Nov. 30 book launch set for Ricky Lee’s first ever novel
After being the most-acclaimed Filipino movie scriptwriter, Ricky Lee wears another hat in his star-studded career by launching his first novel entitled ” Para Kay B (O kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin)” on Nov. 30, 4 pm. Venue is the UP Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman, Quezon City.
Previously, Mr. Lee published books but they were more literary adaptations of his screenplay. The list includes “Trip to Quiapo” (considered a bible by aspiring screenwriters), “Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon” (anthology of short fiction, essays and a screenplay), and Brutal/Salome (the first-ever published film scripts in the Philippines).
“This is the realization of a lifelong dream for me,” says Mr. Lee, whom I had the fortune of interviewing in the past at his house in Xavierville, Quezon City – the official address of the notable Ricky Lee scriptwriting workshops. Mr. Lee is an avid bibliophile and also has an enviable collection of films in all formats.
A grand tour of the National Museum, anyone?
It’s been ages since I visited the National Museum. I used to work in that hallowed building back in the 90s, because the Philippine Senate was housed there. It’s really such a shame to be ogling at museums in other countries and not loving your own. Must.go there.soon.
The National Museum today has undergone a complete transformation. In fact it can already compare with its counterparts in Asia and beyond. It boasts of an extensive art and artifact collection housed in 21 galleries and spanning two colonial-era buildings. What can be seen in its historic walls? The works of great men like National Artist Fernando Amorsolo whose ongoing retrospective at the museum features his best works and drawings.
Somebody says one of the best gifts you can give to yourself this Christmas is the gift of cultural understanding and appreciating art. It is the gift of having a Grand Tour of the National Museum. Who can disagree with something noble like that? Details after the jump:
Biggest outdoor art gallery in Asia… only in the Philippines
It was only in the Philippines where you find a member of the so-called Manila’s Finest being apprehended for the crime of snatching. It is also only in the Philippines where you can now find the “biggest outdoor art gallery in Asia.” The latter is good news. We love it when things turn for the better, and aren’t screwy, as some events and happenings in this country are.
This humble space can’t help but laud the gigantic effort of the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP) to mount works of art in the metro’s major highways. While it is human to ogle at those beautiful faces and sexy bodies in billboards peppered by artistas and lingerie-clad models around the city, contemplating about art while stuck in the traffic rut can be an edifying experience. And this commuters will see with masterpieces about nature and preserving the environment dominating ad spaces in some of the country’s major roads.
The Manila Outdoor Art Gallery route coming soon in the highway near you. Featured are the works of the most promising Filipino artists Popo San Pascual, Riel Hilario, Eddie Boy Escudero, Jose Terence Ruiz, Mario V. Fernandez, Gari Buenavista, MM Yu, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Lotsu Manes, and Tina Fernandez .
More pictures after the jump:
Postscript: Philippine Blog Awards 2008
This modest space congratulates the finalists and winners of the Philippine Blog Awards 2008 which just had its successful run at One Esplanade last Sept. 21. It was blogger power at its finest, the awards having been organized by a group of bloggers and carried to fruition by a big army of blogger-volunteers. Everything, from the smashin’ AVPs to the emceeing and last-minute details, was done by bloggers.
I can still remember the first blogger event I attended in 2004 which filled a long table at Cabalen. Now, blogging in the country has come a long way!
Each year I feel obsolete, and each year I feel amazed at the wealth of blogging talents that keep cropping up. This is how I look at it because I judged the Blog Awards in some categories again this year. Doing so has always been an enlightening experience as it opens my mind to great blogs I haven’t added yet to my Google Reader. These are the blogs who we don’t get to see in the blog events, or get monetized, or who don’t receive 75 comments. Read: underestimated. I will always doff my hat to fellow bloggers who blog with aplomb and blog for the sheer love of it, treating it almost like science, or a well-researched dissertation. All i can say is: wow, people! 
Cirque du Soleil is the reason why I wanna go back to Macau
The world-famous Cirque du Soleil is now in nearby Macau! Their show at the luxurious Venetian Macao, billed ZAIA, formally launched to the public last August 28 after a soft opening on July 26. This should be a must-see! This means that we don’t have to go as far as New York or Las Vegas to see the troupe’s elaborate costumes, awesome dances or amazing acrobatics. It can be viewed right there at the Venetian’s 3D Theater (seating capacity: 1800) that has been built for the purpose.
ZAIA (Greek for “life”) is a 90-minute spectacle of “dance, movement and aerial acrobatics.” According to the official brochure, ZAIA “presents a young girl’s perception of the stars and planets, space and infinity, all populated by a panoply of fantastic, literally out-of-this-world creatures.” Ticket prices are MOP 388 to a high of MOP 1288 for VIP seats. MOP or Macau pataca is almost the same in value as the Hong Kong dollar.
I am inspired to watch Cirque du Soleil after watching the world-class performance of the Wanders performers at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Paranaque City. The whole family enjoyed Wanders and was proud that something of that magnitude is right here in the Philippines. Now I figure that Cirque du Soleil is something that will bring out the ooh’s and ahh’s of my kids as well.
Just a thought: Cirque du Soleil was conceived by Europeans. Don’t know how they will impress Asians who are accustomed to the feats of those nimble Chinese acrobats. A glimpse of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics showed us that 
PAGCOR’s show of ‘Wanders’
(Photos courtesy of PAGCOR’s Corporate Communications Department)
If you’re looking for an entertainment extravaganza that you will truly be proud to show to your kababayans from the provinces, balikbayans and tourists, then bring them over to Wanders which is now on an extended run at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Paranaque City.
As a PAGCORian, I can’t help but be proud that there is a show like this in our midst, the Philippine version of the world-famous performing troupe Cirque du Soleil. Wanders was conceptualized by PAGCOR Chairman Efraim Genuino to bring world-class entertainment to Filipinos. It utilizes topnotch Filipino musicians, entertainers and talents, with the help of agile acrobats from China and a host of dancers from Russia. It is one and a half hours of non-stop entertainment all the way!
Wanders is for young and old alike. My kids enjoyed every bit of it as it transforms them to a magical world of make-believe. One of my favorites is this trio of young contortionists who are barely in their teens. Man, can they bend! Reminds me to load up on my calcium
My son had fun watching all the maneuvers of the male acrobats from China. They come from the province of Henan which is where most of China’s treasured acrobats come from. You can just imagine the gravity-defying stunts that await everyone in the Beijing Olympics.
Beer from around the world … at Red Box
Filipinos undoubtedly like their beer. San Miguel, the most popular brand, is to beer what Jollibee is to burgers and jeepneys are to the ordinary Pinoys’ means of transport. According to stats, “Filipinos consume 1.25 billion liters or 3.9 billion bottles of beer per year,” most of which I believe are shared over good company and sizzling plates of sisig or some other pulutan.
I honestly haven’t tasted as many varieties of beer in my lifetime as when I attended the Beer Appreciation Night at Red Box, the “uber-ly wholesome” karaoke bar in Greenbelt 3 (with another branch in Trinoma). Apparently, Red Box is where you can find one of the most extensive beer selections in the metro.
Why beer? Because it seems Pinoys believe there is a correlation between singing and alcohol content – the more you drink, the more you’ll likely to have the guts to belt out those tunes in front of other people, as opposed to just singing in the shower. And beer is just out there as one of the most accessible, convenient drinks around.
Asia’s GEM – Gaming & Entertainment + Leisure Expo Manila 2007
This past week has been very busy at work attending to the VIP guests of an international gaming expo which was held for the second time in the country this year. Seems not too many people got wind of the show at the World Trade Center (or maybe I just missed my blogger-friends?) Anyway, camphones and cameras of all kinds are not strictly not allowed in the casinos (for security reasons) but at the WTC expo we had the freedom to take shots ~ of all those leggy models, the sexy ladies, gleaming slot machines, colorful roulettes, state-of-the-art bingo, the electronic poker and everything else that’s the latest in gambling now. There was also a casino-dealing competition, a gaming conference and celebrity poker tournament. If you missed betting on the tables without spending a dime of your own money, be sure to be there in 2008 as this expo is getting to be bigger and bigger each year. Let the pictures show you why.
D’Blogparteeh in pictures
Uh. The just-concluded BlogParteeh07 didn’t turn out to be boring as I thought, in fairness to those who organized it and everyone who took the time to attend. Proof of this was the fact that I had only planned to linger for a couple of hours but stayed till the end. It was everyone’s turn to shine, particularly the new bloggers who are just starting to come out of the shell, so to speak. There is a bustling blogging community in the country and the presence of freebies, prizes and sponsors that night proved that some people now recognize that bloggers are a formidable force to contend with. Indeed.
Anyhoo, here are some of my fave photos of the event taken with my camphone and some grabbed from my blog buddies Karla and Ade. From top left:
1) Women bloggers rule?! Noemi of aboutmyrecovery, moi, Karla and Gail of Kutitots.
2) Ade gained wieght while Mac-toting Aaron lost a lot. Por que?
3) I smiled for the camera without knowing that Mr. Bean (aka Jayvee F. of b5media) is clowning around in the background)
4) BlogParteeh founder Yuga hands over the party’s grand prize – an iPod Video – to oh-so-lucky dude AJ of janep.org.
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Blogging since 2004 and recently married to Mr Z. I can't live without coffee....and brown sugar.
