"A Very Broadway Christmas in Manila" Concert All Set on Dec. 11

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Are you a fan of Broadway musicales ? Well, a new theater company will bring to Manila a different concept of a Christmas concert this coming holiday season.

So, come and join us as we welcome ANDREW KEENAN-BOLGER in “A VERY BROADWAY CHRISTMAS IN MANILA” on December 11 – 7 pm at the newly opened BGC Arts Center located in Taguig City.

For those living in the South, you can also catch this concert in Iloilo City on December 17 at the Central Philippine University’s Rose Memorial Hall.

Produced and directed by Jhett Tolentino, the concert will feature a mix of holiday tunes synonymous to Christmas, Broadway anthems from the latest musicals, and a surprise mix of Original Pilipino Music. Under the musical direction of Ceejay Javier, the repertoire will have a new and fresh rearrangement for audiences of all ages to enjoy.

Andrew Keenan-Bolger’s Broadway credits include: "Jesse Tuck" in Tuck Everlasting (Drama League nominee), “Crutchie" in Newsies (Outer Critics Circle nominee), Mary Poppins, Seussical, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol. For film, he appeared as “Billy Frazier” in The Rewrite starring Hugh Grant. In television, he was in “Nurse Jackie”, “Looking”. Andrew also directed the award-winning films "Sign" and "The Ceiling Fan." He also appeared in Web series - “Submissions Only.” Andrew is also co-author of the best-selling children’s book series “Jack & Louisa” (Penguin Random House).

Special guest artist is Tanya Manalang, who recently appeared in Rak of Aegis and the London revival of “Miss Saigon – 25th Anniversary.”

Jhett Dizon Tolentino is a Pinoy Pride born, raised and educated in Iloilo CIty. He had won three Tony Awards for producing Broadway shows, making him the second Philippine-born Tony Award winner. He is the first Filipino Tony Awards voter among the 27 million theater-goers in the United States. He is also a Grammy Awards voter. In 2014, Jhett received the award for The Outstanding Filipino-American - New York (TOFA-NY) for Entertainment in at the Carnegie Hall, New York City. In February 2016, Jhett was recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts with "Ani Ng Dangal" Awar for bringing international honor to the Philippines. Currently, he is the Deputy Chapter Commander of the Knights of Rizal - NY Chapter and a delegate to the 5th Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro). He is the President and Artistic Director of Jhett Tolentino Productions Inc.

The repertoire of “A VERY BROADWAY CHRISTMAS IN MANILA” (as of this writing/subject to change) include the following:

Holiday: "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas", "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "River" (Joni Mitchell), "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Santa Claus is Comin to Town", "All Those Christmas Cliches" (Ahrens & Flaherty), "Red Ryder" (from A Christmas Story), and "Let It Snow."

Broadway: "Santa Fe" – Newsies; "Letter From The Refuge" – Newsies; "Everlasting" - Tuck Everlasting; "Top of the World" - Tuck Everlasting; "I'm Not That Smart" - Spelling Bee; "Feed the Birds" - Mary Poppins; "Proud of Your Boy" – Aladdin; "What I Did For Love" - A Chorus Line

OPM: “Pasko Na Naman”, “Sana Ngayong Pasko”, “Kumukutikutitap.”

As the newest company to join Manila’s theaterdom, Jhett Tolentino Productions Inc.’s Mission/Vision are as follows:
1. Enhancement of the Filipino Artist through masterclasses, lectures, seminars, workshops, by a Broadway Artist/s.
2. Promotion of the Filipino Artists by prioritizing them in production cast and creatives.
3. Produce quality shows.
4. Audience Development program.
5. Promote tourism.
6. Making more Broadway shows accessible to the Filipino audience.

Jhett Tolentino Productions Inc. is led by Bal Endriga (Chairman of the Board); Trisha Victoria Lim (Vice President); Ma. Judelfha Mabaquiao (Secretary); Ma. Anastasia Melana Monfort Lim (Treasurer); Sunshine Elizabeth Do and Agnes Jamora (Board of Directors); Atty. Jeric Jucaban (Corporate Counsel)
For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999.

You can also check our social media: Facebook: Jhett Tolentino Productions, Inc. and Instagram: jtpi2016

Miss Universe 2016 in Manila Confirmed Through Pia Wurtzbach

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"I welcome the latest announcement of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) thru Ms. Pia Wurtzbach, confirming the 2016 Miss Universe pageant in Manila next year!" - Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo

"After all that’s been said and done, I happily welcome, on behalf of the Department of Tourism, the latest announcement of the Miss Universe Organization through Ms Pia Wurtzbach, that finally, the Philippines will, indeed, play host to the much-awaited 2016 Miss Universe pageant." says the DOT Secretary.

We see a video showing a vibrant Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach announcing that the Miss Universe 2016 beauty pageant is indeed happening soon here in Manila. She says she is excited to show people around her beautiful country. So the video was probably meant for foreigners, and may be the 2016 candidates, who will visiting the country soon when the world's most prestigious and lavish search for the most beautiful woman in the universe finally sets foot in our beloved country.

Most of the time it is favorable for the host country since it gets a big chance in having its candidate to be among the top finalists. Since being a part of the first set of finalists is already a big deal, to be included further at the last set of finalists is a huge bonus.

The Miss Universe is to be held in the country specifically in SM Mall of Asia Arena on January 30, 2017 at 5AM.

16th Grand Wine Experience - The Noble Grape: Southeast Asia's Most Illustrious Wine Event

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It is said that wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers. The health benefits come from moderate wine consumption like about one to two four-ounce glasses per day. Some studies say that resveratrol, a compound found largely in the skins of red grapes which are the main ingredients of wines, reduces the stickiness of blood platelets, which helps keep the blood vessels open and flexible.

Now that's good news if you keep your wine intake on a moderate level. Still, they are far better than the other liquors available for drinking consumption. Though the others would also boast of other health benefits, ther eis nothing classier and more elegant than wine.

In this regard, you would be interested to know that the much awaited Grand Wine Experience will mark its 16th year on November 4, 2016 from 5 pm to 1 am at the Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom. The venue is where the same event was successfully held last year so it would be fascinating to see if Marriott can outdo itself for this year's festive wine celebration. It's a drink-all-you-can from a featured selection of more than 500 wines, beers and spirits from over 23 countries. Matched with a lavish buffet composed of sumptuous dishes, it is still undoubtedly the grandest wine event not only in the Philippines, but also within the entire Southeast Asia.

Though I firmly believe no one could possibly taste all 500+ wines within the night, the attendees of the previous years would want to try the ones they haven't tried before. Well, maybe come back and taste the past favorites, but still it would be best if they give the other wines a fair chance to become among their favorites.