Joyfully Yours

Onstage, Greenbelt 1 Theater's Entrance

Repertory Philippines opens their 2013 season with the comedy "Boeing Boeing" which is a story about the love adventures of an architect living in Paris.

A wall with Eiffel Tower's photo that sets the mood and brings one to feel you're in Paris. <3 p="">

During our 45th monthsary last week, my fiance and I watched the press preview of "Boeing Boeing" at Onstage, Greenbelt 1. Since he has been busy with work lately, I really wanted him to watch it with me to relax.

The casts of Boeing Boeing

The story begins with Bernard Whitford (played by David Bianco) talking to his maid Bertha (played by Baby Barredo & Joy Virata as alternate) about the schedules of his three fiancees who are all flight attendants.

David Bianco as Bernard Whitford

Baby Barredo as Bertha

It was really amazing how each of Bernard's fiancee has a different nationality so the meals should match their nationalities and also Bertha must be mindful of the photos on display inside the room. A crazy change arises when Robert (played by Topper Fabregas) comes in to visit Bernard and stays to see all the three fiancees.

Topper Fabregas as Robert

(Photo from Repertory Philippines)

I find the lines of Robert and Bertha quite brilliant with all the hiding and witty exchange that definitely made my tummy ache from all the laughing.

When Bernard was discussing how easy it is for him to juggle all the three fiancees and how easy it is for him to remember their name because it all starts with a G - Gabriella, the Italian Flight Attendant; Gloria, the American Flight Attendant and Gretchen, the German Flight Attendant.

I find the popping of the foot real cute! (Photo from Repertory Philippines)

Giannina Ocampo as Gabriella

(Photo from Repertory Philippines)

Jennifer Blair-Bianco as Gloria. She's the wife of David Bianco in real life.

(Photo from Repertory Philippines)

Carla Dunareanu as Gretchen She's half German in real life  so she can really speak English with German accent which is perfect for her role.

Bernard tells Robert that given their flight schedule, they'll never meet each other and know that they have the same fiance. A storm came and trouble arises which made all three stuck with him all together in his apartment! The show has literally become a laugh trip when Bernard, Robert and Bertha look for ways on how to help Bernard escape from the situation.

(Photo from Repertory Philippines)

(Photo from Repertory Philippines)

All throughout the show, my fiance and I were laughing our hearts out while holding hands and looking at each other. Even though the show is about polygamy, the way my fiance looks at me has assured me that I'm his one and only despite teasing me that he should've looked for a flight attendant girlfriend. *blush! :)*

The complete cast of Boeing Boeing with their director. Look at how wacky they look and you'll know how wacky they can get.

If you want a night full of fun and laughter with your special someone this Valentine's Season, this show is definitely your stress reliever! All you have to do is relax, fasten your seatbelts and hold each other's hand for a laugh trip!


Boeing Boeing is now showing at 2/F Onstage, Greenbelt 1 every weekends until February 17, 2013. Want discounts? Get 30% off your ticket if you show them an old boarding pass upon purchasing your ticket!

Look at that set! I love the "lips" backdrop which depicts how playboy Bernard is!

The artistic and creative team of Boeing Boeing is led by Baby Barredo (Rep Artistic Director), Miguel Faustmann (Stage Director), John Batalla (Lighting Designer), Miguel Faustmann (Set Designer & also the Director), and Raven Ong (Costume Designer).

Miguel Faustmann

The production staff is composed of Juno Henares (Executive Producer), Gidget Tolentino (Production Manager), Andrew Miranda (Stage Manager), Pol Roxas (Sound Technician), Pablito Salvador (Lighting Technician) and Adul Lasin (Set Execution and Scenic Artist).

Juno Henares

The marketing, sales and publicity is led by Toots Tolentino (Publicist), Charlie Barredo with Oliver Usison, Letty Barredo, Marie Talay and Rose Silva (Marketing and Sales).

Toots Tolentino

Co-presented by the City of Makati, Boeing Boeing  is  bound to  reintroduce a forgotten contemporary comedy, to a new generation of theatergoers. This show also won 2008 Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for Best Actor (Mark Rylance) and it also received four additional Tony nominations. A film version starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis was publicized as “ the big comedy of nineteen-sexty-sex.”


Celebrating its 46^th year, Repertory Philippines is now  accepting reservations for schools, civic groups and corporate sponsorships. For further inquiries regarding the details of show, please call 5716926 or 5714941 or email info@repertory.ph or log on to www.repertory.ph. Tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 8919999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.


To get more details of the show, visit www.repertory.ph, subscribe to youtube.com/repertoryphils, and “like” Repertory Philippines on Facebook.

After one year, the highly anticipated and 2012 Broadway World Winner for "Best Music for a Filipino Musical" returns on stage!


4th Wall Theater Company's Rivalry: Ateneo-La Salle The Musical challenges a regular family on how school rivalry can break or unite a family. It's one of those original Filipino musical which I believe anyone shouldn't miss no matter from what school you're from. Even though it's been a year from the time I first watched the show, I really think that it's brilliant and worth watching for repeatedly. To get a glimpse of how last year went, check out my review here.


Being from La Salle, I've seen how the school becomes a ghost town once Ateneo and La Salle are on the UAAP basketball semi-finals. The school canteens transform into a theater equipped with projector and speakers for unlucky students who still have classes to get an update on what's happening in Araneta Coliseum. There are even professors who require their students to buy tickets and watch the game live since they're fanatics. I experienced attending class during the semi-finals of Ateneo-La Salle when more than half of my classmates are absent so the professor was forced to dismiss the class earlier than the time. One is really out of the social circle if you don't know the details of what's happening in the Ateneo-La Salle semi-finals. I remember a professor saying that one is not a true Lasallian if one has not watch an Ateneo-La Salle basketball game live. Since I'm exposed to this culture during my college days, I do believe that having this school rivalry can put any family to test on where their loyalty is. 

The Lasallites

I remember how I love the songs so much last year! The songs are all original music by Ed Gatchalian and the brilliant lyrics were written by Joel Trinidad. There's a song that goes, "Give me a boy from La Salle, please..." that were sang by the Maryknollers that played over and over in my head for more than a week after watching the show. I think it is a mark of how good the song is because of its ability to retain in one's head.

The Maryknollers

A lot of the former casts are back! OJ Mariano will reprise his role as Paco Valencia together with Maco Alonso as Tommy Basilio and Athena Tibi as Reena San Jose.

OJ Mariano

The supporting cast includes Juliene Mendoza as Anton Valencia, Raymund Concepcion as Demetrio Basilio, Sheila Francisco as Dolores Basilio; Joel Trinidad as the Ateneo coach and Chino Veguillas as the La Salle coach, and a special appearance of Noel Trinidad as Eliseo Genaro. 

Noel Trinidad with Ed Gatchalian

Also featured are veteran theatre artists Caisa Borromeo, Kyla Rivera, Kakki Teodoro, Robbie Zialcita, Jun Ofrasio, Steve Conde, Will Angeles, Jenny Villegas, Diana Alferez, Angela Padilla. Bulinggit Delgado, Nelsito Gomez, Bym Buhain, Mark Tayag, Kevin Concepcion, Andre Calixto, Fran Jose, Jay Pangilinan, Francis Jovina, Harold Cruz and Anthony Tarossa Ong.

 
New actors who will join the show are:

(L-R) Jaime del Mundo, Ed Gatchalian and Joel Trinidad

The Ateneans

After opening in 26 locations around United States and Canada, Blo Blow Dry Bar, is opening soon in Manila at 2 different locations: Blo Rockwell and Blo Serendra!

Blo Blow Dry Bar is the world's largest blow dry bar chain that is the first to market no cuts, no color concept in North America with its first bar which opened on June 2007.


Having beautiful hair is a part of every woman's desire however, there are lots of times that you can't control when you're going to have a bad hair day. The most devastating of all is when you're having your passport photo taken on a bad hair day! You'll have that picture for years to remind you of how you look like on a bad hair day. Just look at this picture:

My ID picture back in the 80s

Yes, you're right! That's a reminder of a bad hair day. I think every woman is familiar with tying their hair into a ponytail or bun whenever you wake up with your hair all frizzy and going to different directions. It's quite frustrating! Look at that tiny ponytail at the back! Good thing I was a cute kid (please don't argue with me on this! :P) so somehow people can forgive that hair going to all directions.

Answering the call of every woman's desire to have beautiful hair, Blo Rockwell is opening on February 8, 2013 and Blo Serendra is opening on February 10, 2013! Filipinas who want to have top-notch tresses can get affordable, catwalk-quality hair for only PhP500. Blo opens as early as 7am so you can fix a bad hair day just before going to school or work.

Sounds interesting? I want to try them out and feel pretty for a day but before visiting them, I have checked out their website blomedry.com and take a look at some of the services they offer:

Red Carpet: This classic blo out will make the paparazzi snap. Smooth tresses with lots of body and gentle arcs toward the neckline. Monroe at her heartbreaking best. A must-do for cocktails or an espresso- induced shopping spree.

Executive Sweet: We're talking skyscraper straight. Our best irons are on the case. This hair means business and is de rigueur for the power meeting, the "time for a raise" talk or a boardroom presentation.

Hunt Club: The perfect pony. Every little girl dreamed of getting one for her birthday and this time you get exactly what you ask for. A polished look for an impromptu polo match or just because.

High Society: This coif is guaranteed to get you whatever you want. How do we explain? A high altitude tornado tamed to perfection. Channel your inner Hepburn for Breakfast at Tiffany's. The perfect accompaniment to a little black dress (sigh).

Which one do you like most? Just by looking at these services, I'm already confused on which one to try first. We'll see when I'm already there. :)

Aside from the above services, Blo will also be offering its signature "Blo on the Go" and "Blo Bridal" services - Blo's top session stylists will deliver flawless hair in-bar or wherever curl-power is desired or required, 24/7. Walk ins are accepted and online reservations are also available.

Blo Rockwell Bar will be located at Stall #019 P1 Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City, Philippines. Blo Serendra Bar will be located at 2-CO1A 2/F, Serendra, Fort Bonifacio, Global City, Taguig, Philippines. You may contact them at +63917-6-BloDry (256379), blorockwell@blomedry.com or bloserendra@blomedry.com.

Are you excited? 'Cause I already am! You can book now and maybe we'll see each other there! ;)

Since 1967- 2012, Repertory Philippines has produced well-known shows as Les Miserables, A Chorus Line, Carousel, West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, Fiddler On The Roof, My Fair Lady, Sound of Music, Evita, Woman in Black, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Equus, Private Lives, Amadeus, Man of La Mancha, Jekyll and Hyde and more than 300 other plays.  The works of Shakespeare are also a regular part of Repertory Philippines’ program.  Some productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, and Romeo and Juliet.  For young audiences, the very popular REP Children’s Theater has produced musicals such as Pinocchio, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin (Jr.), Jack and the Beanstalk, Seussical and The Wizard Of Oz.

This 2013, Repertory Philippines starts their season with Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti and translated by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans which will be directed by Miguel Faustmann.   



Boeing Boeing is about "an architect living in Paris has been successfully juggling three flight attendant fiancées with his housekeeper reluctantly playing romantic air-traffic controller as they fly in and out of his swank bachelor pad. But when an old school pal visits, things get rather turbulent. Schedules change, flights are delayed and chaos ensues in this whirl of mayhem and matchmaking."  

David Bianco will essay the role of Mr. Bernard Whitford, an American architect businessman living in Paris ---  a swinging bachelor. He is a combination of Don Draper and Jack Tripper. A playboy who juggles love affairs with three air hostesses who touch down briefly but lovingly in his apartment between flights.

David Bianco as Bernard Whitford

Topper Fabregas will play the role of the unworldly Robert, Bernard’s boyhood friend, newly arrived from Wisconsin.    

Topper Fabregas as Robert

Bringing to mind fantasy drawings from a vintage Esquire or  Playboy for a portfolio of international dream girls are the three fiancées: Giannina Ocampo as  Gabriella, the sentimental, lusty Italian stewardess. Carla Dunareanu as Gretchen, the hilarious, aggressive, dominating but thin-skinned German stewardess. Jennifer Blair-Bianco as Gloria, the Southern belle with upbeat disposition take-charge health-obsessed American stewardess.

Giannina Ocampo as Gabriela

Baby Barredo, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Repertory Philippines, will be making a comeback on stage and will play the role of Bertha, Bernard's long-suffering housekeeper who is a chic, black-clad philosopher. A French existentialist maid who loves nothing more than to complain. Ms. Joy Virata is alternate.

Baby Barredo as Bertha

Joy Virata alternates as Bertha

Repertory Philippines' next show will be No Way to Treat a Lady with book, music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen based on the novel by William Goldman.





The third show is the one to be highly awaited for! If you remember this song by Simon and Garfunkel, I'm sure you'll know the title of the show:

God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson

Heaven holds a place for those who pray

(Hey, hey, hey...hey, hey, hey)

If you've guessed it right, you're probably a fan of the film just like me! :) The Graduate on film was directed by Mike Nichols which starred the then young Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Broddock whose raging hormones lead to the seduction of Mrs. Robinson played by Anne Bancroft. The film is adapted for the stage by Terry Johnson based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry.

The show will be starred by the sexy la divina of Philippine Theater Ms. Cherie Gil together with Reb Atadero and Cara Barredo. It will be directed by Jaime Del Mundo.

Because of the show's contents, it will be strictly for adults 18 & above only. The playdates will be on April 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27, 2013 – 8:00PM and April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28, 2013 – 3:30PM.

The fourth show will be Repertory Philippines' Children's Theater which has been one of the most awaited shows every year by a lot of schools & parents. This year, they're staging one of the most loved shows of all times, Alice in Wonderland.



Follow Alice as she goes into a magical world where she meets lots of interesting characters who will be teaching her life lessons that she will never forget. Playdates will be on August 17 – December 15, 2013. The show will be directed by Joy Virata.

The last show by Repertory Philippines for 2013 is The Producers!



As a big Broadway musical, The Producers once again sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor. This classic cult comedy broke all records and won a record 12 Tony Awards - including Best Musical -  more than any other musical ever!


Often called the “most professional English-speaking theater company in the country,” REPERTORY PHILIPPINES is the only company in the Philippines that has been doing what it knows best—performing shows of wholesome, quality entertainment—so that Philippine audiences can enjoy the pleasures and gain the lessons uniquely offered by the theater experience.  

In fact, if you've been following my blog, my first theater experience was with Repertory Philippines and I've fell in love with theater then, hence my blog is filled up with a lot of entries about shows I've watch. Thanks to Repertory Philippines! 

For Rep 2013 Season tickets and more details of each show,  please call 5716926 or 5714941 or email info@repertory.ph or log on to www.repertory.ph.  

Repertory Philippines is also  accepting reservations for corporate sponsorships, schools and civic groups. Visit www.repertory.ph, subscribe to youtube.com/repertoryphils, and “like” Repertory Philippines on Facebook for more updates about their shows.