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.
Buy books and meet your favorite writers at this annual book fair
Date: Wednesday – Sunday, Sept. 11 to 15
Venue: SMX Convention Center, Pasay City
Now on the 40th edition of this page-hoarder assembly, Manila International Book Fair is giving you four days to go to bookworm town.
Starting Wednesday until Sunday, from 10am until 8pm, you can scour SMX Convention Center’s halls for your choice of books on fiction, poetry, graphic novels, magazines, and hard-to-find independently published reads.
Remote workshops, discussions, and seminars from your favorite local publishers and distributors are also set to take place. There will also be book-signing events with some of the country’s most famous writers.
Tickets for entry are priced at PHP20 (US$0.4) for students, and PHP35 (US$0.7) for other guests. These can be bought at SM Tickets.
Watch a funny, Tony Award-winning musical that may (or may not) remind you of your ex
Date: Friday – Sunday, Sept. 13 to 22
Venue: Maybank Theatre, BGC Arts Center, Taguig City
Stephen Sondheim’s Company: The Musical will be showing at the Maybank Theater this Friday.
Directed by Topper Fabregas and produced by Upstart productions, Company tells the story of Bobby, a bachelor unable to commit to a steady relationship. The musical comedy presents Bobby’s relationships in a series of vignettes that’s likely to emit a chuckle from the audience.
Company debuted on Broadway in the 1970s and won six Tony awards, including Best Musical.
Tickets are priced at PHP1,500 (US$28) and are available at Ticketworld.
See some impressive local films in this cinema fest
Date: Friday – Thursday, Sept. 13 to 19
Venue: All cinemas nationwide
Celebrating the 100th year of Philippine cinema this weekend is the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which features a diverse lineup of major studio as well as independently produced films for the festival, touching themes on sexuality, crime, family relationships, and friendship.
For a quick refresher about the films participating in the festival, read our primer on the event here. Tickets are priced starting from PHP180 (US$3) and can be bought at the box office of the cinema.
Weep through the complexities of love by watching this musical
Date: Saturday – Monday, Sept. 14 to 29
Venue: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City
Another Sondheim musical that’s playing this week is Passion, staged by the Philippine Opera Company and directed by Robbie Guevarra.
Adapted into a play from a book by James Lapine, Passion is less about the laughs, and more about the complex landscapes of love and the human heart: weaving through sex, illness, obsession, beauty, and power. Many consider this 1994 Sondheim production as a powerful piece of musical theater. It has won four Tony Awards, including Best Original music score.
Tickets are available starting from PHP900 (US$17) and are available for purchase at Ticketworld.
Watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with a full orchestra
Date: Sept. 14 -15, Saturday – Sunday
Venue: The Theater at Solaire, Solaire Resort and Casino, Parañaque City
Debuting in Manila this weekend is the Harry Potter film in concert series.
“But I’ve seen it before,” you say. Yup, but not on a high-definition, 40-foot screen with a full orchestra playing the score live for the audience. The concert’s Manila leg is conducted by Gerard Salonga (yes, Lea Salonga’s brother) and brought to life by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic.
If you find yourself tuned out of the HP franchise, this is an excellent introduction to JK Rowling’s fictional wizarding world. Tickets are available starting from PHP1,450 (US$27) and are available for purchase at Ticketworld.
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