Ballet Philippines' 54th Season: Explore the power of dance through new stories and underlying themes

Ballet Philippines endeavors to take our experience of ballet a notch higher

BY MB LIFESTYLE

  

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This season, Ballet Philippines (BP) explores the power of dance and the countless ways this art form can move and transform us.

Ballet Philippines’ President, Kathleen Liechtenstein shares, “Dance is a powerful human expression and is fundamentally the anchor for BP's program to entertain, educate, and inspire. This year’s theme was the fitting call as we transitioned into in-person performances and hybrid programming.”

After last season’s much-awaited return to the grand stage, Ballet Philippines endeavors to take their audiences’ experience of ballet a notch higher.

Kathleen elaborated further, “You can expect stronger dancing, technically improved choreography. Our aim is to highlight dancers’ skills and talents. You can also expect exciting partnerships with Solaire as well as other creative communities. Through the power of dance, we hope to inspire, uplift, awaken and energize a new chapter in Philippine performance arts."

Power To Inspire
The season opens with the enchanting ballet, "Coppelia," in August. Based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann, this 1870 comic ballet tells the tale of a mad scientist enamored by his "daughter." Love conquers all in this enduring narrative that reminds us to look beyond surface beauty and embrace our perfect imperfections. Through the mesmerizing power of dance, Ballet Philippines invites audiences on a joyous journey of self-discovery and love, inspiring introspection while delivering a lighthearted and magical performance.

Power to Energize and Uplift
Across the diverse cultures and faiths, Christmas is a time for celebration, gratitude, and reconnecting with loved ones. Ballet Philippines' "A Christmas Fairytale" will become a cherished tradition, bringing families, friends, patrons, dance enthusiasts, and art lovers together during this festive season. By opening a portal to a world where tales, myths, and lore intertwine, this ballet creates a magical realm where dance serves as both language and currency. At the core of this delightful dance piece is a message that reminds us of how holidays with family are better than any fairytale.

Power to Empower and Enlighten
"Limang Daan," an original Filipiniana piece by Ballet Philippines, first debuted online during the pandemic. To close its 54th season, the country’s flag bearer dance company will mount a  full length theater performance of this historical dance piece. Through dance, audiences will be transported through time–as far back as 500 years ago.

"Limang Daan" tracks a journey to past cross-cultural encounters, most of which will explain the strong Spanish influence still dominant in our way of life. But more than another saga into our past, this piece celebrates the formidable women in our country, both from literature and real life.

These include Doña Victorina, Maria Clara, Sisa, Grabriela Silang and Josephine Bracken. A fitting show for Women’s Month in March, "Liman Daan" is a revelation on the cultural heritage of women in Philippine society, told through dance. It is a show that will remind us of who we are, what we’ve been through, and the lessons from the past that will guide us through the next 500 years.

All shows shall be performed at BP’s new home, The Theatre at Solaire.

Pauline Amelinckx thought she would be Miss Charm, not Miss Supranational

BY ANNALYN S. JUSAY

Jun 2, 2023 08:00 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• "People will always have their own opinions about you which they are entitled to. At the end of the day when it comes to overcoming body shaming, it's not about changing other people's opinions about you. It's about changing the voice inside your head and making it the kindest voice you'll hear, to have your positive opinion about yourself be the loudest and most unwavering one that you will hear," she stressed.

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Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 Pauline Amelinckx

Boholana-Belgian beauty queen Pauline Amelinckx revealed that she did not expect to be named the new Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 in a special ceremony last May 13 right after the Miss Universe Philippines coronation night. She added, however, that she's happy to take the title while rallying her fans to help her "pray and manifest for the second Miss Supranational crown for the Philippines" which was last won by Mutya Datul in 2013.

"I was actually surprised that they assigned Miss Supranational to me because based on the popular opinion of other pageant fans, I actually thought that it would be Miss Charm that would be assigned to me. But it's still a very happy experience and it's something that I looked forward to for the past three years when I proudly represented Bohol. Now I can finally say 'Philippines!' attached to my name abroad," Pauline said in an interview right after the B.R.A.V.E. Beauty body positivity event organized by  Junior Chamber International (JCI) Makati Princess Urduja headed by Michiko Unso.

Pauline, who is president of JCI Chocolate Hills, looked back on her performance in the recent Miss Universe PH pageant which has been the subject of controversy. Michelle Dee of Makati City won the tightly-contested beauty tilt while Krishnah Gravidez of Baguio City was hailed the new Miss Charm Philippines.

"I was a little bit disappointed with myself. To be perfectly honest, there were some areas, after self-reflection, where I thought to myself I could have done better and perhaps it would have changed some of the results," Pauline remarked.

"But at the end of the day, it's still a  'what if ' and I don't wanna ponder too much about the past because we can't change that anymore. Michelle (Dee) is very deserving and I'm sure she will make our country proud,"  she added.

Michiko Unso, president of JCI Makati Princess Urduja (right) with daughter Alek Unso, chairperson of the B.R.A.V.E. beauty fashion show

Pauline bared that she is now completing the paper requirements needed for her to compete in Miss Supranational 2023 in Poland and she will start her pageant training again in June.

The 27-year-old beauty queen, who competed in MUPh three times, noted that she will work on maintaining her composure onstage.

Pauline recalled her recent experience during the MUPh finals where jitters got the best of her.

"Going into the coronation night, I  really felt calm and collected but when Bohol was called into the Top 5,  I felt my heart racing because I realized this was  the third time I was able to get Bohol into the Top 5. So my heart was racing and my emotions took the best of me. I wasn't able to  get a clear mind in that moment. So I have to work on keeping my emotions in check especially when it matters the most on stage," she recounted.

Pauline said she was  heartened to receive congratulatory messages from fellow beauty queens, including actress and Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita Ssen "Winwyn" Marquez who also belongs to Aces and Queens.

Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 Pauline Amelinckx with Ashley Subijano, the Philippines' candidate to Miss Eco International 2023

"Hopefully, there's a  lot of lessons  that I can take from all the different  beauty queens, especially those who have competed in (Miss Supranational) Po; and who  already know where I should excel or where I can  progress a little bit more so I can represent the best of the Philippines," she pointed out.

The newly-crowned Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 has become a strong advocate of body positivity after her own experience of body shaming online during the three times she competed in the MUPh pageant.

This is the reason why she was presented as the main celebrity model during the B.R.A.V.E. (Bolder Reactions Against Violence to Empower) fashion show and fund-raiser held in Draper Start-up House in Makati City. Pauline wore a flowing white gown designed by her "momager" Mikee Andrei.

"People will always have their own opinions about you which they are entitled to. At the end of the day when it comes to overcoming body shaming, it's not about changing other people's opinions about you. It's about changing the voice inside your head and making it the kindest voice you'll hear, to have your positive opinion about yourself be the loudest and most unwavering one that you will hear," she stressed.

"The thoughts that I personally like to keep paramount are: that my body doesn't have to be sexy but strong,  although it can also be both. As long as my body is healthy and my spirit is happy.... kebs! di ba?," Pauline stated.

PTV Network invites Tito, Vic, and Joey

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Jun 1, 2023 02:49 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• "Tito, Vic, and Joey, welcome na welcome po ang 'Eat Bulaga' rito sa PTV4. Kayo po ay isa sa mga institusyon na nagsusulong ng kulturang Pilipino, nagsusulong ng edukasyon para sa mga Pilipino, at nagtataas ng mga value ng mga Pilipino. Kaya welcome na welcome kayo rito," said PTV General Manager Dr. Julio O. Castillo Jr., in an exclusive interview at the television network in Quezon City on June 1.

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Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee and PTV Network General Manager Julio O. Castillo Jr. (Facebook)

The People's Television (PTV) Network invited celebrity hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon and the whole cast of "Eat Bulaga" to consider the government television network as their new home after the longest-running noontime program ended its partnership with the show's producer Television and Production Exponents, Inc. (TAPE Inc.) on May 31.

"Tito, Vic, and Joey, welcome na welcome po ang 'Eat Bulaga' rito sa PTV4. Kayo po ay isa sa mga institusyon na nagsusulong ng kulturang Pilipino, nagsusulong ng edukasyon para sa mga Pilipino, at nagtataas ng mga value ng mga Pilipino. Kaya welcome na welcome kayo rito," said PTV General Manager Dr. Julio O. Castillo Jr., in an exclusive interview at the television network in Quezon City on June 1.

(Tito, Vic, and Joey, 'Eat Bulaga' is welcome here on PTV4. You are one of the institutions that promote Filipino culture, promote education for Filipinos, and raise the values of Filipinos. So you are very welcome here.)

Castillo added: "You are welcome here. So if there's a possibility for you to meet and talk with us, if there's a possibility of partnership, please, punta po kayo rito."

After the partnership between the hosts of "Eat Bulaga" and TAPE Inc. ended, the noontime program also ceased to air fresh episodes.

"Pumasok kaming lahat ngayong araw na ito para makapagtrabaho pero hindi kami pinayagan umere ng live," said Tito during a Facebook live stream on May 31.

The trio of Tito, Vic, and Joey went live on Facebook to bid goodbye to their followers.

PTV General Manager Dr. Julio O. Castillo Jr.

Castillo, an advocate for the environment, said that he lauded the recycling campaign of "Eat Bulaga."

The television executive led other network officials and employees during the launch of “PTV Goes Green”, aimed at environmental protection and preservation.

Launched simultaneously across all PTV locations in Quezon City, Visayas, Mindanao, and the Cordillera, the “go green” project encourages PTV employees to plant and grow various plants and vegetables in the network’s vicinity.

Castillo also said that PTV has a strong frequency that can reach Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. "Yung frequency namin sa Tawi-Tawi malapit ng ma-up."

He added that PTV can also air international events like beauty pageants and other entertainment-related programs. "Hindi lang kasi talaga kami pinapansin."

Asked about the rate of broadcast rights, Castillo said: "Pinakamura kami sa lahat ng network sa Pilipinas. We are the cheapest in terms of broadcast rights. Mura ang rates namin."

Fans believe that the whole dabarkads of "Eat Bulaga" will transfer to another network soon.

In an Instagram post, De Leon assured their legions of followers: "We’re not signing off … we are just taking a day off!" 

QUESTIONABLE TIMES

If you say that something is questionable, you mean that it is not completely honest, reasonable, or acceptable. This has been a challenging time for us all. Compare.thought-provoking... .

No,  I am not talking about political matters. Most of my fellow columnists are doing it already. More than enough. I'm talking about times of darkness. Times, where the whole world seems to be against you and me. No, I am not talking about corruption. That's already too much. That's what many people, who believe and trust in a new beginning, are talking about. 

Allow me to become very personal. I remember difficult, problematic and questionable times in my life and surroundings, where I almost lost all my strength to get down to work on those problems. Life's path became narrow. Fears grow: it's enough, it's enough! I am talking about personal matters. But, I also observe my people around me. We are all, yes, please count me in, we are all starting to become awkward and jerky. I am reluctant against the good ideas othes. I felt driven into a corner. Everything seems to have become a problem. Our voices bellow and our groans are becoming louder and louder. 

Creating the life you want and dealing with uncertainty is not an overnight event. It’s in the little things. It’s having a vision. It’s making it compelling. It’s seeing it and feeling it with absolute emotion. It’s caring about other people. It’s calling to say “I love you” for no reason. It’s about taking every opportunity to connect. To be playful. To honor and cherish your loved ones.

In my personal case, I suddenly experienced how God put me into life's "reconversion plant" and freshened me up: little but meaningful AND important cares suddenly happened. After a hot day and a refreshing thunderstorm we might be able to enjoy the following day and night. The person, who insulted us, apologized suddenly; the illness wiped out.

"You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me!" (Psalm 23:5). I am glad. I really don't know about more and new spitefulness through my next "enemy on duty" in the near future. I don't even want to know it. I learned that negativism blocks life and its plans.

Sad to say, but many people are not in the mood to follow Christ's advice...!

The route to writing is solitary

 Or why writers tend to lend themselves to melancholy

BY AA PATAWARAN

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Happiness leaves such slender records; it is the dark days that are so voluminously documented. —Truman Capote

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In his acceptance speech at the Nobel Prize banquet in 1954, which the American ambassador to Sweden at the time read in his behalf, Ernest Hemingway wrote, “Writing at best is a lonely life.”

It’s ironic that in order to connect with the world, a writer has to be alone through torturous hours, the more removed from the world, the better his chances to write something true and beautiful.

Vladimir Nabokov said, “Loneliness as a situation can be corrected, but as a state of mind, it is an incurable disease.” Even of happiness, he could not speak, unless in the context of its opposite. Thus he said, “The centuries will roll by, and schoolboys will yawn over the history of our upheavals; everything will pass, but my happiness, dear, my happiness will remain, in the moist reflection of a street lamp, in the cautious bend of stone steps that descend into the canal’s black waters, in the smiles of a dancing couple, in everything with which God so generously surrounds human loneliness.”

Solitude, more than a tool, is a writer’s workshop. The blank page is his weapon but he must draw from silence and stillness, often from sorrow and sadness, to fire it up. “Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind,” said Marcel Proust.

“But that was the impetus to understand the world, get closer to the world by writing about it, writing about the world that I was in,” said Bret Easton Ellis. “I was never lonely, but I was a solitary figure, and I have pretty much always been that way since I was a teenager.”

I thought that maybe Truman Capote was happy when he was best friends with Babe Paley, hanging around the New York swans, but all that ended and he was never happy again. In Breakfast at Tiffany’s, before he was shunned by New York society after the publication of “La Cote Basque,” he might have been prophetic when he wrote, “A disquieting loneliness came into my life, but it induced no hunger for friends of longer acquaintance: they seemed now like a salt-free, sugarless diet.”

Maria Popova wrote that for John Keats, the sacred road to love and beauty passed through the gates of solitude. And true enough, in Bright Star, he wrote:

“Closer of lovely eyes
to lovely dreams,
Lover of loneliness, and wandering,
Of upcast eye, and tender pondering!
Thee must I praise above
all other glories
That smile us on to tell
delightful stories.”

Ah solitude, are you a muse, who vanishes when I am surrounded by people or when I am filled with joy? Solitude, such jealous creature, who possesses me in those lonely hours of writing, must I embrace you so you will let me write, let me write, let me write something terribly true?

What are the beauty standards in the Philippines?

 

Irah Ty

INFP | 25 | Fujoshi | RN

In the Philippines, most Filipinos adore the following traits:

• Fair skin - kids are told at a very young age to stay away from the sun because they will get dark and look “ugly.” Hence the rapid incline of bleaching products and whitening supplements.
• Long, straight black hair - which may either be natural or rebonded
• Tall nose - when little kids are young, their parents pinch their noses frequently and chant, “grow, grow little nose” so that the nosebridge may have somewhat of a shot of growing taller. Unfortunately, there’s not much a nose pinch can do since you can’t fight genetics or biology. The most opted surgery is the Nose job. Plenty of celebrities get their nose done to improve their looks.
• Eyes, preferably slanted - the crescent shape eyes or the type of eyes that disappear when you smile is much coveted. That’s what most Filipinos love about Chinitas / tos.

In other words, a very un-Filipino look. Some argue that Filipinos never really got over the colonial mentality. Others say having dark skin is too common here or that it is the equivalent of poverty. (Which is certainly not true!)

There are two types of beauty Filipinos fawn over as evidenced by what is presented by the media: The Caucasian mestiza (Half caucasian with caucasian features) or the Chinita mestiza (Half Chinese with the much adored “chinita” eyes)

Chinita mestiza example

The Caucasian mestiza example:

In the Philippines, these are much coveted looks. Personally I find that unfortunate. I find that the naturally tan skin actresses such as Nadine Lustre and Kathryn Bernardo are just as pretty but due to pressure from the media and fans, they ended up bleaching their skin.

Five things to do at the Philippine Book Festival

The upcoming Philippine Book Festival promises to be the biggest one yet.

BY MB LIFESTYLE

  

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If you’re planning to go to the World Trade Center Manila this June 2 to 4, here’s a quick game plan.

#1 See the original "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo" manuscripts
The upcoming book festival promises to be the biggest one yet, so before getting lost in the myriad of festivities, why not first get to the heart of the matter, the main reason why the festival is happening in the first place? In collaboration with the National Library of the Philippines, the NBDB has curated some of the rarest Philippine books to tell the story of Philippine literature.

The exhibit is all about firsts: the first novel ever written by a Filipino, the first book printed in the Philippines, and the first editions of Jose Rizal’s novels. The exhibit is one of the first things you’ll see once you get to the World Trade Center – a deliberate design choice meant to answer the basic questions before you immerse yourself in book chaos: it charts the evolution of Philippine narrative-making, in the process making us understand why and how the book (the Philippine book in particular) has endured all these years.

#2 Watch a tribute to one of our country’s foremost novelists
Through piercing realism and adroit social commentary, Lualhati Bautista chronicled the struggle and power of the Filipina in novels such as "Dekada '70," "Bata, Bata...Pa'no Ka Ginawa?," and "Gapố," All of which were both very much of and ahead of its time. A tribute for the late great author will take the festival’s main stage on June 2, from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., presented by fellow luminaries in Philippine art and culture: National Artist for Film Nora Aunor, actress Sue Prado, and novelists Genevieve Asenjo and Luna Sicat Cleto.

#3 Have your favorite books signed
The Philippine Book Festival’s lineup of featured authors spans multiple genres, from children’s literature to komiks, poetry to self-help, you’re likely to find your favorite writers and artists at the three-day fair where they will be having book signings and meet-and-greet sessions. Don’t forget to bring your favorite books by the historian Ambeth Ocampo, and "The Rain in España" author Gwy Saludes, who will be taking the main festival’s stage on June 3 and June 4, respectively.

Other authors to watch out for include the National Book Award-winning fictionist Jose Dalisay Jr., the children’s book author Luis Gatmaitan, the food writer and book designer Ige Ramos, the YA author Mae Coyiuto, award winning fictionist Eros Atalia, and the economist JC Punongbayan (who will also be having a talk titled "Fact or Fiction: Nurturing Critical Thinking in Students"). Head to philippinebookfest.com to see the complete schedule of book signings and meet-and-greet sessions.

#4 Learn Filipino sign language
The festival is home to many workshops, which, as one would expect looking at the lineup of events and participating publishers at the festival, cover a vast range of topics that isn’t necessarily limited to writing and illustrating for books. On June 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., you can learn FSL or Filipino Sign Language for free with artist and deaf advocate Caldwell Jones “CJ” Reynaldo, whose beloved online komiks series “Whatcha Say?” captures the everyday experiences of those in the deaf community in the Philippines.

There’s no need to spell out the benefits of learning a new language, and FSL in particular may well be worth everyone’s time. In our efforts to break communication barriers to create more inclusive spaces, it’s worth understanding the value of FSL: as the official national sign language of the Filipino Deaf, it is a beautifully unique language that is highly visual and reflective of Filipino culture and ideas.

#5 Buy books—and then read them in the Book Nook
With thousands of books for purchase, the Philippine Book Festival is the best place to do your (bulk) book shopping. You can even look for that one obscure Filipino poetry title you’ve been meaning to read, as the festival has invited publishers from all over the country. Once you get your hands on the books you’ve been looking for, it’s time to read them! And you can do that during the festival, too, as its organizers have dedicated a reading space for anyone who might want to take a break from the festivities.

Called the Book Nook, this space is named after the reading sites the NBDB has set up in indigenous, remote, and highly populated areas around the Philippines. The Book Nook in the festival is designed to look like the actual Book Nooks, with curated Filipiniana titles and decor reflective of the country’s many different regional cultures.

Entrance is FREE for all. Most of the workshops and programs are free of charge. Register now at www.philippinebookfest.com. To stay updated on the latest news and announcements, follow the National Book Development Board on Facebook and @bookfestph on Instagram and TikTok.

Humility and greatness

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Humility and greatness

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THIS is the lesson we can learn from that episode of Mary visiting her cousin, Elizabeth. (cfr. Lk 1,39-56) Imagine our Lady, already knowing that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God, the highest honor and privilege a creature can have, offering her services to her cousin who was also conceiving a son who would turn out to be only the precursor of the one in Mary’s womb!

This is what the intimate and mutual relation between humility and greatness looks like. When one is truly humble, it can only show the greatness of his heart. And when one is great in stature and dignity, he knows he is there to serve more than anything else. True greatness is never shown in pride and vanity. It is proven and verified in humility.

Mary perfectly mirrors the humility and greatness of Christ himself who, as St. Paul said, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on cross!” (Phil 2,6-8)

This mutual relation between humility and greatness is expressed when we manage to value others, whoever and however they are, above ourselves and when we look after their interest instead of our own. (cfr. Phil 2,3-4)

This is what we clearly see in the life of Christ. Let’s call to mind that stunning example of his when he shocked his apostles when he started and insisted to wash their feet at the Last Supper.

For us to have this humility and greatness in our life, we need to be always with Christ and Mary. We need to be in constant conversation with Christ and Mary, referring everything to them, asking them for the answers to our questions, clarifications to the many issues we have to grapple with in life, strength for our weaknesses and temptations, contrition and conversion after our falls, etc.

We should do everything to keep this state of humility alive in us all the time. We know very well how easy it is for us to take this virtue for granted. We have to realize more vividly how vulnerable we are to the ways of pride, arrogance, self-centeredness, desire for power and domination, etc. Humility keeps us guarded against these dangers.

And when we happen to receive praises and honors from others because of our good works, let’s keep our feet firmly stuck to the ground, not allowing ourselves to be intoxicated. We should not allow these praises and honors to go to our head and cast some evil spell over us.

Instead, we have to thank God profusely. All praises and honors belong to him. What we should realize also is that those praises and honors given to us are actually a sign that we have to give ourselves more to God and to others. Our sense of duty and responsibility should become sharper.

Those praises and honors that we receive are actually some kind of a test to see if we would still remain with God or we would now choose ourselves as our own god. We have to know how to pass that test, and so we need to really grow and deepen our humility. That is how we can be truly great!