Avenue Q, RENT, In The Heights, and recently No Filter, have all been staged at Carlos P. Romulo…read moreAuditorium (RCBC Plaza), which should tell you something about the quality of the plays they produce. I mean, Avenue Q was by far the funniest, most uproarious musical I have ever seen in my life! Who knew puppets played by Rachel Alejandro and Felix Rivera could make me bend over so hard from laughter to the point that I was already crying? And No Filter was a breakout play of epic proportions, delivering quick-fire monologues and witty banter with a solid cast, interrogating what it really means to be defined as a millennial. Before I delve too deeply into the awesome-sauce plays they've staged, which are too many to count, I want to say that although the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium might look small and intimate for a theater, it's those qualities precisely that make going to the theater here such a visceral experience, drawing loud reactions from everybody in the audience. Other theaters will make you feel like you need to dress up fancy for the occasion, but the truth about the theater is that it's accessible to everyone and not just rich snooty people. I wish we could clear that misconception in our country.

RCBC's Carlos Romulo Auditorium is an irony in itself to me. It's small, but it has big productions…read moremore often than not. There are countless performances showed here that're actually the big names in Broadway. The most favorite of mine that I've seen here is Rock of Ages Philippines. I've been a fan of the musical way back since I've heard about it. I mean, why wouldn't I be? It's like a musical with 80's stuff! What more could I ask for? Anyway, it wasn't long after Rock of Ages Japan ended their tour (see? I know these useless stuff!), and the 2012 movie trailer was shown in the movie that ROA Philippines was announced to be showing in the Philippines. I almost screeched in public when I've read it online. So I immediately bought front row seats. I think it was the fourth seat to the front? (egh, the seventh and eight row were already taken at that time). I wasn't thinking clearly though, I was so into seeing Mig Ayesa upclose that I forgot that no matter where you are in this theatre, it's still a nice view. I could've saved like a thousand then! Yeah, it's that small. So the next time you are trying to save up and you still want a great show, it doesn't matter where you are here. Oh, and because it's a small theatre, the audience tend to be awkward towards each other because of its intimacy. If you want a total kick-ass show with all the fireworks and dancing and crowdsurfing awesomeness (okay, not really), make sure you get the tickets to the last show. It's usually where all the awesome occurs. Of course those are just my own tips for having nothin' but a good time (See what I did there?). You can always get the best seats at the best convenient schedule to you.

My husband and I discovered the Music Hall when were looking for a place to chill somewhere in…read moreMetrowalk. With two floors and a mezzanine, this place is surprisingly spacious. Since we had dinner already at home we only ordered a plate of nachos and two bottles of beer (total bill was only Php350. They don't charge an entrance fee). We were disappointed with the nachos because it was served late and cold. We should have ordered the sizzling tofu instead. Anyway, it's a good thing the band playing that evening, Jek Manuel and The Stronghold, was good. We really enjoyed the group's performance. I like the place because it's separated from the crowded and smokey part of the Metrowalk. I don't like their chairs though, very uncomfortable. We will definitely go back there because food (mostly hotplate or grilled) is not expensive, band performances great, place cool, and location is fantastic.

With a very up-to-date sound system, scenic location, and the guest performances of many of the…read morecountry's well-known Original Pinoy Music (OPM) artists, The Music Hall has a simple name but a well-known concept in that is takes a bar with live music and an ambiance of cocktails, buckets of beer, and delicious samples of "pulutan" and other light meals served with alcohol to make it a bar-bistro. Seeing its walls lined with pictures of famous artists who performed there, one would instantly realize how many stars have graced the stage of The Music Hall. During my visit, I witnessed a concert where Philippine music legends Boy Mondragon and Richard Merk performed songs that made them famous. (Yes, not my generation, but it was a fun, entertaining, impressive show nonetheless.) All that while enjoying a smooth Daiquiri with Calamares, Drunken Shrimp, and Sizzling Tofu. With the cool air-conditioning and the live bands and groups like the FBC "Rebirth" and the L & S Femme stoking up the crowd's enthusiasm and letting them sing along to the hits of yesterday and today, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I'm sure you will too. Just check their schedule which is packed with events featuring artists from then and now.

We all dream of studying at Hogwarts, but do you know there are some of us who get lucky? Every…read moreyear, the Philippine High School for the Arts, the so-called "Hogwarts of the Philippines", opens its doors to around 40 students who are gifted in the arts (that's like saying "imbued with magical powers", right?) Those who are chosen via the school's Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars will get to study in a boarding school up Mount Makiling (home of the goddess Maria, yes) on a full government scholarship! Students there take up a double curricula that combines regular high school subjects like English, Math, Filipino, and Science; with advanced training in their art field of choice: dance (folk dance and ballet), theater arts, music (voice and instrument), visual arts, and creative writing. But much like the students of Hogwarts, it's not all work for the school's scholars. They get to have fun, too! (I should know. My sister and I both graduated from there.) The nationwide search usually begins in September and end in December. Head to the school's website for more information.

I love watching plays. CCP has got some serious competition as a venue where plays can be mounted…read more Newport Performing Arts Theater is an unexpected delight inside Resorts World Manila. It is huge, majestic and elegantly set. The place has a seating capacity of 1,500. Given the size, make sure you get front row seats or at least the ones closest to the stage when watching a play. Since the venue is that big, those in the top rows would barely see the action on stage -- the classic nosebleed seats, really. The stage is also very modern boasting the biggest LED screen in Asia. This means that they can provide a dynamic backdrop for shows and concerts. They also have a revolving stage. I love that they use a digital audio system which produces crisp sound quality such that even those in the very last row can hear everything clearly (be it as it may that the actors seem like tiny toy soldier when seated there, at least they can follow the script). The seats are very comfortable with spacious legroom so watching an hour-long play is not an issue. The other thing that I love about this is how classy the theater vestibule is. Carpeted, private elevator service, mirror sculptures and a hanging chandelier make it feel like you're inside a hotel. Such a nice, classy place.

I'm lucky to have been able to call the Cultural Center of the Philippines my second home. Dancing…read morewith Ballet Philippines required me to be at the CCP every day and so I got to experience a lot of the events in the hub of the performing arts in Manila. From art exhibits to stage plays, full-length ballets to musicals, film festivals to the Aliwan festival, CCP plays host to several large scale events within the year, and there's always something happening on its grounds. In the first quarter of the year, you'll have most overseas productions come to the Main Theater and the closing gala of most of the resident CCP companies like the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Tanghalang Pilipino, and Ballet Philippines, to name a few. The best time to go is in February when Arts Month is in full swing, because the complex will be at its busiest, especially during Pasinaya - the CCP Open House weekend where all the resident performing companies put on mini-showcases in various locations around the complex. Food stalls are found all around the streets of the complex like one big fiesta. Best of all is its pay-what-you-can entrance fee! The summer season also brings along summer workshops, so if you've ever wanted to try acting, singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, or writing a play, you can enroll in one of the many workshops that the companies at the CCP have to offer. This will also be when the major companies hold auditions and begin preparations for their next seasons. (They've got a bulletin board by the Artist's Entrance that holds all the audition announcements.) More festivals like Cinemalaya (an independent film fest) and Virgin Labfest (theater), and competitions like the National Music Competition for Young Artists are held in the latter quarters, as well as the onset of the regular performing season at the CCP. Even during its most quiet days, the CCP always has something to offer. During my free time in between rehearsals, I would walk around and always find something new to discover, whether it's in the galleries on the upper floors, or the archives of Philippine theater in the CCP library, the beautiful architecture inside, or seeing rehearsals of the various performing companies. It's where the best of the best in the performing arts come to create, and it's also one of the foremost places that makes Manila what it is.

Every time I set foot on the grounds of CCP, I always feel like I am in the brink of nirvana. The…read moredim lighting, the carpeted staircase, the spacious lobby near the main theater, the chandeliers - all these things that I see as I climb one floor to the next lend a sense of awe and prestige to this cultural Parthenon. And, I haven't started talking about the exhibits and performances yet! When there are events going on, the halls transform into a vibrant place, reminding me of how, in the Phantom of the Opera, the dust suddenly flew away from the theater and revealed the structure's old grandeur. Even the small box-like theater, the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, becomes alive and magical with every performance during the Virgin Labfest season. And, all floors becomes packed with students, film enthusiasts and various other people when Cinemalaya runs its carefully-chosen independent films. But even when there are no festivals or much-publicized events going on, the artistic atmosphere does not leave CCP. Exhibits are a staple. I suggest you feed your eyes with a view of the beautiful, critical artworks in Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo and Bulwagang Juan Luna. Or, you can also feed your ears by visiting the paid for exhibit in the 4th floor entitled "Diwa: Buhay, Ritwal at Sining". It displays Asian musical instruments, some of which you are permitted to play (note: ask the guard which you can touch and which you cannot.) Also, not to forget, CCP has a library which houses audio and videorecordings of some performances and several books about art. I did some of my thesis research here. The library did not charge me a fee and all the staff were very accommodating.

The first time I've ever been to Concert at the Park was when there was a French Animation Festival…read morelast 2014. I got there earlier so I chanced upon a cultural dance performed by grade school students. I was in awe with how much they have prepared for this performance because I'm sure that apart from dance rehearsals, they also had to teach the students how to play the old Filipino instruments like the banduria. I find the place magical because it induces nostalgic vibe and it makes you feel that you're not in Manila at the same time. It's so rare to find an amphitheatre these days that show the public how rich our culture is especially in terms of music and the performing arts. What I also love the place is that even if it's open, there aren't any mosquitos that will bug you while watching. The place is also not too windy nor humid. Just right. I just wish that there will be more places like this that will showcase the beauty of our culture.

Teatrino is one of my favorite venues for concerts/shows. I love it because it is conveniently…read morelocated in greenhills. There's almost-always parking available and there are lots of coffee shops/restaurants to hang out in if you're trying to kill time before entering. I also love it because it is very cozy. It's not too tight and squishy, but it's not massive either. They also serve drinks and food while you're watching, making you feel comfortable. Teatrino makes the perfect venue for intimate concerts and various shows/performers. I love how they have such a wide variation of performers. From old-time and starting singers to stand-up comedian Rex Navarete. They're very diverse with their shows and yet, they almost always sell out their tickets. I can't wait to see who other acts they have in store for the year. I'm looking forward to watching something again there soon. :)

Bad experience with this venue. It was advertised on the their website that one of their…read moreprovisions is security. It was not safe at all. Someone posing as waiter will ask for a payment without giving a receipt, only to find out it was not teatrino's waiter.

This Hiphop league turned term for a rap battle turned verb (as I often hear some say "Fliptop nga…read morekayo") has obviously made a huge impact on the Filipino consciousness of the conception/misconception of Hiphop and not to mention, Internet entertainment in the Philippines since it went viral online in 2011.The people (the masses) who brought it to a world-wide sensation simply made the latter a fact. Rap battles posted in Fliptop channel on Youtube wouldn't hit more than a million views if it's not entertainment. I have only seen a couple of Fliptop battles online and knew nothing about Hiphop until I had friends from work who are apparently part of the underground Hiphop scene (at least in Metro Manila) educated me a bit. Lucky me, they were also able to get me a free backstage pass to one of the Fliptop Battles in B-side early this year. Yes, the live version of the Filptop battle that we see on Youtube! We reached B-side at around 11:00 pm just when the battles were just starting. A lot of guys dressed in loose t-shirts, baggy pants and Hiphop caps were standing outside the main entrance while big bodied bouncers were at the ticket section, imposing no ticket, no entrance and strict security policy. As I entered, I saw the elevated battle stage where two contenders are already rapping against each other. Huge speakers surrounded the place, and a bar of alcoholic drinks near the back stage entrance quenched the crowd's thirst for "tama". The following battle started and I knew neither of the two contenders, but that didn't come as a problem for me to enjoy a good show, Fliptop was like "sabong" (cockfight) for the sharp-tongued! I didn't expect myself to be cheering "whoa!" with the crowd every time the rappers spitted good punchlines and quotable lines. I even shouted "boo!", when the contender of the rapper I put my bet on, choked. Fliptop battle qualifiers are apparently good battle emcees; they have a fluency in contemporary Tagalog language and advanced techniques in line delivery and witty rebuttals, only that most of their contents are limited to personal attacks. As for the Fliptop production, I was amazed by the minimalist concept of how internet shows can be produced. It's practically a one boom mic, one-cam set up kind of production, and viola! You have a show! I give my respect to Anygma and his team for putting up such a huge community for Filipino Hiphop on the Internet and for being able to reach this community out to the masses. Although there are still misconceptions of Hiphop for them to battle with, I believe that Fliptop can still be an instrument of progress for Filipino Rap and Filipino Hiphop at large.

It was such a coincidence that I was at Back to the 90's yesterday and it was apparently--Hashtag:…read moreThrowback Thursday. My friends from Concerned Artists of the Philippines in UP held a back to back gig of two independent bands there last night (Plagpul and KALIS), so I passed by and gave my support. It was my first time in this bar but I already knew about it for quite some time; it's Back to the Future signage along Tomas Morato, corner E. Rodriguez is simply hard to miss. I was curious at first to see what it's like inside Back to the 90's, only to find out that it's actually no different from most bars ideal for gatherings of independent bands and the underground music scene. The only difference with Back to the 90's is practically, its 90's theme. You will definitely see a lot of Throwback posts on their walls because of the framed movie and music posters from the 90's era. Haha! What a virtual way to describe it, but I would rather stick to such description than say nostalgic because I simply did not get the feel. I was born 1991, so I really wasn't able to get a glimpse of how bars then were like. Although, when I asked some of my older friends there, they said that 'yes, this is actually a recreation of a 90's bar.' What I like about it, is it's cozy but rock and roll ambiance that went well with its small, vertical space; comfortable couches are leaned against graffiti walls showcased by dimmed pin lights. They also have a very cute menu placed in an old school CD case where they offer alcoholic beverages and bar dishes like Nacho's, Fries, Buffalo Wings, etc. Although, I wasn't able to have a taste of any because I was a little broke last night (P200.00 per order), and their selections were not really that inviting, the waiter said that their best seller is the Tapsilog. Overall, it was an OK bar for me. I would go here if good bands will be playing but probably not for a usual late night chill or beer nights.