MAKE WISHES COME TRUE WITH “SILVER BELLS” CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE PEN 2008

“SILVER BELLS”
SILVER ANNIVERSARY MARKS CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE PEN 2008
DECEMBER 13, 2008

As that old Christmas standard goes “It’s the most joyous time of the year”, and that feeling of joy is never better heralded than when the first soaring overtures of “SILVER BELLS, Christmas Concert at the Pen” ring out in the lofty Lobby of The Peninsula Manila which this year marks the silver anniversary of this much-loved holiday season event that doubles as the hotel’s gift to the community.

Fittingly, flying in from Milan specifically to conduct the concert that this year is slated for December 13 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM is Maestro Ruggero Barbieri who has been weaving his baton at the hugely popular “Christmas Concert at the Pen” since December 1997 – just a year after taking up his appointment as Music Director and Principal Guest Conductor of the Philppine Philharmonic Orchestra.

Recalls Maestro Barbieri: “At the beginning, I was very hesitant because of the venue which at first I thought was inappropriate for a traditional concert. But I was immediately captivated by the magical atmosphere that the concert itself creates so wonderfully announcing that its Christmas time in Manila.”

This year the concert – which will feature much loved music from classical favorites to Yuletide standards culminating with the glorious “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah – will showcase a galaxy of world-class Filipino performers comprising the internationally-lauded Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), critically-acclaimed sopranos Rachelle Gerodias and Camille Lopez-Molina, renowned Germany-based tenor Abdul Candao and multi award-winning University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC).

Making the event possible as co-sponsors are The Peninsula Manila and Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) which is the pioneering purveyor of many famous American, British and European luxury designer labels in the Philippines. Another co-sponsor is the widely popular magazine, Philippine Tatler, (whose publisher Irene Martel Francisco has also been a mainstay of this event in recent years) and the unfailingly cooperative Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) that sees events like this as an extension of its brief to bring music to a wider audience.

Since Christmas is a time of giving, especially when it comes to children, The Peninsula Manila Peninsula has decided to break from tradition and this year will charge all concertgoers PHP490+++ (consumable with selections from a special merienda menu), with 50 percent of the proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Foundation® which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.

The charity is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with offices in 30 countries on five continents. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Foundation® has granted more than 130,000 wishes to children around the world since 1980.

“The Peninsula Manila is proud to support Make-A-Wish Foundation®,” said Jonathan H. Crook, General Manager of The Peninsula Manila. “We have had a long relationship with Make-A-Wish Foundation® but wanted to continue and expand this tradition of charitable giving at our hotel that would involve our staff, guests and visitors. The Christmas Concert at The Pen – as well as the Peninsula-wide Trees of Hope campaign – is designed to add beauty to the hotel both musically, physically and spiritually, and to enrich the lives of the children touched by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® this Christmas season.”

Throughout its 25-year-history, “Christmas Concert at the Pen” has missed only one performance and this was a result of the events that followed September 11th 2001. But in 2003, Stores Specialists Inc. President Nedy Tantoco approached David Batchelor who was then general manager of The Peninsula Manila and persuaded him to revive the landmark Christmas event with the PPO performing. SSI has co-sponsored the concert ever since. (As a Board of Trustees of the CCP, Ms. Tantoco’s special mission is the PPO, in particular the drive to equip the orchestra with new instruments.)

So in its 25th anniversary year, “SILVER BELLS, Christmas Concert at The Pen” will serve the dual purpose of accentuating the joy of the festive season with the music of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and sharing its blessings with the wards of Make-A-Wish Foundation® .

As parting words of advice, Peninsula Manila General Manager Jonathan H. Crook adds: “Since the concert is quite popular, it would be wise to come early to secure a good seat”.

still no escape

i was on vacation.

i wasn't thinking about you.

not at all.

but your name just had to follow me there.

on a boat.

and then i had a dream about you again.

just before i woke up for that island trip i was so looking forward to.

the feeling of uncertainty about you was evident in my dream.

the same feeling i had when i was seeing you.

***

on my way to the island

the waves were so strong

they splashed sea water on my face.


they tried to wash off my tears.


it didn't deserve to reach and land on

my beautiful island.


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Watch Hairspray and Make wishes come true!

Dear Volunteers and Friends of Make A Wish Philippines,

The Broadway Musical HAIRSPRAY is playing in Manila!

On November 28, Friday, catch Hairspray and help Make A Wish Philippines grant wishes! Through one of our volunteers, a portion of every ticket sold through Make A Wish will be going to the foundation and its efforts to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. Great musical and a great way to help MAW-P!

If you're interested or have friends who'd like to watch, please email Aina Lim at ains_wish@yahoo.com and she'll coordinate with Ria Go, our volunteer who's handling ticket sales for Hairspray's Nov.28 show. Details are below:

Show date: November 28, 2008 (Friday)
Show time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Star Theater, CCP Complex
Ticket prices: P600, P800, P1000, P1200
Directed by Bobby Garcia
You can view the seat plan at this link: www.tinyurl.com/hairspray118

Hope to see you there! And once again, thank you for Sharing the Power of a Wish!

-*-

Hairspray is about Tracy who wins a spot on the local TV dance program The Corny Collins Show. The big girl with big hair and big dreams becomes a teen celebrity overnight. Soon Tracy finds herself pitted against the show's reigning princess for the title Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962. Based on the John Waters film, Hairspray is the winner of 8 Tony awards including Best Musical. It was recently made into a hit film starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah.

Hairspray is directed by Bobby Garcia, choreography by Cecile Martinez, sets and costumes by Gino Gonzales, and lighting design by Shoko Matsumoto... (from Philstar.com)

Cast includes:

* Madel Ching as Tracy Turnblad - The cute, "pleasantly plump" teenager, who dreams of fame and fights to racially integrate The Corny Collins Show

* Tim Espinosa as Link Larkin - A teen heartthrob and one of The Corny Collins Show Council Members

* Noel Rayos as Corny Collins - The eccentric and cocky host of The Corny Collins Show

* Michael de Mesa as Edna Turnblad - Tracy's mother, an asocial shut-in ashamed of her plus-sized figure

* Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Velma Von Tussle - the racist former beauty queen/manager of TV station WYZT

* Dulce as "Motormouth" Maybelle - an R&B radio DJ who hosts "Negro Day" on The Corny Collins Show

* Nyoy Volante as Seaweed J. Stubbs - Maybelle's son, an expert dancer who teaches Tracy some moves

* Leo Rialp as Wilbur Turnblad - Tracy's father, the easy-going proprietor of the town's joke shop

Another article published in the Philippine Star: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20081026/tel-2002-hairspray-broadway-first-time-dd408b0.html

the culprit

i saw your car again a couple of weeks ago.

and i was able to somehow fight the sadness that slowly tried to creep in.

i've been trying to move you at the back of my mind now.

i've been trying to take little steps.

i've been trying to move on.

***

something made me sad today.

and after all the times that i tell myself and other people that i'm not mad at you for what happened, today was the first time that i put the blame on you.

***

you weren't the reason why i got sad today.

but you had a big chunk of a part why that sad thing happened.

yes, you.

this time, i resent you for what you did to me.

it wasn't good.

for me and for a lot of people.


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b o X e d 2008

b o X e d 2008 is about the erotic stories behind the corners of your wall…
about the sensual subconscious and the real or the unreal…
revolving, evolving and dying, decomposing and living once again.

We talk about the taboo of our inner world as we create a whole universe of sensitivity.

A universe of stories told and untold.

opens NOVEMBER 15, 2008 (Saturday) at 6PM.

The CUBICLE ART GALLERY
40-A C. Raymundo corner Stella Maris Street
Brgy. Maybunga, Pasig City 1603, Philippines.

Participants:
Katrina Adrias, Arkisens, Darrel Ballesteros, Allan Balisi, Elvert de la Cruz Bañares, Zeus Bascon, Serjohn Bato, Giselle Bautista, Art Bermido, Robert Besana, Bru, Con Cabrera, Miro Calderon, Buen Calubayan, Ronald Caringal, Jeff Carnay, Clint Catalan, Francis Comendador, Jigger Cruz, Don Djerassi Dalmacio, Melvin Dantes, DeformIndustry, Crisanto De Leon, Ian Del Espiritu Santo, Alon De Guzman, Fabo, Dexter Fernandez, Ging Flores, Mayang Frigillana, Dina Gadia, Angela Garrido, Sarah Gaugler, Eva Gubat, Neil Arvin Javier, Vinita Karim, Lindslee, Lesley Lim, Michelle Pauline Lim, Mark Magistrado, Angelo Magno, Joseph Manata, Lotsu Manes, Hana Marasigan, Meneer Marcelo, ER Masilang, Feanne Mauricio, Jovenz Mayor, Kat Medina, Treb Monteras, Jamel Obnamia, Edrie Ocampo, Okto, AJ Omandac, Nico Orillano, J. Pacena II, Francis Pacheco, Vincent Padilla, Tad Pagaduan, Lynyrd Paras, Mervin Pimentel, Cheyenne Quintana, Julius Ramirez, Oliver Ramos, Sam Ramos, Kirby Roxas, Mark Salvatus, Jopay San Juan, Aman Santos, King Santos, Julius Sebastian, Reine Shih, Apol Sta. Maria, Mimi Tecson, Jomike Tejido, Hubert Tibi, Fernando Torres, Tatong Recheta Torres, Ige Trinidad, Wesley Valenzuela, Ulysses Veloso, Maan Villanueva, Lauren Villarama, WeAreAnalog, Ray Zapanta, Costantino Zicarelli.