Noted Actress Mayen Estanero Joins Cast of M. Butterfly

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The producers of the forthcoming Tony Award Winner for Best Play ‘M. BUTTERFLY’ led by JHETT TOLENTINO and RS FRANCISCO of Front Row Entertainment formally welcomes noted theater actress MAYEN ESTAÑERO to the production as she steps into the role of Comrade Chin effective August 7.

Rebecca Chuaunsu who was initially tapped to essay the role at the beginning of the production has opted to vacate the role due to the conflict in production schedules.Award-winning artist KANAKAN-BALINTAGOS shall direct this classic masterpiece drama written by David Henry Hwang, inspired by Giaccomo Puccini's opera “Madame Butterfly” loosely based on events surrounding a 1986 espionage trial about a mysterious Chinese opera singer and a French diplomat.
RS FRANCISCO shall reprise his epic portrayal of Song Liling, the Chinese opera singer who is Gallimard’s object of affection and seduces him through his biases of the East then exploits their intimacy to collect classified information for agents of the Chinese Communist Party.
In the play, the audiences shall get to know Comrade Chin, a member of the Red Guards, the paramilitary arm of the Communist Party in China. Song Liling communicates with Comrade Chin often, to pass on the classified information he gathers from Gallimard. Chin is severe and unfeminine, and Song derides her for her lack of womanly charm. She also plays Suzuki, a down-to-earth servant, in the reenactment of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.
Mayen Estanero is considered as one of Philippine theater’s precious gems, who has been gracing the stage for more than a decade with her talents. A true triple threat, Mayen has appeared in some of the most successful theater productions such as Himala, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah and the CCP Virgin Labfest’s Mula sa Kulimliman.
In January 2017, she was the Wife (Asawa) of a NPA guerilla in Chris Millado’s “Buwan at Baril sa E♭ Major” produced by Sugid Productions and directed by Andoy Ranay.




In October 2016, Mayen played the role of Helen, an acclaimed actress and the best friend of Alex, the lead actor in The Egg Theater Company’s production of  “Moliere PMS,” a fusion of three Moliere play adaptations: Praning (The Imaginary Invalid), Maniacal (The Learned Ladies), and Schism (The Misanthrope) directed by George de Jesus III.

At the second half of October, Mayen played the role Trudy, the mother of Adam in Tanghalang Ateneo’s Boy, a thought-provoking play by award-winning American playwright Anna Ziegler about gender identity translated by Guelan Luarca under the direction of Ed Lacson Jr.

In November of that same year, Mayen essayed the role of Maestra, a Filipino teacher during the Spanish period who falls in love with grave digger Honorato in a sung-through, one-act operetta “Corazon Negro” written by Layeta Bucoy, music by Joed Balsamo and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio as part of Dalanghita Productions’ “Tatlong Linggong Pag-ibig.”
In February of 2015, Mayen also appeared in Ballet Philippines’ production of “Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical” written by Kanaka-Balintagos inspired from comic book super heroes of the 60 - 90’s from the music of the Eraserheads and Vincent de Jesus under the direction of Paul Alexander Morales.

Let us all welcome Mayen to the production of “M. Butterfly” !!!!!

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Playdates: Sept. 13 – 30, 2018 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Bonifacio Global City. For tickets, call TICKETWORLD at 8919999.
Check out M. Butterfly at the following social media:
Facebook: MButterflyMNL
Twitter: MButterflyMNL
Instagram: MButterflyMNL
YouTube: MButterflyMNL
For further inquiries, please contact ISHA GERMENTIL at mobile number
0917- 623 - 3834.

Blind Children ‘Walk with Dignity’ at Farmers Plaza

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Farmers Plaza on Saturday, August 4, hosted the White Cane Safety Day event, showing its commitment to welcome persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the mall and other properties of Araneta Center.

The Farmers Plaza on Saturday, August 4, hosted the White Cane Safety Day event, showing its commitment to welcome persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the mall and other properties of Araneta Center. The White Cane Safety Day is a law-mandated celebration every August that aims to promote the well-being of the visually-impaired and raise awareness on their plight and rights. The event was attended by 150 visually-impaired children and their families. “We celebrate White Cane Day because we want to create awareness especially for people who are using white canes, because most of the population do not know what a white cane is. Akala nila laruan. It is a tool used by the visually-impaired for mobility so that they can walk with dignity,” said Leo Lee, president of the Parent Advocates for Visually-Impaired Children (PAVIC), which spearheaded the activity. Araneta Center officials also distributed white canes to select visually-impaired children and stressed the importance of helping PWD visitors around the Center. “Our security is briefed every day to assist the PWDs, the blind especially. When our guards see them, they immediately assist them,” Ivy Naldeza, assistant property manager of the Farmers Plaza, said. “It’s very important to raise awareness kasi ‘yung iba hindi nila talaga naiintindihan. We have to know the plight of these people, and when you know how they feel, you become eager to help them,” she added. Araneta Center’s support for the White Cane cause is just one way of pushing for its corporate social responsibility projects. Last April, the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum was decked with blue lights in support of the World Autism Awareness Day. Its frontliners are also undergoing regular disability sensitivity trainings. Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu, himself a parent of a child with a hearing impairment, revealed the transport service’s special discount for PWDs. All they have to do is send Grab Philippines an email with their PWD IDs and they will receive a special code that they can use to automatically receive discounts on their rides. He said the transport sharing service has earmarked at least P10 million monthly for this program. The event featured speeches from advocates of the blind, which highlighted the success of the visually-impaired despite their conditions. Annette Nelmida, mother of blind twins Joshua and Jerome Nelmida, beamed with pride as her children are set to compete in the Asian Paratriathlon Championship in Legazpi City, Alaby this week. “We hope to make the Philippines proud,” Annette said, before the crowd at the Farmers Plaza greeted her twins a happy birthday as they turned 18. After the speeches, the visually-impaired children, their parents and some blindfolded guests were given a tour of the Farmers Plaza in a visual representation of what it is like to walk with dignity despite their condition. For more updates, visit www.aranetacenter.net. Follow our social media pages: @aranetacenter on Facebook and Twitter and @thearanetacenter on Instagram. Caption: Farmers Plaza officials, headed by Property Manager Ceasar Valencia (second from right), distribute white canes to visually-impaired children who attended the White Cane Safety Day celebration in Araneta Center.

Late Registration Now Open for ASEAN Youth Summit 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

ASEAN Youth Summit 2018 will accept late applicants from August 1 to 8, 2018.

The qualifications for applicants are as follows:
Must be a citizen from the ASEAN Member-States or ASEAN +3 Member-States (Delegates)
Must be a citizen from non-ASEAN Member-States or non-ASEAN +3 Member-States (Observers)
Must be 15-30 years of age
Must be mentally and physically fit to travel

AYS 2018 aims to connect the ASEAN youth to opportunities in achieving and accomplishing greater goals. Centered on ASEAN’s three pillars – the Economic Community, the Socio-Cultural Community, and the Political-Security Community – this year’s summit holds a case study competition that challenges the youth to critically analyze different issues that persist in ASEAN Member-States. The case study competition encourages its participants to create solutions to these issues from different angles. 

Interested participants may apply as a delegate or an observer. The delegates are entitled to the full package which includes the talks, meals, field trip, and other activities. Delegates will also be able to take part in the case study competition wherein they will analyze the different issues that exist in their represented country and propose long term solutions in line with the goals of the three ASEAN pillars to solve these problems. The observers will not participate in the case study competition. However, they will be able to listen to the same speakers and participate in the same program of the delegates. They are more than welcome to join the delegates’ plenary sessions to give insight and listen to their case study presentations.

All accepted late applicants are expected to pay the registration fee of USD 180 which is inclusive of the conference fee, field trip fee, delegate kit, AYS shirt, meals during the program, and the transportation fee from DLSU to other program venues.

Register now at www.ays2018.com or email us at info@ays2018.com for more inquiries.