About the author Oliver Oliveros is one of Manila's top publicists in the fields of arts, music, culture and entertainment. A self-confessed Broadway baby, he drools over publicity projects that are Broadway-related. Practicing and teaching public relations for over 15 years now, he has handled accounts for the Manila productions of "Death and the Maiden," "The Last Five Years," "Godspell," "Footloose," 'Once On This Island," "Oleanna," "Art," "The Sound of Music," "Children's Letters to God," "High School Musical On Stage," "West Side Story" and “Sweeney Todd,” as well as projects with Broadway and West End stars Lea Salonga, Joanna Ampil, and Stephanie Reese, among others. Oliver heads publicity for STAGES Manila and for some of the Philippines' top recording and concert artists. He has also handled publicity for award-winning independent films, original musicals, operas, Filipino-American finalists on "American Idol," and the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California. He is also head author for the Philippines in BroadwayWorld.com (New York), a premier theatre resource on the Web. Oliver is set to pursue Graduate studies at New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU SCPS – M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communications) in 2010. http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com http://broadwayworld.com Oliver Oliveros Senior Public Relations Officer/Consultant STAGES Manila Head Author for the Philippines BroadwayWorld.com New York U.S. mobile no. 18185541415 Manila Office Unit 606 Greenbelt Mansion Perea Street, Legazpi Village Makati City, PHILIPPINES Tel no. 632 8181111 loc. 225 Mobile no. 639287725254 stages_pr@i-manila.com.ph Animators from Mexico and Philippines Sign Agreement on Technology Transfer and Cultural Exchange Program Oct. 7, 2010 Multi-awarded Mexican animation studio ANIMEX has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Filipino-owned digital animation and production company CUTTING EDGE PRODUCTIONS. Their new partnership ushers in technology transfer and cultural exchange programs between the two broadcast and film animation advocates. Endorsed by the world’s leading supplier of digital media solutions TOON BOOM Animation and the embassy of Mexico in the Philippines, Animex and Cutting Edge’s planned creative synergy looks forward to the creation of multicultural and original animated contents, and new business models. “The Philippines has the most talented animators. They’re much more talented compared to animators in the rest of Asia and the world. From a purely artistic creative point of view, the people here are very gifted. However, they’re not getting their proper share of revenue. What we need now are more local owners of animation studios who have a big vision; who can raise enough financial resources to be able to take on a more leadership role versus being at the bottom of the food chain,” says Joan Vogelesang, Toon Boom President and Chief Executive Officer. “The animation industry in the Philippines has been built in the past on outsourcing. But the future is on creation of local content and co-production where the Philippine studio takes a bigger position, and therefore gets a bigger piece of the pie. We are confident that the linkage and exchange program between Animex and Cutting Edge will be a big flagship initiative in the Philippines,” she adds. Animex and Cutting Edge studios have 16 years combined experience in producing and marketing original animated contents. Both companies’ past digital animation projects have been considered groundbreaking. Animex is a pioneer in Mexican animation. Its impressive portfolio includes one-minute 2D filler “Roncho: the bad luck dog” (2003) – series aired on LocoMotion Channel in Miami, USA; “La Leyenda dela Nahuala” (2007) – Mexico’s first film done in DTS format; “Nikte”(2009) – a film distributed by Universal Pictures; and “La Revolucion de Juan Escopeta”, an Aeroplano Films and Animex co-production to be completed in November 2010. Animex, which has established a division in Hollywood, California, is also collaborating with Mexican-American actor and director Edward James Olmos in his first animated Mexican feature entitled “Il Americano” - a hilarious tale about a flock of birds migrating from Mexico to the United States. On the other hand, Cutting Edge is composed of local animators and producers behind “Dayo Sa Mundo Ng Elementalia”, the Philippines’ first full-length 2D digital animated film, which premiered at the annual Metro Manila Film Festival two years ago. Multi-awarded film composer and musical arranger Jessie Lasaten sits as the company’s president and chief executive officer. “Animex and Cutting Edge certainly share common grounds: birth pains, corporate values and advocacies. For the cultural exchange program, we are selecting the best candidates from both our teams. We could have animators from Mexico and the Philippines switch places twice or thrice a year,” says Ricardo Arnaiz, Animex producer and director. As maiden venture, Animex and Cutting Edge have started co-producing their first 3D animated short film that explores the similar culture and traditions of Mexicans and Filipinos. Animex’s Mr. Arnaiz and Filipino director Jerry Santiago helm the Mexican/Filipino production. For additional queries, contact Oliver Oliveros at email addresses ooliveros@gmail.com, olo205@nyu.edu or mobile number (63) 928-7725254. http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com http://broadwayworld.com OLIVER OLIVEROS Public Relations Consultant based in Manila| Head Author for the Philippines, BroadwayWorld.com New York| NYU Graduate Student '12 NYU-SCPS M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communication Atypical of Quezon Province: Borawan Island, Dampalitan beach et al June 10, 2010 For the typical Manileño, the Quezon province in Southern Tagalog, Philippines is mostly acres in farm land and coconut plantations. Its top of mind is nil around pristine waters and white sand beaches. I had to revisit Quezon, and see it for myself to believe that there is such an island paradise in this sixth largest province in the country. I usually spend my birthday weekends outside the Philippines. But this year’s a bit different: I had settled my mind to explore an island in Quezon (plus a few more!) that’s practically not too far away from Manila. Borawan Island (an instance of wordplay combining “Boracay” and “Palawan”), which is one among the islands in Padre Burgos, Bondoc Peninsula, in Quezon, had caught my attention for its unique marriage of humongous limestone rock formations and dazzling white, sandy shore lines – natural world wonders often attached to Puerto Prinsesa or Coron in Palawan, and Boracay Island in Aklan. C L I C K  O N  P I C S  T O  E N L A R G E !     Puting Buhangin Beach Dampalitan Beach Tamarind Tree Resort Catching the morning bus alone at the JAC bus terminal in Kamias, Quezon City in order to reach the Grand Terminal in Lucena City at exactly high noon; and then boarding a provincial jeepney (stacked with volumes of some bagged grain products) that will pass by the sleepy town of Padre Burgos at siesta time -- was all fun, and well worth the travel. The refreshing sight of nearby Borawan Island that welcomes you by the gate of the Tamarind Tree Resort (one of the major resorts in town; the other one is Villa Anita) had made me forget, at least even for a bit, the extreme heat emanating from the summer sun or the 70-pound backpack I was carrying. The very friendly and helpful staff (both in their Manila office and in Padre Burgos) and the owner of the Tamarind Tree Resort Ms. Vicky Villena made my three day and lone visit very relaxing and yes, worry-free indeed. I stayed in a non-airconditioned small cottage or kubo, originally built for two persons. The sea breeze that envelops my small room at night time and/or during day time is pure bliss. You may opt to read a good book or sip ice-cold fruit drink in your room or in a private spot by the sea any time you want. Running after the low tide while the sun sets every late afternoon is like watching God’s hand or a surrealist painter’s hand as he creates magic with his paintbrush and pastel color palette. All these comforts, perks, and more are within arm’s reach at the resort. C L I C K  O N  P I C S  T O  E N L A R G E !     Dampalitan Beach Dampalitan Beach Borawan Island One can pay a visit to the Borawan Island and other famed beaches of Padre Burgos and Pagbilao, the Dampalitan and Puting Buhangin beaches respectively, by renting a small motor boat or a motorized banca. Travelling by water to Dampalitan beach and Borawan Island is around 30 minutes (one-way) only . The Puting Buhangin beach is much farther than the first two destinations. Travel time to this beach in Pagbilao takes around an hour (one-way). Calmer waters are apparent during the months of February to April according to Mang Larry, my dependable/exclusive boat man or bangkero. C L I C K  O N  P I C S  T O  E N L A R G E !     Tamarind Tree Resort View from Tamarind Tree Resort At low tide We travelled to the Dampalitan beach on an early Saturday morning. Dampalitan is a very clean and unspoiled beach on this side of Padre Burgos. And I must add, it’s a feast for the eyes. The cacti and pine trees sprouting across the shore line were small surprises. The cows and cattle stock gazing at you, as if in quiet admiration, had made my photographic eye awaken with childlike excitement! A stark contrast to Dampalitan beach is that of Borawan Island – it’s fiercely real and not for the faint of heart! We officially arrived in this famed gem of Padre Burgos by introducing ourselves to the rappelling team Yabag, headed by Mic, who is occasionally featured in dailies talking about his fixation on extreme sports. “It’s quite rare to find limestone rock formations that are surrounded by a white sand beach. It’s my third time to climb and rappel down here in Borawan. We bring a new set of friends each time,” he said. C L I C K  O N  P I C S  T O  E N L A R G E !     Taken at Padre Burgos Parish Puting Buhangin Beach Flores de Mayo in Padre Burgos Pagbilao’s Puting Buhangin beach, on the other hand, perfectly matches my preconception on how a white sand beach in Quezon would look like – glistening and all powder like sand with towering coconut palms one after the other across an expansive shore line. This beach resort is much more crowded compared to Dampalitan and Borawan. Hordes of half-naked local tourists were rolling, bathing, and playing in the waters when we arrived here on a Sunday afternoon. “Puting Buhagin has been attracting people from Metro Manila and nearby places, and most popular since it was a favorite beach location for Filipino movies filmed in the ’70s. We’re developing a new beach resort near Borawan Island. We’ll let you know once it’s ready.” divulged Ms. Villena, who is also a journalist based in the United States. Travelling to these islands, I must admit, made my 36th birthday weekend! Exploring the islands by my lonesome doesn’t end my travel tale in that manner though. As a Manileño, whose paternal relatives hail from Gumaca, Quezon, I feel the urge to share these amazing places I've visited so far in this part of Southern Tagalog. Quezon Province doesn’t only remind me of coconut trees or the Pahiyas Festival or its quirky Tagalog accent. Quezon Province is also the gateway to the roads less travelled like Bondoc Peninsula – “a secret haven” (sssh!) for local travel photographers, and occasional Pinoy nomads just like me! C L I C K  O N  P I C S  T O  E N L A R G E !     Flores de Mayo in Padre Burgos Flores de Mayo in Padre Burgos My kubo at Tamarind Tree Resort Zsa Zsa and Karylle star in “Mom & Me” mini-concert Co-written with Ulysses Manuel One of Philippine show biz’s endearing mom and daughter tandems Zsa Zsa Padilla and Karylle graced Sterling Notebook’s Mother’s Day mini-concert “Mom & Me” at the SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City on Saturday, May 8, 2010. The stunning singing pair, who can effortlessly pass as sisters, wore similar summer-inspired apparel (soft pastels, floral print tops, and ladies' denim jackets) in the show. Zsa Zsa and Karylle got the idea from an unidentified mom and daughter (in similar dresses), who came to watch “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson’s recent show at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. In Saturday’s show, Karylle first entered the stage with a solo performance of “Because I Love You,” an original cut from her Gold album, “Time For Letting Go.” She told her audience that her relationship with her mom seems to have no generation gaps at all. Going out to the beach is their favorite getaway. “My mom is the fashion enthusiast. Mas nauuna pa s’ya pag sa style sa akin. She tells me what is the appropriate hairstyle and make up for a certain show, for instance,” she said. Karylle then warmed up the crowd in SM Megamall even further with a beautiful, pitch perfect rendition of OPM hit “Ikaw,” which amazed everyone. The Divine Diva, on the other hand, conquered the stage and dedicated her Tagalog song “Pagmamahal ng Walang Wakas” to her daughter Karylle, and to all mothers who were in the audience. “Pagmamahal ng Walang Wakas” is an original ditty from Zsa Zsa’s newest album “Unchanging Love,” which expresses a mother’s unconditional love for her daughter before the latter walks down the aisle. She also sang her own OPM hit “Hanggang.” But ”Live For Your Love”, the much awaited duet from the duo was most applauded. The two shone beautifully onstage with their combined celestial voices and lush vocal harmonies – a world class mother and daughter team indeed! Carousel Pinoy Philippines had the chance to talk to Zsa Zsa and Karylle right after the performance. “Karylle’s thoughtfulness and innate creativity makes me really proud of her. One of the most memorable Mother’s Day gifts I got from her was a print out of her baby photos with me. It came with a wonderful poem. Karylle loves to write. She probably got the talent of writing from her great grandfather Carlos Padilla (a prominent writer, actor and director)...When Karylle eventually becomes a mom, I’d like her to also focus on the importance of child education - teach her kids to be God-fearing, be respectful of others, and be open with her children because there are things she can learn from them,” Zsa Zsa said. As a caring show biz mom, she has always been very neutral when handling intrigues that hound her daughter. “Although it hurts so much inside, I try not to engage myself in any word war,” she said. Photos by Ulysses Manuel http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com http://broadwayworld.com OLIVER OLIVEROS Public Relations Consultant based in Manila| Head Author for the Philippines, BroadwayWorld.com New York| NYU Graduate Student '12 NYU-SCPS M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communication Repertory Philippines opens 2010 Season Jan. 5, 2010 For 2010, Repertory Philippines has picked an exciting selection of shows sure to stimulate local theatergoers. Repertory’s new Season starts off with the Philippine premiere of Peter Quilter’s new romantic comedy, DUETS. Scheduled for mid-January to the end of the month, DUETS is four different vignettes with four sets of characters. Set in glorious comedy, the play explores the hilarious nuances of love in seemingly impossible, but extremely funny situations. Joy Virata and Miguel Faustmann take on all four sets of characters, providing rollicking entertainment as they go through costume and character changes onstage. DUETS is directed by Ana Abad Santos. Playdates are January 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. with 3:30 p.m. matinees on January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Still high on love and laughter, February is ROMEO AND BERNADETTE, Mark Saltzman’s musical comedy. Directed by Joy Virata, the story promises to be uproariously funny. A take-off from good old Shakespeare, you’d think Romeo died? Well, he didn’t. He just took a sleeping potion and wakes up on Broadway in 1960. And he doesn’t fall in love with dear Juliet; instead he runs after someone he thinks is Juliet, but is not. Because she’s Bernadette and she just happens to be the daughter of a local mobster. That being said, this musical is sure to be a bag of real fun for everyone. Catch it on February 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. with 3:30 p.m. matinees on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28. As stark contrast to the lightness and gaiety of the first two offerings, the month of July brings on EQUUS, Peter Shaffer’s powerful, riveting drama that invades the dark corners of the human psyche. The play focuses its light on the naked reality of what contemporary society can do to the beauty that once was the human soul. This now considered classic of our time will be performed on July 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. with 3:30 p.m. matinees on July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25. Repertory has always had a special place for young audiences through Children’s Theatre. In 2010, Repertory brings the adaptation of the well-loved fairytale SLEEPING BEAUTY. With book, music and lyrics by Jim Eiler, this show is sure to set the hearts of everyone, both old and young alike, singing to the melodies that include “I’m So Mad,” “It’s Lovely To Be A Troll” and “Spinning Song.” SLEEPING BEAUTY is set for August 14 to December 10. As a perfect ending to the Company’s Season, Repertory presents LITTLE WOMEN, a Louisa May Alcott classic. With music by Jason Howard, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and book by Allan Knee, the musical is an exceptional offering for the merry season of giving and loving. The story, with its warm, feel-good theme focuses on the March family, Marmee and her four girls, and is a timeless reminder of what family is truly all about. Directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, LITTLE WOMEN is set for November 19 to December 12. All Repertory performances are at ONSTAGE, 2nd floor, Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas corner Legazpi St., Makati City. For tickets and inquiries, call (632) 887-0710 or log on to repertory.ph. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at (632) 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. Oliver Oliveros Senior Public Relations Officer/Consultant STAGES Unit 606 Greenbelt Mansion Perea Street, Legazpi Village Makati City, PHILIPPINES Tel no. +632 8181111 loc. 225 Mobile no. +639287725254 stages_pr@i-manila.com.ph http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com