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.
Indulge in Visayan treats at the Negros Trade Fair
Date: Wednesday – Sunday, Sept. 25 to 29
Venue: Glorietta 2 Activity Center, Ayala, Makati City
Back for the 34th year, this fair in Makati brings a spread of the best traditional food, arts, and time-honored crafts of the Negros province (aka the Negros Trade Fair).
The five-day run pools together 64 exhibitors who will be offering up everything from distinctive woven lamps and hand-embroidered dresses, to Negrense culinary favorites like piaya (muscovado-filled flatbread), and chicken inasal (marinated roasted chicken).
Admission to Negros Trade Fair is free. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Watch a musical about virgin births
Date: Friday – Saturday, Sept. 27 to Oct. 12
Venue: Music Museum, Greenhills Center, San Juan City
Renowned TV and film creative Laurice Guillen directs this stage musical, which features the music of piano master Ryan Cayabyab, the Philippines’ National Artist for Music. The musical follows the life of Jesus Christ from the point of view of his mother, Mary.
Magnificat (or “The Song of Mary”) debuted in 1996 in Pinky-Marquez Casio’s (one of the original main characters) living room, and has been staged over 200 times since.
Ticket prices start at PHP1,000 (US$19), available at Ticketworld.
See stories about indigenous cultures from across Asia
Date: Sept. 26 – 29,
Venue: Shangri-la Plaza, Shaw, Pasig City
Another film festival that comes with free admission, thanks to the National Commission of Culture and the Arts — but unlike other contemporary film festivals, Tingin (Filipino for “look”) puts the spotlight on indigenous cultures in the culturally diverse region of Southeast Asia (say it again for people in the back to hear).
Tingin’s third run will last four days, and features 10 films from 10 Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos. The Philippine entry, Baboy Halas, tells the story of the last forest people as they cope with environmental changes in their tribe.
Admission is free. For more information, visit Tingin’s Facebook page.
Visit a talk and art exhibit on pre-war Philippine cinema
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 25
Venue: Archivo 1984 gallery, La Fuerza Plaza, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City
Shop art quirks and one-of-a-kind finds at Saturday Future Market
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Venue: Hub: Make Lab, First United Building, Escolta, Manila
Read more Coconuts Manila articles here.
