Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Philstage Gawad Buhay! 2013 Citations for 1st & 2nd Quarter

9:58:00 PM 0 Comments
Philstage proudly announces the first and second quarter citations of the "2013 Gawad Buhay!" the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts.

Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Ibalong,” a dance-musical reimagining of the Bicolano epic, topped the list with 15 citations in the performance and technical categories.
Ibalong” was adapted for the stage by Rody Vera, with the neo-ethnic rock music provided by Carol Bello and direction and set design by Tuxqs Rutaquio. It garnered citations in the following categories: Outstanding Original Musical, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, Stage Direction (Tuxqs Rutaquio), Adaptation or Translation (Rody Vera), Musical Direction (Carol Bello), Musical Composition (Carol Bello), Choreography (Alden Lugnasin), Costume Design (Leeroy New), Lighting Design (Katsch Catoy), Sound Design (TJ Ramos), Set Design (Tuxqs Rutaquio), Female Lead Performance in a Musical (Delphine Buencamino and Jenine Desiderio), and Male Featured Performance in a Musical (Cheeno Macaraig and Jonathan Tadioan).

The Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (Peta) “D’Wonder Twins of Boac,” which transposed Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” into the dying days of the old studio system of Philippine movies, was a close second with 14 citations. The adaptation was again courtesy of Vera, with music by Jeff Hernandez and direction by Peta artistic director Maribel Legarda.
D’Wonder Twins of Boac” was cited in the following categories: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical, Stage Direction (Maribel Legarda), Adaptation or Translation (Rody Vera), Musical Direction (Jeff Hernandez), Musical Composition (Jeff Hernandez), Choreography (Carlon Matobato), Costume Design (John Abul), Sound Design (Jeff Hernandez), Set Design (Lex Marcos), Female Lead Performance in a Musical (Cris Villonco), Female Featured Performance in a Musical (Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino and Gail Billones) and Male Featured Performance in a Musical (Lao Rodriguez).

Both “Ibalong” and “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” are musical productions. No original straight play was cited as an outstanding production in the first two quarters, but Actor’s Actors, Inc.’s staging of John Logan’s Tony Award-winning play “Red” was cited in the newly created category of Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play, as well as in seven other categories: Best Ensemble Performance for a Play, Stage Direction (Bart Guingona), Lighting Design (Jolu Escano), Sound Design (Dodo Lim), Set Design (Damien Anne and Baby Imperial-Anne), Male Lead Performance in a Play (Bart Guingona) and Male Featured Performance in a Play (Joaquin Valdes).
Tying with “Red” is 9 Works Theatrical’s “They’re Playing Our Song,” which also got eight citations, including for its two leads, Nikki Gil and Lorenz Martinez. 

Meanwhile, in dance, Ballet Philippines’ “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” grabbed 11 citations, including Outstanding Modern Dance Production and Outstanding Ensemble in a Dance Production.

Now on its fifth year, Gawad Buhay! is the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts juried by an independent panel of critics, scholars, artists and theater enthusiasts. Outstanding individual and group achievements in various artistic and technical aspects of play, musical and dance productions and performances are honored based on quarterly citations deliberated by the jury who are required to watch all productions of Philstage member-companies for the entire year.

From the four quarterly citations, the jury will select the final nominees qualified to win the awards by the end of the performance season. Awarding ceremonies will be in early 2014.

Philstage is the only alliance of professional performing arts organizations in the Philippines. Its members include Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Gantimpala Theater Foundation, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), Peta, Repertory Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, Trumpets, Actor’s Actors, Inc., 9 Works Theatrical and Philippine Opera Company.

The Complete List of 2013 1st & 2nd Quarter Citations

Outstanding Original Play
• No citation


Outstanding Original Musical Production
• “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• “Ibalong” (Tanghalang Pilipino)


Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Play
• “Red” (Actor’s Actors, Inc.)

Outstanding Production of Existing Material for a Musical
• “They’re Playing Our Song” (9 Works Theatrical)

Outstanding Classical Dance Production
• No citation


Outstanding Modern Dance Production
• “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Ballet Philippines)


Outstanding Stage Direction
• Bart Guingona, “Red” (AAI)
• Maribel Legarda, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• Robbie Guevara, “They’re Playing Our Song” (9WT)
• Tuxqs Rutaquio, “Ibalong” (TP)


Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play
The Cast of “Red” (AAI)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical
 The Casts of “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
 The Casts of “Ibalong” (TP)
 The Casts of “They’re Playing Our Song” (9WT)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Dance
 The Casts of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)
 The Casts of “Ballet & Ballads: Broadway Mamas” (Ballet Manila)

Outstanding Original Script
• No citation


Outstanding Original Libretto
• No citation

Outstanding Adaptation or Translation
• Rody Vera, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• Rody Vera, “Ibalong” (TP)

Outstanding Musical Direction
• Carol Bello, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Jeffrey Hernandez, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• Joseph Tolentino, “They’re Playing Our Song” (9WT)


Outstanding Musical Composition
• Carol Bello, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Jeff Hernandez, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)

Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production
• Carlo Pacis, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)

Outstanding Choreography for a Play or Musical
• Alden Lugnasin, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Carlon Matobato, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)

Outstanding Costume Design
• Eric Pineda, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)
• John Abul, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• Leeroy New, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Raven Ong, “Boeing Boeing” (Repertory Philippines)


Outstanding Lighting Design
• John Batalla, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)
• John Batalla, “The Graduate” (Rep)
• Jolu Escaño, “Red” (AAI)
• Katsch Catoy, “Ibalong” (TP)


Outstanding Sound Design
• Chuck Ledesma, “They’re Playing Our Song” (9WT)
• Dodo Lim, “Red” (AAI)
• Jeff Hernandez, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• TJ Ramos, “Ibalong” (TP)


Outstanding Set Design
• Damien Anne and Baby Imperial-Anne, “Red” (AAI)
• Mio Infante, “No Way to Treat a Lady” (Rep)
• Mio Infante, “The Graduate” (Rep)
• Mio Infante, “They’re Playing Our Song” (9WT)
• Lex Marcos, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• Ricardo Cruz, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)
• Tuxqs Rutaquio, “Ibalong” (TP)

Female Lead Performance in a Play
• No citation


Male Lead Performance in a Play
• Bart Guingona, “Red” (AAI)
• Reb Atadero, “The Graduate” (Rep)

Female Featured Performance in a Play
• Carla Dunareanu, “Boeing Boeing” (Rep)

Male Featured Performance in a Play
• Joaquin Valdes, “Red” (AAI)

Female Lead Performance in a Musical
• Cris Villonco, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• Delphine Buencamino, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Jenine Desiderio, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Nikki Gil, “They’re Playing Our Song” (9WT)


Male Lead Performance in a Musical
• Audie Gemora, “No Way to Treat a Lady” (Rep)
• Lorenz Martinez, “They’re Playing Our Song” (9WT)


Female Featured Performance in a Musical
• Gail Billones, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)
• Pinky Marquez, “No Way to Treat a Lady” (Rep)
• Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)


Male Featured Performance in a Musical
• Cheeno Macaraig, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Jonathan Tadioan, “Ibalong” (TP)
• Lao Rodriguez, “D’Wonder Twins of Boac” (Peta)

Female Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production
• No citation


Male Lead Performance in a Classical Dance Production
• No citation

Female Featured Performance in a Classical Dance Production
• No citation


Male Featured Performance in a Classical Dance Production
• No citation

Female Lead Performance in a Modern Dance Production
• Katherine Trofeo, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)
• Kris-belle Paclibar, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)

Male Lead Performance in a Modern Dance Production
• Cyril Fallar, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)
• Richardson Yadao, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)

Female Featured Performance in a Modern Dance Production
• Guia Dequinto, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (BP)


Male Featured Performance in a Modern Dance Production
• No citation

A Fun Indoor Picnic

3:14:00 AM 0 Comments
Stuck in traffic at Ortigas Avenue on a rainy day, my fiancé and I stopped at this dainty looking restaurant in Ronac Art Center.
Flowers in a Perrier bottle turned flower vase together with the hot sauce, salt and pepper shakers and utensils.
Board games to kill time.
Simple white pepper mill.
It feels like I'm in an indoor garden with all the brown, green and white colors of the restaurant. The one long table concept is actually quite a space saver yet it offers the fun feeling of relaxation like the long tables of parks that are ready for picnic-goers.  Good thing Lunchbox uses chairs with back rest and not the bench that comes in with this type of table which makes the setting more comfortable.
Wooden walls and floors with one long table. The wooden chairs are custom made too.
Love the recycled wine bottle used and decorated as a water bottle.
Cute Knitted Coaster
The Menu
Being a comfortable setting, the menu offers comfort food just fit for the setting like breakfast meals, savory sandwiches, delish soup and more. There's no need for photos to show how the food looks like because everything is just so familiar!

The Food
I started the meal with a bowl of soup since it was raining and I wanted to make myself feel warm. The bowl of soup is actually quite big and can serve two but since I love a good bowl of French Onion Soup, I have finished the whole bowl. *Don't judge me! I just love good food! Don't you? =D*
French Onion Soup
Loving the indoor picnic setting, my fiance and I ordered sandwiches! We were actually surprised that they offer sandwiches which we've only seen on the west side of the globe! Without a second thought, we ordered these special sandwiches which we've been craving for such a long time!

It's the first time my fiance saw a Reuben Sandwich being offered in Manila. When he ordered it, he hoped that it will come out just like how he saw it during his trips.
Reuben Sandwich with Potato Chips and Ginger Carrot Soup
Can't help myself take a bite to try how it tastes like! It brings back memories of my trips back to the west side of the globe on how good sandwiches were in that side of the globe! I love the fact that the sauerkraut wasn't toned down in taste and brings out the juicy flavor of the meat in the sandwich.

My order was a Pastrami Sandwich. I've seen some pastrami sandwiches being offered by some restaurants that has only disappointed me. However, Lunchbox's pastrami is different! The meat is thick, juicy and peppery. The mustard on it just makes the pastrami very flavorful and every bite longs for more bite!
Pastrami Sandwich
I have missed out the part on the menu that says the sandwiches comes with home made potato chips and soup however, I still like it since everything just tastes so good! I also like how sandwiches were presented on a tray which is quite neat.
Pastrami Sandwich
Home Made Potato Chips (Lunchbox also offers bottomless potato chips on their menu.)
Soup of the Day (Ginger Carrot Soup)
After the almost filling meal and being so happy with having an indoor picnic during a rainy day, my fiance and I stayed to try their Chocolate Souffle. I've never had souffle before so I'm quite excited to know how it tastes like. The owner who is also the chef told us that the souffle takes about 30 minutes to prepare because she does everything from scratch and hand made.

Well...Since we're happy with the food we've tried, we decided to go with the order and just chill & relax while waiting. For me, it's my time to take more photos of the lovely place!
When the Chocolate Souffle came out, it felt like Christmas morning! It was a huge, bubbly chocolate in a red and white bowl!
Chocolate Souffle
I'm glad that we had a long wait before dessert so that much of what we've eaten have digested a bit ready to finish this yummy delight!
Time to dig in!
Crusty Outside, Moist Inside
Really yummy!
Look at that runny middle part that oozes out when I scoop it!
Alright, a better picture now! :)
If I have made you hungry, Lunchbox is just located at the ground floor of Ronac Art Center in Ortigas Avenue. It's along the stretch of Greenhills to San Juan area just before you reach the Petron gas station.
The short haired girl is the owner/chef of Lunchbox ready to whip out a delicious meal when you order!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

In the Shoes of a Viking

6:00:00 PM 0 Comments
Ever wondered what do vikings do? Looking at the etymology of what vikings mean in the Old Norse feminine noun, the word means an expedition overseas. From the late 8th to mid-11th centuries, vikings went on expeditions to raid, explore and trade in different parts of Europe and Asia.
True to its name, Vikings (the restaurant) offers a wide range of food from all over Asia, Europe and America! Stepping into the restaurant will make one feel like a viking ready to raid (the food), explore and finally trade (or pay) after a delightful expedition!
Just looking at all the glorious food will make one salivate, hungry and ready to munch!
The good part is, drinks are included in the buffet package and what's more, there's beer too! It's a perfect place to drink and be merry for life's celebrations!

Despite bringing out the viking in you, the environment is quite classy with their chandeliers which reminds one to behave properly and eat with poise.
This particular branch of Vikings is located at the 4th level, The Block in SM North Edsa. The location is great because tired shoppers can get to feast after all that crazy shopping! Other branches of Vikings are located at SM Mall of Asia Complex and at SM Marikina.
(L-R) Jeman, Karla, Missy, Michelle, Joyfully Yours, Carizza and Rhea.
With my former Redhead Model Search Bloggers (Rhea, Carizza, Mich & Rovie) and former AM, RJ
RJ as The Table Manager (Behind us are the servers as RJ's bosses)
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