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.
Honor the works of Filipina playwrights
Date: March 15 & 16 (Friday & Saturday)
Venue: Cultural Center of the Philippines, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
The month of March is full of events honoring women. This week, this includes the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Readathon, a dramatic reading of plays by Filipina playwrights.
Works to be featured will come from different regions of the Philippines and will be performed by theater actors. Some playwrights will also be reading their own works, including Tan-Aw by Mary Carling, Sdap so Marawi: Bakwit Monologue by Sittie Jehanne Mutin, and Ang Puno ng Mangga by Tessa Belleza.
There will also be a book discussion, book fair, and book reading for kids. The event is free and open to the public and will be held at the CCP from 9am onwards on Friday and Saturday.
For more information, visit the Readathon: Dramatic Reading of Plays by Women 2019 Facebook event page.
Support local arts and crafts
Date: March 15 & 16 (Friday & Saturday)
Venue: BGC Arts Center, 26th St. cor, 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
BGC Art Mart is a casual art market regularly held in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). It’s back this weekend and will once again showcase arts and crafts by homegrown artists.
The market will be held in the BGC Arts Center and will run from 5pm to 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Apart from the featured artists, there will also be live music. Entrance is free.
For more information, visit the BGC Art Mart Facebook event page.
Attend the concert of an up-and-coming Aussie singer
Date: March 16, Saturday
Venue: Teatrino, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City
Australian pop singer Ruel is coming to the Philippines this week for his first-ever concert in Manila on Saturday.
If you found yourself saying “Who’s that?” — yeah, we did that too, initially. But if you’re really into pop music, then you might want to familiarize yourself with his work, because apparently the 17-year-old is on the up and up.
His concert in Manila, is part of an Asian tour of eight countries, including Coconuts cities Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur.
He’s best known for the soulful single “Younger.”
Tickets are priced at PHP1,800 (US$34.14) and are available on Ticket World.
Treat your inner Francophile
Date: March 16, Saturday & March 23, Saturday
Venue: Ayala Museum, Makati Ave. cor. De La Rosa St., Makati City
Hey, Filipino Francophiles — you’ll like this one. Starting this weekend is a French appreciation series organized by the Ayala Museum and Alliance Française de Manille. There will be a talk on Saturday that will focus on French cultural landmarks, and will be headed by Bryan Anthony Paraiso of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
The following Saturday, March 23, will cover romanticism in French literature, with a discussion by Ateneo de Manila assistant professor Mark Raftery-Skehan.
Both talks will run from 3 to 5pm.
A season pass for both lectures is PHP720 (US$13.66), while a regular pass for one lecture is PHP450 (US$8.54). Discounts are available for Ayala Museum members, students, teachers, senior citizens, and persons with disability.
Tickets are available at the Ayala Museum counter but you can also pre-register online.
For more information, visit the French Appreciation: Art & Literature event page.
Shop (relatively) affordable art
Date: March 17, Sunday
Venue: Jaime Velasquez Park is at Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Art in the Park is an art market for those who just started their contemporary art collection. This is because its vibe is a lot more casual than that of most art fairs, with prices of contemporary art pieces capped at PHP50,000 (US$948.43).
It’s also overall just a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, amongst special exhibits, live jazz music, and trendy food pop-ups.
Entrance is free.
For more information, here’s the Coconuts Manila primer of the event.
Reader Interactions