Things to do in Manila this weekend (Aug. 10 – 12): MaArte Fair, Readers and Writers Festival, History Con, ASEAN Street Food Festival, Vagina Monologues

True blue Manileños, recent transplants, and visitors to our city all know — there is never a lack of things to do in Manila. This is Coconuts Manila’s guide to all things good and great happening over the coming weekend. Peruse it, take note of everything that interests you, and hit us up on our Facebook page or on Twitter @CoconutsManila to sound off on what you think.

Support local crafts — and look great doing it

Locally made bags by TALI. (Photo: MaArte Fair Facebook page)
Locally made bags by TALI. Photo: MaArte Fair FB page

Date: Aug. 10 – 12 (Friday – Sunday)
Venue: The Peninsula Manila, Corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues, 1226, Makati City

The MaArte Fair is an annual event where local crafts and fashion are showcased. Now on its 10th year, the event will once again be held at the Peninsula Manila and will include unique finds like handmade bags, artisan fragrances, and locally-woven textiles.

Apart from being an ambassador for Filipino culture through your OOTDS, purchasing products from the fair will also directly support local art as proceeds will go to the Museum Foundation of the Philippines.

For more information, visit the MaArte Fair Facebook page

Hone your writing skills by learning from published authors

The Philippine Readers and Writers Festival last year. (Photo: Screenshot from National Book Store's YouTube account.)
The Philippine Readers and Writers Festival last year. Photo: YouTube, National Book Store 

Date: Aug. 10 – 12 (Friday – Sunday) 
Venue: Raffles Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Ave., Makati City

It’s rare — even for avid readers — to meet the authors behind their favorite books. This makes the upcoming Philippine Readers and Writers Festival all the more special.

Happening from Friday to Sunday, this year’s lineup of writers includes award-winning Filipino-American children’s novelist Erin Entrada Kelly and Nancy Silberkleit, the co-CEO of Archie Comics.

Fans of pop-fiction will also get the chance to meet some of the internet’s famous writers in a panel dedicated to Wattpad writers.

Local writers part of the line up include Butch Dalisay, Lourd de Veyra, Marjorie Evasco, and Ruel De Vera.

Read more about it here. 

Geek out on your pop culture obsessions

History Con 2017 (Photo: History Channel Asia Facebook page)
History Con 2017. Photo: History Channel Asia FB page

Date: Aug. 10 – 12 (Friday – Sunday)
Venue: World Trade Center Metro Manila, Gil Puyat Ave. Ext. cor. Diosdado Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City

Although called History Con, the upcoming entertainment convention isn’t all about the past.

Those who avidly watch the History Channel would appreciate this year’s roundup of guests which includes Katheryn Winnick from the show Vikings, Simon Yin from History Hustle, Jaime Dempsey from Ride N’ Seek, and Giorgio A. Tsoukalos from Ancient Aliens.

Yes, this guy.

Photo: Memegenerator.net
Photo: Memegenerator.net

Tickets are available at SM Tickets and can cost as low as PHP350 (US$6.60) for a 1-day general admission ticket or PHP10,000 (US$188.58) for a VIP pass.

“Travel” around Southeast Asia without leaving Manila

Thai noodles. (Photo: Pixabay)
Thai noodles. Photo: Pixabay

Date: Aug. 11, Saturday
Venue: Amphitheater, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City

They say a country’s culture is best reflected in its food. Those who will visit this week’s ASEAN Street Food Festival can do just that as cuisines from around the region will be showcased at the BGC amphitheater in High Street.

Organized by the ASEAN embassies in the Philippines, foodies can get their fill of food from Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, among others — and they don’t even need to leave Manila to do it.

Watch The Vagina Monologues — in Filipino

Missy Maramara, Mae Paner, and Monique Wilson. (Photo: Mae P. Paner Facebook page)
Missy Maramara, Mae Paner, and Monique Wilson. Photo: Mae P. Paner FB page

Date: Aug. 11 – 12 (Saturday – Sunday)
Venue: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4th Floor, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave., cor. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City

The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler is considered a modern classic by feminists and theater enthusiasts alike. An episodic play that openly discusses sex, violence against women, and women empowerment, it is just as relevant today as it was when it was written in the ’90s.

This weekend, it will be restaged in the Philippines, not just with its original English script, but also in Filipino.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, actress Monique Wilson said that the Filipino version will allow for the play’s message to be more powerful for a local audience.

“Well by the nature of our translation, it is more affecting and we’ll be able to connect to it more,” she said in Filipino and English.

Tickets are available at Ticket World and range from PHP500 (US$9.43) to PHP1,500 (US$28.29).



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