2016 Promises plenty of cinematic excitement
By Richard Roeper
Every movie fan has a “Can’t wait to see that!” title they carry around in their personal anticipation files.
Top of the city
By Zsarlene B. Chua
SEEKING to be the “top-of-mind hotel in the area” (in the words of general manager Frank Reichenbach during a press lunch last August) is no easy feat with dozens of hotels crowding the busy Ortigas Center and a behemoth (a Shangri-La) at its center, but Marco Polo Ortigas has more than a fighting chance as the so-called “Sky Hotel” has a lot going for it, including a fantastic view and good food.
US guidelines urge breast cancer screening from age 50
MIAMI — Women 50 and older should get a mammogram to screen for breast cancer every two years, while women in their 40s should decide with their doctors, said US guidelines on Monday.
Repertory Philippines celebrates 49 years of exceptional theater
THEATER is booming in the metropolis — performance groups are sprouting like mushrooms, many good venues have opened, and theater is finally being looked at as a proper profession and not just a hobby indulged in after work.
Kultura scores in word-of-mouth advertising
Ads & Ends — Nanette Franco-Diyco
MARKETING-MADE-SIMPLE.COM defines word-of-mouth advertising as “the unpaid spread of a positive marketing message from person to person. It can take place directly using the human voice or can be transmitted via any communicative means such as through the internet or via text message.”
Ancient giraffe relative had thick legs, curly horns
PARIS, FRANCE — An ancient relative of the giraffe was a huge, heavy animal with thick legs, a flat face and massive, curly horns flaring out from its skull, said a study on Wednesday.
Coming soon: Mövenpick Boracay
By Zsarlene B. Chua
MÖVENPICK Hotel and Resorts have added another Philippine property to their portfolio as they are set to open Mövenpick Boracay in the second quarter of 2016.
New Year’s health resolutions
Medicine Cabinet — Reiner W. Gloor
I wish you a belated happy new year in this, my first column for 2016. May you enjoy good health in the new year, which is probably one of your wishes at the onset. Many of you may have made resolutions to enroll in a diet program and work off all the weight gained over the holiday season.
Your weekend guide (January 15, 2016)
EXHIBITS
Formal Elements, an exhibit of works by Irma Lacorte, is on view at Galleria Duemila until Jan. 30. The exhibit features a series of pencil drawings on circular 122 cm. wood panels prepared and coated with emulsion and gesso. Here, Lacorte works with amassed images from old coffee table books and reverts to the basics of image making by isolating or expanding line, texture, form, and tonal value. Lacorte is an accomplished artist who has also been exhibited at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and at St. Paul’s Gallery Columbia University in New York. Galleria Duemila is located at 210 Loring St., Pasay City.
On view at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’s Bulwagang Juan Luna and Pasilyo Juan Luna is Chromatext Rebooted. Co-curated by Jean Marie Syjuco and Krip Yuson, the group show involves artworks based on, coupled with, or related to words, poems, prose, or any kind of visual art executed by poets/writers including abstract, sculptural, conceptual and digital works. On view until Jan. 17.
RE:VIEW 2015, a year-end group show, is on view at the BenCab Museum’s Gallery Indigo until Feb. 7. The show features the works of 38 artists including Leonard Aguinaldo, Virgilio Aviado, BenCab, Marina Cruz, Emmanuel Garibay, Kawayan de Guia, Winner Jumalon, Arturo Luz, Raffy Napay, Leeroy New, Ramon Orlina, Soler Santos, Rodel Tapaya, and Olan Ventura. Also on exhibit at the museum’s Print Gallery is Philippine Views, an exhibition of 18th to 19th century prints. The BenCab Museum is located at Km. 6 Asin Road, Tuba, Metro Baguio.
The Vargas Museum at UP Diliman starts the new year with the opening of the exhibition BenCab: Another Scale, part of the year-long celebration of National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera’s 50 years as an artist.
Art Informal starts the new year with three shows, which are on view until Feb. 6. At the Main Gallery is Begin, a group exhibition by nine young artists — Pope Bacay, Julia Barrameda, Mars Bugaoan, Pin Calacal, Camille Cabatingan, Andie Harn, Kitty Kaburo, Henrielle Pagkaliwangan, and Veronica Pee — who are treading the various personal and impersonal geographies of beginnings. The Big Room houses Being, featuring an installation by Jacob Lindo. The Inner Room has Hagiography, a show of portraits by Jun-Jun Sta. Ana. The gallery is at 277 Connecticut St., Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City.
On until Jan. 16 at the Dragon Gallery is Cocolife’s Colors of Life, the gallery exhibition of the winners, runners-up, and special prize winners of the 6th Colors of Life Students Visual Arts Competition. The gallery is located at the second floor of the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.
Samsung Electronics Philippines and the Yuchengco Museum’s tribute to National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera is the interactive exhibit dubbed BenCab in Two Movements. It is on view at the museum until Jan. 16. Yuchengco Museum is located at the RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avess., Makati City.
The Metropolitan Museum of Manila takes its turn in celebrating the 50 creative years of National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera with a retrospective exhibit that runs until Feb. 27. The museum is at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Blvd., Manila.
Galleria Duemila in partnership Greenbelt presents New Life, a public sculpture exhibition by Impy Pilapil. The exhibit runs until Feb. 28, 2016 at Greenbelt Park, Makati City.
PERFORMANCE
Bituing Walang Ningning (The Musical) has performances at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila until January. Starring Mark Bautista, Antoinette Taus and Monica Cuenco, it is based on the famous film of the same name about an established star who finds herself competing for fame and love with a newcomer. Directed by Freddie Santos. For details, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999.
The concert JESSA ZARAGOZA — I am Me will be presented on Jan. 15, 8:30 p.m., at the Music Museum, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan. Tickets range in price from P1,100 to P2,900. Concept and Direction by Dingdong Avanzado.
Described as “The Best MMA Action in Asia-Pacific,” PXC51 (Pacific X-treme Combat) will be held on Jan. 16 at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort & Casino, Entertainment City, Parañaque City. The doors open 6 p.m. while showtime is at 8 p.m. The game card features Pitpitunge vs Lausa (Flyweight Championship), and Aguon vs Kwak (Bantamweight Championship). For details, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999.
Edgar Allan Guzman will have a concert called #alwaysEA on Jan. 16, 8 p.m., at the Music Museum, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan. Tickets range in price from P500 to P2,500. He will be joined by special guest Michael Pangilinan and guests.
American singer, songwriter and musician Nathaniel Joseph “Nate” Ruess will have a concert on Jan. 19 at the Kia Theater, Araneta Center, Quezon City, featuring the hits “Nothing Without Love,” “Just Give Me a Reason,” “We are Young,” “Some Nights,” “Carry On” and more. For tickets visit ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.
American rock band Chicago performs in Manila on Jan. 20 at the Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City. Tickets, which range in price from P1,575 to P6,300, are available on ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra presents The PPO Concert Series V on Jan. 22, 8 p.m., at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. The orchestra, under the baton of Tetsuji Honna, will perform Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 and Strauss’s “Rosenkavalier” Suite. Tickets range in price from P300 to P1,500. Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999.
Filipina pianist Cecile Licad will have a one-night only concert on behalf of the Philippine Italian Association (PIA) Endowment Fund and Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s tour of the US in June 2016, a historic first ever tour by a Filipino orchestra to the US. The concert will be on Jan. 27, 8 p.m., at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. For details, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999.
RETROWORLD: REtroSPECT Reunion Concert Tour 2016 will be held on Jan. 29, 8 p.m., at the Music Museum, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. Tickets range in price from P300 to P1,500. For details, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999.
Livin’ La Vida Imelda, Carlos Celdran’s one-man performance about the 1970s, Martial Law, and the life of the flamboyant former first lady will have performances at the Pineapple Lab, 6071 R. Palma Street, Poblacion, Makati, on Jan. 29, 30, and 31, 8:30 p.m. To reserve tickets, which cost P1,000, 0920-909-2021 or e-mail celdrantours@hotmail.com (subject: Imelda) to reserve.
PETA’s upcoming production, 3 Stars and a Sun, presents a dystopian future set to the music of the late Francis Magalona. After one particular deadly storm, the government decides to construct the Stormdome, a shelter that blocks out the sky and has millions of security cameras. With The Stormdome, peace and security is assured, but should we celebrate the loss of freedom? The musical will feature 20 songs by Mr. Magalona, from his hits and some unfamiliar ones, including surprises like a song with a kundiman structure infused with rock. The cast includes Paolo Valenciano, Nicco Manalo, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, and Bodjie Pascua. The musical will run from Feb. 4 to March 6 at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, QC. For details, call 725-6244, petatheater.com or ticketworld.com.ph.
The Sam Smith Saga
Getting the Edge in Professional Selling — Terence A. Hockenhull
APROPOS OF NOTHING, I believe Sam Smith visited the Philippines in 2015, and at his long-awaited concert, he sang a number of his greatest hits. Now, let me tell you a tale of an ongoing saga that kicked off in 2014 and ended a few short weeks before Christmas.
Gravitational wave rumors ripple through science world
MIAMI — Rumors are rippling through the science world that physicists may have detected gravitational waves, a key element of Einstein’s theory which if confirmed would be one of the biggest discoveries of our time.