Stranger Than Fiction: Guadalupe: The Musical

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In 1531, in the newly conquered land then known as New Spain, a series of
unexplained— some might say miraculous— events occurred that would change the
world forever. That incredible true tale is now the basis of GUADALUPE: THE
MUSICAL, a brand-new theatrical production in English, presented by the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts Foundation.

And what a tale it is! A ghostly apparition… a skeptical bishop… a brutal overlord… a
dying man brought back from the brink of death. “The story of Juan Diego of Guadalupe is practically a musical already,” quips Borromeo, who is both producer and (along with Rose Borromeo) choreographer of the show. “But what makes this story different is all the supernatural elements in it that simply can’t be explained.” Of these there are many, and all a matter of public record: the painted images on Juan Diego’s now famous tilma (or apron), which show no evidence of any brushstrokes, and whose pigments come from a source unknown to nature; the seeming impenetrability of the cloth from which it was made; the mysterious recovery of Juan Diego’s dying uncle; the list goes on and on.

But although it deals in the miraculous, GUADALUPE: THE MUSICAL, which stars
stage icon Cocoy Laurel as Juan Diego, is not a conventional faith-based show. “It’s not
a ‘religious’ musical as such,” declares theater legend Baby Barredo, who directs the piece. “It’s a powerful piece of theater that just happens to contain religious elements.” It’s an important distinction, and one that drove the creation of the show from the start.

For scriptwriter and lyricist Joel Trinidad and composer Ejay Yatco, the creative task was to use factual, historical events as a backdrop for a true story that contains some fictional elements. “Some of the most popular musicals in the world combine fact and fiction this way,” shares Yatco. “MISS SAIGON, EVITA, LES MISERABLES… The list goes on and on.” But how can GUADALUPE audiences tell fact from fiction? “You’ll see some things in this show that seem completely implausible,” says Trinidad with a smile.

“Those are the ones that really happened.”
The Julie Borromeo Arts Foundation presents GUADALUPE: THE MUSICAL. September 29 to October 14, 2018 at
the Meralco Theater. E-mail Ria Pangilinan at riapangprojects@gmail.com for fundraising opportunities.

KOG, Announcement Of Official Launch In The Philippines On July 3rd And Reached More Than 100K Pre-Registrations!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

KOG Chief Executive Officer Jong-won Lee has announced that the number of pre-registrations for the real-time RPG “GrandChase – Dimensional Chaser”, has reached more than 100K in the Philippines.

On June 23rd, “GrandChase – Dimensional Chaser” was introduced for the first time in the Philippines through a Press Conference held in Marco Polo. Rafael HS Noh, Director of KOG, said it was a great opportunity to feel the love of the gamers in the Philippines and it was the reason why KOG strove to launch the game in the country as soon as possible. Thanks to the accomplishment of 100K pre-registrations in the Philippines, all the users who participated would be able to receive monthly rewards of check in the game such as S Rank Hero Package, 200,000 Gold, 3,000 Prana, and ★3 Monster Card x 10.

“GrandChase – Dimensional Chaser” is an official sequel to the hit online game ‘GrandChase’ and it has been produced by the Original GrandChase Online Development team. It inherits the original game’s spirit and was released in January in Korea. Since the launch in Korea, it had achieved the top game in the Apple App Store and Top 2 of Google Play Store. And “GrandChase – Dimensional Chaser” will be be released through it’s local publishing partner, Elite Games.

If you want to participate in the pre-registration for “GrandChase – Dimensional Chaser”, it can be done through the official website (https://www.grandchase.net/event1) and the events on Facebook may be checked here (https://www.facebook.com/GC.Mobile.PH)


KOG is a game company started in 2000 with the aim of creating world-class games based on its excellent and cutting-edge technology. Today, GrandChase-Dimensional Chaser and Elsword is not only present in Korea, but also in North America, Europe, Japan, and have been in service in more than 20 countries. In 2012, KOG established a corporation in the United States and in the Philippines providing direct Elsword services. KOG is a company that keeps a lot of people around the world engaged year after year by making games that are fun for everyone. (KOG official website: http://www.kog.co.kr)


ELITE GAMES is the Local Publishing Partner of KOG for its critically acclaimed Mobile title, “GrandChase - Dimensional Chaser”.  Founded in 2016, ELITE GAMES is one of the leading international Game Service and Marketing Providers based in the Philippines with its regional HQ located in the Silicon Valley of Asia, Pangyo, South Korea. 

[Promotion Video Link]
https://youtu.be/bZ_dSqqeXdk

Hontiveros Lauds Passage of ‘Anti-Catcalling’ Ordinance in Nation's Capital

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“Bihirang lumipas ang isang araw na hindi ako na-cacatcall”, said 4th year college student Kana Takahashi, sharing her experience of being sexually-harassed in her daily commute to school. “I always have to ready my pepper spray and rape whistle everytime”, she said.

A student leader in one of the universities in the city of Manila, Kana said that sexual harassment in public spaces is a daily reality not only for her but for many women in the nation’s capital.

That soon might change. Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday lauded the passage of a Manila ordinance penalizing catcalling and other forms of public sexual harassment.

The ordinance, sponsored by Manila District 4 Councilor Krystle Bacani, will penalize all forms of sexual harassment in public spaces such as catcalling, wholf-whistling, leering, groping and many others. It also outlines clear penalties for violations and violators and enhances the role of the Manila Police District in apprehending harassers. Manila Ordinance No. 7857 was passed on third and final reading by the Manila City Council on Thursday.

Manila joins Quezon City in penalizing street-level harassment of women. In 2016,

Mayor Herbert Bautista has signed into law the city’s amended gender and development code, imposing a fine and jail term for acts considered as sexual harassment of women in public spaces.

"The passage of this landmark measure is a big victory for women and safe spaces advocates. It is historic and groundbreaking. An anti-catcalling ordinance in the country's capital is a big boost to the campaign to protect its women from daily street harassment and a clear policy shift on the part of our local government. This will certainly serve as an inspiration as we push for the passage of a similar policy on the national level," Hontiveros said.

"I would like to congratulate Councilor Krystle Bacani for leading the charge in the passage of this ordinance, the Manila City Council and Mayor Joseph 'Erap' Estrada for supporting the women's clamor for safe streets," Hontiveros added.

Last March, Hontiveros, citing data from the Manila Police District (MPD), said that two (2) women get harassed everyday in the country's capital. The forms of harassment reported include acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment, rape and violence against women. She said most of the incidents happened after office hours and during unholy hours.

Hontiveros, who is the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, is pushing for the passage of a Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act in the Senate. The bill aims to prohibit and penalize gender-based harassment in public spaces such as catcalling, wolf-whistling, cursing, leering, groping, persistent request for name and contact details. It also seeks to penalize the use of words tending to ridicule on the basis of actual or perceived sex, gender expression, or sexual orientation and identity, including sexist, homophobic and transphobic slurs. 

Hontiveros' bill is scheduled for interpellation once the Senate resumes session.