Ang Bagong Harana

Last night, Setember 29 marked the premier of "Ang Bagong Harana" presented by the Philippine Opera Company at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza.

I had the pleasure of attending this premier which awed me from start to finish.  This also leaves me 2 more days to tell my friends about this wonderful musical experience which will take you back to your childhood days of songs and dances.

The Philippine Opera Company's production showcases Kundiman songs and  folk songs from the Visayas and Mindanao regions including traditional Cordillera and Maranao chants.  A task, which the cast members,  admitted took intensive researching and months of rehearsals albeit their busy schedules. 

Excerpts from songs of George Canseco, Willie Cruz and Ryan Cayabyab will also be heard such as Pangarap na Bituin, Ngayon at Kailanman, Kastilyong Buhangin and Sana'w Wala Nang Wagas to name a few.  I am definite that most of the audience will hum to these tunes, even more, sing along (scenario last night in the auditorium).

Dance interludes were provided by The Ramon Obusan Folkric Group, also another spectacle to see in "Ang Bagong Harana" production.  The ROFG boasts as a forerunner of Philippine folk dances performed closest to the original and was founded in 1972.  They were also one of the resident dance companies of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.   Maglalatik, Pandanggo Sa Ilaw and Sayaw sa Bangko were some dances they performed that I recognized.

The icing on the cake for me during this show was when all the cast members sang the song "Anak" by Freddie Aguilar, a song that my mom would teasingly sing to me and admittedly, I'd feel a pang in my heart knowing that the song hits me, my life and my personality right on the dot.  Tearjerker! 

Indeed, Ang Bagong Harana is a musical journey every Filipino should take.  Let us support Filipino talents.  Make do without the foreign tunes for just one night and get re-acquainted with our own heritage and culture.  A whole family attraction, it's high time to take your parents on a night out to something that they would truly appreciate.  You will not be disappointed and would go home with a glow in your heart, feeling proud again to be Pinoy! 

Directed by Floy Quintos, Ang Bagong Harana presented by the Philippine Opera Company will run from September 29 - 30 at 8pm and on October 1 at 3:30pm and 8pm respectively at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza Makati City.


For tickets, please call:
Philippine Opera Company - 881-7168 or (917)527-2880
Ticketworld - 891-9999

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The powerhouse casts:

Twinkle Prietos – Soprano	Al Gatmaitan – Baritoner	Janine Santos – Soprano
Floyd Tena – Tenor	Jurgen Unterberg – Tenor	Lawrence Jatayna – Baritone
Jack Salud – Baritenor	Karla Patricia Gutierrez – Soprano,  Artistic and Managing Director, POC	Nazer Salcedo – Tenor
Marian Santiago – Soprano	Marvin Gayramon – Baritone	Charley Magalit - Soprano

Where is CEB?

Find CEB, fly anywhere for free

I, for one, like to travel, unfortunately, time and money are always against me with regards to leisure.  Good thing Cebu Pacific, brings us another exciting promo (aside from their usual seat sale): Where in the world is CEB? The fun airline is giving travelers the chance to enjoy free trips as they introduce CEB, their cute mascot.  Tidbit: CEB made his debut appearance to a small group of media friends last Sept. 9.

Going back to the promo: starting September 12, watch out for CEB’s visits in different offices and universities in Metro Manila, North Luzon, Cebu and Davao. Upon seeing CEB(you can't miss him), just take a photo of yourself holding a sign showing your destination of choice(only Cebu Pacific Air destinations), together with CEB the mascot.  “Like” the Cebu Pacific Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cebupacificair, fill out the registration form and indicate where CEB was spotted, then upload the photo entry on the Where in the world is CEB? Facebook app.

Three (3) winners per area will be picked weekly via electronic raffle every Monday thereafter CEB's visit starting September 19 until October 10. Only one raffle entry/pic upload per area is allowed. Photo entries will only be qualified for the raffle if uploaded within the week of CEB's visit to your area.  Winners will get four (4) roundtrip tickets each to the Cebu Pacific destination they wish to fly to.

Be sure to catch CEB on these dates. Venues will be announced in the Cebu Pacific Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/cebupacificair ):

Week of September 12 to 18 – Metro Manila
Week of September 19 to 25 – North Luzon
Week of September 26 to October 02 – Cebu
Week of October 03 to 09 – Davao

For more information on promo details and fine prints, go to www.facebook.com/cebupacificair and www.cebupacificair.com .

The Sound of Music at RWM

"Do a dear, a female dear, Re a drop of golden sun..."

So goes the song that I would sing and vehemently make my brothers sing when we were much, much younger than we are now.  This musical film is our mother's favorite, therefore we have a copy of it at home.  I would watch this film over and over, resulting to me (as a little girl) emulating some scenes and memorized the songs by heart.  For nostalgic reasons, not a year would go by that I wouldn't watch the movie for the pure enjoyment of the songs and the good memories it brings me after seeing it again for the nth time. (Ahh... to be young again and have no care for the world...)

Fortunately, for us Generation X, Resorts World Manila is presenting an all-Filipino talent cast reprising the all-time classic favorite, "The Sound of Music" in RWM's Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) in Pasay City.  This theater boasts a humongous LED screen (claimed to be the largest in Southeast Asia) that will surely add eye-candy to your viewing pleasure with video animated scenes during the actors' performances.


The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse based on a non-fictional character, Maria Von Trapp born in 1905 in Austria.

The Characters:

Maria	Joanna Ampil, Cris Villonco (alternate)
Captain Georg Von Trapp	Audie Gemora, Ed Feist (alternate)
Mother Abbess	Pinky Marquez, Shiella Francisco (alternate)
Max Detweiler	Miguel Faustman, Robbie Guevarra (alternate)
Baroness Elsa Schraeder	Pinky Amador, Lynn Sherman (alternate)
Liesl Von Trapp	Tanya Manalang, Rachel Coates (alternate)
Rofl	Marvin Ong, Bryan Homecillo
Friedrich Von Trapp	Paolo Luis Ocampo, Luis Nieto
Louisa Von Trapp	Danielle Sanghio, Rebecca Coates
Brigitta Von Trapp	Atasha Muhlach, Janina Punzalan, Alessadra Allado
Kurt Von Trapp	Roberto Sison, Anton Posadas, Justin Sian
Marta Von Trapp	Alida Moberg, Paula Therese Zamesa, Sofia Yabyabin
Gretl Von Trapp	Alexa Villaroel, Shanti Gleason
Frau Schmidt	Debraliz Valasote
Franz the Butler	Eduardo Bouffard
Herr Zeller	Lorenz Martinez
Sister Berthe	Jennifer Villegas, Carla Guevara
Sister Margaretta	Sarah Facuri, Pamela Imperial
Sister Sophia	Jillian Pena, Maxine Sian

The Sound of Music will run starting October 15, 2011 to December 11, 2011.  Show time are 8:00PM (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), 3:00PM and 8:00PM (Saturday) and 3:00PM (Sunday)

Come and see this spectacular musical showcased by our very own Filipino talent and sing along to your favorite songs like The Sound of Music, Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Climb Every Mountain, Do-Re-Mi , Sixteen Going on Seventeen and The Lonely Goatherd.

For ticket reservations and inquiries, contact any Ticketworld outlet or the Resorts World Manila Box office.  More information can be found at www.rwmanila.com


To be updated.