Photo: Ballet Philippines / FB, Ely Buendia A Night at the Theater Ely Buendia / FB, Block Z Film Cinema 76 Film Society / FB" width="100%" />
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.
See Eraserheads’ former frontman Ely Buendia do an encore of his rock-musical crossover
Date: Feb. 20, Thursday
Venue: Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Parañaque City
Pinoy rock icon and former Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia is doing a one-night-only repeat performance of Ely Buendia: A Night at the Theater tomorrow night at Parañaque City’s Newport Theater. The rock’n’roll/musical theater crossover features scenes played out by actors from Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical (which features Eraserheads hits), and Buendia playing live and figuring into the scenes.
It promises to be another Eraserheads (or just Pinoy rock music in general) experience for the ages. Tickets run from PHP1,800 (US$35) to PHP7,500 (US$148), available onsite or at the Ticketworld website.
See a play that looks at Muslim-Christian conflict from a different perspective
Date: Feb. 21, Friday to March 8, Sunday
Venue: CCP Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Batang Mujahideen (“Mujahideen Child”) follows the story of Fatima, a 7-year-old Muslim girl in Basilan who witnesses successive acts of violence by a rebel group in her hometown, including the kidnapping of a priest along with students and teachers, and the gruesome murder of her own father. The killing spurs Fatima to take a vow of silence and disguise herself as a boy in order to join the mujahideen, or those engaged in jihad, so she can confront her father’s killer.
The play is helmed by director Guelan Luarca, written by Malou Jacob, and staged by Tanghalang Pilipino. Tickets are run from PHP1,000 (US$19) to PHP1,500 (US$29), and are available at Ticketworld.
See 500 artfully choreographed dance gems at this ballet show
Date: Feb. 21, Friday to 23, Sunday
Venue: CCP Main Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Ballet Philippines’ Itim Asu (literally “Black Dog“) and Other Dances will be putting on display 500 choreographed gems showing the decades-old ballet group’s diverse and dynamic repertoire, as well as the style and strength (hell yeah, ballerinas!) of its dancers.
At the core of the dances is “Itim Asu,” a modern re-staging of a dance based from Virginia Moreno’s award-winning 1970 play The Onyx Wolf, which was staged on the very same stage decades ago. Curious? Who knows, ballet might just be your cup of tea. Tickets run from PHP500 (US$10) to PHP3,000 (US$60), and are available at the CCP box office, or via Ticketworld.
Attend the 8th edition of this annual Art Fair
Date: Feb. 21, Friday to Feb. 23, Sunday
Venue: The Link, Ayala, Makati City
Now in its eighth-year, Art Fair Philippines is debuting its main shows this weekend in the five-level Makati carpark The Link. Even after 10 days of pre-events that kicked off last weekend, curator for film Erwin Romulo promises there’s plenty more up his sleeves. Come see the show this weekend to find out what the fair has in store this year.
Tickets are at PHP350 (US$7) available on-site or via the Art Fair website.
Catch this zombie thriller, complete with a Q&A sesh with director Mikhail Red
Date: Feb. 22, Saturday
Venue: Cinema 76 Film Society, 160 Luna Mencias, San Juan
Still haven’t seen Mikhail Red‘s zombie-thriller Block Z? You know, the country’s first proper zombie film? The one starring your mom’s favorite ’80s heartthrob (Ian Veneracion) and your current crush (Julia Barretto)? Well, it’s out, and now’s your chance to check out the tale of some scrappy university students trying to survive the undead following an outbreak (hmm, timely).
You can catch it this weekend at indie movie house Cinema 76 Film Society, and after the credits roll, you’ll be treated to a quick Q&A session with the director himself.
Tickets are going for PHP200 (US$4) for regular tickets, and PHP180 (US$3.5) for students. For seat reservations call (+632) 8-277-1216 or visit Cinema ’76 Film Society’s Facebook page.
