The beauty of Russian Romanticism is that it’s hard to pin down. Sensuous in certain parts, exuberant in others, it is both textured and simple, intense, but controlled. To define it into a word or a phrase is a disservice to its identity and heritage; so what better way to showcase the true qualities of this genre than by attempting to breathe life into it?
On June 4, 2016, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, with acclaimed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Professor Arturo Molina, highlights the beauty of Russian Romanticism with a performance at the Power Mac Center Spotlight.
As the Manila Symphony Orchestra celebrates their 90th year, the performance ushers in the season for #90YearsYoung—a celebration of a new decade in music that cements the country’s most revered orchestra’s legacy of Filipino musical heritage.
With Maestro Arturo Molina at the helm, they are putting the spotlight on the saxophone—a novel addition to traditional orchestral programs that speaks of the genre’s heritage and Molina’s mastery of the symphonic repertoire of the great Russian composers.
The evening will draw works from two of the five great composers of the Romantic era, namely Borodin and Mussorgsky. The pieces selected have been curated around the Glazunov Saxophone Concerto, a 15-minute piece, keeping with the themes of Russian Romanticism – colorful, passionate, and exotic.
“It’s an honor to be part of such a great milestone for the Manila Symphony Orchestra and to be able to share their genius and talent to music and theater enthusiasts around the city,” says Mel Ignacio, Ayala Land Assistant Vice President. “We look forward to seeing you at Power Mac Center Spotlight to witness this great event live.”
For ticket inquiries and more information, like and follow Power Mac Center Spotlight on:
…do as the Europeans do! But of course, be mindful of yourself and your belongings.
So, for this edition of Touringkittyps, here are five important things you should be doing when in Europe.
Always bring your passports. Especially that you are not within the jurisdiction of your own country, it’s best to have your passports with you wherever you go.
Know your train or bus number and stop. They come in almost the same names, like in Italy, Venezia is not the same as Venezia S. Marco and Venezia Mestre. So read, listen, and be alert! Likewise, trains or undergrounds have a PA system, so make sure you know your stop and listen to the announcement in order not to miss it.
Wien Hauptbahnhof = Vienna Central Train Station.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Almost every tourist spot can be visited by foot, so expect a lot of walking. Watch out for cobblestones, so best to wear flats or sandals than heels or stilletos. Keep your clothes light, but always bring a hooded jacket, you’ll never know when it will be cold or raining.
Flats and sandals are the way to go.
Learn a few helpful phrases in each country. There may be instances that the locals will not converse in English, so better know how to greet Good morning/afternoon/evening, Please, Thank you, How much is this (especially when shopping for souvenirs).
Speaking of souvenirs, buy one thing that would remind you of the city/country you visited. In my case, magnets or a shirt or whatever local produce they have, like food. I also make it a point to eat local food as much as I can. So even when I would want to save and opt for McDonald’s (which is also expensive, by the way), I try to look for local food. Gelato in Venezia, Steltze in Vienna, and more.
Gelato. The real deal.
Sent a postcard to your home. This I forgot to do during last year’s trip, but sending postcards back home is a good souvenir as well.
Take lots of photos and videos. I also take notes at the end of the day, so as not to forget what I visited. I use Google Photos to save photos online and free up phone memory space to take even more photos.
I take photos everywhere, even in the toilet. This in Vienna, Austria, called the Opera Toilet complete with Arias playing.
Ready for the Euro trip? Buon Viaggio! Gute Flug! Happy trip.
Up until now, I still marvel at the thought that I get to do two things I love the most, even beyond marriage and motherhood–singing and traveling.
For my first working trip this year, I was off to a beautiful island called Balesin.
Balesin is managed by Alphaland Corporation. It is a members-only resort so it was just so lucky for me and my choir team for those two days to be invited to sing for a wedding.
We sang for a Wedding Anniversary, and what was intended to be a wedding by the beach…
Uh, oh, dark clouds and eventually heavy rain poured over the island.
Was taken inside the chapel.
The wedding still went well, nonetheless. It was lovely, and well, white! It was the theme for the day.
After which, we spent the rest of the evening by the beach, sans rain. Beach reception!
Moi, in a blurry selfie of the beach set up.
We rested early and took the entire morning and afternoon the next day for swimming and going around the different themed villages of the island.
The infinity pool and the Pacific Ocean. No, it doesn't go straight down there, but yes, I was able to touch the waters of both.This villa was where we stayed. Blue and white, Santorini look. Toscana, an Italian inspired villa, where we had most of the beautiful shots taken. This one by my tenor-friend, Ervin Lumauag.While inside a jeep that takes us all around the island, I took this shot of St. Tropez, the French inspired villa.This was the Indonesian inspired villa.We wish we could have Tapas, but we have to head back so as not to be late for the flight. This was in Costa del Sol, the Spanish inspired villa.
We had fun going around the world in a day!
And here’s a photo compilation of the trip. Click this link.
Looking forward to more singing trips in the near future.
Since having a child, my main concern is cleanliness at home. Especially with dishes, because this is the most used item at home on an everyday basis.
So I only choose natural products, as much as I can, for washing my dishes. And I am very meticulous with the smell, its effectivity in cleaning, and how much it can wash.
Friends from Cusina Home dropped by the Brotzeit workshop to give samples of the product. At first look, the products were like concentrated juices?
And they come in interesting scents:
I have been using the Ginger Yuzu Peel and so far, I am liking it. I like it because:
1. Just one drop in the sponge and it generates enough bubbles.
2. Just have to water the sponge some more and more bubbles appear.
3. It smells oh so good!
4. It rinses easily and squeaky clean.
5. I am assured that my dishes are safe because it’s made of natural ingredients, from fruit and plant extracts.
I am one who is very particular of my dishes, especially for my little one, who is eating by herself and preparing her food by herself at times. So clean dishes equal clean food for the family.
You may purchase Cusina Dishwashing Liquid in leading supermarkets. Visit www.cusinahome.com.
This summer alone, my little learner is taking ballet, just finished swimming, and taking day workshops, like this recent one we attended in Brotzeit Shangrila Plaza.
We were welcomed with this banner.Kinder Koche für den Tag! Kid Chef for the day. I miss speaking auf Deutsch!
And I missed Germany because of the overall feel of the restaurant.
Typical German Bier Bar. They serve Bavarian Cuisine. Oh yes, Munich.
Since it’s all about brot, or bread, I assume the kids were making bread. And they did. For starters, they made Brezn, or Pretzel. I let my little one work her way by herself, they had great instructors led by Chef Ivan.
My daughter did the entire process herself–from putting ingredients together, mixing the dough, rolling, shaping the Brezn.
From the oven to her mouth, these Cheese Brezn or Pretzels looked and tasted good. Lekker!The “Graduates” with Chef Ivan. Great job, MBP kids!
The kids had loot bags from one of the sponsors, Toy Kingdom.
Mommies had our own loot, too, from Cusina Home. Watch out my review of this product, my new household dishwashing buddy!
The workshop was great exercise for the kids to acquire kitchen skills. It also taught them how to focus, following instructions, reading ingredients, waiting, keeping the workstation and their hands clean when preparing food. I must say, my kid learned a lot in this short time, and applied these skills at home (we both love baking!).
You can still have your kids experience this in Brotzeit, all Saturdays of May!
Singing in harmony is second nature to Filipinos. Admittedly, when a melody is heard, we (secretly) hum a second voice into it.
And with the advent of a cappella singing in movies and TV (think Glee and Pitch Perfect), and competitions like Akapela Open, more Filipinos are getting hooked in a cappella music. Which positively translates to more a cappella singers and choristers (happy dance there!).
A product of Akapela Open is our featured koristas for this month. Acapellago (see the play name between a cappella and archipelago? Cool, right?) is an award-winning ensemble of five singers who does covers of popular songs in a cappella fashion. They have competed and won locally (beginning with a local town competition and then in Akapela Open) and internationally, getting the top prize in the A Cappella Championships in Singapore just last year. Because of this accolade, they were awarded an Ani ng Dangal, given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
They started their vocal group in school, with members of the Bulacan State University Saring Himig Chorale in 2012. Currently, the group is made up of singers from different schools who are also koristas. The group continues to create, arrange and perform new music, to inspire many young artist in contemporary a cappella singing and contribute to Philippines music and performing arts heritage.
Visit their Facebook Page! Click the photo.
Let’s get to know each of them.
Ron Laderas is a choir conductor, arranger and singer. He had sung for the following choirs: Hagonoy United Methodist Church (UMC) , Bulacan State University Saring Himig, and Obando UMC. He sings Bass in the group, and takes inspiration from a cappella groups like TAKE 6, Swingles Singers, Kings Singers, The Filharmonic (a Fil-Am group who guested in the Pitch Perfect movie), Rajaton, Pentatonix, Home Free, The Real Group, and our very own The Company. Likewise from the following musicians (composers, conductors, and arrangers) Lucio San Pedro, Mark Carpio, Eudy Palaruan, Chris Borela (who currently conducts Bulacan State University Saring Himig), Ily Maniano, Eric Whitacre, Deke Sharon and Ben Bram. He thinks that a cappella music is popular in this generation, and that the community is getting bigger.
Bogart Laderas is the beatboxer of the group. He is Ron’s brother, who along with him are pioneers of the group. He started with the school choir in Bulacan and is also a Dubbing Talent. He joined the choir because music is his passion, and his ticket to studying as a scholar (some schools do offer scholarships, whether partial or full, to choir members, another korista perk!). His most unforgettable moment was to sing Heal the World with The Philippine Madrigal Singers. He likes a cappella music because of the fact that “you have no choice but to squeeze your imagination on how will it sound full because voice and imagination are your only instruments.”
Almond Pondevida Bolante started his choral journey in high school with the Ramon Magsaysay Glee Club, then in college with the Our Lady Of Fatima University Chorale. He used to train with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and he says he’s a big fan of the group. The reason he joined a choir is “for me to know how to blend with other people because for me, as a singer, you have to know how to harmonize for you to practice not just your voice but your ears.” He enjoys touring and singing with a choir because he gets to know different people and different cultures, at the same time, share your own culture to them.
Joshua Cadeliña studies music and is a recording artist and dubbing talent. He has joined the Ars Noveau Chorale and Novo Concertante Manila (another award-winning church-based choral group) prior joining Acapellago. He sings tenor and is a trained classical singer. He recalls his most unforgettable choir moment with the Novo Concertante Manila, “It is my first time to travel abroad and to compete internationally (Novo had its European Tour in 2014). Gladly, Novo won the Grand Prix in Poland.” For him, a cappella music “requires sensitivity to each other. It is one of the hardest things to do in a cappella singing but I find it really interesting.”
The only belle of the group is Michelle Corpuz Pascual. She started singing with the choir as member of NAMCYA prizewinning choirs from the north, Samiweng Singers, Ilocos Norte National High School Youth Choir, and Laoag City Children’s Choir. She also trains with the Philippine Madrigal Singers. She believes that joining a choir would improve her singing and widen her knowledge on music. She also thinks Contemporary A Cappella has its own uniqueness.
These choristers also take part in the Sing Philippines Youth Choir, a project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Michelle and Almond joined its maiden batch in 2014, while Joshua and Ron will be part of the second batch who will also be the laboratory choir of the Conductors’ Workshop component of the Hands-On Choral Workshop this June at the CCP (by the way, I will be one of the trainors again, looking forward to teaching again!).
Of course, I made them answer why they are certified koristas:
#KoristaAko dahil naniniwala ako na dun ako nilagay ni Lord. Destiny kumbaga. – Michelle
#KoristaAko dahil ako ay alagad ng musika at mahal ko hindi lang ang choral music, at a cappella music kundi pati narin ang lahat ng bumubuo ng musikang Pilipino. #KoristaAko dahil proud ako na isa ako sa mga bumubuhay sa musikang pilipino. – Almond
#koristaAko dahil minahal ko na ng sobra ang pag-awit at ang choral world. Mahirap man ang pagiging full time musician sa bansa, pinili ko pa rin ito dahil dito ako masaya, tulad ng nararansan ng iba. – Ron Laderas
Do watch out for their upcoming events, concerts, more cover songs, and a Digital EP coming out soon. Follow them on Facebook and Youtube for the newest events of the group.
Gratitude to Acapellago and their manager, Riva Ferrer of the Philippine Madrigal Singers for this feature. To close, here’s their newest cover, Dulo, by Thyro and Yumi, the duo behind the current hits popularised through the Philpop Music Festival, as sung by Sarah Geronimo, in a cappella.
Brotzeit Junior Chef @ Work – A Fun Baking Workshop For Kids This May
Mommies and kids find cooking and baking sessions fun especially this vacation. The kids like to play and imitate their moms in the kitchen, mold some dough and bake easy to prepare cookies and breads. Moms enjoy seeing the kids able to work on their own, even with their little hands, and be able to make simple treats all by themselves.
This month of May, every Saturday, Brotzeit will be having their Brotzeit Junior Chef @ Work where little ones can have a fun afternoon of making their own favorite Brotzeit food. They can learn how to make their own Fladen, Cookies, and Pretzels. It will be an exciting experience for little kids complete with aprons, cooking tools, and certificates and they will get to taste and bring home the products that they made.
Sign up at least one week before each class. You may also contact Malou Gonzalez at malou@brotzeitphil.com for schedules and registration.
Come with your kids and experience the fun of being Junior Chefs!
It’s extremely and terribly hot these days! Just makes me want to jump in a pool or stay indoors with my AC in high cool temp.
Makes me want to scream, “Ice Cream!!!”
During Holy Week, I got a timely invitation from Magnolia Ice Cream to taste their newest Best of the Philippines Collection flavours. Such a great break from the intense heat that day!
The very accommodating Elmer Villasanta, product head of Magnolia Ice Cream, talked about their newest products and campaign. *8
The three new flavours are Banoffee Pie, Mango Salted Caramel, and Strawberry Crumble Pie. Sounds like desserts, right? Because the names were taken from cakes and dessert flavours. Likewise, the main fruit ingredients are summer fruits–bananas, mangoes, and strawberries, all refreshing in this summer heat.
As you can see, Magnolia had us taste all three flavours in one sitting, giving out a serving of two scoops each one after the other, while the flavours were introduced. It was the first time for me to eat that much ice cream! I wasn’t able to finish each glass though but they all tasted so good and rich.
And the endorsers of these new flavours were introduced to us. And they’re no strangers to the guests who came in the intimate event, because they belong to different fan clubs of the endorsers. No less than the Phenomenal Love Team, Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza.
Larger than life: Alden and Maine standees in lieu of the real thing. Close enough!
Fans of Alden, fans of Maine, and fans of their love team had this opportunity to get to mingle for the love of Aldub and ice cream. It was nice to learn how passionate these people are in supporting their idols, who were handpicked by Magnolia to endorse their new product offering. Who else could best spread the news but their fans themselves!
Alden and Maine fans flocked Magnolia's office for the tasting.
We also got a pre-launch viewing of the newest Magnolia commercial featuring Alden and Maine, to the delight (and kilig) of the guests. Click this link to watch the commercial.
And if these were not enough, Magnolia extended the ice cream treat to our families by giving us free samples of these three flavours! Plus, they thought of the little ones at home and threw in some popsicles for them.
I actually was able to buy another tub of Strawberry Crumble Pie just recently, and the family finished it in just a couple of days! The big tubs (they only sell in one size) are really meant to be shared with the whole family.
Thank you so much for that yummy and wonderful afternoon, Magnolia Ice Cream!
Do watch out for more from Alden and Maine for Magnolia, and watch out for exciting promos from our favourite ice cream!
—
If you want to win autographed mini standees, here’s your chance!
1. Follow @magnolia_icph on Twitter.
2. Watch out for the questions from Quiz Masters Alden and Maine.
3. Tweet the correct answer with the hashtag #MagnoliaIceCreamisALDUBest
4. First to tweet the correct answer wins!
Meet and Greet events are the modern-day fans day for the little ones. My kid has been to quite a number already, and we event travelled far and near for these events.
Fortunately, Toy Kingdom has had several of such events in the past couple of years, such as Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Jake the Neverland Pirate, and the Arendelle Sisters Elsa and Anna, which was a perfect fifth birthday gift to her last year.
This weekend, our favourite patrollers will visit the Mall of Asia, and we’re all invited to attend this fun day of activities.
Dates & Venues:
3:00 – 3:30pm and 5:00-5:30pm
April 29 & 30 – Music Hall, Mall of Asia
Mechanics:
For a minimum single receipt purchase worth P500 at Toy Kingdom and Toys Section of The SM Store, customer will be given a stub by the sales personnel on duty.The stub will serve as the ticket to enter the Paw Patrol Ready for Action Event on April 29 or April 30, 2016.
• One stub can accommodate one child and one adult.Only purchase made from April 1 to 30, 2016 can be accommodated for the Meet & Greet schedule.
• Customers must present the stub and pre-register first to the officer in-charge at the registration area located at the event areaRegistration time is 2:30pm to 3:00pm
• Photo opportunity with the Paw Patrol characters will be done on a per batch basis. Total of 3 to 10 individuals can be accommodated every 3 minutes. Maximum of 100 individuals can be accommodated per Meet & Greet schedule.
• Should there be more than 100 people in line, they will be prioritized for the next meet & greet schedule of their choice.All stubs must be surrendered and valid for one time use only. Stub is not replaceable once lost.
You got the details, now we’re Ready for Action! See you this weekend at the Mall of Asia!
I cannot remember doing anything DIY, or Do-it-yourself. I am one who is afraid of crafting.
So, I immediately took the opportunity to attend a crafting workshop upon the invitation of School of Styling, a new biz which offers workshops for event stylers, something that is so not me.
School of Styling has monthly workshops, and for this month, they featured tassel garland and piñata making. I actually got super interested with the piñata making workshop, something I dreamed of making for my daughter.
To my surprise and delight, there was also a quick mobile photography workshop as the afternoon started.
Geunice of Lightkeeper Studios gave the mobile photography workshop.
They also served some healthy and refreshing juices as we are doing our output of the workshop.
Juice Barista served these. I got fruit-infused water.
Indy Ycasiano gave the craft workshop. I have heard her name as creator of She Dreams in Ink. Together with Em Sulit of Game Changer, they call School of Styling their Passion Project. I actually like the term!
There was also a children’s corner, wherein my daughter got to played with some kids of the workshoppers. Mommas got to craft, kids got to play.
She was actually getting ready to work on the table. But kids gotta play!
And here was my output!
I know. Failed attempt on the tassels!My mini-ice cream piñata!
What I liked most about the afternoon was, aside from making the crafts, the founders of School of Styling explained why they came about with the workshops. And I particularly liked that they emphasized how their workshops can help other people start their own small businesses. One of our seatmates for that afternoon was actually gearing up to start her own event styling business, and the workshops so far have been of great input to her, as she prepares as well for her upcoming wedding.
Workshoppers with School of Styling movers.
As for me, I’d really work on that piñata, perhaps for Cinco de Mayo. Aria is looking forward to it.
Check out their next workshop next month!
Visit www.schoolofstyling.ph or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming events.
The beauty of Russian Romanticism is that it’s hard to pin down. Sensuous in certain parts, exuberant in others, it is both textured and simple, intense, but controlled. To define it into a word or a phrase is a disservice to its identity and heritage; so what better way to showcase the true qualities of this genre than by attempting to breathe life into it?
