Japanese cuisine themed films at the Eiga Sai 2015

July 10-19, 2015

Shang Cineplex (Cinema 2), Shangri-La Plaza

Mandaluyong

With the rising popularity of Ramen houses and other Japanese cuisine establishments in the Philippines, it’s not surprising that Eiga Sai, The Japanese Film Festival 2015 will have the theme Tasteful Japan as films featuring Japanese cuisine gets screened starting this July 10, 2015 at the Shang Cineplex of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

The films centering on food include Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story, PATISSERIE Coin de rue, The God of Ramen, WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~, and It’s a Beautiful Life ~IRODORI~. The festival will also feature contemporary Japanese films like Parasyte, Wood Job!, Thermae Romae II, Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto, and Princess Jellyfish.

The festival opens with the film Our Family, and the film’s director Yuya Ishii will be the guest of honor come opening night. Comprising the educational component of the festival, Ishii will have a director’s talk on July 10, 2015, 3:00 PM at the Lopez Center Studio, Ateneo de Manila University and on July 11, 2015, 4:30 PM at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 2.

Director Yuya Ishii
©2013 “Our Family” Production Committee

As always, after the Manila leg at the Shangri-La Plaza, the festival will tour to Davao on July 14-19, 2015 at the FDCP Cinematheque, and July 24-26 at the Abreeza Mall. The screenings return to Metro Manila on Augurt 12-15, 2015 at UP Film Institute. Finally, the festival wraps with screenings at the Ayala Center in Cebu on August 19-23, 2015.

Parasyte/寄生獣

© 2014 "Parasyte" Film Partners. All Rights Reserved.

During the press conference of the Eiga Sai held at the Shang Cineplex, the film Parasyte/寄生獣 was screened. The film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, is the live adaptation of the science fiction horror manga series by Hitoshi Iwaaki.

In the film, strange, insect like creatures (or the parasites) take over human beings, specifically their brains, eventually taking over them. These infected humans need to devour other humans beings, and in a gruesome manner at that, for sustenance. Unfortunately, one such parasite was unable to take over Shinichi Izumi, played by Shota Sometani, only gaining control of the teenager’s right hand. This right hand, usually morphing into a strange alien like creature consequently named Migi, formed an unusual relationship with his host. Together, they try to stop the gruesome murders brought upon by the infected humans’ need to survive.

Being an avid reader of various manga series, the film really felt as if various volumes of the manga were crammed to fit into an hour and a half film. The plot moved in such a rapid pace that characterization and the exploration of relationships weren’t fully realized. So that during vital points in the film, the resulting outcomes failed to have some weight and bearing once I got over the shock. But still, Parasyte, is an exciting ride that kept me at the edge of my seat. With each new character/subplot revealed, stakes were raised and things became more urgent. The film eventually ends in a major cliffhanger that I bet would made people want the sequel to be shown in next year’s festival.

Here is the screening schedule of Eiga Sai 2015 at Cinema 2 of the Shang Cineplex:

July 10, 2015

1:30 PM Princess Jellyfish

4:30 PM Wood Job!

7:30 PM A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story

July 11, 2015

1:30 PM PATISSERIE Coin de rue

4:30 PM Our Family

7:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto

July 12, 2015

1:30 PM Thermae Romae II

4:30 PM A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story

7:30 PM Wood Job!

July 13, 2015

1:30 PM WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~

4:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto

7:30 PM Thermae Romae II

July 14, 2015

1:30 PM Wood Job!

4:30 PM WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~

7:30 PM The God of Ramen

July 15, 2015

1:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto

4:30 PM Princess Jellyfish

7:30 PM Our Family

July 16, 2015

1:30 PM It’s a Beautiful Life ~IRODORI~

4:30 PM PATISSERIE Coin de rue

7:30 PM WA-SHOKU ~Beyond Sushi~

July 17, 2015

1:30 PM Thermae Romae II

4:30 PM It’s a Beautiful Life ~IRODORI~

7:30 PM Princess Jellyfish

July 18, 2015

1:30 PM Wood Job!

4:30 PM A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story

7:30 PM Parasyte

July 19, 2015

1:30 PM The God of Ramen

4:30 PM PATISSERIE Coin de rue

7:30 PM Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto

After the Shangri-La Plaza leg, the film festival continues at these venues:

July 14-19, 2015

FDCP Cinematheque,

Davao City

July 24-26, 2015

Abreeza Mall,

Davao City

August 12-15, 2015

UP Film Institute

Quezon City

August 19-23, 2015

Ayala Center Cebu,

Cebu City

Eiga Sai, The Japanese Film Festival 2015, kicking off the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month celebrations is presented by the Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, Tokyo International Film Festival, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, UP Film Institute and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Tickets:

Free admission. First-come, first-served basis.

For inquiries:

Japan Foundation, Manila 811-6155 to 58

Shangri-La Plaza 370-2597

French Film Festival celebrates 20 years

June 3-9, 2015

Greenbelt 3

Ayala Center, Makati

Bonifacio High Street Cinemas

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

The French Film Festival running this June 3-9, 2015 celebrates 20 years of bringing quality French films to local audiences by expanding further as the festival adds the Bonifacio High Street Cinemas at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig as another screening venue alongside the Greenbelt 3 Cinemas.

The films to be screened for this year include Diplomatie (Diplomacy), 3 Cœurs (3 Hearts), Chante ton bac d’abord (We Did it on a Song), Dans la cour (In the Courtyard), Eden, Hippocrate, La Belle et la bête (Beauty and the Beast), La Famille Bélier (The Bélier Family), La French (The Connection), La Jalousie (Jealousy), La Prochaine fois je viserai le cœur (Next Time I’ll Aim for the Heart), L’Amour est un crime parfait (Love is the Perfect Crime), Le Havre, Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table ! (Me, Myself and Mum), L’Homme qu’on aimait trop (In the Name of My Daughter), Lulu femme nue (Lulu in the Nude), Saint Laurent, Timbuktu, 108 Rois-Démons (108 Demon-Kings). Tickets for the film screenings cost P100 each. As always, films will be screened with English subtitles.

French Ambassador Gilles Garachon

On the festival’s red carpet opening night, Taklub by director Brillante Mendoza, the only Philippine entry to the Un Certain Regard section of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, will have its Philippine premiere. Taklub, starring Nora Aunor, is produced by Sen. Loren Legarda with the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Information Agency. The film follows the lives of the survivors of the super typhoon Yolanda. The screening of Taklub follows that of La Famille Bélier (The Bélier Family) which will be held earlier in the afternoon of the festival’s opening. These screenings of La Famille Bélier (The Bélier Family) and Taklub will be by invitation only.

Hippocrate

At the press conference for the festival held at the Bonifacio High Street Cinemas, the film Hippocrate from 2014 was shown. Directed by Thomas Lilti, Hippocrate is a medical drama-comedy starring Vincent Lacoste as Benjamin Barois, a young doctor taking his internship at the hospital where his father serves as the director. Vincent starts his internship full of optimism but problems, in the form of stained, ill-fitting coats, broken ECG machines, office politics, party minded fellow interns, a stubborn foreign doctor and accusations of being a papa’s boy start to arise. And these prove to be a lot harder to cure than the patients admitted to the doctors’ care.

This poignant film focuses more on relationships rather than medical jargon although I think I got a good grasp on what an ECG and a morphine drip is despite not having any background in medicine. Reda Kadeb, playing the Algerian doctor Abdel Rezzak whose convictions almost cost him his career, turned in one of the most memorable and nuanced performances in the film. I couldn’t help to notice the irony of doctors lighting up a cigarette right after they've gone through tense and stressful situations.

Avoiding major spoilers, I had to say that the incident involving Vincent towards the end of the film felt too forced and I knew what was about to happen moments leading up to this pivotal part of the film. And the outcome, felt too convenient as if everything wrapped up nicely, with the main villain getting his due and everyone coming out of it satisfied and almost unscathed.

The 20^th French Film Festival is organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines, Institut Français, the Alliance française de Manille and Cebu, in cooperation with the Ayala Malls Cinemas, Bonifacio High Street and Greenbelt. This event would have not been possible without the support of the platinum sponsors: SSI Group, Inc., Beauty Bar, Eden Park, Lacoste, L’Occitane, Oliviers & Co., and Vilebrequin; gold sponsors ThinkBIT and Chateau; bronze sponsors Delsey, Kickers, Sledgers, Peugeot, Bizu, Le Cellier, Don Papa, Monin and TWG; and media partners ANC, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld, High Life, HerWord.com, L’Officiel Manila and Rogue Media, Art Plus Magazine, Expat News, Mellow 94.7 Sounds Good, and Spot.ph.

Ticket price:

P100

For inquiries:

(0936) 919-6097, frenchfilmfest@gmail.com

www.sureseats.com

Holy Angels University, Boscorale bag Musica FEUROPA 7 titles

Congratulations to the Musica FEUROPA 7 Winners!

High School Category

1^st Place Boscorale

2^nd Place UP Rural High School Chorale

3^rd Place St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina High School Glee Club

Open Category

1^st Place Holy Angels University Chorale

2^nd Place UPLB Choral Ensemble

3^rd Place UST Accountancy Chamber Singers

1st Place Open Category Holy Angels University

With the smallest of margins, the Holy Angel University Chorale finally emerged as the Open Category champion of Musica FEUROPA 7, edging out by just six tenths of a point (0.6) the defending champion UPLB Choral Ensemble. Newcomers to the competition, UST Accountancy Chamber Singers placed third, coincidentally also just six tenths of a point behind the second placer.

At the High School Category, Boscorale asserted its dominance by winning their fourth title in five years. This latest victory adds to their wins from 2011, 2012 and 2014. Placing second in this category is UP Rural High School Chorale while St. Scholastica’s Academy, Marikina High School Glee Club got third place.

The competition was indeed very close and after all the Open Category choirs performed, it was difficult to pick out the winner. Honestly, it was far easier for me to pick the choirs whom I think would not place at the top three rather than the other way around. This year, the Open Category became truly open, allowing members of all ages to participate. This resulted in the inclusion of the Quezon City Performing Arts Children's Choir composed of members who are too young to join the High School Category but still competed with the big guns at the Open Category. And they managed to go the distance, not only qualifying for the finals but eventually landing in fourth position, just barely out of the podium.

1st Place High School Category Boscorale

The competition, held over two days at the FEU Auditorium at the Far Eastern University, saw 14 (Second Chronicle Singers, The Templar Singing Ambassadors, ICP Charismatic Chorale, University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale, Philippine Camerata Singers, UST Accountancy Chamber Singers, SJB Chorale, Adamson University Chorale, De La Salle University, The Magnificat Singers, TIP Choral Society, Our Lady of the Pentecost Singers, Quezon City Performing Arts Children's Choir, University of Makati Chorale) entries from the Open Category battle it out for the semis to be among the 8 to join seeded choirs UPLB Choral Ensemble and Holy Angels University at the finals.

The High School Category had 7 (Himig Roseña, UP Rural High School Chorale, Imus Institute Pitch Choir, Benigno Ninoy Aquino High School Chorale, St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina High School Glee Club, Ramon Magsaysay High School Chorale, Boscorale) entries competing for the title.

Musica FEUROPA 7, the only choral competition in the country supported by the European Union, was presented by the Far Eastern University’s President’s Committee on Culture and the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, and is part of the Viva Europa cultural calendar.

Darren Espanto, on course to be youngest concert headliner in MoA Arena

May 29, 2015, 8:00 PM

Mall of Asia Arena

SM Mall of Asia Complex

Pasay City

Darren Espanto, The Voice Kids runner up and the hottest young recording artist in the country today, continues the grand celebration of his 14th birthday with a concert entitled Darren Espanto D Birthday Concert on May 29, 2015, 8:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena. With this show, Darren becomes the youngest act to headline a concert at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Darren Espanto

Joining Darren in his concert are The Voice of the Philippines Season 1 winner Mitoy Yonting, Season 2’s winner Jasoy Dy and runner-up Alisah Bonaobra, TV host Robi Domingo, dance group G-Force and the recently crowned winner of Asia’s Got Talent, El Gamma Penumbra. Soc Molina serves as the concert’s music director.

At a recent press conference held at C3 Events place, members of the press tried to squeeze out from Darren the songs he has prepared for the concert. But he kept mum about his set list, not spilling out whatever surprises he has in store on that night. He hinted though that he’ll have dance productions, mash ups and medleys in tribute to some songwriters, and that he will do on stage something that he has never done before. One thing that he willingly spilled was that the audience members in this concert will be the first to view the music video of Stuck which is a track included in his debut album Darren that was recently certified as a gold record. Upon the prodding of the press, Darren gave everyone a preview of the concert by performing Stuck.

Darren Espanto D Birthday Concert is presented by Talk N’ Text, Spinnr and MCA Music in cooperation with Brood Shoes distributed by Sports House. Special thanks to MUM Make-up Madness, Bangs Prime Salon by Tony and Jackey, Aficionado German Perfumes, C3 Events Place, Cravings, Clarence, Erase Certified Beauty, Eton International School and Placenta. With media partners: ABS-CBN, MYX, MOR 101.9, 106.7 Energy FM and Mellow 94.7.

Ticket prices:

P4500 VVIP

P4000 VIP

P3500 Patron

P2500 Lower Box

P1200 Upper Box

P400 General Admission

+applicable service charges

For VVIP tickets:

Ms. Liza Ong (0998) 974-1153, liza.ong@umusic.com

For inquiries:

SM Tickets 470-2222

Pianist Lorenzo Medel takes on adventurous program in recital

May 23, 2015, 7:30 PM

Brother Rafael Donato Center for the Performing Arts

La Salle Greenhills

Featuring:

Lorenzo Medel, piano

Jeline Oliva, violin

Programme:

Domenico Scarlatti

     Sonata in E, K.380, L.23 Cortège

Ludwig van Beethoven

     Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 Moonlight

Frédéric Chopin

     Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12 Revolutionary

     Étude in G flat major, Op. 10 No. 5 Black Keys

     Étude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11 Winter Wind

Claude Debussy

     Préludes Book 2 No. 12 Feux d'artifice (Fireworks), L 123

Nikolai Myaskovsky

     Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 13 No. 2

Tomaso Vitali

     Chaconne in G minor

Antonio Vivaldi

     Allegro non molto from Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L’estate (Summer)

     Allegro non molto from Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L’inverno (Winter)

Jules Massenet

     Meditation from Thaïs

Manuel de Falla arr. by Fritz Kreisler

     Danse espagnole

After finishing his sophomore year at the Eastman School of Music in New York, pianist Lorenzo Medel returns to the country for a one night recital billed as billed as A Classical Piano Adventure with Lorenzo Medel happening on May 23, 2015, 7:30 PM at the Brother Rafael Donato Center for the Performing Arts in La Salle Greenhills.

For this evening, Lorenzo’s pieces include the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 more popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven, a trio of Études (Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12 Revolutionary, Étude in G flat major, Op. 10 No. 5 Black Keys, and Étude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11 Winter Wind) by Frédéric Chopin, Préludes Book 2 No. 12 Feux d'artifice (Fireworks), L 123 by Claude Debussy and the rarely performed Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 13 No. 2 by Nikolai Myaskovsky.

The concert will also include the special participation of young violinist Jeline Oliva who will join Enzo in performing Tomaso Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor, a couple of movements (the Allegro non molto from No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L’estate/Summer and Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L’inverno/Winter) from Antonio Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni/The Four Seasons, Jules Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, and Manuel de Falla’s Danse espagnole as arranged by Fritz Kreisler.

Lorenzo was born in Manila in 1995 and began his piano studies in 2006 at age 10 under Prof. Mauricia Borromeo of the University of the Philippines, College of Music. He is currently into his Bachelor of Music, Major in Piano Performance at the Eastman School of Music where he will be an incoming junior this September 2015.

In the seven years Lorenzo was with Prof. Borromeo (2006-2013), he had clearly established his piano skills nationally, winning the top prizes of our country’s more prestigious piano competitions, like the NAMCYA (National Music Competitions for Young Artists), PTGP (Piano Teacher’s Guild of the Philippines), UP College of Music and the National Steinway Piano Competition. He had twelve public solo recitals by age sixteen, three of which were full concertos with assistance from the Manila Symphony Orchestra. The recitals received excellent reviews both from Manila’s press and local piano aficionados.

For tickets and inquiries:

(0917) 891-7979, 716-1854, enzopiano@yahoo.com

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestra of Filipino Youth in joint concert and conference

April 30, 2015, 6:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

Cultural Center of the Philippines

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz, piano

Chi-Ying Hung, piano

Brian Berino, piano

Thristan Mendoza, marimba

Jade Riccio, soprano

Malvin Beethoven Macasaet, tenor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra of the Filipino Youth

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Gerard Salonga, conductor

The Cultural Center of the Philippines, ABS-CBN and First Philippine Holdings present the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth under the batons of Gerard Salonga and Olivier Ochanine in Ang Sistema, in a fund raising concert and conference, or a concerence on April 30, 2015, 6:00 PM at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). Guest artists include Filipino concert pianist Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz, Taiwanese pianist Chi-Ying Hung, NAMCYA 1^st Prize Winner in marimba Thristan 'Tum-Tum' Mendoza, soprano Jade Riccio, tenor Malvin Beethoven Macasaet, and 12-year-old pianist Brian Berino.

The conference part of the concerence will have annotations as well as question and answer segments conducted by Jamie Bernstein, director of the film documentary Crescendo: the Power of Music and the daughter of the legendary quintessential Artist Leonard Bernstein, and Tricia Tunstall, author of Changing Lives: Gustavo Dudamel, El Sistema, and the Transformative Power of Music. The concert portion will feature a vast array of works written by the great classical music masters from the 18^th Century to the present, from Ludwig van Beethoven to Leonard Bernstein, from traditional to popular.

This concerence will benefit Ang Misyon, Inc. (AMI) - the non-stock, non-profit mother foundation of Sistema for the Filipino Youth (SFY) and the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY). Inspired by the global phenomenon El Sistema, SFY is an after-school music program that offers children from deprived communities the opportunity to achieve their full musical potential through the Classical Music discipline, with the ultimate hope of creating a positive impact on their respective communities. The OFY is a donor-based youth orchestra comprised of fifty five of the SFY Scholars, handpicked from various ensembles that already exist, and are spread throughout the Philippines. AMI provides the Scholars with free music education, performance allowances, transportation assistance, meals, instruments, and uniforms. AMI was born to help eradicate poverty in the Philippines through social change, simultaneously enhancing the country’s identity by creating career paths in classical music orchestral performance and redeveloping its arts and culture scene.

Ticket prices:

P1000 Orchestra Center Prime

P800 Orchestra Center

P600 Orchestra Side

P300 Balcony I

P100 Balcony II

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

+applicable service charges

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999

CCP’s Kaisa sa Sining welcomes new regional partners

CCP officials with the new Kaisa sa Sining regional partners

The Cultural Center of the Philippines welcomed a new batch of regional partners as the CCP expands its Kaisa sa Sining Regional Art Centers. The ten new partners recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding joining the initial batch of nine.

Soprano Gereberne Lozada

The new regional partners are the following: City of Koronadal-South Cotabato, La Salle University-Ozamiz City, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges-General Santos City for Mindanao; Province of Capiz, City of Calbayog-Samar, Holy Name University Tagbilaran City-Bohol, and Cebu Arts Council for the Visayas; Developmental Initiatives for Bicolano Artists-Naga City, Heritage City of Vigan-Ilocos Sur, and University of the Philippines Los Baños-Laguna for Luzon.

Indak Bambino

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding were highlighted by messages from CCP President Raul Sunico, CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Chris Millado, and representatives from each of the new regional partners. Numbers by soprano Gereberne Lozada from Capiz, singers Bayang Barrios and Cooky Chua, and dance troupe Indak Bambino from Batangas entertained the guests during this occasion.

Indak Bambino

One of Kaisa sa Sining’s major projects from last year was the nationwide tour of Badong: Salvador Bernal Designs the Stage exhibit. For this year, Ampalaya The Musical, a production hailing from one of the first batch of regional partners, Siliman University, Dumaguete will be brought to Manila and be staged at the CCP Main Theater.

Bayang Barrios and Cooky Chua

The specific goal of Kaisa sa Sining is to broaden public participation in the arts, promote and showcase artistic excellence and facilitate a dynamic collaboration between the CCP and among the regional centers, universities or colleges. The key areas of the said partnership includes training & apprenticeship, touring & move-over productions, sharing of relevant cultural resource materials, access to arts & cultural information, venues & facilities; and participation in major cultural events.

For inquiries:

CCP Cultural Exchange Department 832-1125 local 1708-1709