The Ataris at McKinley Hill

Last week, I caught The Ataris play at Mckinley Hill.

Happy 2013!

Goodbye 2012, you've been wonderful to me!

Trip Wild(life) Christmas Party 2012

I have the loveliest bunch of friends in the world. Why? Because look at us, aren't we adorable?

The BDJ Box Launch

The other, other day, I went to the BDJ Box launch.

Razorback's 22nd Anniversary Party

 Yesterday marked the 22nd year of one of the Philippine's greatest rock acts, Razorback.

Taken from the Razorback Facebook page.

Read more about last year's Anniversary gig here and here.

Rajo! for Parisian Launch

Thanks to Parisian, I got to go to the Rajo x Parisian launch!

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera in CCP, Manila

Photo from Philippineconcerts.com

(Because I find myself inlove, again, with a fictional character)

It's been a day since I saw Phantom of the Opera at CCP, and yet I still find myself singing Music Of The Night to myself before going to bed, thoughts of the Phantom floating in my head.

I watched the Andrew Lloyd Webber version of The Phantom of the Opera for the first time in film. Directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Emily Rossum and Gerard Butler, the movie came alive in my head– and so did the Phantom. In my search for other materials that could satisfy my curiosity for the fictional masked monster, I picked up Gaston Leroux's Le Fantome de l'Opera, the book where everything was based on. I read a story about a Phantom who had no nose and smelled of death pining for the heroine Christine who fell inlove with Raoul, a feminine mama's boy. I was disappointed at the book's lack of romanticism and thus ended my love for the Phantom.

Cinemalaya 2012

It's Cinemalaya season once again! 

Roxy's Let the Sea Set You Free contest

A while back I had a really cool Roxy adventure at Nuvali. I had the good fortune of being invited to one of their events again, and I didn't think twice to attend.

Last Thursday, Roxy held an event at their only free standing store in Robinsons Ermita to announce the winner to their Let the Sea Set You Free contest.

Let the Sea Set You Free is a contest that invited girls from all over the world to send in their own video interpretation of what a Roxy girl is.

Andrea Vega: Philippine winner for the Southeast Asian Leg.

The Roxy girls.

Roxy Philippines

And then we have my Roxy loot. Thank you Roxy for these wonderful items!

A black and gold watch and cool bag. I've been aching to wear the watch but I still have to have it adjusted to my size– I have abnormally small wrists.

So, I can't surf and sometimes the beach (more specifically beach water) scares be, but, whatever, I am a Roxy girl by heart.

Read more on the Roxy event on WhenInManila.

When In Manila Meetup at the Scarlet Wine Lounge

When in Manila, our community is expanding! Vince of WIM arranged a get together for all the writers, would be writers, and friends of the website.

Manila Music Festival: A night to celebrate music

 Last night, the group behind the Malasimbo Music Festival held the very first Manila Music Festival. The event was held on the Aseana Grounds, a vast open space near MOA.

Local bands including Razorback, Sinosikat, Wilabaliw, and Kwjan serenaded the crowd. International talents like Afrika Bambaataa, Shinichi Osawa, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

A first in Manila, the organizers hope this is the first of many festivals to come. It was a night of beer, music, and dancing. My only regret was opting to bring my digicam instead of the DSLR.

I arrived at around 6 p.m. to escape the Philippine heat we've been experiencing lately, such a shame I missed the water gun fights!

Sinosikat was the first band I caught. 

The lovely Sarah Meier hosted the event. (I am in love with her pants and her ear jewelry!)

Next came Kjwan. They played "Daliri"-- hearing them play that 7 year old song was the culmination of a high school dream.

(Here is Marc Abaya.. posing for my camera. Hah!)

(and showering himself with beer) 

 The electrical performance of Wilabaliw was next. I cannot imagine how they manage performing with the stunts they pull on stage-- Imean I get tired with a round of Guitar Hero!

 Finally Razorback was up! Yay! 

(Just because there are never enough shots of band drummers, here's Bri. )

 Ali Shaheed Muhammad before his set..

..and his view from the stage.

Had to go home soon after this, and it was too bad I missed the two other foreign acts. 

As you can see, the festival was awesome! I just wish they'd make tickets more affordable next time, I bet more people would definitely come.

Till the next Manila Music Festival!

Ray Ban Rare Prints Collection by La Boca

Manila, Philippines - Ray Ban launches their new Rare Prints Collection by the La Boca Design Group. In an event at the new Buddha Bar last Thursday, Ray Ban paraded both their old classic designs, and the new limited edition pieces. Activities such as games and design contests were held.

Ray Ban also introduces their new brand ambassadors which include Ely Buendia and Ann Curtis. 

The other ambassadors are Pupil, 6 Cycle Mind, Itchyworms, Callalilly, Robbi Domingo, Victor Basa, and Divine Lee.

The La Boca shades are a limited edition collection which will only be in the market this season.

"Never Hide" with the Ray Ban Limited Edition Rare Prints La Boca Wayfarers.  -sisasaid

 A mish mash of Ray Ban Ambassadors

"Never Hide", they said.

Go to the WhenInManila blog for more info on this event.

Kalayo at the Sole Initiative Launch

It was weeks ago when I first watched Kalayo perform.  They played at the Tribu Sole Initiative Launch.

With the band's music described as "filipino world music", this is definitely a sound you must experience. Formerly Pinikpikan, the band has been around for quite some time wowing audiences with a different type of music.

Kalayo is composed of Sammy Asuncion, Louie Talan, Boy Garrovillo, Budeths Casinto, DJ Rodriguez, and Reli de Vera. You can find their Facebook page here.

Check out the Tribu Sole Initiative article on WIM.

Manila Music Festival

Have you heard about the Manila Music Festival?

From the group that brought us the Malasimbo Arts and Music Festival

Happening on the 1st of May at the Alphaland Bay City Grounds on Asean Ave. 

This should be really fun! Enjoy foreign acts like Afrika Bambaataa, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Shinichi Osawa. Plus, great local bands like Kjwan, Sinosikat, and Razorback (!!! yay!!) will be performing.

I heard there were gonna be water guns!

MMF site

MMF Facebook

MMF Twitter

Roxy Femme Fling and Energy Drinks

My Saturday was spent in Nuvali for Roxy's Femme Fling.  I had the good fortune of going as WhenInManila's representative. 

Oh the fun that was had! This included manicures, a make up tutorial, a fashion challenge, and a shopping spree of 10k per  attendee. All those bikiniiiiiiiis (and the boy already thinks I have too many bikinis).

Read more about the event here: Roxy's Femme Fling: A Nuvali Adventure

On the 'Playa Del Sol' shoot with bloggers Shen and Lissa

Trish, today's photographer, without the Rockstar energy drink. Too bad I don't have an after photo.

Upon getting there.

Meeting lovely new people.  Nikki of Stylebible and Laira who helped organize the event.

Nikki, Laira, Shen of shensaddiction.com, Cecille who also helped with the event, and hyped up me with Rockstar in hand.

Laira and Roxy of Roxy. Cool no?

More Rockstar!

My manicured hand out of the frame

Our group's final photo for the style challenge.

Grabbed this from Shen's blog. Fave photo from the event. ;)