Dulaang UP Proudly Presents "Faust"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“Man errs, till he has ceased to strive” so sighs God in the prologue to Wolfgang von Goethe’s romantic tragic masterpiece FAUST. Driven by a boundless desire for knowledge, Faust struggles to fathom “what holds the world together in its innermost self.” Directors and theatre audiences around the world have been asking similar questions in their relentless pursuit to comprehend this masterwork.

On its 41st Theater Season, Dulaang UP brings you Rody Vera’s adaptation of FAUST. The play opens in heaven where the devil, Mephisto, wagers with God that he can corrupt his most virtuous servant FAUST. What follows in the play is a series of events that questions our preconceived notions of justice, rationality, and morality.

Neil Sese and Jack Yabut alternate in the title role of Faust while Paolo O’Hara and Mailes Kanapi as Mephisto − a cultivated, witty and cynical servant from hell who is an embodiment of a complex doctrine of philosophical nihilism and negation as some scholars point out. Karen Gaerlan plays the innocent and pious Gretchen who is transformed into a tragic heroine as the play develops.

FAUST is directed by José Estrella with an artistic team led by Sir Anril Tiatco, Jem Javier, and Bryan Viray (Dramaturgy), Barbie Tan-Tiongco (Lights), Carlo Pagunaling (Costume), Ed Lacson (Set), JM Cabling (Choreography), and Jon Lazam (Sounds).

Miss Universe 2016 Candidates Join Tree Planting, Strawberry Picking and Other Activities at Baguio Country Club

Wazzup Pilipinas!


The Miss Universe 2016 candidates had plenty of activities at the Baguio Country Club (BCC) while they were in Baguio city. Aside from the tour of the place, they were given the opportunity to experience strawberry picking and tree planting. They also graced The Crown Invitational Golf Tournament with their presence, plus a Gala Dinner at the Cordilerra Convention Hall to honor and reward with tokens coming from the Tourism department of the country. They were treated to an evening of culinary adventure and cultural performances.

These 28 lovely ladies (out of the total 86 official candidates), of which one of them could be the next Miss Universe for 2016, were joined by reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and known personalities from Baguio City and nearby provinces. Wurtzbach was inducted as an honorary member of Cordillera Women by Regional Director Ma. Venus Tan of the Department of Tourism in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Of course, Luis "Chavit" Singson is always there for the photo ops.

To continue with the ancillary events for the 65th Miss Universe beauty pageant, some of the candidates will head to Davao City for the Mindanao Tapestry Presentation and to Batangas for the sunset photo shoot.

Miss Universe 2016 Candidates and Pia Wurtzbach at Mini Panagbenga of Baguio City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and 28 Miss Universe candidates went to Baguio City as part of their tour of the country. In their honor, and for the residents' appreciation, a mini Baguio Flower Festival parade, or what we all popularly know as Panagbenga, was done part of their visit in the Summer Capital. Panagbenga is usually celebrated annually in the city every February but this is an opportunity for the Baguio officials to let the candidates experience even a little what it feels like to be part of their grandest parade.

Wurtzbach and candidates were welcomed by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, and Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) president and Baguio Country Club (BCC) general manager Anthony de Leon in a simple rite followed by a silent drill exhibition by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Baguio City is one of the few places in the country that will be visited by selected contestants of the Miss Universe Pageant.  Thus, City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan even issued an administrative order (AO) suspending classes in all levels on January 18, 2017 to pave way for the conduct of the street dancing and mini float parade for the visiting beauty contestants of the Miss Universe.

Roads in the city were closed early morning to prepare for the mini version of the flower festival with four floats and eight street dancing contingents ready for the exhibition performance for the international visitors. A contingent of 5,000 composed of schools, groups and officials paraded with the candidates along the stretch of Upper Session road until the Baguio Country Club to the delight of the waiting crowd.