The Philippine Online Chronicles

BOOKS

Pulitzer prize novelist in Manila

Invited by the US Embassy in Manila, 2004 Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Jones, author of “The Known World,” will be a speaker at the 2^nd Manila International Literary Festival to be held on Nov. 16 to 18 at the Ayala Museum, Makati City.

Jones’ “The Known World,” is set in 1855 Virginia, before the end of slavery and during the continuous discovery of islands all over the world. It tells the tale of different lives, including that of a black slave owner and female plantation owners.

The Festival is organized by the National Book Development Board to celebrate the Philippine Book Development Month. With the theme “The Great Philippine Book Café,” the festival will feature performances, book signings and launches, and a book fair.

For more information call 9268253 or visit www.manilaliteraryfestival.com

Ricky Lee’s manananggal

Ricardo “Ricky” Lee has again put on his humor cap with his latest novel “Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata” focusing on a gay manananggal’s life story. Interestingly, Lee said it is a “political comedy.”

"Tungkol sa kalagayan ng bansa at ng mga Pilipino noong 2010 sa punto de bista ng baklang manananggal na may attitude. Si Amapola ay isang impersonator na naging manananggal. Realitistic na fantastic. Like sinabihan siya ng isang pulis na noranian na ikaw ang itinakdang magliligtas sa Pilipinas at matatanggap na din ng mga tao ang mga manananggal," he said of the story.

Lee is mostly known for writing drama screenplays such as “Himala” and “Anak.” But in 2009, he published his first novel “Para Kay B (O kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin)” a funny novel about love.

Lee claims that “Amapola” is even funnier, though at the same time more serious. He said he often found himself laughing while writing the novel.

The book will be launched on Nov. 27 at the SM Skydome, SM North, Quezon City and will be hosted by Ai Ai delas Alas and Eugene Domingo.

THEATER

Dulaang UP – Kinakasal ang Tikbalang

Drawing from another Philippine folklore, the Dulaang UP will stage “Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang,” a play adapted from Gilda Cordero-Fernando’s children story “The Magic Circle.”

The story follows a young boy Jepoy Baybayin and his dog Galis on a magical journey which leads to an invitation to a wedding underneath a balete tree.

The story is not only a play on the mysterious but is a reminder for children to take care of the environment.

The play runs from Nov. 23 to Dec. 11 at the Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, Faculty Center, University of the Philippines. For tickers contact Cherry Edralin at 0917 750-0107 or the DUP Office 926 1349.

Tribute for Badong Bernal

National Artist for Theater and Design Salvador “Badong” Bernal died on Oct. 26 at the age of 66.’

Several artists and groups paid tribute.

The Philippine Theater Actors Guild wrote, “In his art, Bernal brought the Filipino spirit to the stage with his design. He will always be remembered for his massive scenic pieces, in which the challenge to the actor was always to equal the grandness of the space he created. No acting space was small for Bernal, because for him, that is how theater should be—grand and majestic.”

Dramatist Tony Perez also said that Bernal was “one of our greatest fashion designers, stage directors, computer-graphic artists and film collectors,” pointing out the many expertise of the national artist.

Meanwhile, Ricky Abad wrote, “Badong was more than just a designer.  He was an ethical designer. He respected the integrity of stage design:  design was for one play and not for any other. And that design cannot be sloppy or mediocre; it has to pass by high artistic standards; it has to be true to the play’s concept and to the character being played; it has to be nailed, sawn or sewn properly.”

Bernal received the National Artist award in 2003. He was cited as: “sensitive to the budget limitations of local productions, he harnessed the design potential of inexpensive local materials, pioneering or maximizing the use of bamboo, raw abaca and abaca fiber, hemp twine, rattan chain links and gauze cacha. In doing this, he exemplified the versatility of Filipino materials for design and proved that the poverty of a production need not imply a poverty of the imagination.”

MUSIC

Samar Music Festival

The First Samar International Music Festival was successfully staged on Oct. 29 in Calbayog City, Western Samar.

Violinist Gina Medina and pianist Mary Anne Espina served as main performers, setting the tone for the evening with a Mozart sonata. Besides international classics, the chamber musicians played local favorites such as “Sa Kabukiran” and the patriotic “Bayan Ko” which left some of the audience in tears.

Those in the audience include members of the Calbayog Mayor’s Office, Christ the King Youth Symphony Orchestra, friends and relatives of filmmaker Chito Roño who hails from Calbayog and city cultural officer Jonas Lim.

FILM

Italian Film Fest

Director-actor Albert Martinez will personally conceptualize and stage the anticipated “Red Carpet walk” for “MovieMov: Italian Cinema Now” (which will run from Nov. 9 to 13) at Greenbelt Cinema, Makati.

“The last big red carpet event for a film festival in Manila was around 30 years ago because a red carpet is extremely expensive," Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Luca Fornari said, explaining the red carpet event.

The Italian Embassy, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Philippine-Italian Association pays tribute to internationally acclaimed directors Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento and our very own Brillante Mendoza.

A clip from Argento’s “Dracula 3D,” which is set for global release next year, will open the event.

Besides “Dracula 3D,” Nanni Moretti’s “Habermus Papam” (the 2011 Golden Globe Best Film winner) and Mendoza’s “Serbis” will be screened on opening day.