Prepare for a fun-filled easter as Rizal Park Hotel once again opens its ballroom doors on April 09 to celebrate a Feaster: A Fun Easter at Rizal Park Hotel. For only P800, kids and kids at heart can enjoy a day of exciting activities other than the usual easter egg hunt. The ticket covers 1 kid ages 0-12 and 1 adult companion, inclusive of a lootbag and access to the program, which starts at 2 PM until 6 PM. Expect an array of easter-themed games, a magic show, bubble show, ventriloquism, face painting, a photobooth, and child-safe inflatables.
Of course, it would not be an easter event without the easter egg hunt and to make it more fun, attendees are given a chance to win an overnight stay with breakfast by joining the ‘Golden Easter Egg Hunt’.
In addition to the Feaster event, Rizal Park Hotel is also offering a hard to resist room promo. From April 06 to 10 and for only PHP 8,000, enjoy an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room (Queen, King, or Twin) with buffet breakfast for (2) two and a choice of buffet lunch or dinner for (2) two at Café Rizal plus one (1) pass to the Feaster event.
Rizal Park Hotel’s rooms and suites feature turn-of-the-century interior decors with modern amenities. Each room is colored in neutral tones of gray, beige, and off-white, with shades of yellow that give off warm feelings of home. Machuca tiles, classic woodwork, and crystal chandeliers provide a taste of style during the Army Navy Club’s heydays.
Rooms and suites are available in both the Main and Club wings of the hotel, providing exceptional views of the city, the park, or the famed Manila Bay. The suites feature its own living areas and extensive bathroom amenities, including a bathtub.
For Feaster tickets, text or call (63 927) 668-7839 / (63 909) 143-1591.
By this point, I have forgotten most of the plot of the ‘John Wick’ series. Coming into John Wick: Chapter 4, all I knew was that I wanted to see the polished, hard-hitting action choreography we have been given in the first three installments. It’s the brand that has grown from this slick action, neo-noir franchise made popular by Keanu Reeves’ titular character, the assassin John Wick. Within the first ten minutes of the film, all I needed to remember was laid out before me and I knew who John Wick was out to kill and sat back and was ready for the ride.
What I wasn’t ready for were the figurative parallelisms that ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ took to my own life as a man in my mid-forties who is looking to take things easier as I pass middle age. Down to its most basic, John Wick is the story of a master assassin who is literally killing everyone off so he can get out of the system and retire peacefully from that world. But the trouble that began, way back in the first installment of the series, has made him a liability (and has reminded the organization he used to work for how good he is at his job). It’s a man who just wants out but they won’t let him. Now how does a man in his mid-forties relate to this story? The connection there is in how this world is so hard-wired to ensure that you can never get out of the system. Not without ruffling a few feathers, or in the case of John Wick, killing a boatload of men and then some.
The world of John Wick and the organization he’s after, the High Table, has expanded that we get to see the history of John Wick come into play – old friends have come to give him refuge (to their own detriment) while other people from his past are brought in to bring John Wick down – and all of a sudden this world with all its cool martial arts and gun choreography takes human form. Sides are created and the High Table, represented by Bill Skarsgard as the Marquis, becomes an inhumane representation of the system that will not give John Wick what he wants. For the High Table, there is no mercy. The rules are sacred and John Wick must be destroyed at all costs.
And what cost! ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is not without its extensive body count. Fantastic fight scenes from multiple locations around the world bloat up the film to a running time of close to three hours but it can truly boast some of the most exciting and thrilling action sequences in cinema today. The only thing that dampens the polished groove of the film is that one of the best fight scenes ever, the one in Japan, happens in the first hour of the film – with the exquisite Donnie Yen, the ever-reliable Hiroyuki Sanada, and the refreshing and arresting Rina Sawayama, in her debut film role – and while the other action pieces that follow are still great, it’s pales in comparison from this first battle. It’s what makes the three hour running time feel exhausting. The best has already come early.
Luckily, Donnie Yen, as a blind assassin, creates a lot of nuance and texture for Keanu Reeves’ John Wick to play off of. Yen doesn’t only have the physicality for all the action stunts required from him in a film like this, but he also has the charisma and the gravitas to add a profound depth to the film by being the antithesis of John Wick. While Wick is holding on to a memory of a loved one who had passed, a wish to be free so he can live a life his own, Yen’s Caine is trapped in life with a daughter whose safety hangs in the balance. It’s why the retired Caine is back in the game and going toe-to-toe with an old friend.
So, sure, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is maybe 30 minutes or even an hour too long. Too many fight scenes (though do we really care? Because they were all quite amazing displays of filmmaking and stunt work) can feel indulgent as this is presented as the final installment of a very profitable series but they don’t rest on their laurels and still provide such an interesting heart at the center of it: the price of our freedom. The ultimate cost that we must pay for being part of this system that only sees us for our utility and not our humanity.
Once the metaphor was so clear to me, I was cheering for John Wick because, like him, I wanted to be free of this unceasing struggle with the system. I should be able to go when I want to. The hundreds of bodies that he had to punch, kick, stab, and shoot to be free were just metaphors of every fiery hoop we go through before we realise we are just cogs in a machine. Maybe I’m seeing more than what is really there. But I understood John Wick’s tiredness. It was time to go but they would not let him go.
So, he made a big mess just to get out and left us with a great big movie to say farewell with and I’m all the happier for it.
My Rating:
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— John Wick: Chapter 4is now showing in cinemas nationwide. Book your seats in advance and buy your tickets here.
The Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. announced it is now accepting entries to the 71st Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (CPMA), open to all Filipino citizens or former Filipino citizens of all ages.
Logo and Photo: Palanca Awards
Like last year, all submissions must be DONE ONLINE. The Carlos Palanca Foundation WILL NOT ACCEPT PRINTED AND EMAIL submissions for all categories. Authors who wish to join may submit only one (1) entry per category, as follows:
● English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play;
● Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tula Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;
● Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano.
The special Kabataan Division for young writers below 18 years old is also now open for entries in its two categories: Kabataan Essay (English) and Kabataan Sanaysay (Filipino). Submissions must be informal (personal) essays on the theme: “Emerging out of the Pandemic, what are the most pressing issues surrounding mental health among youth and how can Society and Government help in addressing these concerns for the growth and well-being of our younger generations?” for Kabataan Essay and “Sa pagsulong mula sa Pandemya, ano ang mga pinakamabibigat na isyung pumapalibot sa kalusugan ng isip ng mga kabataan, at paano makatutulong ang Lipunan at Pamahalaan na tugunan ang mga ito para sa ikauunlad at ikabubuti ng ating mga nakababatang henerasyon?” for Kabataan Sanaysay.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES IS ON 31 MAY 2023.
For other inquiries and concerns, email info@palancaawards.com.ph or call (632) 8843-8277 / (632) 8478-7996. Look for Ms. Leslie Layoso or Ms. Susan Castillo.
Famed for her work as Letty in the Fast & Furious films, Rodriguez possessed the charisma and the athleticism to play an unstoppable warrior who is supremely skilled in combat. On the battlefield, Holga’s inner rage takes over, giving her almost superhuman strength and resilience. “Michelle has this inherent toughness that she brings to the table,” Latcham says. “She’s just a badass.”
Although Holga is formidable, lethal, and intimidating, above all, she is deeply loyal to those she loves. When the film opens, Holga and her best friend, the bard Edgin (played by Chris Pine) are locked away in the notorious prison Revel’s End. Although the duo had once been the leaders of a merry band of well-meaning thieves, their circumstances changed dramatically after a heist gone wrong.
“He’s like her brother in a sense,” says Rodriguez of her character’s relationship with Edgin. “She’d never admit it, but when you’re shunned by the world and you find acceptance somewhere, it’s a beautiful thing.”
The two lead a scrappy band of unlikely heroes – including a paladin (Regé-Jean Page), a sorcerer (Justice Smith) and a Druid (Sophia Lillis). Together, they undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
SOPHIA LILLIS (DORIC THE DRUID)
As a Tiefling, Lillis’ character Doric has curved horns that sprout from her skull and as a Druid wields magic derived from nature. “Her go-to forms of combat are her slingshot gauntlet and turning into different animals,” explains Lillis.
She’s also the group’s truth-telling shapeshifter. “With all these people who blow things up and make horrible plans, you really need one person there who’s just completely deadpan, saying, ‘This makes no sense,’” Lillis says. “Doric, the way she was written, she’s a really fun character to work with because I got to be that deadpan person.”
Although Tieflings are typically loners, Doric was taken in as a young child by a group of wood elves, a race now under threat by Edgin and Holga’s nemesis Forge (played by Hugh Grant). And that is the thing that ultimately motivates her to sign up with Edgin, Holga and the rest of the gang. “She would do whatever she can to protect them because they helped her when she was a kid,” says Lillis, herself an experienced D&D player. “Tieflings usually are independent, but she really wants a family. She wants a home. So when these bunch of idiots come to her and say, ‘We want to take down Forge,’ she goes along with them, and it ends up being something more.”
THE HEART OF IT ALL
Pine, who is also one of the film’s executive producers, has nothing but high praise for the characters and cast of the film. At the heart of it all, Pine notes, is the camaraderie and comedy that develops among a memorable group of characters who truly come to care about one another as the eclectic members of a found family. “You have a story about a ragtag group of people that are going up against immense odds and immense nemeses and very much looks like they’re not going to be able to succeed,” he says. “This is a fun film. This is big, emotive great old-fashioned moviemaking.”
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures, opens nationwide March 29. Connect with #DnDMovie and tag @paramountpicsph
Photo & Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”
Assaggio in Italian means “taste” in English, and on March 28, 2023 lovers of alta cucina Italiana will definitely want a taste of the degustation menu that Old Manila’s Chef de Cuisine Domenico Nicolino is preparing for his Assaggio Italiano Wine Dinner.
The first Italian to be appointed Chef de Cuisine of Old Manila, Calabrian-born Chef Nicolino promises to take dinner guests on a journey through five unique Italian wineries whose wines he will be pairing with a delicious five-course degustation menu – or menudegustazione as he calls it – that will highlight the varieties of flavours and textures that Italian cuisine is famous for.
ASSAGIO ITALIANO WINE DINNER Amuse Bouche Tartare di Tonno ai Capperi e Olive Tuna Tartare, kalamata olives, caperberries Ruggeri ‘Giall’Oro’ Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry, Veneto NV
Vitello Tonnato Italian-style milk-fed and slow-cooked veal, “tonnato sauce,” cured egg yolk Bastianich ‘Refosco,’ Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2012
Tortelli di Ossobuco allo Zafferano Slow-braised ossobuco tortelli, Parmesan fondue, saffron Giacomo Fenocchio Freisa, Langhe, Piemonte 2014
Filetto di Sgombro con Fregola e Frutti di Mare Pan-seared mackerel, sardinian fregola, lobster bisque shellfish Alois Lageder Gewürztraminer, Südtirol – Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2014
Old Manila’s Chef de Cuisine Domenico Nicolino five-course Assaggio Italiano Wine Dinnermenu degustazione is P8,000 per person (inclusive of taxes).
For more information and table reservations, please call The Peninsula Manila at +63 2 8887 2888 (ext. 6691 or 6694 for Restaurant Reservations) or email diningpmn@peninsula.com.
Get ready for the ultimate monster showdown as Gamera returns in the brand-new animated series GAMERA Rebirth! The beloved giant monster has been thrilling audiences since the 1960s, and now he’s back to face off against five enemy creatures across six exciting episodes.
Check out the trailer for the new series below:
The series promises to be a nostalgic trip for fans of the original films, while also introducing new audiences to the world of Kaiju monsters. The voice cast includes Hisako Kanemoto, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Aki Toyosaki, and Subaru Kimura. Hiroyuki Seshita serves as the director of the series.
The official release date of the series has yet to be announced but it has been confirmed to premiere on Netflix this 2023.
In just seven years, COMCO Southeast Asia, from being a trailblazing and disruptive PR Agency start-up, has transformed into COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, a global award-winning powerhouse group of communication companies and is now marking its seventh year with the official launch of TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications.
TARO AOX Rises
TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications is the newest addition to the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, alongside COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East and Africa (MEA), and SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, among others, and it specializes on digital marketing, integrated communications, and technology and digital PR. It also offers social media management, influencer marketing, content marketing, digital activation, media planning and buying, video storytelling, multimedia arts, virtual event staging, and website and platform development.
TARO AOX is already in full swing and has been servicing clients such as Samsung Mobile, Sun Life Asia Service Center Philippines, Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz Anti Head Lice Shampoo, and APLGO.
COMCO Southeast Asia’s Epic 7th Year
COMCO SEA, the PR and events company of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, continues to champion New PR and Smart Social and also offers services such as Events and Activation, Branding, and Special Advertising Executions. The multi-awarded agency continues to make waves in the region as it recently won inter-agency pitches and acquired accounts such as Sony Philippines, Uratex Mattress, Uratex Monoblock, Alaxan, Century Tuna, and LaLiga. COMCO SEA also continues to manage a portfolio of highly regarded brands and organizations like Jobstreet, Remy Martin, Teleperformance, AXA, European Union, Eastern Communications, ASEANA City, Philusa Corporation, Babyflo Cotton, RHEA Generics, RHEA Vitamins, World Vision, and WWF-Philippines.
COMCO Southeast Asia is also gearing up for the prestigious and much coveted PRCA APAC (Public Relation and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards as it has been cited as a regional finalist for the Medium Consultancy of the Year Award; the PR / Communications Leader Award for Ferdinand L. Bondoy, the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder; the Media Relations Award for the Agency’s Meaningful Storytelling with COMCOmigos initiative; and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award for COMCO’s long-time client/brand partner Teleperformance.
The Growth of the COMCO Brand in Middle East and Africa
Established in 2021, COMCO Middle East and Africa led by its Managing Director / Partner and Co-Founder, Tricia Cusi-Jimenea, has successfully brought the COMCO brand into this market and has been regarded as among the major players in the region’s PR and marketing industry.
In a span of two years, the Agency has serviced a total of 30 brands which includes Empire Entertainment, Middle East Film & Comic Con, Metacon, Central Park, Dubai London Hospital, Shop Electric Pawn, Ezra, Hyde and The Wizarding World in the Mall of Emirates, to name a few.
An Industry Leader
COMCO has a major role in the PR and Communications industry here in the Philippines, in Asia-Pacific and across the globe. COMCO Mundo’s Ferdinand L. Bondoy is currently serving as the Corporate Secretary and PR and Digital Committee Head of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) Philippines, Regional Board Member as well as Workplace and Culture Committee Member of the Public Relations & Communications Association Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC) based in Singapore, and Online Events Head and Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International headquartered in the United Kingdom.
“In just 7 years, we have already garnered 100 brands and 150 metals and have produced 110 graduates from our long-running and award-winning Camp COMCO Mentorship Program. We thought we’ve already done it all, but as they say, we’re just getting ready for the most exciting part. We are empowered to do more and bigger things for the industry and with my great team beside me, we are definitely up for the challenge. Our 10-year master plan is just in its second phase and there’s still a lot of bigger things in the pipeline, to be unveiled very soon,” stated Ferdinand L. Bondoy, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder.
“As COMCO grows exponentially in its seventh year, its success also means the growth of its people, a value that inspired the company to create a benefits and compensation program upgrading for its team which includes health benefits extended to dependents, wellness allowance, leave conversion and acquired leaves for critical illness or long-term hospitalization, group insurance, retirement fund, overseas team travel, stock options, and partnership leadership opportunities, among others, which can be considered as the most comprehensive in the industry,” shared Joan Icotanim-Maslang, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Corporate Services Director and Comptroller / Partner.
To learn more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.
To learn more about COMCO Mundo, go to comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/COMCOmundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.
The film opens with a campy scene of a Yakuza member waking up on a bridge construction site beside train tracks and a woman in a nurse’s outfit is waiting for him. The woman is Gil Boksoon, a lethal assassin and the Yakuza member is her target. There is a tongue-in-cheek bit of dialogue that takes its time but helps give us the feel and tone of this movie – it’s fun, irreverent, and hard-hitting. The action sequence that follows is exciting and thrilling, especially when it takes the camera angle from across the train tracks and as a train passes by, the fight scene appears like a slideshow, captured in between the train windows. We see Gil Boksoon’s competence and the Yakuza member’s skill and it’s a fantastic watch. It prepares us for what is to come.
Because while the movie is about a lethal assassin, who may be past her prime, she is also a single mother of a teenage girl and she has to juggle both in order to live. There’s a line in the movie Kill Boksoon that really summarizes this incredible film: “Killing people is easier than raising a kid.” It’s the whole foundation of this movie and betrays the sheer duality of this story. On one hand, it’s a slick, glossy action and suspense movie about an assassin but it is also, on equal measure, an interesting family drama about a mother and her teenage daughter who cannot connect with each other because of the secrets that they keep.
Photo: Netflix
At the center of all of this is Gil Boksoon, played by Jeon Do-yeon. Jeon Do-yeon is magnificent in the role. You can see it in her eyes and her gait: she loves being good at her job, she loves being admired by other assassins. It’s the exact opposite of how she is when her daughter is around. She’s insecure, unsure of herself. The contrast is so striking but very believable.
Jeon Do-yeon manages a balancing act of the two tonal shifts of the movie; at one end, it’s a campy assassin movie, with hard-hitting fight choreography and lots of blood and gore but at the same time, it is a family drama. Interestingly enough, there is nothing corny about Kill Boksoon – her relationships with the people around her are practical; she’s not a humble, quiet killer; she enjoys her work and she knows what she is doing is bad as we hear in one of her killer lines as she says, “We know we are going to hell. That’s why we don’t pray.” – and it is in that acceptance, that the movie winks and nods to the audience that tells us to not take it too seriously and that we can still root for her if we want to. She is human and she has fully accepted her choices in life, as horrible as those choices may be.
Photo: Netflix
There is a world here not unlike John Wick and it doesn’t go too deep that it overshadows the heart and soul of the film but it is real enough to make the world not feel so empty or fabricated. That balance allows the movie to play out in two completely different tones – the action thriller and the family drama – both working hand-in-hand to enhance and amplify the other. It is Boksoon’s insecurity about being a mother that is highlighted in comparison to how great she is as a killer, that comparison in inextricably linked, but it is in her learnings from being a mother that she finds herself able to navigate the messy world of her underworld profession, which turns difficult as she reaches the end of her contract.
Photo: Netflix
There is masterful direction here by Byun Sung-hyun, who is unafraid to do jump cuts into the next scene or shift to flashbacks, and other jarring editing techniques and camera angles just to not engage in the peripherals – just like its main character, this movie means business. But despite its technical flourishes, the movie never strays too far from its beating heart.
Coupled with an amazing ensemble backing Jeon Do-yeon, including a standout Koo Gyo-hwan, another assassin with a personal relation to Gil Boksoon, and Kim Si-a, who plays the teenage daughter, Jae-young, ‘Kill Boksoon’ is a really engaging movie that surprised in every turn. It never lingers in the sentimentality and goes straight for the jugular.
This week, the fantastical world of the roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons is coming to the big screen through the new movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves! Watch the trailer for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves below:
Before you see the epic fantasy movie in theaters this week, we’ve rounded up a few facts about it that you might not know about!
1. This is not the first Dungeons & Dragons movie.
Before Honor Among Thieves, there has already been an attempt to turn the beloved tabletop game into a movie franchise. In 2000, the movie Dungeons & Dragons starring Jeremy Irons and Marlon Wayans was released and will expand to become a trilogy in the next twelve years. If you haven’t heard about it or you don’t remember seeing it, then don’t be surprised because the franchise flopped. Despite having such a history, one can expect that the new adaptation has more to offer with today’s CGI and an all-star cast.
2. A star-studded cast for a colorful crew of characters.
Aside from the rich world of D&D as its setting, another selling point for the movie comes in the form of its star-studded cast whose members are not new to the fantasy and action genres. Leading the group is the charming thief Edgin played by Star Trek movie star Chris Pine; with Fast & Furious actress Michelle Rodriguez as the barbarian Holga; Regé-Jean Page of The Gray Man as Xenk the paladin; Detective Pikachu‘s Justice Smith as Simon the sorcerer; and Sophia Lillis of the It movies stars as the druid Doric.
3. The film is written and directed by the writers of Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Flash.
John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein serve as the writers and directors for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie. The two have collaborated on multiple projects before, including Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Homecoming and the upcoming DC flick The Flash. They’ve also directed the comedy movies Game Night and Vacation.
Photo: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves trailer
The film was reportedly bouncing around studios for years before Paramount took it. When asked what made the famous roleplaying game hard to get adapted into a film, the directors answered: “Sometimes people take it too seriously and want to embrace the more dramatic elements of it,” Daley told Varietyin an interview. “To us, that’s ridiculous, because you’ve got literally brains with four legs — you know, creatures that were so obviously written with a wink. On the flip side, if you try to get too goofy with it, you’re also doing it a disservice.”
“What we learned doing ‘Spider Man: Homecoming’ was that while you have to have a certain reverence for and love of the source material, you can’t let the weight of that thing hinder your creativity,” Goldstein added.
4. Familiar beasts will delight D&D fans.
There are numerous creatures from the Dungeons & Dragons lore that will be featured in the movie. Some of the monsters confirmed to appear in the movie include the Mimic, the Gelatinous Cube, Intellect Devourers, an Owlbear, the Displacer Beast, the Black Dragon, and Giant Spiders.
5. The Dungeons & Dragons directors share how they conveyed the spirit of the game in the movie.
In an interview with Variety, Daley and Goldstein shared how they maintained the spirit of the game in the movie, considering that there are no set characters or story in D&D.
“It’s a combination of things,” shared Daley. “Each character represents a different player and how they go about playing the game. Xenk, played by Regé-Jean Page, is very much the nerdy player that doesn’t make jokes and adheres strictly to the rulebook. Whereas Edgin, Chris Pine’s character, is the more casual player. He doesn’t bother to learn about the Bardic spells and would prefer to just hit people over the head with his lute.”
“The movie is almost like the dungeon master,” Goldstein added. “The plot twists that we throw at our characters are what a DM would do at the table, just to screw with you and make it more fun. It was our way of capturing what goes on when you’re playing D&D, without breaking the fourth wall or becoming meta with it.”
Papet Pasyon 2023, a kid-friendly puppet show on the Passion of Christ, will be held for at the historic Metropolitan Theater (MET) on Friday, March 31, 2023. Admission is free.
The hour-long production was written by the late Philippine National Artist for Theater Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, also known as the Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater. It is directed by her daughter Prof. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, former College of Arts and Letters Dean of the University of the Philippines Diliman.
First mounted at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1985, it introduces the events in the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in a manner that can be easily understood by the young audience.
To make it children-friendly, it utilizes Pinoy-looking puppets specially designed by visual artists Bernadette Solina-Wolf and Maurice Carvajal and carved by globally-known local artisans from Paete, Laguna. Some of the original puppets are still being used to this day.
Papet Pasyon was first written when the late award-winning playwright and puppeteer missed her chance to watch a live Passion play in Germany. It has since become an act of devotion as well as an advocacy to foster the Filipino puppetry tradition.
“Puppetry is an effective instrument of storytelling,” visual artist and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas senior puppeteer and puppet maker Carlito Camahalan Amalla stated.
Amalla, who has been with the organization for approximately 20 years under the tutelage of Lapeña-Bonifacio, likewise reiterated the important role of the art form in teaching Filipino art and heritage.
“As Filipinos, our culture is our soul. It fosters nation-building and unity among the community,” added the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Design Foundation educator.
Amalla likewise highlighted the diverse initiatives of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, a theater group which the award-winning playwright founded in 1977. They awaken the children to the wonders and richness of Philippine and Asian folktales and tradition through puppetry. Their outreach includes puppetry workshops and programs in different communities across the Philippines.
“Teaching puppetry helps foster critical thinking and encourage creative solutions among children,” he expounded. “It is also a form of therapy and healing.”
Produced by Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, Papet Pasyon is free and open to the public. It is scheduled on Friday, March 31, 2023 with shows at 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
It will likewise be available via livestream on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, 8 p.m. via Teatrong Mulat’s Facebook page.
The Metropolitan Theater is located in Plaza Lawton along Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita Manila. To reserve tickets, visit The Metropolitan Theater Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/METphOfficial.
