Ang Pagsalubong sa Apatnapu Returns This June

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In celebration of the Philippine Independence Day and kicking off its 12th Theatre Season HABI, Teatro ni Juan’s highly commended original musical ANG PAGSALUBONG SA APATNAPU returns this June on a limited run.

Dubbed as “a musical that breaks free from the limits of its space”, Apatnapu rerun features new cast members and a reworked second act. The musical is a tribute to Marikina’s remarkable contribution to the Philippines’ historical narrative — the arrival of Jewish refugees in the valley as they escape the terrors of Kristallnacht, President Manuel Quezon opening the doors of his own abode to the ‘Manilaners’ and their intercultural nexus with the Marikeños. Together, they are forced to contend with the Japanese Imperial Army.

Featuring the Teatro ni Juan ensemble, Ang Pagsalubong sa Apatnapu is a musical that is worth telling the generations to come. Here is your chance to witness, as what critics laud, “sheer energy and exhilarating raw sweaty dedication of a true community theatre.” 

The production and artistic team includes Jennelle Javier (Production Management), Elvira Lazaro (Stage Management), Clarisse Ilagan (Photography and Art Direction), Mikaela Foronda (Associate Art Direction), Wana Guevara, Ana Rae Tambaoan, & Alliah Micmic (Dramaturgy), Jonpol Ponce & Joseph de Vera (Technical Direction), Edward Monteroso (Set Design), Brian Bruno (Lights Design), Madeline Villamon (Costumes Design), Wana Guevara & Kristine De Leon (Additional Text, Music and Lyrics), Julius Getubig (Musical Direction & Arrangement), Kary Villaflor (Vocal Direction), Michaela Caranza (Original Music), Bianca Trinidad (Choreography), Athena dela Cruz (Assistant Direction), and Mikko Angeles (Direction).

ANG PAGSALUBONG SA APATNAPU runs on June 15-16, 22-23, 29-30, July 6-7, and July 13-14 (Saturdays & Sundays, 7pm) at Tahanan ni Juan, 43-A C. Cruz St., Sta. Elena, Marikina City. Tickets are available at PHP150php. Seats are limited. 

For tickets, sponsorships and showbuying inquiries, you may contact Je Trinidad (+63915 495 4438) or Paola Neyra (+63956 132 0995) or email contact.teatronijuan@gmail.com.

*** Tahanan ni Juan is a found space with no air-condition. For directions, see attached image. Tahanan ni Juan is also on Waze, Grab, Angkas and Google Maps.

#TNJApatnapuRerun

Exploring the Less Travelled Roads of Indore (Madhya Pradesh, India)

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This world is indeed a beautiful place. There are different places in this world that would offer enough exciting spots and areas to explore; it just depends on your own adventurous spirits and guts to explore the region. In this article, we are going to provide you details of the beautiful city of Indore.


The climate of the city

The city. Indore is located in Central India in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It comes into the Malwa plateau which gives it a very pleasing climate. If you have travelled different parts of India and of the world and you are accustomed with different kinds of climatic conditions and their adversities, then most of the travelers are going to find the climate of Malwa plateau very standard and acceptable. It would become hot and humid in summer, as per European and American standards, but overall, region has a very pleasing climate and is safe from any unexpected and unfortunate climatic calamities like floods, earthquake, cyclone etc.


How to reach Indore?

Indore is one of the popular cities of Madhya Pradesh and India and it is well connected with road, train and air. Depending on your present location, you can get direct flight to Indore and you can also easily reach it by road or train from different places of India. If you are a foreigner and landing in capital city or any other metro city, then you could get direct flight to Indore. Do remember to book your tickets in advance to avoid any price fluctuation in flight or train tickets.


When to visit Indore?

The temperature in the city can go quite hot and humid in summer that lasts from March to mid June. Winter is quite pleasing and it is recommended that you either visit the city wither in winter or during monsoon. In the later case, you would be able to enjoy the greenery and the natural places that are nearby the city as well. If you are fine with temperature of 40° and plus, then you can simply visit it at any time.


Places to visit

Some of the chief places to look out from Indore is the Khajrana temple, which is one of the Ancient temples, primarily made for Lord Ganesha, who is considered as an auspicious God in the Indian Mythology. The temple has expanded in recent years and has and if you're looking for a single temple, where you can greet and take blessing from most of the popular Indian gods and Goddesses, then this temple is going to be one such spot.

You got to beware of the beggars, that are always going to haunt you, especially, if you are a foreigner. Do not get persuaded by their misery because we are going to get hundreds of them across and around begging for alms at all the time. It would be better to play online roulette in a UK casino than to waste your money on them! So just avoid them and do your own deeds.

If you visit a city in rainy season, there are different interesting place that are within 50 km range from Indore from where you can enjoy the natural beauty. These includes, Pataal Paani, Tincha Fall, Mandu, and many more,

If you are more into spiritualism then you can visit Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain that is around 60 Km away from Indore and Omkareshwar that is within 100 Kms away from the city. Apart from it, if you are looking for meditation, then do you a visit to the Patanjali Vidyapeeth located at Dr. Verma Farm House at Annapurna road. It is one of the best places from where you can get an experience of real yoga and a taste of yogic lifestyle.


The city of Foodies!

If you are a foodie then Indore is the place to be in. You can find different varieties of food including snacks, sweets, beverages and much more. Indore is famous for its Poha Jalebi breakfast. You should taste as much as variety of food as possible as your digestive system permits. Do remember, that Indian food can get spicy at times and therefore if you are not that accustomed with spices, then either avoid it or order less spicy food separately.

You can always enjoy lots of other breakfast like Samosa, Kachori, Khaman, different kinds of sweets and much more. Places to visit to get the taste of Indore’s foodie lifestyle are 56 shop located in Palasia and Sarafa located in the traditional Indore city near Rajwada. Apart from it, you if you like to explore the history of the city, then simply visit Rajwada, which would give you enough insights in to the lifestyle of the Holkars, who mostly dominated Indore.


What else to do?

Apart from it, there are enough places from where you can shop including shopping malls as well as local street side shops. Do you remember to bargain smartly and be street smart because most of the foreigners are soft targets gate of roadside shops. If you like to avoid them, and simply shop at the malls and which have fixed price and an automated billing system which does not leave much scope for bargaining and being spoofed.

Apart from it, do remember to follow all normal safety norms of a Traveler and try to avoid Walking Alone or even with a group to an unknown place. Although, Indore is one of the safest cities of India and is also cleanest one around, yet, you are expected to follow the rules regulations and precautions of a Traveler to avoid any misfortune and minimize any chance of any kind of unfortunate incident to happen.

If you like to get something specific information regarding the hotels, flights, or Railways, then you always use internet and get exact details of the hotels as well as fight and trains timings.

All and all, Indore is nice and clean city which has got all the necessary ingredients that a traveler would look out for. You can find great food, enough places to visit in and around the city and people of Indore are very friendly and jolly and they are always going to help you around as and when needed. If you can visit the city at the right time of the season, then you are most likely to enjoy the essence of the city.

The Best Things to See in Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is a compactly colonized harborside city situated on the island of Luzon. It is an amalgamation of old Spanish colonial structural design and modern skyscrapers and is a lively but lesser appreciated city. Plan a trip to Manila and get ready for a new perspective the city is going to give you. The architecture of churches is Baroque inspired and the malls there are known to be the largest in the world which is planned with such great finesse and amazing magnitude which gives the feel of a proper cosmopolitan city.

You can also earn money by playing casinos. There are many casinos in Manila and so you must read a few online casino reviews before choosing the final one.

So while in Manila the best things that you can do are listed below.

1. The San Agustin Museum

San Agustin Museum will give you an understanding of the colonial years of Manila along with the history of how Catholic faith began to start in the Philippines. The museum was formerly known as a church which was destroyed during World War II and was reconstructed in the 1970s which included a library, sacristy, crypt, halls and its former refectory. There is a huge collection of pastoral artworks which consists of wooden sculptures, antique vestments, paintings, altars, etc. Furthermore, you will get to know of many other relevant historical facts such as how Manila was partly demolished in 1945.

2. Chinatown
Chinatown in the first visit, will not give much of a tourist spot feeling because it is a crowded and high traffic area. This place gives a very authentic feel of the Chinese trading existence that has been in the city since the 800s and the town of Binondo developed as an area for the community known as Hokkien Chinese. They were immigrants and along with their successors were oppressed during the Spanish colonial time span. There are many Buddhist temples and eateries which provide genuine Chinese food such as dim sum, etc.

3. Ayala Museum

The Ayala museum situated in Makati is extensively about the Philippines’ art and culture, archaeology, customs, folklore in a huge AC building that was earlier the stock exchange office. The six most highlighted exhibitions that deal with traditional Filipino materials including artworks from the 19th and 20th century’s renowned artists Juan Luna and Fernando Zóbel. In addition to this, you can also get to know of the country’s history at the Diorama Experience with sixty chronologically ordered models placed there.

4. Manila Bay walk

The riverside boulevard of Manila Bay is a must visit locale during the sunset as the lustrous waters were the witness to the Battle of Manila Bay between Spain and the United States Navy in 1898. The battle resulted in America’s significant victory which marked the end of the 300 years old Spanish rule. There are skyscrapers across the street which has many restaurants and bistros and with food vendors and amazing live music street performance.

5. Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago was the military base for the government of Spain, which was built in the year 1571 and the Battle of Manila had damaged few areas which were consequently renovated. The main gate of the architecture has a relief of known Spanish patron saint Santiago Matamoros and below this was the Spanish coat of arms and gives an idea of the independence movement of the Philippines that happened in 1896-1898. Additionally, there is a shrine of José Rizal, the national hero, which is built in his honour and replicates his familial home.

6. Manila Cathedral

The Manila Cathedral was established in the year 1571 and has endured natural calamities, war, fire, etc. and went through a complete renovation few years back. Meanwhile, the striking and impressive architecture in Plaza de Roma is actually the eighth rebuild and not long ago after it was reinstated, Pope Francis gave a mass in 2015. This 20th-century beautiful structure, is in itself a masterpiece, with mirror finished marble flooring, stained glass windows and high vaults in the center and has been designed by well known Filipino artist Galo Ocampo.

7. Rizal Park

The Rizal par is situated in the southern belt of Intramuros which is quite essential to Philippine history. In 1946, it was declared an independent state and the national hero, José Rizal was executed here in 1896 which brought the Philippine Revolution to its climax. The edifice was built in 1913, at the exact spot where he was killed and this was his 17th death anniversary of his which hold his relics and is under surveillance twenty-four into seven by the Marine Corps soldiers. As much as this place is of historical importance, this park is also an uncommon open area in the city and per say, a green island adjacent to some of the most crammed streets in the world.

8. National Museum of Fine Arts

The National Museum of Fine Arts accommodates many beautiful sculptures and paintings of the 19th and 20th century renowned Filipino artists such as Fernando Zóbel, Félix Hidalgo and Juan Luna. They were important artists of the epoch and they represented a movement that put Filipino art on the world art map. The magnum opus was Juan Luna’s the Spoliarium and it also won a gold medal in 1884 at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in Madrid and the symbolism was meant for José Rizal.

9. Casa Manila

Intramuros has a museum in it which portrays the colonial way of life whilst the Spanish immigration in the Philippines known as Casa Manila. It was built sometime around the 1980s and is a nice replica of a mid-19th-century residence. The base is made of stone and the upper floor has painted wood which comprises of a passage that opens to a courtyard which has a fountain and palms. The interiors have opulently designed living room that makes way to the bedroom and kitchen plus the bathroom and each room has genuine and real objet d'art placed to enhance the beauty of the décor. Moreover, the bathroom has an unusual feature of twin lavatory made out of wood which gives an interesting look.