Dulaang UP presents "The Country Wife"

Acclaimed director Tony Mabesa adapts and directs Dulaang UP’s fourth offering for its 39th season, the Philippine premier of William Wycherley’s The Country Wife. A classic sex comedy written in 1675, it satirizes hypocrisy and human judgment that dominated the Puritan Regime, issues that still hound contemporary society. DUP also stages Ang Misis Kong Promdi, a direct Filipino translation by Nicolas B. Pichay.

The Country Wife's plot revolves around the lives of men and women of high society; lives that are entangled in a paradox of love, marriage, reputation, mores, sexual conduct, and politics. A notorious philanderer’s homecoming ignites a series of infidelities and indiscretions. An innocent young woman from the countryside speaks honestly of her thoughts and desires posing a challenge to the gendered norms and moral codes of 16th and 17th century London. 

An ensemble of seasoned theatre actors headlines the cast- Martha Comia and Sue Prado alternate as Mrs. Margery Pinchwife the “country wife” of the title, who visits London for the first time and there slowly loses her innocence. Neil Ryan Sese and Jay Gonzaga take turns playing the lecherous and manipulative Harry Horner. George de Jesus and Tarek El Tayech play Jack Pinchwife, the jealous and potentially violent husband to country bumpkin Margery. Issa Litton and Karen Gaerlan essay the role of the intelligent and morally upright Alithea. Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino suits up as Mr. Sparkish, a dimwitted and narcissistic playboy, together with alternates RS Francisco and Arvin Trinidad. Ian Ignacio and Carlo Tarobal take the stage as Frank Harcourt, a rake who falls in love with the admirable Alithea.

Completing the stellar cast are Leo Rialp, Jacques Borlaza, Adriana Agcaoili, Dolly De Leon, Brian Arda, Sigmund Pecho, Bea Paloma, Rizzy Alejandro, Joanna Lerio, Ron Biñas, CesAldaba, Francis Mata, Aurora Yumul, Chona Fernando, Gian Carlo Patelo, Regina Mendezona and Yvonne Ricaro

The artistic team is a collaboration of some of theatre’s most creative minds. Lights design by Shakira VillaSymes, sounds design by Jethro Joaquin, technical direction by MelitonRoxas Jr., set design by Clint Ramos, costumes by Eric Pineda, dramaturgy by Joanna Lerio, and photography and posters by Dino Dimar.  

The Country Wife runs from November 19 to December 7, 2014 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2nd floor Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. For tickets, sponsorships, and show buying inquiries, call Samanta Hannah Clarin or Camille Guevara 926-1349, 433-7840, 981-8500 local 2449 or email dulaangupmarketing@gmail.com.

Bih-Zahr: Giving fun all day

From Bih-Zahr's Facebook page

Bih-Zahr (read as bizarre) RestoBar is a cozy restaurant during the day and a hip-hop, rock and rainbow haven in the night.

Located at No. 6 Scout Borromeo Street, South Triangle, Quezon City, it offers a wide variety of promos and group bundle of food and drink that is very light on the pocket.

Our menu offers an extensive variety of great food and cocktails for everyone’s taste. To name a few of what we offer on our menu like Sinuglaw, Pork Sisig, Sisig Pizza, Fish and Chips, Gambas, Nachos, Beef Salpicao, Steak, Chili Fingers and Dynamite.

Our chef would recommend you to try our Pancit Bihon and Pancit Guisado, it may sound that you already have tasted it a gazillion time, but when you taste our pancit you can say “This is it!”.

We also offer a wide variety of cocktails for our ladies and mocktails for those who do not drink alcohol and on the rocks drink like rum and  whiskey.

Bih-Zahr RestoBar offers a week of different activities starting with:

Monday Blues-where all the music is soothing to the ears that will relax you

Tuesday’s Ladies Night-all ladies will get one (1) free cocktail upon entering and ladies will rock the night away

Wednesday 80’s-turn back time as we en route you to the sound of the 80’s

Thursday's Rainbow Party-a night filled with laughters from our LGBT invited friends

Rocker Fridays-they will rock until you drop.  

Hip-Hop Saturdays-lots of scratching and DJing.

Batangas to experience "Sandstorm"

On November 21st, The Philippines will bring forth a festival that will fuse its biggest talents in one massive celebration of sound–the Sandstorm Electronic Experience, produced as a collaboration between So Familiar Productions, The Wildfire Productions and Trance Till Dawn.

The event aims to make a staple when it comes to the music festival in Southeast Asia as well as  to make the Philippines, the next music destination.

The festival will be a 3 day event at 3 stages and over 50 of the country’s greatest performers from Metro Manila, Cebu, Bacolod  and Davao are representing every group from the city’s forward-thinking best scene producers, the enigmatic underground techno enthusiasts, the soulful house music lovers, the iconic bass music elite, to every hard hitter of the country’s biggest clubs and more.

Sandstorm’s official venue is the Southcrest Beach Resort. A 15 hectare of a scenic land near the beach in San Juan, Batangas.

The events' major transportation sponsor DLTB bus line will be shuttling guests from Manila–Batangas–Manila. Tickets are sold from P7,000 for VIP and P4,500 for General Admission.

Some of the industry’s biggest names embellish the lineup. Huge icons such as Deuce Manila, Motherbass, Red-I, Pav Parotte, Funk Avy, Martin Pulgar, Similar Objects, The Zombettes, John Odin, and Mecaha have been revealed to be performing for the festival.

Joining the list are 2 international artists to be revealed in the coming days.

A unique facial experience

By Ivan Saldajeno, Dugout Philippines

JUST like women, men need facial care too, so it's not surprising that boys go to facial centers too. However, I found a very unique facial center inside the Bonifacio Global City.

Skin Philosophie, formally called Skin Philosophie Medical Aesthetic and Lifestyle Solutions, offers a unique kind of treatment. I tried it out.

In my previous facial experience, I had my face sprinkled with warm water. However, at Skin Philosophie, there are no water sprinkler, and the machines used for the facial are totally different from the others.

Some of the machines used in my facial.

However, like the other facial centers, the mission is the same: to have a youthful skin free of the nasty pimples.

The entire facial process

After an hour of the clinic's signature facial, my face got refreshed, younger-looking, and clearer, that is, most of the pimples are gone.

Aside from the facial, Skin Philosophie, owned by Dr. Kyla Talens, offers other services.

In fact, Skin Philosophie offers a fat-burning radio frequency treatment where anyone who avails of the said service can shed off those unwanted fats and have that beach body he or she wants for the beach outings.

(Update as of April 1: For this summer season, however, Skin Philosophie offers an 80 percent discount on its RF treatment. For only PHP560, you can blast out the fats from you. The promo is good until May 31.)

For further details, you can visit Skin Philosophie at the third floor of the Fort Strip at the corner of 28th Avenue and 7th Street at the Bonifacio Global City. You can also call the clinic at 2118762, 2158080, or 8567451. You can also visit its website at skinphilosophie.com or its Facebook page at facebook.com/skin.philosophie.

(Update: The writer is now an accredited lead generator for Skin Philosophie Medical Aesthetic and Lifestyle Solutions, and as a special offer by the writer, you can avail any of the services in the said clinic for five percent off. If you wish to do so, just post a screenshot of this post, print it or save it to your gadget, and present it to Skin Philosophie. Be sure you have made your reservation a day before your treatment schedule.)

Team effort pushes Eco to win in Tamron Goes Wild

Klienne Eco took the grand prize for taking the best macro photo in the first Tamron Goes Wild photography contest at the La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City.

Eco braved the rainshower and took a beautiful picture of a snail walking through the park.

Eco walked away with a Tamron 90 mm VC lens as the first prize.

In the interview, Eco said that it was a total team effort for the photo as he and his two friends collaborated for to be made possible.

Roms Lopez won second place, while Marty Marcedo was third.

Both Lopez and Marcedo received Tamron non-VC lens.

On the other hand, Anthony Balbin won the Bird Man Race after taking photo shots of 30 different bird species at the park.

Balbin won a Tamron 150-600 mm lens.

FYI reveals new shows for November

Two new shows will premiere on FYI Channel this November.

Every Thursday at 9:00 PM starting on November 20, follow a group of chefs as they invent spectacular new dishes, on a whole new "epic" level in "Epic Meal Empire".

Meanwhile, on Fridays beginning on November 28 at 9:00 PM, watch as Shasta and her team take on 2 awe-inspiring design projects each week on "Red Hot Designs".

Also, "Bondi Vet" continues every Wednesday at 9:00 PM with an all-new season beginning on November 5.

HODD to organize huddle in Pasig

Storytelling is an age-old tradition of the world. It has been practiced to pass on information, make sense of experiences, and understand one another. It has the power to immortalize individuals and events, incite ideas and action, and bring people together. It is in the spirit of this powerfully unifying practice that Hero Of D Day and CSR World bring to you Share a Story, Save the World: A Volunteers’ Meet-up.

On the 8th of November, Saturday, 6:00 PM, aspiring and seasoned volunteers from the youth sector will meet at Co. Lab, Brixton St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City to tell their own tales and listen to others. Php 250will  avail  participants of  a  Hero Of  D Day kit,  certificate,  food,  drinks,  and an invaluable storytelling experience.

There will be an opportunity to share volunteer stories with fellow volunteers. Mae Paner, an advocate of  freedom,  justice,  good  governance,  and social  change is  slated to  speak at  the event. Geoanna Corneby, a Corporate Social Responsibility officer and an active volunteer for various NGOs that further youth development, empowerment of the poor, and nation building, will be conducting a writing workshop for the participants as a culminating activity as well.

Share a Story, Save the World: A Volunteers’ Meet-up is led by two groups one in the cause–Hero Of D Day and CSR World. Hero Of D Day is a social media organization that believes there is a hero in every one. Focusing the lens on the everyday hero, it recognizes great and small acts of heroism by collecting stories and publishing them online. CSR World is the youth department of Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation that ensures the knowledge and experience of young people on CSR 3.0–Citizenship, Sustainability, and Responsibility–are comprehensive and will enable them to be better citizens.

Both organizations focus on stories of volunteers and volunteerism and through this joint event, they aim to inspire participants to pursue their passion for helping others and live lives worth telling stories about.

To register for the event, please go to www.heroofdday.org/hoddhuddlecsrworld.