Rocking with the Girls at the RAK OF AEGIS

June 27, 2014 by

PLDT Home DSL has once again given me a chance to bond with my family – this time with the girls I grew up with, my sisters!  I was given five tickets for the June 20 show of Rak of Aegis at the PETA Theater.  I couldn’t take my preschoolers who were still too young to understand and to appreciate the play so the first thing that I did upon receiving the invite was to text all my sisters and my mom.  It turned out to be a great girls’ night out for us! 🙂

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Meeting Diego – The Latest Celebrity in Town

While waiting for the show to start, we were able to catch the Ledesma family who obliged us with a photo opp.  Although we’ve seen their family during previous events by PLDT Home DSL, this was the first time we were able to have a picture taken with them.

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It would have been better though if my kids could have also met Diego, the latest celebrity shot to fame by PLDT. This seven-year-old wonderboy has gone from simply adorable to famously awesome in just a couple of months.  His Facebook Page, AskDiego, now has over 235,000 “likes”.  He is so endearing that his popularity has jumped off social media sites into mainstream media.  Diego and his family has been doing the rounds in various events and in top-rating TV shows such as Eat Bulaga, The Ryzza Mae Show and Confessions of a Torpe.  If you want to meet him personally, watch out for PLDT Home DSL events and barangay tours. You just might spot Diego and be able to ask him for advice.

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Rocking with the Girls at the Rak of Aegis

From meeting the newest celebrity in the country, we also met some of the most acclaimed artists in the Philippine theatre industry.  We didn’t just get to be amazed by the powerful voices of Robert Seña, Isay Alvarez- Seña, and Kakai Bautista – we got to meet them after the show too!

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Back to the musical, I couldn’t help asking why I never bothered to watch the previous runs.  The show was spectacular!  It stirred a myriad of emotions making us want to laugh and to cry at the same time. Set in a barangay that has been inundated for months, Rak of Aegis shows us how resilient Filipinos are and how we always manage to see the brighter things in life despite dire circumstances.  The show tackles social issues that we have long been struggling with but does so in a comedic manner.   The rendition of Aegis songs by Robert Seña, Isay Alvarez, and Aicelle Mendoza were so powerful that one can’t help being moved to tears.

I’m no big fan of Aegis and can’t even name any of their songs but after watching Rak of Aegis, listening to their songs will never be the same again.  If you haven’t watched this show yet, Rak of Aegis will be running from until August 31 with shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the PETA Theater. Hopefully, I’d be able to take my husband to watch it before the season ends.

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Filed Under: Events, Family Fun

Trumpets Playshop 2014: A Summer’s Tale

June 5, 2014 by

Kids dressed up as animals, a wonderful story about being God’s stewards of creation, catchy music…just the elements you need for a truly entertaining theater showcase.  Watch our li’l Jade and other playshoppers in their performance of A Summer’s Tale, an adaptation of Grandpa’s Garden and It’s a Giant World.   It’ll be fun to watch, just please bear with the poor vid quality. We were just using a point-and-shoot cam. 🙂

Filed Under: Busy Bees, Events, Family Fun, Kids At Work

My Little Caterpillar at the Trumpets Playshop 2014 Showcase

June 5, 2014 by

And just like that another summer is over!   It has been almost three weeks since my li’l girl’s theatre class ended and I’m still catching up with summer house cleaning.  Spending three days in a week as my little girl’s PA during her classes at the Trumpets Playshop was extremely tiring but knowing that she loved every minute she spent there is exceedingly gratifying.

Through Children’s Theater, kids age 4 – 6 years old learn to appreciate their God-given talents and to use them properly.  They are taught the basic elements of music, dance, and drama through fun and creative ways.  Kids are also inspired to always give their best to God.

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“I learned how to be on stage. I also learned how to sing and dance.” – Jade              Thank you Teacher Joann and Teacher Joan for being patient with our li’l girl and for making her summer fun and meaningful! Thank you Teacher Audie for founding Trumpets Playshop!

 

Trumpets Playshop 2014 started on April 7 and ended with the Showcase on May 17.   That’s sixteen 1.5-hr sessions and a 1-hr technical rehearsal culminating in a showcase at the RCBC Theatre.  We shelled a total of P8,200 (excluding transpo and food expenses) for the workshop fee (P5,800), the costume (P1,200), the recital fee (P900), and the yearbook (P400).  That’s really no small amount for us but my husband allotted funds for it because he knows how our little Jade enjoys performing.  Besides, the joy of seeing your child happily performing on the “big” stage IS PRICELESS!

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Here are some of the pics from their showcase this year, A Summer’s Tale:

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Are we going to enrol her again in Trumpets Playshop next summer? Yes! Never mind the thrice a week commute under the heat of the summer sun or the huge dent in our budget;   Our little thespian loves to perform and we love watching her have fun on stage.  🙂 Watch the videos here.

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Proud Nanay , Forever PA 🙂

Filed Under: Busy Bees, Events, Family Fun, Kids At Work Tagged With: ,

DREAMPLAY by DreamWorks: World’s First Edutainment Center

May 26, 2014 by

Who wants to learn Kung Fu with Po, to train a dragon like Hiccup, or to do acrobatic stunts like Alex?!  (I do! I do!) I know – and am absolutely positively sure – that my two little ones would LOVE to!  Here’s the best news ever – all our dreams will come to life before the year ends!

On May 22, 2014, Melco Crown Philippines announced a collaboration with DreamWorks Animation to develop the world’s first DreamWorks-inspired “Edutainment” center at City of Dreams Manila. Yup, you heard it right. That’s right HERE in MANILA!

The official announcement of “DreamPlay by DreamWorks” at the City of Dreams was opened by a medley of DreamWorks’ songs performed by the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir. After which,  Mr. Clarence Chung and Mr. James Clark “magically” turned the page of the “enchanted” story book to officially launch the logo as part of the DreamPlay edutainment center.

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Mandaluyong Children’s Choir set the scene with a medley of hit DreamWorks’ songs at the official announcement of “DreamPlay by DreamWorks” at City of Dreams Manila.

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Chairman and President of Melco Crown Philippines Mr. Clarence Chung is joined by Mr. James Clark, Head of Retail Development and Entertainment for Asia Pacific of DreamWorks Animation, in “magically” turning the page of an “enchanted” story book to officially launch the logo as part of the DreamPlay edutainment center at City of Dreams Manila announcement today.

Our collaboration with DreamWorks is a further illustration of our expertise in developing world-class, innovative, and ground-breaking entertainment for leisure seekers both in the Philippines and internationally.  The “DreamPlay” concept delivers an education experience through spontaneous and sensory play that represents an industry first.

– Clarence Chung, Chariman and President, Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation –

DREAMPLAY: The World’s First DreamWorks-inspired Edutainment Center

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All kids age 0 – 100 will be delighted to know that they can soon interact directly with DreamWorks characters from their favorite movies including Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Shrek, and How To Train Your Dragon.   DreamPlay revolutionizes family entertainment by integrating education and entertainment; hence, the term “Edutainment.” Together with iP2 Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation combined the best elements of DreamWorks library with hands-on activities of an education inspired play-center to create a one-of-a-kind family adventure.

DreamWorks is home to the world’s greatest creative and artistic talents who have created and continue to create great stories and characters that not only entertain but also capture the hearts of kids of all ages.  Soon, we’ll be able to experience the awesome worlds of these characters in an educational way within DreamPlay at City of Dreams Manila.  Featuring the latest digital technologies, interactive environments will enable kids to engage in a wide range of thrilling activities with their favorite characters Po, Shrek, Alex, Hiccup and other DreamWorks characters.  This exciting blend of integrated live and digital play spaces where we can immerse ourselves in the world of DreamWorks Animation will definitely be a favorite family destination.

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Harnessing leading digital technologies, this attraction is going to be unlike anything that currently exists and will undoubtedly become a new type of destination for families, both in the Philippines and across the rapidly growing leisure-destination markets of Asia.

– Paul Kurzawa, Head of Retail Development & Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation –

DreamPlay was developed by DreamWorks Animation in conjunction with their partners from Melco Crown Entertainment and their designers from iP2 Entertainment. Each DreamPlay by DreamWorks experience is being designed exclusively for City of Dreams Manila.

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CITY OF DREAMS: Where Dreams Come to Play

The first DreamPlay by DreamWorks will be part of the City of Dreams Manila destination resort soon to be opened at the gateway of the Entertainment City Manila.  City of Dreams Manila is an integrated casino resort being developed and will be operated by Melco Crown Philippines in alliance with SM Group’s Belle Corporation.  Aside from DreamPlay, it will feature Manila’s first branded Family Entertainment Center and the Fortune Egg, an architecturally-unique dome-like structure expected to become an iconic landmark of the Manila Bay area.

City of Dreams Manila is set to become a premier leisure destination for global entertainment seekers.  Upon opening, its aggregated gaming space will include approximately 365 gaming tables, 1,680 slot machines, and 1,680 electronic table games.  The integrated resort will offer the ultimate in entertainment, hotel, retail, dining, and lifestyle experiences.

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DreamWorks characters join Mr. Jorge Sarmiento, President of PAGCOR, with Mr. Clarence Chung, Chairman and President of Melco Crown Philippines; Mr. James Clark, Head of Retail Development and Entertainment for Asia Pacific of DreamWorks Animation; along with SM Group partners.

Early Christmas Present

City of Dreams Manila including DreamPlay by DreamWorks is set to open its doors late this year 2014.  There are no details yet as to entrance rates and schedules but you still have plenty of time to save some extra leisure money for this.  I’m absolutely positively certain that the entire family will have the time of their life at the world’s first Edutainment Center.  A day (or two, or more…) at DreamPlay would be a truly awesome Christmas gift for the little ones. 🙂

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Filed Under: Events, Family Fun Tagged With: ,

More Pinoy Music at SOUNDBITES MUSIC FESTIVAL

May 22, 2014 by

Soundbites Music Festival, brought to us by Robinsons Malls in partnership with The Philippine Star, will continue to delight us with great pinoy music this weekend at Robinsons Manila.  If you missed Side A, Reggae Mistress and Sabor Latino’s gigs at Robinsons Magnolia last weekend, head on over to Manila tomorrow night, May 23, and Saturday, May 24.

Funky soul and reggae music from BRASS PAS PAS PAS PAS and BROWNMAN REVIVAL will entertain shoppers and foodies at Robinsons Manila on Friday night.  Saturday night, SIDE A will make your hearts swoon again this time in Robinsons Manila.  You also won’t want to miss the last leg of Soundbites at Robinsons Galleria on May 30.  Kahit Walang Sabihin, I know you heart RICO BLANCO, too. 🙂

Get FREE entrance tags to the Soundbites Music Festival with every P500 purchase from participating restaurants in Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Galleria, and Robinsons Manila.  Click here for the full list.

Here’s a peek of the fun night we had during the first leg of the Soundbites Music Festival last May 17:

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Fun games and raffle prizes for the crowd!

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Sumeselfie with Side A

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: ,
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