Floy Quintos’ Ang Nawalang Kapatid Closes DUP’s 38th Season

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A musical adaptation of India’s greatest epic closes Dulaang UP’s 38th season. Ang Nawalang Kapatid, adapted from The Mahabharata by acclaimed playwright Floy Quintos, with original score by Ceejay Javier, directed and choreographed by Dexter M. Santos, is a re-telling of the epic battle between the Kaurava and Pandava families. The story focuses on the anti-hero Karna, a brave young man who must choose between loyalty to his family or to the state which made him a prince.

ANG NAWALANG KAPATID was originally written as a children’s play for the Ateneo Children’s Theater and was first produced for their 2011 season. This new version allows for many more of the complexities of the original material to be dramatized. New arrangements of the original songs were created by Ceejay  Javier, whose original works include “Isang Panaginip na Fili”, “Astig”, “Alex in Wonderland”,“Break Away Antigone”. He is best known as Musical Director for Atlantis Productions’ “Next ToNormal”, Disney's “The Little Mermaid”, “Carrie”, “Addams Family”. As expected, the new staging will showcase Dexter Santos’ flair for images and movement as seen in his previous works “Maxie the Musical”, “Collection”, “Orosman at Zafira”.

In adapting the Indian epic, Floy Quintos has chosen to highlight the story of family and blood ties, and the conflicts that these bring about. Karna, who in Indian literature is traditionally the anti-hero, is now a young man searching for his dharma, his truth and destiny, while unaware of his true blood ties. The young and energetic cast is made up of the Dulaang UP Ensemble, with a live band. Krina Cayabyab is vocal director.

Special Sticker Campaign Proceeds of Line to Help Yolanda Affected Communities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

LINE, the world’s leading mobile platform with 330-million users, has donated funds raised by its “Pray for the Philippines” special-edition sticker set to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The stickers, which were sold worldwide through the LINE Sticker Shop from November 15 to December 31, 2013, generated over Php25-million (58,773,190 Yen). The proceeds have been forwarded to relief and rebuilding efforts in storm-battered communities in Visayas and Mindanao.

To express LINE’s support for the cause, Akira Morikawa, the company’s CEO, paid a courtesy call to the Philippine embassy in Tokyo, Japan this past week. Morikawa sat down with Ambassador Manuel Lopez to present the proceeds from LINE’s “Pray for the Philippines” campaign. He was likewise given updates about ongoing relief operations in the country.

Bangon Tours is Supported by the Private Sector

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Tourism establishments and travel companies have signified their support for Bangon Tours by signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism.

Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is the latest to sign up by implementing the Bangon Tour Seat Sale with travel period until April 2014. CEB also promotes these tours through communication materials provided by TPB in all its organic ticket offices and partner GSAs and WH in the Philippines. CEB has likewise extended humanitarian flights for stranded passengers in Tacloban and undertaken rehabilitation efforts to aid victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

According to Domingo Ramon Enerio III, TPB’s Chief Operating Officer, The Manila Hotel, Diamond Hotel Philippines and EDSA Shangri-La Hotel lead the industry’s hospitality sector supporters nationwide. Members of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) are also participating in Bangon Tours. These establishments prominently display the Bangon Tours poster with logo in their business premises and submit to the TPB updates related to the total amount donated to NGOs and foundations concerned.