Uncover: In Touch Events Grand Launching

Be in your glamorous Casual Chic Attire in Black or Red for a chance to get fabulous items from corporate sponsors. See great talents, see real beauty at In Touch UNCOVER – A Grand Launching Party on January 30, 8pm at the Metrodome Lobby.

In Touch Events Network & Promotions is a professional corporate & event management agency based in Bacolod City. In ouch offers events management services for Corporate Events, Entertainment Events, Marketing & Promotions, Advertising Design & Communications and Creative Media Management.

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2010 Bacolaodiat Schedule of Activities

Bacoleños will usher the Year of the Tiger with a loud roar. The 2010 Bacolaodiat Festival will be another year of celebration of Filipino and Chinese cultures. Since  its inception 5 years ago, the Bacolaodiat Festival has become a tourist attraction for Bacolod City. Bacolaodiat was coined from from “Bacolod” and “Lao Diat” Fokien word for celebration). The celebration is a recognition of the contribution of the Filipino-Chinese community to the country and a venue for the unity of two cultures.

The highlights of this year’s Bacolaodiat Festival will be along Lacson Tourism Strip and no longer be at Bacolod Shopping area.

2010 Bacolaodiat Schedule of Activities

February 12, 2010
4:00pm	CHOPSTICKS ALLEY Location: North capitol road (between provincial lagoon and PNB bldg). A food walk and night market with colorful booths of delicious Chinese food, souvenirs, arts and crafts. The crowd will be enriched with glittery street acts and live performances nightly.
4:30pm	DAZZLING GRAND PARADE Route: Bacolod Public Plaza to Provincial Lagoon. A colorful parade with illuminated floats, lanterns, lions and dragons alongside Chinese drum beaters, acrobats and Kaddang dancers. 34 Tsinoy organizations will also welcome the Year of the Tiger.
6:30pm	THE CONVERGENCE (A TSINOY SHOW) A cultural show of Chinese and Filipino songs and dances, displaying the colorful meaning of two cultures.
9:00pm	SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS & SPARKS Multi-fireworks show scored with music and drumbeats matched with lantern installations at designated parks.
9:30pm	GLOBE NIGHT – LIVE BAND
February 13, 2010
4:00pm	CHOPSTICKS ALLEY
7:00pm	LANTERN STREET DANCING COMPETITION Route: Provincial Lagoon to Lacson – 22nd Sts. A blend of Chinese and Modern Street dance competition open to all schools, barangays and towns of Negros. The dances will be highlighted with the use of lanterns choreographed to various formations.
10:00pm	SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS & SPARKS Countdown to welcome the Chinese New Year
10:30pm	REXONA NIGHT – RICO BLANCO LIVE!
12:00mn	CLOSE-UP LOVAPALOOZA Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved one by kissing him/her for 10 seconds at the stroke of midnight.
February 14, 2010
4:00pm	CHOPSTICKS ALLEY
5:00pm	KAPUSO NIGHT A star-studded night filled with fun games and exciting performances featuring GMA Networks’s Kapuso talents to usher the Chinese New Year and in line with GMA’s 60th year celebration.
9:00pm	SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS & SPARKS

You can download the schedule here.

Bacollywood: Negros Film Festival 2

If you’ve watched independent films Namets and Yanggaw, then you can attest to the talent of the Negrenses both in front and behind the camera. To further promote independent film-making in Negros, Produksyon Tramontina in partnership with Bacolod schools and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) organized the  Bacollywood: Negros Film Festival 2 scheduled from January 26 to January 30.

Bacollywood will feature independent films produced in Cebu, Iloilo, the annual Piaya Awards of the Negros Summer Workshop in Bacolod and as well as entries from India and South Korea. There will also be forums on the different issues  in independent filmmaking.

Not all independent films are given a chance to be shown in regular theaters. The Bacollywood will be a good venue for independent film-makers to have their works shown and for the public to have a chance to see these films. Indeed, film making is alive in Negros and let’s do our share in supporting our local talents by attending and promoting Bacollywood.

Here’s the Bacollywood intro by Poli Gonzales.

Bacollywood  Schedule of Activities & Screenings

University of St. La Salle – MM Auditorium

DAY1 January 26 (Tues)	University of St. La Salle – A C T I V I T I E S MM AUDITORIUM
9:00AM	Opening Ceremonies
9:30AM	Negros Summer Workshops films
10:30AM	Situations on the “Indie Film Making in the Philippines” By Peque Gallaga
11:30AM	Open forum
12:00	LUNCH
1:30PM	Visayan Film Making By Gabby Fernandez
2:30PM	Open Forum
3:30PM	Break
4:30PM – 8:30PM	Films from France, Mexico, India, South Korea,
	South Africa, China, Brazil

DAY2 January 27 (Wed)	University of St. La Salle – SCREENINGS MM AUDITORIUM
10:00am – 12:00pm	Animation films
1:30PM
2:30PM	Film editing By Vito Cajili
3:30PM – 5:30PM	NAMETS directed by Jay Abello
6:00pm – 8:30pm	WANTED BOARDER Directed by Ray Gibraltar

DAY3 January 28 (Thurs)	University of St. La Salle – SCREENINGS MM AUDITORIUM
9:00am – 12:00pm	Negros Summer Workshops Films
	Piaya Awards / Directors App Master Class
1:30PM – 4:30PM	INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY FOR FILM & TELEVISION FILMS

West Negros University – Auditorium

DAY2 January 27 (Wed)	West Negros University – A C T I V I T I E S
9:00AM	Introduction/ Welcoming Ceremonies
10:30AM	Visayan Film Making By Gabby Fernandez
11:30AM	Open Forum
12:30NN	Lunch
1:30PM	INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY FOR FILM & TV FILMS
	SCREENING (set 1 – 12)
4:00PM	“WANTED BOARDER” directed by Ray Gibraltar

January 30, 2010

The Arrival Premier

Directed by Erik Matti

ROBINSONS PLACE MOVIEWORLD Bacolod Cinema 1

5:30PM (BY INVITATION)

La Consolacion College – Little Theater

DAY1 January 26 (Tues)	LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE – SCREENINGS LITTLE THEATER
1:30PM	International academy for Film & TV films (set 1 – 12)
2:30PM
3:30PM
4:30PM
5:30PM

DAY2 January 27 (wed)	La Consolacion College – ACTIVITIES LITTLE THATER
9:30AM	Welcoming Ceremonies
10:30AM	Screening Dumaguete Films
11:30AM	Open Forum
12:30NN	Lunch
1:30PM	Intellectual Property Rights By IPO Rep Atty. Mark Dy
2:30PM	Open Forum
3:30PM	Break
4:30PM	THE INDIE ACTOR Dennis Ascalon, Milton Dionzon, Charles Hilado
5:00PM	Open Forum
5:30PM -	Films from France, South Africa, South Korea, Mexico, India, China, Brazil

DAY4 January 29(FRI)	La Consolacion College – SCREENINGS LITTLE THEATER
9:00AM – 12:00PM	ANIMATION FILMS

Collegio de San Agustin – Bacolod – AVR/Auditorium

DAY1 January 26 (Tues)	Collegio de San Agustine – AVR SCREENINGS
9:00am	“NAMETS” directed by Jay Abello

DAY2 January 27 (Wed)	Collegio de San Agustin – AVR SCREENINGS
9AM – 12PM	NEGROS SUMMER WORKSHOPS
	PIAYA AWARDS FINALISTS
	DIRECTORS APPRENTICESHIP Master CLASS SHORTS – NSW
1:30PM – 4:00PM	“Wanted Boarder” directed by Ray Gibraltar

DAY3 January 28 (Thurs)	Collegio de San Agustin – auditorium A C T I V I T I E S
9:00AM	Welcoming Ceremonies
10:30AM	THE INDIE ACTOR DENNIS ASCALON / MARISOL / MILTON DIONZON/ RUDY REVECHE
11:30AM	Open Forum
12:30NN	Lunch
1:30PM	Intellectual Property Rights IPO
3:30PM	Open Forum
3:45PM	Films from France, South Africa, Mexico, India, South Korea, China, Brazil

You can also visit the following sites:

• Bacollywood official Facebook Page
• Bacollywood Blog

A Walk Down History With Ramon Hofileña

The Annual Cultural Tour of Negros Occidental (ACTNO) organized by Mon Hofileña, now on its 37^th year, is the longest running cultural tour in the world. The tour is an excellent way both for Negrenses and non-Negrenses  to know Negros Occidental. And there’s no better person to do that than Mr. Ramon Hofileña.  The tour is often conducted all Saturdays of December every year. However, it was only conducted two weekends last December and our trip on December 12 was the last for the year 2009.

The tour commenced at the zero marker at the Provincial Capitol.  While snacks of native kakanin were distributed, Mr. Hofileña emphatically started his lecture. The Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol was built in 1927 using Neo-Roman architectural design of American Daniel Burnham and executed by Filipino Architect Juan Arellano. Negrense Architect Leandro Locsin considered it as the most beautiful capitol building in the country.  Fronting the capitol is a man-made lagoon with carabao statues at both ends, one with a man and the other with a woman.

We proceeded to the posh Sta. Clara Subdivision, considered as the Forbes Park of Bacolod. The Chapel of  Barangay Sang Birhen which was designed by Arch. Norman Campos is found inside Sta. Clara Subd. The chapel features a 19 ft x 21 ft mural mosaic of Barangay Sang Birhen made of 95,000 pieces of polished shells done by Ms. Leticia Sia Ledesma. Stations of the cross and images of saints and altar pieces are made of 30,000 shells.  An imposing chandelier made of 14,000 pieces of shells hang at the center of the chapel.

We then proceeded to Silay City which is considered as the Paris of Negros. Entering the city is like traveling into a time warp. You’d be transported back in time of affluence with Silay City’s 31 ancestral houses. One of which is the Bernardino‐Jalandoni House built in 1908. It is a perfect example of the affluent Filipino house of the late 19th to early 20th century. The house is now turned into a museum and was identified as a Heritage House by the National Historical Institute.

I again had a chance to visit the famous Church of St. Joseph the Worker popularly known as the Church of the Angry Christ. Mr. Hofilena doesn’t want to use that name “Church of the Angry Christ” since he said Christ in the church’s most famous mural is not angry. The church features the works of world famous artists including Alfonso Ossorio who painted the mural.

Lunch was at the Victorias Golf and Country Club located inside the Victorias Milling Corp., The golf club features 71 Par, 18 Holes, 6,000 Yards with Clubhouse Restaurant, Tennis Court and Bowling Alley.

We were unfortunately delayed since the bus had a slight mechanical problem.  However, it did not burst our bubble since our next stop was the Chapel of the Cartwheels. The chapel can be found inside the hacienda of the Gaston family in Manapla, Negros Occidental. It is made of cartwheels and other farm implements. The chapel was designed by Msgr. Gigi Gaston like a salakot. It was not my first time at the Chapel of the Cartwheels but Mr. Hofileña made it very entertaining you wouldn’t mind hearing the same story all over again.

It was then his time to welcome us to his home, the Hofileña Heritage House. It was the first Heritage House in Silay to be opened to visitors which is not surprising. Mr. Hofileña is an advocate in the preservation and promotion of Negrense cultural heritage. His house is a repository of his personal collection of the work of top Filipino artists including Amorsolo and Jose Rizal. Other interesting pieces in his collection are the world’s smallest dolls, copies of the world’s first pocket books, meteorite stones, Ming dynasty jars, manual printing machine and much more.

The tour would not be complete without trying Silay City’s famous delicacies.  We just couldn’t resist Nora Lacson’s pili squares and lumpia ubod.  Homemade delicacies are simply the best. These recipes were handed down from generations just like the original piaya and pastel de manga recipes of Rommie Lacson.

If you think you know enough about this genteel province, wait till you join the Annual Cultural Tour of Negros Occidental. There are loads of interesting stories and historical facts that you don’t get to read about plus nobody knows more about Negros Occidental than Mon Hofileña.  He spice up the tour with trivia and exclusive information. I wish they teach history like this in school. But it’s not yet too late to take an interest in Negrense history. Watch for the tour this year and don’t dare miss it!

Gear Up For ANBU Fest 2010

Calling all Cosplay enthusiasts, Tinta Productions and Hitsuzen Inc. – Bacolod will be holding the ANBU Fest 2010 on Feburuary 13 at 888 Chinatown Square Event Center and will culminate at the Capitol Lagoon. The event is a part of the 2010 Bacolaodiat Festival in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Cosplay is short for “costume play” wherein performers wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character, usually popular Japanese fictional character. This art is gaining popularity in Bacolod because of the tireless promotion of its supporters. The local cosplayers have created an awareness to their art especially during the Masskara Electric Festival where people get to see and appreciate their creativity.

The organizers of the ANBU Fest 2010 are hoping to gather all the cosplay enthusiasts, promote cosplaying and to raise funds for a cause.

To learn more about cosplay and the local cosplay scene, visit the following websites:

Hitsuzen Inc.

Tinta Productions

A Night of Music with Lea Salonga

Audiences did not mind lining up last January 8 from the USLS gate to the coliseum in order to watch the performance of a world class performer such as Lea whose mother Ligaya happens to hail from the town of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.

Lea Salonga’s repertoire in her “Lea… Your Songs” concert was requested by her fans from around the world and from all walks of life.  The result was a smorgasbord of all time favorites. She sang these songs as if they were written for her.

Lea sang pop classics This One’s For You, Making Love Out of Nothing At All, and Now and Forever. Her repertoire also included the latest chart toppers Halo and the ever popular Poker Face. Her tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson was a poignant rendition of Gone Too Soon.

A GK volunteer was brave enough to sing A Whole New World with Lea onstage. He earned a round of applause and perhaps, the admiration of the female audiences.

A lot were surprised with her Rehab song and dance number with Hip Hop dance group The Philippine All Stars. We all know Lea’s a world class singer, but most of the audiences haven’t seen her dance as well.

Lea’s OPM medley includes Ang Himig Natin, Huling El Bimbo, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, and Salamat. She sang I Don’t Love You Anymore with up and coming singer Reymond Sajor.

As expected, she belted some of her fans’ favorite”high brow” songs, as what my friend refers to Broadway music. She sang I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, and her version of Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked was simply wicked!

We are so used to hear Lea sing Broadway songs but surprisingly, she can sing Jukebox songs such as Basang Basa sa Ulan and Halik just as well. This was in collaboration with “Comedy Concert  Queen” Ai-Ai de las Alas who was simply hilarious. Ai-Ai’s antics onstage simply brought the house down.

For finale, Lea sang the most requested song, Bayan Ko. Hers was a moving rendition audiences must have felt goosebumps. For encore, she sang Thank You For The Music and her signature song Tomorrow.

The concert is for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga (GK) and Lea Salonga was introduced by no less than fellow Negrense Tony Meloto of GK. She said GK is not just about building homes, but it is about building hope. Prior to her concert, she visited GK sites in Bacolod City and she was overwhelmed by the happiness of the people she met. She said she did not see despair on their faces but she saw hope.

It was the second concert of Lea Salonga in Bacolod City. The first time was her All For Love concert where she had the USLS Coliseum jam packed with around 7,000 fans. Well, we hope this will not be her last concert in Bacolod City since we are looking forward to her next concert.

Thanks “Tikalon” for sharing your pictures.

Lea Salonga Will Sing Your Songs

Lea Salonga will again entertain the Negrenses at her concert “Lea… Your Songs” in Bacolod City on Friday, January 8, 2010 at USLS Coliseum. Lea will be accompanied by a 32 piece Filharmonika Orchestra under musical director Gerard Salonga. The show will be directed by Bobby Garcia with special guests  Ai Ai de las Alas and Reymond Sajor.

So, what can we expect from the concert? A great time! If you were fortunate to watch her perform live then you know how very good she is as a performer. With Ai-Ai de las Alas we can expect a hilarious number. Lea’s repertoire for “Lea… Your Songs” includes songs requested by her fans so expect her to sing some of today’s popular songs.

The concert is for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga to help raise funds for its growing work of building communities for the poorest in the province.

Tickets for the concert will be available at Café Bobs Lacson, Gawad Kalinga office and Robinsons Mall, SM City Bacolod and the USLS Coliseum, and those interested may call GK at Tel. nos. 433-4718 and 457-1004.

Tickets are sold at 400, 1000, 1500,2000, 3000, 4000. There is a special price for those who want to buy tickets for the bleachers. You can buy 3 tickets  for P1000. Better hurry before tickets are sold out.