SM Manila is now a WiFi spot

SM Supermalls in the Philippines are gearing up their online connectivity. SM Manila has just launched its Wifi connectivity at the Food Court through its Bloggers Event meet. Bloggers, including myself, were gathered together to test its WiFi. And it was fast!

SM City Manila, launched in April 2000, is located right across the Manila City Hall. Mall goers can just hook up their cellphones, laptop or other gadgets to surf the net or just check important emails. What a convenient way to connect to our friends, family and colleagues during our busy schedules. We are always on the go. Our online presence is inevitable.

We would like to thank SM Manila for welcoming and accommodating us bloggers. Thanks also to the sponsors courtesy of Tropical Hut, Seafood Grill Station, Bodhi, Chicken Company, Sizzling Plate and Turk's Shawarma for our sumptuous food.

SM City Manila is now a WiFi spot. Everyone can now enjoy Wifi at their fingertips!

1st Samsung LED TV Debuts in Abenson Avant

The first Samsung LED TV was launched in Abenson Avant at Greenbelt 4 in Makati City on July 28, 2009. This event was hosted by PJ Lanot. As you can see in the photos below, Samsung LED TV is very slim and sleek, saving you a lot of space at home. Two units of DVD player were raffled off. Congratulations to the winners!

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Eye candies don’t have to include your TV—especially as people’s favorite tube has moved from black and white box types to high-definition flat screens.

But if sleek and high-definition isn’t enough, urban techies can brace themselves with Samsung’s latest television offering—LED TV.

Yes, the newest series--Samsung UA40b6000 and UA4B7000 LED TVs have hit the Philippines through efforts of the country’s leading concept store of lifestyle electronics and appliance, Abenson Avant.

“Abenson Avant is thrilled to have been chosen as the first electronic and appliance store in Manila to offer tech lovers these new Samsung LED TVs,” says marketing manager Ranj Basi. “It’s all part of our goal to provide our loyal customers only the best and the latest innovations in the market.”

Exclusive to Abenson Avant, these LED TVs create images by using white, light-emitting diodes (LED)--the same technology found in laptop screens. This feature allows lesser energy consumption while offering more precise control of color, contrast and clarity.

Truly a significant advancement in Philippine TV viewing, Basi explains that Samsung’s top-of-the-line LED TV puts the country at par with the rising new technologies worldwide. These new screens boast of having a three-million-to-one contrast ratio and follow a green slant by using a LED light source that is Mercury-free.

Abenson Avant has branches in Trinoma, Greenbelt 4 and Alabang Town Center. You may also call telephone numbers (632) 758.2315 to 20 and (632) 901.3550 to 52.

View more photos here.

"unBOUNDed" by Jeho Bitancor (Sept 2-18, 2009)

(text by Jeho Bitancor)

How does space as a phenomenon translate to embodied articulations of personal and social significance?

Referencing my condition as a migrant, I had to grapple with this problematic and contemplate on other questions whether the space to locate our bodies constricting or liberating or both? If so, how does it manifest? Is it of our own choosing and creation, or is it imposed and inherited?

My inquiry was triggered by the tension I had to negotiate as a transient body constantly relocating itself, from the “periphery” to the “center”, and from the west coast to Midwest to east coast in barely two years. This would mean adapting to new circumstances and unfamiliar grounds. Or better yet, enduring/enjoying shifting working conditions; from a huge garage space in California, to a freezing open patio in Memphis, to a claustrophobic basement apartment in Jersey City, and finally to a decent studio space in the suburbs of Central New Jersey.

It is while working in a spare space in Jersey City measuring less than 7 x 5 ft in floor area that I have come to question the nature of my existence. Does the space I occupy define me or is it in defining myself that I inhabited it? Similarly, is the decision to be “in” the space and adhere to the condition it entails a result of my own volition alone or a product of inherited values historically ingrained within my psyche? It can be both in my case for there are a number of reasons that may be politically in/correct or even romantic. It can be the notion of growing artistically/ intellectually and recognizing my battle as a post-colonial subject, while at the same time grazing at my enemy’s pasture for which I am not yet guilty of.

For this exhibition, I have focused on subjects that are apparently social in context and navigating through issues that affect me. For me, there is no dividing line clearly delineating the personal to societal. I believe that personal experiences transcend to if not a direct result of the workings of society.

Age-old issues of vulnerability, conformity, dislocation, bondage, greed, identity and struggle are presented in various reconfigurations and re-contextualization. Utilizing as a device objects that contain figures or figures that resemble objects, the works allude to feelings of entrapment, enclosure and imprisonment. Others served as shelter and recluse, echoing the duality and manifold definition of inhabiting and identifying with a space.

Jeho Bitancor’s “unBOUNDed” Will be on view until September 18, 2009 at blanc Makati. blanc is located at Crown Tower, 107 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City. For more information, please call (632) 752-0032 / call or sms +63920-9276436, email info@blanc.ph or visit www.blanc.ph, www.blancartspace.multiply.com

Gantimpala Theater presents "Kanser [Noli Me Tangere]" (Aug 29-Sept 20, 2009)

(Text by Alwin Ignacio)

The second installment of Gantimpala Theater’s Four Classics, Kanser (Noli Me Tangere) penned by award-winning playwright Jomar Fleras, under the direction of Adriana Agcaoili, brings back on stage the life of the European educated Don Crisostomo Ibarra and his lady love Maria Clara, and the many interesting and intriguing characters of San Diego.

Director Adriana Agcaoili says, “The Noli Me Tangere, Dr. Jose Rizal’s first novel is the basis for Fleras’ award-winning play, Kanser. As a historical record, his novel is a powerful and very real testament that Rizal – and all the revolutionary Eliases, the victimized Sisas and Crispins, and the broken idealists like Ibarra – made for our motherland. As live theater, Fleras play makes for an entertaining two hours of watching and what is wonderful about it is that, it will really allow you to ponder on the many issues that it presents.”

The cast includes Jao Mapa (Crisostomo Ibarra), Fame Flores and Meliza Reyes (alternately portraying Maria Clara), Jojo Rieguera (alternate for Ibarra/Padre Salvi/Padre Syubila), Manolet Concepcion (Padre Damaso), Dante Balois (Pilosopong Tasyo), Ed Murillo (Capitan Tiago), Xeno Alejandro (Elias), Meldea Flor Formacil (Sisa), Irra Cenina (Padre Salvi/Padre Sybila/alternate for Mang-aawit), April Anne Dolot and Agnes Ramos (alternately portraying Doña Victorina), Hazel Orencio (Doña Consolacion), Niesty Lopera (Don Tiburcio), Vangie Inocencio (Tiya Isabel), John Zyke Snatos (Basilio), John Dencel Galoso (Crispin), Molts Meneses (Teniente Guevarra/Tarcilo), and Von Arroyo (Mang-awit).

“This is my first time to play the role of Crisostomo Ibarra and I must admit that this is a very challenging character,” says Jao Mapa. “Ibarra is an idealist, a young man educated from Europe who went home to spend his life with his beloved Maria Clara. When he comes home to San Diego, he sees that Filipinos were being oppressed by the Spaniards and even he, an ilustrado also experienced the oppression. As an actor, people must see my transformation from a naïve young man to a hurting and hunted enemy of the government.”

He adds, “I am very thankful to Gantimpala Theater for giving me the opportunity once more to work with them. I appreciate the discipline, hard work and the high level of professionalism of all the people who are part of this production. I just hope that I deliver what they expect from me and that our audiences will enjoy and learn from our play.”

Assisting director Agcaoili re-create the world of Crisostomo and Maria Clara are Jose Jeffrey Camañag (Associate Director), Andy Villareal (Lights Designer), Marianne Sedotes (Sets Designer), Albert Figueras (Costumes Designer), Darby Dizon (Choreographer), Jorge Cabullo (Production Manager), Wilmark Oliver Tabio (Stage Manager), and Tony Espejo (Artistic Director).

Performances are on August 29 (6pm), Open Air Auditorium, Luneta, Manila; September 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13 (10am/2pm), AFP Theater, Quezon City; and September 18, 19, 20 (10am/ 2pm), SM South Mall, Las Piñas City.

Gantimpala Theater’s Kanser (Noli Me Tangere) is fully supported by the National Parks Development Committee.

For inquiries, please call the Gantimpala Theater Marketing Office, look for Ms. Glenda Agravante at (632) 899-5745/ 896-3503/ 474-5198 or visit: www.gantimpalatheater.multiply.com.

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2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees' Lecture Series (Aug 27-Sept 2, 2009)

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation is inviting everyone to The 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees' Lecture Series from August 27-September 2, 2009 at the Ramon Magsaysay Center. Free admission.

LECTURE 1:

August 27 (Thursday) 3:00-5:00 pm

KA HSAW WA

Burma

"Tracking Environmental Exploitation and its Human Rights Impact"

Note: I have attended this riveting and eye-opening lecture based on the life story of Ka Hsaw Wa and his advocacy against human rights violation and on promoting peace in Burma. Very inspiring!

LECTURE 2:

August 28 (Friday) 9:00– 11:00 am

DEEP JOSHI

India

"Nurturing Hed and Heart to Combat Poverty: The PRADAN Story"

LECTURE 3:

August 28 (Friday) 2:00 – 4:00 pm

KRISANA KRAISINTU

Thailand

"The Scientific Crusade for Affordable Medicines"

LECTURE 4:

September 1 (Tuesday) 1:00 – 3:00 pm

YU XIAOGANG

China

"Participatory Social Impact Assessment in Watershed Management"

LECTURE 5:

September 1 (Tuesday) 3:00 – 5:00 pm

MA JUN

China

"Harnessing the Power of Information to Reverse River Pollution"

LECTURE 6:

September 2 (Wednesday) 9: 00 – 11:00 am

ANTONIO OPOSA, JR.

The Philippines

"Environmental CPR and Climate Change"

________________________________________

Ramon Magsaysay Center is located at 1680 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines.

To register, please call: (632) 521-3166 to 85 local 138 or 139.

Email: lectures@rmaf.org.ph

Website: http://www.rmaf.org.ph

2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Announced

The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced that this year six individuals from Burma, China, India, the Philippines, and Thailand will receive Asia’s premier prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award. The Awardees are:

Krisana Kraisintu, from Thailand. She is being recognized for “her placing pharmaceutical rigor at the service of patients, through her untiring and fearless dedication to producing much-needed generic drugs in Thailand and elsewhere in the developing world.”

Deep Joshi, from India. He is being recognized for “his vision and leadership in bringing professionalism to the NGO movement in India, by effectively combining ‘head’ and ‘heart’ in the transformative development of rural communities.”

Yu Xiaogang, from China. He is being recognized for “his fusing the knowledge and tools of social science with a deep sense of social justice, in assisting dam-affected communities in China to shape the development projects that impact their natural environment and their lives.”

Antonio Oposa, Jr., from the Philippines. He is being recognized for “his pathbreaking and passionate crusade to engage Filipinos in acts of enlightened citizenship that maximize the power of law to protect and nurture the environment for themselves, their children, and generations still to come.”

Ma Jun, from China. He is being recognized for “his harnessing the technology and power of information to address China’s water crisis, and mobilizing pragmatic, multisectoral, and collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable benefits for China’s environment and society.”

Ka Hsaw Wa, from Burma. He is being recognized for “his dauntlessly pursuing non violent yet effective channels of redress, exposure, and education for the defense of human rights, the environment, and democracy in Burma.”

Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honor and is widel regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It celebrates the memory and leadership example of the third Philippine President, and is given every year to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same sense of selfless service that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader.

“The Magsaysay awardees of 2009,” says RMAF President Carmencita T. Abella, “are true Asian Heroes, putting their advanced knowledge and skills at the service of critical needs of their people. They are, each one, addressing major issues affecting the growth and preservation of their respective societies – health care, mass poverty, community displacement, environmental degradation, human rights. They are each using calibrated strategies to craft lasting solutions to problems besetting their people. Nevertheless, these six awardees share a greatness of spirit which infuses their leadership for change. They all build collaboration and seek consensus wherever possible. They all refuse to give up, despite adversity and opposition. Four of them share a passionate concern for the environment, which the Foundation wishes to give special attention to at this time.

Starting in 2009, the Magsaysay Award is no longer being given in fixed Award categories, except for Emergent Leadership, which honors “outstanding work of an individual, 40 years of age and below, on issues of social change in his/her community, but whose leadership is not yet broadly recognized outside of this community.”

The six 2009 Magsaysay awardees join 271 other laureates who have received Asia’s highest honor to date. This year’s Magsaysay Award winners will each receive a certificate, a medallion bearing the likeness of the late President, and a cash prize. They will be formally conferred the Magsaysay Award during the Presentation Ceremonies to be held on 31 August 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, to which the public is cordially invited.

For more information, please call: (632) 521-3166 to 85, or visit http://www.rmaf.org.ph

TANYAG: A Trilogy of Palanca Award-Winning Plays

August 28 (FRI) -7pm / August 29 (SAT) - 3pm / August 30 (SUN) - 3pm

Philamlife Theater, United Nations Avenue, Manila

OUR LADY OF ARLEGUI

by Chris Martinez, directed by Dennis Marasigan

(First Prize, Dulang May Isang Yugto, 2007)

A student from UP finds himself trapped with a Muslim woman who runs a DVD stall in Arlegui St. in Manila when authorities raid the premises in search of pirated discs. Their reluctant efforts to overcome mutual mistrust end in interesting fashion in this comedy winner by the award-winning playwright of Welcome to Intelstar and Last Order sa Penguin and the films Bridal Shower and 100.

BAKA SAKALI

by J. Dennis Teodosio, directed by Dennis Marasigan

(Second Prize, Dulang May Isang Yugto, 2007)

A young man tries to convince his grandfather of the folly of entrusting their future on the possibility of winning a television game show. His efforts are in vain, resulting in a tragedy that befell many other Filipinos. This play inspired by true-to-life events is written by the same author of Geegee and Waterina.

ANG KALUNGKUTAN NG MGA REYNA

written and directed by Floy Quintos

(First Prize, Dulang May Isang Yugto, 2008)

The female President of the Philippines had an epiphany: what the country needs is a monarchy. She prepares to join the ranks of the world’s royalty by engaging the tutelage of a fashion designer who must bring taste and regal manners into the palace. Winner of four Gawad Buhay Awards (for Outstanding Production of a One-Act Play, Original Script, Actress and Direction). Written and directed by noted theater and television writer and director Floy Quintos.

CAST: SHAMAINE BUENCAMINO * BODGIE PASCUA * CES ALDABA* TUXQS RUTAQUIO with Acey Aguilar, Martha Nikko Comia, Abner Delina, Anna Deroca and Jerald Napoles

For queries, call (632) 8152246 or 8187201.

Or email: filmarts.manila@gmail.com

Ticket Prices: P300 (students) / P600 (regular); discounts available. Call Ticketworld # (632) 891-9999

Asia's Titanic: A Philippine Documentary on National Geographic Channel

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has announced the premiere of “Asia’s Titanic,” a one-hour National Geographic Channel exclusive that probes into the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster ever recorded.

This is the first documentary produced by NGCI in collaboration with a Filipino film production group under the NGCI-EDB (Economic Development Board) development fund grant.

“Asia’s Titanic” will premiere exclusively on NGC (Sky Cable Channel 41) on August 25, 2009, Tuesday, at 9 p.m. It will replay on August 26 at 4 am, 9 am, and 1 pm; August 30 at 9 pm; and August 31 at 1 am and 5 am.

“The documentary is a milestone for Filipino filmmakers to celebrate the launch of an exceptionally high quality movie to Filipino and global audiences with a strong admonition about sea safety,” said Jude Turcuato, NGC Philippines territory director.

“We are deeply committed to support the Filipino filmmaking industry with the unique opportunity of showcasing its creative talents to NGC viewers worldwide. The documentary is a powerful and dramatic story made by a Filipino production team that equals the hallmark standards of National Geographic,” Turcuato said.

“Asia's Titanic” presents the tragic sinking of MV Doña Paz after colliding with an oil tanker off Mindoro Island just five days before Christmas in 1987 — about 4,000 passengers died in the tragedy. The disaster is told through dramatic first-hand accounts of survivors and rescuers, actual transcripts from the Philippine congressional inquiry into the tragedy, archival footage and photos, and a re-enactment of the collision.

The documentary is directed by award-winning director Yam Laranas. It is the first for any Filipino filmmaker to direct a full-length documentary for National Geographic. Laranas said making the documentary was exciting. At the same time, he said it was heartbreaking to hear first-hand the horrifying accounts of the few survivors. He said the survivors themselves broke into tears while reliving their tragic ordeal.

In making “Asia’s Titanic”, Laranas and his team were guided by NGC’s supervising producers to meet the high standards of the channel’s documentary filmmaking—compelling storytelling, breathtaking and engaging visuals, and clear and crisp sound.

First Pinoy documentary on NGC. Award-winning Filipino director Yam Laranas gives specific directions to his cameraman during the filming of a scaled replica of MV Doña Paz for the National Geographic Channel’s (NGC) documentary “Asia’s Titanic.” This is the first documentary produced by National Geographic Channel in collaboration with a Philippine film production under the NGCI-EDB Development Fund. “Asia’s Titanic,” which tells of the tragic sinking of MV Doña Paz just few days before Christmas of 1987, will premiere on NGC (Sky Cable Channel 41) on 25 August 2009, Tuesday, at 9 p.m.

About National Geographic Channels International

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) invites viewers to re-think the way they see television - and the world - with smart, innovative programming. A business enterprise owned by National Geographic Television (NGT) and FOX Entertainment Group, NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education through its six channels: National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nat Geo Adventure and Nat Geo Music.

Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S. which is a joint venture of NGT and Fox Cable Networks Group) is available in 305 million homes in 165 countries and 34 languages.

For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com

Program Advisory

AUGUST 25 (Tuesday, 8pm)

AUGUST 26 (Wednesday, 4am, 9am, 1pm & 9pm)

AUGUST 30 (Sunday, 9pm)

AUGUST 31 (Monday, 1am & 5am)

SEPTEMBER 5 (Saturday, 6pm)

SEPTEMBER 28 (Monday, 8pm)

SEPTEMBER 29 (Tuesday, 1pm)