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.
Learn local history through a steampunk musical
Date: Aug. 16, Friday – Sept. 1, Sunday
Venue: Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater, Pasay City
Former West End actress Monique Wilson is back on the local stage with Tanghalang Pilipino’s Mabining Mandirigma (“Mabini the Warrior”), a steampunk musical showing the shaky beginnings of the first Philippine Republic, which got its start in the late 1800s.
Wilson stars as Apolonario Mabini, the wheelchair-bound statesman who served as the country’s first prime minister. With President Emilio Aguinaldo (played by Arman Ferrer and David Ezra), he fends off a U.S. takeover while untangling the internal strife that has paralyzed the country’s government.
Tickets to the musical are priced starting from PHP1,000 (US$19.2) and are sold at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ box office and online at Ticket2Me.
For more information, visit Tanghalang Pilipino’s Facebook page.
Buy local arts and crafts at this annual fundraiser
Date: Aug. 16, Friday – Aug. 18, Sunday
Venue: The Peninsula Manila, Ayala cor. Makati Ave., Makati, Metro Manila
MaArte Fair is an annual bazaar organized by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, aiming to showcase the designs of top artisans while raising funds for the National Museum. The 11th edition of the fair this year, dubbed MaArte oPEN house, will feature the products of more than 60 fashion and home décor brands. This includes Haute Home Manila, Micki Olaguer, Riqueza, Oscar Mejia Fragrances, Tim Tam Ong, Beyond Borders, D’Oro Barandino, and Creative Definitions.
The Peninsula Manila will open its doors to shoppers at 10 am on Friday until Sunday.
For more information, visit their Facebook page or Instagram.
Express your romantic feelings at this concert
Date: Aug. 16, Friday
Venue: Social House, Riverfront Dr., Makati, Metro Manila
Express your heartaches by going to “Ubusan ng Feelings” (literally “let’s get rid of our feelings”), a mini-concert at the bar Social House. Listen to performances of bands Moonstar88, Silent Sanctuary, Bentedos, and 10am Departure.
Door charge at the event is PHP400 (US$7.66). To know more, visit Social House’s Facebook page.
Watch a Cinemalaya movie
Date: From today until Aug. 22, Thursday
Venue: Cinema ’76 Anonas, Project 4, Quezon City
The recent Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has wrapped up, but that doesn’t mean cinephiles can no longer watch some of the films that participated this year. Starting today, independent micro theater Cinema ’76 will be screening one of the most talked-about movies in the fest titled Belle Douleur (A Beautiful Pain). Directed by Joji Alfonso, it’s a movie about a 40-something single woman (Mylene Dizon) who seeks to reinvigorate her humdrum existence by dating a young antique collector (Kit Thompson).
Tickets are available for PHP220 (US$4.21) at the Cinema ’76 box office. To know more, visit their Facebook page.
See Martha Stewart live on stage
Date: Aug. 20, Tuesday
Venue: Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Host and entrepreneur Martha Stewart represents everything that many women aspire for (well, except her short stint in prison), which is why cable channel ANC is bringing her to the Manila for the ANC Leadership Series. Hosted by broadcaster Karen Davila, Stewart is expected to share her business philosophies and give tips to entrepreneurs wanting to take their game to the next level.
The chief executive officer of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, her empire includes projects in television, print media, as well as merchandising. She currently appears with rapper Snoop Dogg in the show Martha And Snoop’s Potluck Party Challenge.
The event doesn’t occur on a weekend, but it is expected to be packed to the rafters. Ticket prices start from PHP7,500 (US$143) and are available online at Ticketworld.
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