It’s great to know that so many people are taking an interest in our country’s future. In fact, the social concern is so great that the fever has infiltrated popular culture. Comedian and satirist Jon Santos is bringing his hit show For Voter or For Worse live to Rockwell audiences this April. It’s the best way to poke fun at the characters in Philippine politics – showbiz luminaries turned politicians, dyed-in-the-wool politicos, and naively hopeful newcomers. The show has a rich tapestry of loveable and unforgettable characters like Kris Anino, Aling Dioning, Sherrap, Kuring, and Gluring. Will Mommy Dioning finally confront the below-the-belt issue involving Manny and Krisista? Will Kris Anino give NyoyNyoy a makeover? Or will Jon simply live up to being his adaptable and ever-changing self, and throw in something completely new to his already zany mix?

Each show is unique from the last, so make sure you catch Jon Santos’ For Voter or for Worse! The live show will take place at the Power Plant Mall Cinema 2, 8:30 pm on April 7, 14, 21 and 28. Call 898-1440 or 898-1441 to book your tickets in advance.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Today at Sofitel, the Byaheng Pinoy Campaign with Apl was finally launched. This new campaign is the fruit of a long-time collaboration with Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.Ap and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano. As a globally successful artist and Pinoy at heart, Apl is the perfect icon to represent the Philippines and promote Philippine tourism to the rest of the world. According to Apl, he’s proud to showcase all the beautiful spots in the Philippines. “I wanted to help out tourism, to inspire others to visit the Philippines; to create jobs for people and help out the country and the community,” he said in an interview.

The campaign started out with the launch of Apl’s new single, Take U to the Philippines. The music video is geared toward the young MTV generations as well as the global traveler and culture connoisseur of all markets. This includes the young at heart like myself. I found myself swaying and rocking to this video even during the soft launch in Singapore where the The Black Eyed Peas performed at the F1 Rocks Concert. Apl himself wrote the lyrics to the song, with some minor suggestions from Ace Durano to highlight local destinations that tourists must check out.

Another highlight of the Byaheng Pinoy campaign is MTV Emerge, Apl’s search for fresh Filipino talent. In collaboration with DOT, MTV, and Apl’s own music label Jeepney Music, MTV Emerge is the new platform for unsigned Pinoy music talent to showcase their work and win a one-year contract with Jeeney Music. MTV Emerge is looking for artists from all genres, be it hip hop, R&B, rock, indie, and DJs. To participate, log on to www.mtvemerge.com and upload all your original music content. The online community will vote for the finalists of the search, and Apl himself will evaluate all submissions. The most talented artists will be announced on November.

Apl.de.ap also kept his promise to help the victims of Ondoy and Pepeng disaster. Tonight, he kicks off the benefit concert at the SM EDSA Sky Dome. I remember how anxious I was in Singapore while my family were stuck in the second floor of our house due to the flood waters rising in the first floor. During my interview, I asked if he had words to the Ondoy Victims. His reply astounded me. I wanted to get Apl.de.Ap to give a message of comfort to Odong victims. Instead he said ” I would like to bring awareness to donate and help out.” He will come back on November 27 to continue in their support for the typhoon victims.

View the rest of my coverage of the event here.

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

It’s no Toronto Film Festival (which is happening this month and showing a lot of horrifying films that probably won’t ever reach the Philippines), but the 12 Cine Europa Film Festival has arrived in Manila! From September 11 to September 20, 18 European flicks in their original language will be showing at the Shangri-La mall for free. Above are the movie schedules and at the Facebook Event Page, you’ll find the movie titles and synopses.

If I had only known that the Spanish zombie movie Rec would be showing in the big screen, I wouldn’t have downloaded it and seen it on my PC. Then again, I wouldn’t mind seeing it a second time. Other movies that look promising are Give the Devil His Due, Free to Leave, and The Demons of St. Petersburg.

See you all there!————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

You might have watched the last Harry Potter movie Imax Theater in SM Mall of Asia but I didn’t because I find SM Mall of Asia too far south. Good news for Metro Manila residents in the North, an IMAX theater is opening at the SM North EDSA.

Reserve your Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in IMAX SM North EDSA.

For further inquiries, reservations and schedule please call 929-5452, 924-4274 and 442-0061.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

If you wanna go gaga over Lady Gaga, reserve your tickets online at Ticketnet.com

Ticket Costs are:
VIP (1ST 10 ROWS OF 101 & 103) (Reserved Seating) 7875
Patron Standing 5775
Patron (Reserved Seating) 5775
Lower Box (Reserved Seating) 3675
Upper Box A 2625
Upper Box B 1050
Gen. Admission 525

I was in Singapore when she held her concert there but she sang only a few songs. I hope she will have a longer repertoire in the Manila Concert. Are you going to go gaga over Lady Gaga and spend 7,000 pesos?————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

If you find Imax theater at the SM Mall of Asia too far, then no worries. Finally, an Imax theater will open on July 16, 2009 at the SM North EDSA. Now that’s good news for residents in Northern Manila.

Imax Theater in SM North EDSA will feature Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I was hoping they’d show Star Trek once again. I missed watching it in IMAX delight.

For inquiries and ticket reservations, please call +632-929- 5452 or 632-924-4274. ————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

The 14th French Film Festival in Manila opens at the Shangri-La Cineplex tonight, June 5, and will run until June 14. This year’s lineup is a conservative mix of 14 artistic films that were shown at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as local films like Raya Martin’s La Independencia, Janice Perez’s Sabongero, and Brillante Mendoza’s Serbis. Tout de Suite, which was part of the original screening list, was rated X by the country’s moral compass MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) and removed from the film festival. The Pianiste, which originally had two screenings, also got an X rating, but it received a special permit for only one screening. With an institution like the MTRCB around, should I really be surprised that there aren’t any French horror films in this year’s lineup?

Admission to all movies is free on a first-come first-serve basis. Look under the cut for the schedule of the 14th French Film Festival in Manila.

June 5, Friday
Home – 7:30 p.m.

June 6, Saturday
Un Secret- 12:30 p.m.
Ca Brûle – 3:00 p.m.
Jean de la Fontaine – 5:30 p.m.
Van Gogh – 8:00 p.m.

June 7, Sunday
Home – 12:30 p.m.
Marie-Jo et Ses Deux Amours – 3:00 p.m.
Flandres – 5:30 p.m.
Ma Saison Preferee – 8:00 p.m.

June 8, Monday
Van Gogh – 12:30pm
Flandres – 3:30 p.m.
Ca Brûle – 5:30 p.m.
Zim et Co – 8:00 p.m.

June 9, Tuesday
Zim et Co – 12:30pm
Marie-Jo et Ses Deux Amours – 3:00 p.m.
Flandres – 5:30 p.m.
Jean de la Fontaine – 8:00 p.m.

June 10, Wednesday
Ca Brûle – 12:30pm
Home – 3:00 p.m.
Van Gogh – 5:30 p.m.
Un Secret – 8:30 p.m.

June 11, Thursday
Dix-Sept Fois Cecile Cassard – 12:30pm
400 coups – 3:00 p.m.
L’esquive – 5:30 p.m.
La Pianiste – 8:00 p.m.

June 12, Friday
Sabongero – 3:00 p.m.
Serbis – 5:30 p.m.
Independencia – 8:00 p.m.

June 13, Saturday
Ridicule – 12:30 p.m.
Dix-Sept Fois Cecile Cassard – 3:00 p.m.
L ‘Esquive – 5:30 p.m.
Flandres – 8:00 p.m.

June 14, Sunday
Un Secret – 12:30pm
Jean de la Fontaine – 3:00 p.m.
Les Quatre Cent Coups – 5:30 p.m.
Van Gogh – 8:00 p.m.

Head over to spot.ph read the synopsis of the 14 films.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

I am very fortunate to be one of the first to own Charice Pempengco’s Mother’s Day Album called My Inspiration and produced from Star Records. I got to meet Charice Pempengco when she performed the Melawares jingle and other songs during the 30th year anniversary bash of Melawares dubbed as “Your Music on the Table” on May 3 in SM Makati. I even got her autograph.

Track Listing

Always You” (Single edit)
Wind Beneath My Wings (Pop Mix)
I’ll Be There
You’ll Never Stand Alone
You Raise Me Up
Mama
In My life
Through the Years
For Mama
You & Me Against The World (featuring Mommy Raquel)
Always You (Full Version)
Wind Beneath My Wings (Orchestral Mix)
Also includes all Minus Ones

Here are two videos I recorded. They are just two songs from her Mother’s Day album, “My Inspiration”.

It was such an honor to interview Charice Pempengco. She is such a sweet, simple and humble girl. I hope she remains that way and still continue to succeed in her goals. (Read more about her at my post, Up Close with Charice Pempengco and Her Mommy Raquel

The CD costs 299 pesos.

For fans out there, here is a high resolution photo of Charice Pempengco below (click to enlarge)

————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

From Ploning Makes Bid for Oscar

“Super overwhelmed,” was director Dante Garcia’s reaction upon learning that his debut feature “Ploning” was selected by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) as the country’s entry to the Oscars Best Foreign Language derby.

From this point, it has to compete with 50 to 60 other films from around the world for only five slots in said category.

Garcia, a production designer by profession, was also scriptwriter for “Ploning.”

“Maybe I did something right,” he told Inquirer Entertainment on Monday. “Maybe it wasn’t just a lucky turn.”

Judy Ann Santos, the film’s producer and lead star, was just as ecstatic, Garcia said.

Tears of joy

“We celebrated on Sunday,” he said. “But before that, when I told Judai on the phone, we both ended up crying,” Garcia recounted. “It’s special to her because it’s also her debut as producer. Also, the Oscar announcement came after a controversy [regarding the Supreme Court’s rejection of Santos’ appeal concerning a tax evasion case.]”

Garcia is also elated because “Ploning” vied with five other noteworthy Filipino movies for the slot: Jim Libiran’s “Tribu,” Dante Mendoza’s “Serbis,” Auraeus Solito’s “Pisay,” Jade Castro’s “Endo” and Chito Roño’s “Caregiver.”

“Just to be mentioned in the same breath as those films is honor enough,” Garcia said.

Let’s all watch “Ploning” 26th of November, 2008 (Wednesday) 5pm and 7:30pm at the University of the Philippines Film Institute , UP Campus, Diliman , Quezon City.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Going to the mall is pretty much the only form of recreation around here, so it’s always a big event when a theme park comes to visit. They provide exciting experiences that stimulate our imaginations and tickle our senses, but the best kind of theme park is the one that can take you back in time in order to teach you something about the history of man and the world we live in.

This afternoon, media got a sneak preview on the upcoming Dinosaurs Alive World Tour as it is completing its construction for the holiday season.

Oh yes, the Dinosaurs Alive World Tour is coming to Manila after a successful tour in Bangkok, Thailand and Jakarta, Indonesia. Dinosaurs Alive is an interactive walk-through exhibition with a dramatic display of life-size dinosaurs, simulator rides, merchandise, and other fun activities for children and the rest of the family. The fully air-conditioned theme park is 12,000 square meters wide and houses over 31 interactive robotic dinosaurs from the Cretaceous and Jurassic, the largest one towering up to two storeys high.

At the Dinosaurs Alive World Tour, you’ll find classic favorites like the Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, and Megalosaurus.

All of them have been brought to life using high quality latex that resembles the kind of skin scientists say dinosaurs might have had back when they still roamed the earth.

There are other spectacles for you to see at the Dinosaurs Alive World Tour – magicians, jugglers, fire eaters, clowns, puppet shows, face painters, balloon sculptors and huamn statues. There are hourly stage shows at the food court and a reptile show, featuring a seven-foot crocodile, an albino python, iguanas, and komodo dragons who will join their dinosaur ancestors.

The Purefoods Dino Train will also take kids to explore the Caltex Fossil Dig Adventure and feel what it’s like to be an archaeologist unearthing exciting finds.

Here are some fun facts about the making of the Dinosaurs Alive World Tour:

- 3000 kva of power is required to stage the show (enough to run a small town).
- 450 people helped create the venue.
- Over 125 people are required to manage the show on a daily basis.
- 30 tons of concrete was used to make the venue.
- 250m of drainage pipes were installed.
- A 10m waterfall stands at the entrance of the show (the tallest in Manila).
- The total weight of all the Dinosaurs on-site comes to 45 tonnes.
- The total distance the Dinos Alive Tour has traveled is over 10,000km.
- To date a quarter million people have seen the DAT World Tour.

The Right Offer

All the activities from the entrance till the exit are free with the purchase of a ticket in. The only time you may need to open your wallets is when purchasing F&B, merchandise and capturing memorable moments at the photo booth.

Ticket prices for adults are Php 550, kids below a meter are Php 400 and the family package costs Php 1,600 (2 adults+2 kids+1 free ticket) on weekdays. For weekends adults are Php 600, kids below a meter are Php 450 and the family package costs Php 1,750 (2 adults+2 kids+1 free ticket).

Dinos Alive Tour organizers have considered the economic situation and how the Filipino loves going out in large groups. So on top of the family pack, 3 supplementary tickets are available for purchase at Php 200 each.

The Dinos Alive Tour sponsors have generously pledged extra goodies for all DAT visitors. The first 45,000 theme-park goers (who purchase the Family pack) will be entitled to a free Purefoods Tender Juicy Hot Dog. Alaska is also offering free yoghurt for the first 30,000 students who are brought to the DAT on a school trip.

There are specially designed KFC boxes available at KFC outlets that will offer a 10% discount for the first 10,000 customers who purchases a ticket. Ticket purchases from BDO issued credit cards -BDO, Equitable and American Express can also enjoy a 10% discount as well. Junior Inquirer cardholders can buy tickets at Php 350 and 2 free tickets are given away with weekly quizzes from the Junior Inquirer since October 13 onwards.

The ‘Dinos Alive World Tour – Manila will hit the SM Mall of Asia from 28th November to 11th January, 10am-10pm on weekends and 12pm-10pm on weekdays.

Ticket prices for adults are Php 550 while prices for kids shorter than a meter cost Php 400. A family package for two adults, two kids, plus one free ticket is available on weekdays for only Php 1,600.

Weekend ticket prices for adults is Php 600; for kids below a meter, Php 450. The family package costs Php 1,750 (for two adults, two kids, plus one free ticket).

If your group is large enough, you can get three supplementary tickets for Php 200 each.

Tickets are available for purchase from Ticket World by calling 891-9999 or online at www.ticketworld.com.ph. There are also Ticketworld booths in selected National Bookstore outlets or at the avenue. ————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado