Christian, Karylle, and Joanna sing Leonard Bernstein’s classic hits

Think of putting top-notch actors, talented and creative people, and a moving love story in one stunning venue like the Meralco Theater. What you get is a world-class stage production.

One of the most highly anticipated productions in the local performing arts is the Manila re-staging of West Side Story featuring Christian Bautista to play the lead role Tony, and Karylle and Joanna Ampil to share the plum role of Maria.

On Sept. 5, local production company Stages will raise the curtain at the Meralco Theater for the musical that transports the classic tale of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to the turbulent streets of the Upper West Side in 1950s New York City.

West Side Story was first staged by Repertory Philippines in 1981, where Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, who now directs the musical, played the role of Maria while executive producer Audie Gemora played Riff.

The multi-million re-staging of this production also has Gerard Salonga leading the FILharmoniKA orchestra as musical director. Part of the creative and technical staff are Mio Infante (scenographer), John Batalla (lighting director), Bobbit Jacinto (sound designer) and Eric Pineda (costume designer).

Veteran theater actor Gemora is excited about the revival of this musical, which is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International in New York and will precede a new Broadway production in 2009.

“Anything live is spectacular, and the best thing about a theater version is that everything is well written. Staging West Side Story is also a challenge for us because we had to get actors who can both sing and dance. And this production is not just about living the essence of the story alone, it’s about the whole cast and the people behind it,” Gemora said.

Gemora is more than glad to have Joanna Ampil in the production. He said that having Joanna adds up a certain level of polish to the entire ensemble.

“We have a bunch of neophytes, but equally great actors. But when you put Joanna with the rest of them, she simply stands out,” he revealed.

Gemora related to Karylle as a joy in the musical while Christian as a talented actor who made dramatic improvement through proper training.

“Karylle is such a joy. She is very sweet and looks fitting for the role. She really looks like Maria. With her, there’s a certain demand vocally. She is used to doing pop so she had to be trained singing in soprano. While with Christian, he is really into it, we see his dedication and focus,” he added.

West End’s Joanna Ampil who left the country 16 years ago to star in the Sydney and London productions of Miss Saigon arrived in July for the rehearsals. She also shared her excitement for the role she is going play. When she heard the news that West Side Story is going to be staged here in Manila, she personally contacted Audie Gemora to audition.

“It’s always been my dream to perform with Filipino audience. That’s why when I perform abroad and there are Filipinos in the audience, I feel like I have an unspoken connection with them. I will never feel complete without performing here in my country and with Filipino of course,” Joanna shared her enthusiasm.

Christian Bautista, who Gemora believes is suited to play the lead role, underwent different trainings to prepare particularly for the role of Tony. Bautista considers his role in the West Side Story as a great learning experience and that it has transformed him into a versatile performer.

“Well aside from vocal trainings, I started working out because I need to look big on stage. This is my first leading role in a stage production, and in a big venue, so I studied everything and focused on intense acting,” Asian pop heartthrob Christian explained.

According to Gemora, there is a great possibility of bringing the production on a tour in Asia next year. It all depends on the success of the show at the Meralco Theater that runs from Sept. 5 to Oct. 12.

Completing the stellar ensemble of West Side Story are Rowena Vilar, Pam G, Jake Macapagal, Jeff Singson, and Gian Magdangal, Jordan Aguilar, Marielle Alonzo, Jed Amihan, Rosanne Araneta, Earl Baer, April Luz Belarmino, Caissa Borromeo, Joanna Marie Cabrega, Red Concepcion, Napoleon Ching, Pom Decena, Carlos Deriada, Guji Lorenzana, John Philip Martir, Francis Matheu, Beth Munar, Michelle Murenec, Mikaela Padilla, Anthony Ong, Vinia Pamplona, Sam Prudenciando, Rizza Ribo, Bobby Superales, Jay-Anne Tensuan, Erwin Villanueva, Gerald Yranon, Noel Zabala, and theater veterans Richard Cunanan, James Paoleli, and Jaime del Mundo.

For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Stages at 818-1111 local 225. Ticket prices range from P500 to P1,200.

Mister International Philippines: A classy male pageant

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

The fashion and entertainment industries teem with beautiful women who often grace the television programs and advertisements, magazine covers and gigantic billboards. They have been heralded as the epitome of beauty.

Yet their male counterparts, once overlooked by the public, can now claim their share of ogling eyes from, don’t raise your eyebrows, not only women but men as well.

Mister International Philippines 2008 candidates

On Sept. 1 at 7:30 in the evening, 18 dashing men will parade in the Activity Area of posh A. Venue Events Mall in Makati City to vie for the title of Mister International Philippines 2008.

The winner in the pageant will represent the country in the prestigious Mister International 2008 in Kaoshiung, Taiwan on Nov. 23.

Since its emergence in the beauty pageant arena in 2006, Mister International has become an international annual tradition with countless young men all over the world vying for the title. This Singapore homegrown pageant has evolved into a powerful, year-round organization that advances and supports the contestants.

Today, the Mister International titleholder is also the official ambassador of men in the world who continues to stand proud breaking boundaries and defining what it means to be man of the 21st century.

“A lot of people will condemn me for saying this but there is a clamor for a classy male pageant. Mister International Philippines is not just a sleazy male beauty contest. This year, we are bringing this pageant into a new level of legitimacy,” Mike Lim, pageant organizer and producer, told the Standard Today.

Lim added that the winner of the local pageant will be exposed to different charity events and outreach programs in a larger scale and will be a spokesperson who will promote the organization’s advocacy.

Mister International is an annual search for the most beautiful men from different countries, but last year’s Philippine representative Ian Leonel Porlayagan was not able to compete in Malaysia.

“Alan Sim, the president of the international competition, was not very pleased when the country failed to send our representative. For seven months, he had lost contact with the local organizers, so he personally contacted me to handpick a delegate. But I thought of conducting a real pageant instead,” Lim revealed. “We are also giving last year’s winner Ian Porlayagan a chance to join the pageant again because we believe that everybody deserves another chance since he expressed his desire to compete and represent the country,” he added.

Three official screenings were conducted and more than 200 hopefuls showed up during the selections. Lim disclosed that they reserved three more slots for the fourth screening held early this week. They decided to do another screening to complete the final 18 candidates.

Right now, the 12 men who officially qualified in the pageant’s high standards are Marvin Miranda, Ian Leonel Porlayagan, Jeff Surio, Juan Lorenzo Quitiquit, Leo Reyes, Christian Ang-Cayabyab, Philip Ramos, John Bardo Espiritu, Mike Lee, Ricswartz Sibal, Dennis Torres, and Norman Mallare. They will be judged in three categories: swimwear, evening wear, and interview.

The board of judges will be chaired by Bohol socialite Lani Schoof. Other judges include Venice Jeweler’s Judy So, A. Venue’s Nancy Coo, celebrity columnist Crispina Belen, designers Paul Cabral, Barge Ramos, Ricky Abad and Renee Salud, Salon Prive’s Joef Simpson and Aficionado’s Joel Cruz.

Renowned designer Barge Ramos will be providing the barong tagalog for the finalists, with Ricky Abad for the swimwear, Eric delos Santos for the party wear and Jeff Rogador for the suits. Freego will be the official jeans sponsor and Philosophy for Men for the club wear. Victor Ortego will be doing the hair and makeup.

“This pageant is like a fashion pageant. It will be fast paced. There will be no special awards. After the swim wear and formal wear competitions, we will cut the finalist in half then we will proceed to the Q and A, then the announcement of the winner will follow. The first and second runners-up will get P5,000 and P10,000, respectively, and the winner will receive P20,000,” Lim concluded.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Asia

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

“Do you know Jimmy?”

“Jimmy who?”

In the streets of Singapore, Star World has been doing an advertising campaign asking local people if they know Jimmy Kimmel. “Jimmy who?” would more often than not has been the answer.

Yet, that advertising campaign heralded the premiere of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Asia.

Hosted by Emmy-winning comedian Jimmy Kimmel himself, the show is now airing exclusively on Star World.

Weekdays at 10 p.m., cable viewers in the Philippines can have a different late night viewing experience through one of the most innovative and irreverent talk shows on the planet.

“We were brainstorming on how to add up spice on our programming and we all thought that adding something to the late night viewing will be better. Jimmy Kimmel is very popular in the US so we decided to bring the show here in Asia. We are the very first to bring the show outside the US,” shared Nini Yusof, Star regional vice president for affiliate marketing.

The talk show has been famed for having high-profile actors, athletes, musicians and politicians on its guest list. It also features elaborate and innovative stunts such as having Quentin Tarantino and J.J. Abram guest-directing an entire episode or picking up Paula Abdul, Flavor Flay, and Feist using the Big Blue Bus (a municipal bus operator in LA).

Early this year, a video-sharing Web site has helped propel Jimmy Kimmel Live! to new heights with now an infamous video. The video contains an episode wherein Sarah Silverman, Kimmel’s ex-girlfriend, surprised the audience (and Kimmel) with a video clip featuring Matt Damon detailing their affair.

A month later, to counter punch Silverman’s video, Kimmel came up with a stellar lineup of stars in a parody that reveals his affair with Matt Damon’s pal Ben Affleck. Both video clips have been seen by over 100 million YouTube users.

“Philippine viewers are very intelligent. I think we are ready for a different kind of humor like that of Jimmy Kimmel’s” said Adel Chik, marketing manager of Cable Technology Asia Corp.

In the show’s early episodes, Jimmy Kimmel served beer to his guests and let his audience drink in the studio’s bar before the show. When somebody in the studio audience threw up in the middle of the program, one of the staff had to carry that person out of the studio. It was the last time they saw alcohol on the show.

Also during the first episodes, Kimmel sported casual attire. In October 2005, he suited up and started wearing a tie and jacket. The makeover worked: in less than two months, the rating had climbed by 15 percent.

As the name suggests, when the show debuted in 2003, it went to air live in the US. But when some guests used indecent language or behaved badly (rapper Snoop Dogg famously flipped his middle finger on camera), it was decided to have a one-hour delay between the taping and the telecast.

The show, which had just celebrated its 1,000th episode, is filmed at Hollywood’s El Capitan Entertainment Center, across the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars. Jimmy Kimmel says: “We love doing the show there. It’s a great spot. We could make a bit out just pointing the camera outside and talking to people as they walk by. Not too many shows have that luxury.”

Intramuros concert pays tribute to the Katipunan

By Nickie Wang/Manila Standard Today

In a candle-lit room, members of the Katipunan denounced the abuses of the Spanish government and swore to fight colonial oppression. The Katipunan or Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Supreme and Venerable Society of the Children of the Nation), one of the successor organizations of La Liga Filipina that was founded by national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, was a revolutionary organization founded by the great plebeian Andres Bonifacio.

One hundred sixteen years later, Intramuros Administration (IA) staged Mabuhay, Pilipinas! Alay sa mga Anak ng Bayan, a concert dedicated to the Filipinos who valiantly fought during the revolution against Spain for the liberation of the Philippines.

Compared to the humble place where Katipunan was established, the program on Aug. 13 was held in a grandiose colonial house influenced by the architectural styles of art noveau and art deco. The venue of the concert was the Casa Blanca at the Plaza San Luiz Complex in Manila’s Walled City.

“Every month of August, we pay homage to our national heroes who died fighting for Philippine independence,” Intramuros administrator Anna Maria Harper said. “I am greatly honored to welcome everyone to this concert that honors our brave heroes,” she added in her opening remarks.

The one-hour concert directed by Felipe de Leon Jr. celebrated beautiful classical and patriotic songs of the 19th century, composed by Filipinos regarded as strong pillars of the Philippine music and who established the nationalist tradition. Nicanor Abelardo, Francisco Santiago, Julio Nakpil, and carried on by the next generation of composers among whom were Antonio Molina, Juan S. de Hernandez, and Felipe de Leon are included as well.

Their works are rarely performed and heard in the concert stages these days. One of the goals of the concert was to generate awareness of the various aspects of the 19th century music aside from honoring brave heroes who risked their lives just to gain independence.

Among the musical pieces performed included: “Alerta Katipunan” by the Lyceum University Chorale; “Mula ng Mauso ang Damit,” an 1873 folksong of General Trias, Cavite, sung by baritone Jonathan Badon: and “Jocelynang Baliuag,” rendered by former Central Bank governor Jaime Laya.

The concert also featured pianist Nena del Rosario-Villanueva who impressed the audience with her version of A. Doronila’s “Philippine Rhapsody.” Pianist Jourdann Petalver, soprano Camille Lopez, and violinist Coke Bolipata were also outstanding in entertaining the mostly elite audience. The program ended with the singing of Felipe de Leon’s “Ako’y Pilipino” sang in unison by all the performers.

Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque and National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ Vilma Labrador were the nationalist concert’s guests of honor. Also present in the event were president of Heritage Conservation Society of the Philippines Gemma Cruz-Araneta and fashion designer Pitoy Moreno.

Rediscovering Boracay through Fairways and Bluewater

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

What else could we enjoy in Boracay?

Touted as one of the 10 best beaches in the world by Yahoo Travel for its pristine blue water and blindingly white sand, Boracay has more than relaxation, clubbing, and beach activities to offer.

During the first Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Country Club Amateur Golf Media Invitational, local press discovered something normal Bora goers have hardly experienced before. We visited the resort to learn how to play golf yet the experience turned to be serendipitous. As first-time golfers we had our own funny wind shots, yet we met new friends, stuffed ourselves with good food and had an adventure while basking in the tranquil panorama of the island paradise.

From the domestic airport in Manila we boarded in a 20-seater propeller type plane. The plane was quite noisy and it hurts our ears while landing at the island’s port of entry in Caticlan. But the auditory torture was alleviated because Fairways and Bluewater has its own lounge at the airport. Visitors of the resort can wait there before they are shuttled to the resort’s posh welcome center, which is just less than a five-minute ride.

Friendly and attentive staff greeted the press with a welcome drink—our initial taste of the resort’s superb hospitality— and gave our designated room numbers.

“You can feel the difference from the time you arrive at the airport. We would like to enhance the arrival experience of our guests and members,” resort general manager Gregg Pearson said during his sit-down with the press.

The exclusive welcome center of Fairways and Bluewater, a facility that other resorts also use for a fee, transports the visitors directly to the resort complex via private ferry boats in a blissful 15-minute ride.

Spacious and finely furnished rooms and condotels will welcome the guests after their trip. The resort complex has an array of accommodation options. The vast expanses of greenery surrounding the villas are simply mesmerizing. The units are self-sufficient and feature panoramic views of the manicured surroundings and the sandy white beach. The apartment-style guestrooms are equipped with sophisticated facilities just like at the Balaihara Villatel where we stayed for two nights and three days. The opulent accommodation includes air-conditioning, a balcony overlooking the golf course, satellite TV, direct dial telephone, fully equipped kitchen, coffee/tea maker, and a luxurious bathroom.

Aside from the golf course, guests also have access to private beach coves and the white beach of Boracay, the nine Balaihara Villatels are spread along the fairways of holes 1, 2 and 8. Each building has 30 rooms with an area of either 50 square meters or 70 sq m each (the biggest space you can find in the island).

Pearson said there are condotels that have the most scenic view of the resort; they are named Villa Maria, Villa Margarita, Villa Sofia, and Villa Ysabel. They are first-class condotels that offer buyers with ownership of their Fairways and Bluewater units in Boracay. These buildings also have a view of the Sibuyan Sea. Designed to accommodate the discriminating taste of holiday visitors, suites have all the amenities of home. The spacious two-bedroom, one-bedroom and studio units accommodate families or groups without sacrificing privacy.

… the golf

A day before the Amateur Golf Media Invitational, we had an ocular tour of the entire golf course with Steve Polastri, who also patiently instructed us during the golf clinic.

Designed by Australian master golfer Graham Marsh, it is a spectacular 18-hole par 72 world-class golf course blanketed by lush greens and fairways that compliment the tropical surrounding of the island. The cemented golf cart pathways that snake through the entire complex ease the way of traveling around.

It is surprising that in the little island of Boracay, there is a resort that offers this kind of amenity. The golf course alone constitutes 70 percent of the entire area of the resort complex. The resort itself is 120 hectares or 10 percent of Boracay’s total land area. It spans the entire width of Boracay, creating not just one but three stunning stretches of splendid white beaches.
The golf course was designed to test one’s skills. The developer, Fil-Estate Properties Inc., did not alter the natural landscape of the island when they constructed the resort to create rolling and undulating terrains. It is a tough test for golfers but an exhilarating experience of teeing off feeling the sea breeze and the magnificent warmth of the Boracay sun.

… the gulp

It was an exciting night at the resort’s clubhouse when we had our dinner at the Andaluz Restaurant, which specializes in Spanish-Moroccan cuisine. After our sumptuous meal, we headed to the poolside where the resort holds “The Thirsty Thursday.” This is a drink-all-you-can event at the clubhouse where golfers and gulpers alike can have some nice chats.
The clubhouse is located conveniently inside the complex; it serves meals and scrumptious snacks. It is also home to a freshwater infinity swimming pool, a children’s pool, a game room, an open-air deck patio, a grill restaurant, and a conference/events room.

Just beneath the clubhouse is the Paradise Cove that provides beachfront cabanas and lounge chairs where golfers can soak up the sun. This was the venue of the luau party organized by the resort to the participants of the golf invitational. It is just a perfect place to see the stars and walk along the secluded beach while having a private time with someone special.
Just above the clubhouse is the Pirate’s Den where La Terreza is situated. La Terreza, as the name suggests, offers buffet meal where guests can dine and enjoy the spectacular view of the Bulabog Beach.

… and the adventure

We had the chance to ride ATVs (all terrain vehicles) and drove at the westside of the resort complex. We experienced seeing the real beauty of the island while raising our way to reach both ends of the resort. The vehicles provided an exciting new adventure for the press people. These machines are easy and dependable to ride and can reach even inaccessible areas.
The more vigorous guests of the resort can try horseback riding and a variety of water sports such as jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, para-sailing, mini-cruising, island cruising, wind surfing, among others.

In 1993, Noel “Toti” Cariño and other founding members of Fil-Estate Properties Inc. envisioned to build a world-class golfers resort complex in Boracay. Now, their vision is to make Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Country Club one of the best resorts not just in the Philippines but also in the entire region.

“They [other resorts in the island] don’t have what we have, here our guests have the option to get away from the hustle and bustle here in Boracay,” Pearson affirmed.

Whether you are a professional or an amateur golfer or even if you’re not a fan of the sport, Fairways and Bluewater is a perfect access to the islands most precious offering. It’s not just the golf, the gulp or the adventure that people will remember when they leave the island, it’s the experience and the moment they shared with people they love in a small piece of heaven where everything is just splendid and beautiful.