorld (891-9999, www.ticketworld.com.ph) and at Musicartes (895-8098, 519-3603, musicartes.manila@gmail.com).
Funny girl Kakai Bautista performs at the newly opened Winford Hotel and Casino’s entertainment venue Hippodrome Bar and Lounge on May 20, 8 p.m. The concert is meant for viewers 21 years old and above. There is a P1,000 cover charge inclusive of food and drinks. More upcoming world-class Filipino performers are slated to perform at the Hippodrome. For details, visit www.winfordhotel.com.ph or call the Guest Services Hot line at 528-3600. The Winford Hotel and Casino is located in the San Lazaro Tourism and Business Park in Manila.
Comic/Singer Kakai Bautista will have a show at the newly opened Winford Hotel and Casino.
ART
On May 22, Julio Jose Austria opens his exhibition Worm Universe at the Mezzanine of the Makati Shangri-la, Manila. The exhibit runs until June 3. For details call 523-3331, or e-mail dididee@hiraya.com or visit www.hiraya.com.
Due to popular demand, the exhibit Mapping the Philippine Seas has been extended until May 31. The exhibit features a comprehensive collection of rare historical maps and charts of the Philippine archipelago and its surrounding seas from the early 16th century to the end of the 19th century. The museum is at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila, and is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
A NEW exhibit by Roberto M. A. Robles, Form | Kata: Recent Works | Post-Sculpture Works | Anthropocentric View, is currently on view until: May 27 at Galleria Duemila, 210 Loring St., Pasay City.
CURRENTLY on view at the Ayala Museum is Eduardo Castrillo: A Prism of Art & Friendships, an exhibition on the late Filipino sculptor Eduardo Castrillo (1942–2016) with guest curator Jeannie E. Javelosa. It is on view from until June 4 at the museum’s Ground Floor Gallery. Also on view is Mga Huling Hapunan sa Unang Pagkakataon: Tatlong Obra ni Joey Velasco, a solo exhibit featuring three of the late artist’s paintings which show a recasting of the Last Supper, among other works. The exhibit is ongoing at the museum’s ArtistSpace until May 23. The Ayala Museum is at Makati Ave. corner De La Rosa St., Greenbelt Park, Makati City.
1335MABINI’s artist-in-residence Peter Moosgaard has an ongoing solo exhibition titledXenorealism which runs until May 24. The gallery is located at 1335 Mabini St., Ermita, Manila.
painter and sculptor Roberto M. A. Robles returns to the basics of form and examines a piece as a post-sculptural work in Form | Kata, an exhibit which runs until May 27. In it he rediscovers light and shadows through tones of gray, black and white that result in a new dimensional angle. The exhibit will be held at the Galleria Duemila, 210 Loring St., Pasay City. For details visit www.galleriaduemila.com.
Known for her photographic works in portraiture, contemporary landscape, and installation, Wawi Navarroza returns with her solo exhibit, Medusa. The exhibit runs until June 3. There will be a walk-through with the artist on May 27, 3 p.m. In this exhibit, the artist calls forth the Medusa and the gaze that can turn the seen into stone. Medusa will be on view alongside Issay Rodriguez’s exhibit titled … at Silverlens, Lapanday Center, 2263 Don Chino Roces Avenue Ext., Makati City.
Alliance Française de Manille and Fundacion Sanso present an exhibit of works by Juvenal Sanso entitled The Triumph of the Spirit: a healing inspired by the coast of Brittany at the Alliance Française de Manille’s Total Gallery. It runs until May 26.
MARIANO CHING and Yasmin Sison present Traveling on the Edges of Lost Maps until May 21 at MO_Space, MOs Design, B2 Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City.
JEWELRY, art, furniture, couture, and objets d’art are on view in Wynn Wynn Ong: Redefining Boundaries (A Retrospective) until June 15 at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, corner Ayala and Gil J. Puyat Avenues, Makati City.
THE group show LIGALIG: Art in a Time of Turmoil is on view until May 27 at the Ateneo Art Gallery, Ateneo University Campus, Quezon City.
ARTINFORMAL has three ongoing exhibitions: Eugenia Alcaide’s See, Rene Bituin’s The Earth Doesn’t Need Us, and Micaela Benedicto’s Paths of Invisibility. The gallery is at 277 Connecticut St., Mandaluyong City.
AN EXHIBIT of 53 photographic replicas of masterpieces from Spain’s Museo Del Prado is on view at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City before moving to Intramuros in Manila. It will then go on view from June to August at Intramuros, Manila. This is a joint project of the Intramuros Administration and Embassy of Spain in Manila.
Lost Frames is coming to the Ateneo Art Gallery on May 18, International Museum Day. The participating artists — Poklong Anading, Vic Balanon, Lena Cobangbang, Rico Entico, Cocoy Lumbao and Kaloy Olavides — will screen and discuss unfinished video works, abandoned projects and ideas that have yet to be made. The Ateneo Art Gallery is at the Rizal Library Special Collections Bldg., Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
THREE exhibits are now on view Vinyl on Vinyl gallery: Tar Pits by Tokwa Penaflorida, Frames of Mind by Ren Quinio, and Kalaban by Renz Bautista. The gallery is at 2135 Warehouse II Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.
EVENTS
THE children’s television group Hi-5 returns to the Philippines with the Some Kind of Wonderful show at several Robinsons malls. Hi-5 entertains audiences both young and old, being primarily aimed at aged 1-8. There will be performances at Robinsons Lipa on May 19 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Robinsons Antipolo on May 20 at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; and Robinsons Bacolod on May 21 at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
AS part of the collateral events of the exhibit Mapping the Philippine Seas, which has been extended due to popular demand, the lecture “The Enchantment in Maps” by John L. Silva, Executive Director of Ortigas Foundation Library, will be held on May 27, 10:30 a.m. The exhibit features a comprehensive collection of rare historical maps and charts of the Philippine archipelago and its surrounding seas from the early 16th century to the end of the 19th century. The lecture fee is P150 (P120 for students, senior citizens and PWDs), and includes museum admission. For more information and reservation of slots, e-mail education@metmuseum.ph, or call 708-7829.
