Why to watch RED theater with Bart Guingona?

Coz thanks to this brave efforts of producers like Bart Guingona we can enjoy Broadway titles with Broadway quality productions.

Coz Bart Guingona is a theater legend of the Philippines and leads, directs and produces the play.

Coz it's the 2010 Tony Award Winner for Best Play written by American writer John Logan about the famous abstract expressionist painter artist Mark Rothko.

Coz TV host Joaquin Valdes plays the role of the assistant and is great as an actor. I didn't know him before and know I have to say I respect him and look forward to new works.

Coz u have to rush. Only 4 shows in Manila. ‘RED’ is set to open on February 22, 2103 - 7:30 P.M. at CSB - SDA Theater, 5/F College Of St. Benilde School of Design And Arts located at Pablo Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. The other playdates are on Feb. 23; March 1 and 2, 2013.

Coz I really enjoyed it. Intense. No fall down in rhythm. Always interesting, and very educating about painting :-D

Coz if you are into the arts, this is your theme. The mental fight of an artist between being true to himself or sell art for commercial purposes.

I wonder how they get the money back with such nice productions and such short runs with theater in the Philippines. Bravo for the guts!

Why watch They're Playing Our Song the musical, in Manila?

Coz Nikki Gil is a fabulous actress and singer and she's really proving it here! She was super full of energy and super confident with her character. You can really see she worked on it deeply and makes it seem effortless.

Coz Robbie Guevara, the director does a very good job. Not for no reason he comes from Repertory Philippines where he learned everything as he said several times.

Coz it's very brave for 9Works theater company with Santi Santamaria as the executive producer to produce Broadway musicals one after the other, so we Filipinos can enjoy them. Thank you.

Coz the chorus has well seasoned thespians and friends who have been proving themselves for so many years.

Coz the many sets are fantastic as you can see in these pics. I'm amazed of how productions that run for such a short time (the normal thing in the Philippines) can make back the money having such good sets, and props, and costumes and artists.

Coz the musical director Jo Tolentino is super energetic and coordinated perfectly even when he had the orchestra divided in each side of the stage!

And check the ushers, they're sexy thespians too!

For details go http://www.facebook.com/9workstheatrical

Congrats 9Works for a good good production! Looking forward for Grease.

January 2013 mash up

Continuing an attempt to track my progress and remember what I do so I don't think I'm a lazy person myself, here is what I did in January 2013.

Joined the Philippine Opera Company in a small nice concert, check the pics.

Rehearsed in for Marco Polo the musical with Broadway director Kenny Howard a short workshop to see what the play looks like, it will still show in 2014. I play the role of Mongol Baron Tegan.

Joined the production team of Marco Polo as a line producer.

Was in the preview of Repertory Philippines' straight play Boeing Boeing. Awesome, so funny! My blog about it here.

Working hard in the renovation of iChill Theater Cafe, and had our first casting event. More pics.

Published my short version of opera piece O Sole Mio from an event.

Had a nice vacation and photoshoot in Boracay.

Article from the gay pride with our picture in it :-). And also my personal blog post about it.

Got this awesome jacket with my name for belated Xmas!

Thank you for being there :-)

http://www.facebook.com/kuyafanclub

http://www.facebook.com/kuyamanzano

https://twitter.com/kuyamanzano

Nov-Dec 2012 diary

Continuing with the purpose of knowing where I put my time and energy. Here the end of last year.

Shooting of film Slumber Party with Ms. Venus Raj. Lots of pics here.

Recorded Besame Mucho Spanish love song in my particular way.

Recorded Christmas of Love by Njel de Mesa. A mash of many different artist. Here my part only.

Awesome Urban Pirate photoshoot by Marian Yu.

Halloween turned into scary superhero Thor-ror, also by Marian Yu.

Shot Japanese film Death Match in Manila.

My directed feature film "Changing Direction" opened in Ecuador, South America.

Supremo film with Alfred Vargas opened in Manila.

Casual look photoshoot, by Marian Yu.

We won the best float prize in Manila's Gay Pride.

Shot a commercial for a bank.

Opened film "Si Agimat, si Enteng at si Ako".

Think all this is quite a lot of activity for those two month of ending of the year, yep. :-)

I'm in the social groups if you want to keep close track of me: Twitter - Facebook.

Thank you, and keep up the good work!

Why to watch Boeing Boeing by Repertory Philippines?

My very personal recommendations to watch this new theater play in Manila.

Coz Repertory Philippines is 46 years old. The longest running English theater company in the Philippines, they started it all. And most theater companies nowadays are founded by Rep members.

Coz Baby Barredo, the diva of Philippine theater is on stage again after 3 years, watch the experience in action!

Coz there's an amazing cast of new and pretty faces.

Coz you can enjoy different accents if you are into that kind of stuff fetish :-D American, German, Italian...

All directed by Miguel Faustmann, another theater legend who has been in Rep Phils forever.

Leaded by David Bianco who is also the lead of Marco Polo the musical, rehearsing with me everyday :-D

Coz there's a new actress who just arrived from Singapore. Who was in the TV serie The Kitchen musical. Who is the girlfriend of Christian Bautista (if you love chismes). Who is a radio host in the mornings (89.9FM I was told). That is a real master class of acting and totally steals the show. Concentrated, in character and with a great corporal theater training that shows in every move. She is Carla Dunareanu.

Cast completed by beautiful and talented Giannina Ocampo and Jennifer Blair-Bianco as Bianco's lovers and Topper Fabregas. More of them all in this link.

Partylist for Disabled in the Philippines: Pilipinos with Disabilities.

There's a new option to vote for in congress, a party that looks after the blind, the austists, the ones in a wheel chair, anyone with a disability in the Philippines.

Pilipinos with Disabilities - PWD

Leaded by Mr. Michael Barredo, a blind man who has represented the Philippines all over the world in multiple organizations, who now takes a new challenge.

A. To work for the full implementation of RA 10070 which calls for the establishment of Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in every City and Municipality in the country --- this will serve as the nerve center on matters that affect PWDs, ensure active participation in community life & governance, and facilitate their mainstreaming back to society.

B. To push for the establishment of a national Registry for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) in the Philippines as provided for under RA 7277, IRR Rule IV, Sec. 3, Heading A, Sec. 1.1.3)  with a reliable data base through which formulation of programs and activities that will benefit PWDs as well as those caring for them, will be facilitated.

C. To effect a decent and viable program that would bring about opportunities for employment in order to free PWDs from bondage of poverty, neglect and despair. This could be achieved with the implementation of EO 417 which aims for economic independence by ---

· Urging all government agencies, even LGUs to emulate compliance started by the DepEd to grant whenever possible organizations of PWDs the privilege to supply 10% of the agency’s annual requirements for manpower services as well as material items (e.g., tables, chairs, desks, etc.). 

· Enjoin TESDA to set aside a budget specifically to provide PWDs with technical education and training in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) to equip them with skills needed to find good jobs. 

· Providing help and technological advice to organizations of or to PWDs that wish to engage in livelihood activities. 

· To assist PWD organizations secure financial support for its programs, projects and activities. 

D. To convince the national government to provide a package of benefits and better social protection through enrollment with PhilHealth and membership with Social Security System and PAG-IBIG. 

E. To pave the way and help DPOs link up with government and civil society so that urgent PWD concerns & issues are relayed to and brought to the attention of the public for appropriate action. 

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

· To call for a review of all existing laws work for the full and that impact on PWDs such as RA 7277, RA 9442, RA 10070, BP 344, EO 417, etc. and work for amendments, if necessary, and subsequent effective implementation and enforcement.

· To call for amendments or changes  in  Philippine  laws   to harmonize with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

· To ascertain the need to enact new laws that would be responsive to the welfare of persons with disabilities. 

Follow them in Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pwdinc

Important Gay Quotes - LGBT in the Philippines

I support gay marriage. I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us.
Kinky Friedman Correct :-D - Kuya Manzano


I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about. Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don't contract them.
Barack Obama That's it. Even if u don't believe, they have the right! - Kuya Manzano


I started being really proud of the fact that I was gay even though I wasn't.
Kurt Cobain :-D actually u can turn gay if u spend enough time in the gay community :-D - Kuya Mazano


I think that gay marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Arnold Schwarzenegger That would be pretty awkward governor! :-DDDD - Kuya Manzano

Interesting to find all this quotes. There are thousands out there. Hope I find more and regularly publish some.

The thing is a feel I need to do something for the LGBT community and specially now in the Philippines where I live.

That's why I joined the Gay Pride Parade in Manila. Coz' this country needs a strong change.

We are living with moral values from fifty years ago. Wake up Philippines!

Precisely, a country where there are so many crossdressers and transexuals and they are integrated into normal life, cannot have any problem when it comes to accept gay marriage or gay rights of any kind.

Since I said months ago I support LGBT community and will appear in any campaing that asks me to.