THE MANILA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES ITS 91ST YEAR

The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is on its 91^st year.

As Asia’s first symphony orchestra, founded in 1926 by Dr. Alexander Lippay and reorganized in 2001 by its longtime concertmaster, the late Prof. Basilio Manalo, until the present under the baton of Professor Arturo Molina, it produces a broad, year-round program that celebrates its legacy of performing the masterpieces while reaching out to new audiences across space and time. Steadfastly, it remains true to its mission

“to enrich the Filipino’s vibrant cultural life through fine orchestral music and to enable more people to experience the power of music”

The essence of each of this orchestra’s 60 musicians and staff is fueled by the interest of the Filipino listener.

The theme for this year is Leadership & Creativity, and will be demonstrated in each of the five MSO’s Gala Season Concerts by means of an original composition to prelude the main works.

Leadership & Creativity are essential elements in any successful undertaking. In the orchestra, the conductor exemplifies leadership, whose interpretation of the music performed must be accepted willingly by the musicians. Creativity then lies in the work of the composer, who harnesses the energetic force of ideas and concepts yet unrealized until his ink graces the empty score.

The MSO is the proud product of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation—a non-profit, private organization—whose members participate in the cultural life of the country as teachers at the MSO Music Academy in Makati and Manila, soloists, music arrangers, chamber music performers, entrepreneurs, bandmasters, and choir conductors.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra would like to thank its sponsors for Season 2017-2018 "Leadership & Creativity."

Metrobank Foundation

First Metro Investment Corporation

Ayala Malls

Auto Nation Group

Orix Metro Leasing & Finance Corporation

First Metro Securities Brokerage

First Metro Asset Management

Philippine Airlines

And Avida Land (for Rush Hour Concert Series)

With Media Sponsors

The Far East Broadcasting Co. DZFE 98.7 "The Master's Touch"

Agimat.net

Community Connect

Manilascope

Para sa Sining

Whatshappening.com.ph

WhenInManila.com
SEASON CONCERTS 2017-2018

“LEADERSHIP & CREATIVITY”

   

Season Concert #1: Director’s Choice
Maestro Arturo Molina continues to demonstrate his mastery of the world’s symphonic repertoire with romantic and classical classics.	Nonong Buencamino: Taimis, for cello and orchestra (World Premiere) Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 Sibelius: Swan of Tuonella	June 3, Saturday, 8PM Power Mac Center Spotlight (PMCS) Circuit Makati June 4, Sunday, 6PM Irwin Theater, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Season Concert #2: Guest Experience
Guest conductor Darrell Ang (SG) returns to lead the MSO to perform Edouard Lalo’s “Spanish Symphony” with the MSO and guest soloist Iskandar Widjaja (GER) on violin.	Nilo B Alcala: World Premiere Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole Dvorak Symphony No.8	August 5, Saturday, 8PM Irwin Theater August 6, Sunday, 6PM PMCS
Season Concert #3: Masterworks
Guest conductor Christoph Poppen (GER) comes to the MSO family again, this time in an all-Brahms evening, with guest soloist Ingrid Sala Santamaria on piano.	Jude Edgard Balsamo: World Premiere Brahms: Symphony No.4 Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2	October 14, Saturday, 8PM Bonifacio Arts Center
Season Concert #4: Holiday Feature
In this holiday concert, we present the rare Cello Concerto by Victor Herbert, performed by friend of the orchestra, Dr Kimberly Patterson (USA).	Joshua Cardeña: World Premiere Herbert: Cello Concerto Enigma Variations	December 9, Saturday, 8PM PMCS December 10, Sunday, 6PM Irwin Theater
Season Concert #5: Season Finale: MSO 92nd Anniversary
Perpetuating the tradition of the gigantic Season Finale, the MSO augments its sound with a 100-member chorale in the presentation of the iconic Carmina Burana.	Alejandro Consolacion: World Premiere Carl Orff: Carmina Burana	January 20, Saturday, 2018, 8PM The Theatre at Solaire

BACOLOD'S BEST BACK RIBS LORD BYRONS NOW OPEN IN ILOILO

Yup, you got it right. Bacolod's most loved back ribs is now open in Iloilo. 

Located in 18 Commission Civil Street, Jaro Iloilo City, Lord Byrons has become the new craze by students and professionals alike.

We went there for lunch and it took us about 10minutes to find a seat. 

I was a bit intrigued with what the back ribs tasted because I heard from most of my friends that its incomparable to other back ribs. The price is actually cheaper when you think about its taste.

The sauce can compete to that of a 4 star hotel back ribs

The garlic rice and atsara makes the food taste even better.
ATSARAAAAA IS LOVE!!

They also have a student's meal for only P89.00

Make sure to try their lemonade. Its both refreshing and sweet. Perfect to pair with your meal.

The only challenge we had was the heat. The restaurant is an old house converted into a food shack with an open air. However, you wouldn’t think about complaining because the staff were very polite and accommodating.

I wanted to try other things on the menu like the chicken kebab or the sizzling sisig. But hey, the name is known for its ribs, then so let us eat ribs. Believe me, I loved it.

How to go there:

It might be challenging for some to locate Lord Byrons. But the easiest landmark is ISAT-U (formerly known as Western Visayas College of Science and Technology). Whether by cab, jeep or by car, waze the route going to university from Jaro Plaza and you would reach Lord Byrons.

Try Lord Byron's. I am sure you'd love it too. 

AN OPEN LETTER TO VICE MAYOR JOE ESPINOSA III AND CITY COUNCILOR ED PENAREDONDO

Many of us personally did not hear what the Vice Mayor and the City Councilor said about breastfeeding during a council session yesterday. In fact, we requested for a copy of the transcript to get a perspective of how the discussion started and how it evolved, provoking a lot of listeners especially women. The transcript however won't be available till next week according to our contact from the city hall. A lot of concerned citizens have expressed disgust, anger and disappointment because such comments were least expected and viewed as disrespectful of women from the second highest official of this city and a city councilor

It's just sad that our society has oversexualized a woman's body where even government leaders consider it acceptable to use a woman’s breast as part of their sex jokes when it’s a natural form of nurturing a child through breastfeeding. It is sad that some government leaders see breastfeeding as taboo or an inappropriate act when done in public --- when that woman only wanted to address the basic need of her child and not necessarily to gain attention and expose herself for public shame.  Who wants to be shamed anyway? We are telling you, there are plenty of reasons why mothers have no choice but to feed their children in the public, covered or uncovered.  Parading their breasts for the sake of showing off is definitely not one of them.  

This kind of incident just strengthens our advocacy to spread the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding and to normalize it in public places. Support groups like Breastfeeding Ilonggas (BFI) would not have been formed if there was public acceptance in the first place --- if women understood and prepared enough for their role as primary nurturer; if some doctors do not prescribe infant formula milk right away without attempting to educate and support the patient mother to lactate; if all medical institutions really practice what World Health Organization (WHO) and Department of Health (DOH) have been campaigning for many years, that is, to encourage mothers to exclusive breastfeed up to 6 months of age, with  continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond; if all medical practitioners and community health workers were really patient enough to counsel distressed mothers who couldn't lactate; if all efforts have been exhausted before choosing formula, then probably there is no need for us to be writing this open letter.

Raising awareness of the existence of our support group can be often tiresome but seeing how it has significantly increased the chances of mothers to sustain breastfeeding beyond infancy in Iloilo is affirming that what we have started in 2014 will go a long way. Special shout out to the lady who was interviewed by Bombo Radyo Iloilo who expressed her disgust about the lewd comments of a few local government officials relating to breastfeeding during a recorded public session. We believe it was such an imprudent, irresponsible and disrespectful act against women.

It’s disappointing to think that in highly developed countries like that of Europe, mothers who breastfeed their children uncovered is considered normal and yet in developing countries like the Philippines, breastfeeding is often associated with low-income families who couldn’t afford infant formula.  And if one doesn’t belong to that economic strata, she is criticized for indecent exposure. It only becomes an indecent exposure because of indecent minds of many who sexualize breast as an object of pleasure and not as a source of life. This mindset has created a stigma that resulted many women to neglect their natural purpose to nurture, for fear of getting criticized, rejected and ridiculed.

In fact, the issue of putting up lactation rooms in public places is such a modern issue that shouldn't be a concern if our society is welcoming and accepting. But because a lot of mothers have already been publicly shamed in malls, workplace and even hospitals (imagine that?!), the need to stay hidden not to scandalize the ignorant and the perverts has now become an issue.

Ask your grand parents, your great grand parents. When did formula milk become available? And why was it introduced in the first place? Isn’t it to supplement or substitute mother’s milk due to various medical reasons? Our forefathers grew up from their mother's milk.

Int’l fintech firm Payoneer supports Geeks on a Beach for the second year

International financial technology firm Payoneer is supporting the global startup conference Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) for the second straight year as one of this year’s most awaited event’s silver sponsors.

Miguel Warren, Payoneer's Country Manager, will talk about the huge potential of e-commerce,
freelancing, and outsourcing in the Philippines during the conference.

Miguel Warren, Payoneer Philippines Country Manager, said the company is delighted to once more take part in this year’s GOAB which will be held at Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines on August 24-25, 2017. 

“We are in Geeks on a Beach to talk about the huge potential of e-commerce, freelancing, and outsourcing in the Philippines; and how Payoneer can help these fields with their online and cross-border payments.” said Warren.

This year’s GOAB, which has been done annually since its first staging in Boracay Island in 2013, again promises to bring together some of the biggest names of the tech, design, and startup world from across the world.

“We really like to see the kind of folks gathered together in Palawan for the Geeks on a Beach – startups, techies, and corporates – to see how we can help them facilitate payments on an easy, convenient, and cost-efficient way,” said Warren.

Warren is part of the panel on “Corporate Digital Transformation: Becoming Victorious in a Collision between Businesses and Today's Challenging Digital Forces” during the second day of the GOAB conference.

His fellow panelists include Robertson Chiang of Dragonpay Corporation, Arup Maity of BlastAsia & Xamun Inc., Joey Limjap of PLDT Innolab, Ramon Escueta of Philippine Chamber of Commerce, and Annabelle Ong of the Puerto Princesa Chamber of Commerce.

This panel is especially envisioned for corporates and businesses wishing to jumpstart their digital innovation by incorporating automated processes and tools, using software to reach out to new customers and expand profits, harnessing the power of social media and digital marketing techniques to increase revenue and boost their branding, and partnering with experienced and trusted digital experts.

PLDT, Smart, Voyager, PayMaya, ePLDT, Smart DevNet, PLDT Enterprise, and PLDT Innolab, Ideaspace and QBO are supporting GOAB as co-presenters while ASPACE Philippines is co-producer. GOAB is held in partnership with the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Palaweño ICT Association, and DOST-PCIEERD. 

GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, powered by Sym.ph, branding by Happy Garaje, and pr by PRWorks.   For registration or partnership information or further details, visit www.GeeksOnABeach.com, follow on Twitter/Facebook Geeks On A Beach, or contact hello@GeeksOnABeach.com.

FREE MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR ILOILO STUDENTS

ILOILO CITY, August 11, 2017 –The internationally –acclaimed Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will hold a half-day workshop in Iloilo City on August 26, 2017. The free musical workshop is exclusive for a pre-selected group of 100 students from Iloilo City.

Jeffrey Solares, Executive Director of the MSO said the students were highly recommended by their schools based on their musical aptitude and the level of performance in playing their choice of musical instruments.

“This workshop will enhance the students’ stock knowledge of orchestral music and hopefully, through this brief exposure, they will find enjoyment and appreciate a different genre of music,” Solaressaid.

The local budding artists will have an MSO-experience to upgrade their approach on strings, percussions, and wind instruments.

“We have a rich pool of talent in music and arts as proven by our world-renowned Ilonggo performing artists like violinist Mr. Gilopez Kabayao and tenor Othoniel Gonzaga.  By bringing the likes of MSO to the local audience, we are enhancing the creativity of our artists and ensuring Iloilo as a premiere center of performing arts,” according to Sen. Franklin Drilon. The Ilonggo senator is one of the patrons of the 2-day performances.

MSO will feature a Bach vs. Beatles playlist on August 25, 2017 at the Molo Church and movie hit-tunes and symphonies on August 26, 2017 at the Iloilo Convention Center. Inquiries about the free, by-invitation concert may be directed to the Secretariat c/o Iloilo Economic Development Office (33) 335-0333 and 337-8341.

GMovies partners with Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino

In line with the partnership between Globe Telecom and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for the first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, more Filipinos will now be able to purchase tickets for their chosen participating movies via the GMovies app.

By downloading the GMovies app for free on Google Playstore or on the App Store, first time GMovies users get ₱50 off their movie ticket/s to any Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) film by using the promo code PELIKULA.

“We fully support FDCP in their major initiative of giving Filipinos this ground breaking movie festival. Through accessibility of tickets on the GMovies app, we hope to encourage moviegoers to catch all PPP films, and movies in general, through legitimate sources whether in movie houses or in authorized streaming platforms,” says Glenn Estrella, Vice President for Digital Ventures, the innovator of GMovies.

This effort forms part of the company’s #PlayItRight campaign that sheds light to piracy and legitimate content consumption to provide an opportunity for local movies and film-makers to grow their business and expand to more audiences.

Movie fans can easily book and buy their top PPP movie picks in just these easy steps: pick the movie on the app, select the cinema, time, date and preferred seat/s, and finally choose the payment method. Users can choose among various payment options such as via credit card, claim code, GCash, bank payment, or M-Pass for Ayala Cinemas.

GMovies is the Philippines' only movie ticketing app that aggregates over 100 cinemas nationwide. Its partner cinemas include Ayala Malls Cinemas, SM Cinema, Robinsons Movieworld, Theatre Mall & Promenade Greenhills Cinemas, and Power Plant Cinema. It provides notifications on ticket availabilities with exclusive movie promos and ticket discounts. It also showcases the movie trailers and reviews.

Customers can also get ₱50 off their first ticket to Birdshot through SMS via Globe Rewards and Globe Stores. They may avail of the discount using the promo code HARIBON through Globe Rewards and the promo code BIRDSHOT through Globe Stores.

All promos are valid for a minimum of two tickets at SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, Theater Mall and Promenade Greenhills, Power Plant Cinemas, and participating Ayala Malls Cinemas (Abreeza, Ayala Center Cebu, Bonifacio High Street, Centrio, Glorietta, Greenbelt 1 and 3, Harbor Point, Market! Market!, MarQuee, and TriNoma). Promos are from August 14 to 22, 2017.

From August 16 to 22, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino will screen 12 chosen local films in over 790 theaters nationwide. The 12 participating films include Hamog, Pauwi Na, Bar Boys, Patay na si Hesus, Star na si Van Damme Stallone, Triptiko, 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, Paglipay, AWOL, Birdshot, Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B and Salvage.

Birdshot, top-billed by John Arcilla is also supported by Globe Studios, the original productions arm of Globe, through a co-marketing partnership with TBA Studios.

Just follow Globe Telecom on Facebook or @enjoyGLOBE on Twitter for more updates. For the screening schedules of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, visit its official Facebook Page www.facebook.com/fdcpppp

WIN TWO GOLD TICKETS TO SARAH GERONIMO CONCERT IN ILOILO!

Calling all Popsters! Sarah Geronimo is coming to Iloilo on August 25, 8PM at the Iloilo Convention Center and the Lone Sailor is giving away two gold tickets for free!

Simply follow these steps:

1. Follow and like @iloilofestivewalk and THE LONE SAILOR on facebook.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IloiloFestiveWalk/

https://www.facebook.com/janraethesailor/

2. Tell me on the comment box why do you want to see Sarah Geronimo perform live

3. Share this post and tag three of your friends

I will chose and verify the lucky winners through an online electronic raffle. Winners will be announced/ posted on August 23, 2017, 7PM and will be notified through personal message.

Join na!

Globe commercially launches SEA-US cable system; connects Davao to US for enhanced PHL internet connectivity

August 11, Manila - Globe Telecom commercially launched today the $250-million Southeast Asia-United States (SEA-US) submarine cable system which provides direct links between Davao and the United States for richer and enhanced international connectivity for businesses in Mindanao and the rest of the country.

“First world connection is more than just fast internet but is also about building a better nation that transcends borders and opens infinite possibilities for everyone. We are excited about this development because of the immense benefits that the undersea cable system will bring to the Philippines.  For one, it will provide support for the expanding business requirement for data in the Mindanao region where the cable landing station is located and in the country as a whole.  This will also ease our dependence on international cable systems and ensure the resiliency of the country’s internet connectivity,” said Ernest L. Cu, Globe President and CEO.

The SEA-US cable system is connected to the Globe cable landing station in Brgy. Talomo, Davao City which also houses the Power Feed Equipment necessary to run the system. Outside of Luzon, the undersea cable is the first direct connection of Globe to the United States via Guam, Hawaii, and California, offering faster transmission of data to the US.

The facility also completely bypasses the Taiwan earthquake zone to ensure continuity of service and greater resiliency.  This is expected to prevent a repeat of a 2006 incident where major international cables were broken because of the Taiwan earthquake, resulting in the isolation of the Philippines for a few days in terms of internet connectivity.

“On behalf of the Philippine Government, we congratulate Globe Telecom for further improving the state of Internet connectivity in the Philippines. The launching of this SEA-US cable system underscores the importance of integrating ICT in the improvement of government service delivery. We look to this Globe and SEA-US project being of help to government in realizing its ICT roadmap,” said Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima.

Peter Maquera, Senior Vice President for Globe Enterprise Group, also commented that “the facility will be most beneficial to businesses which require higher bandwidth and network resiliency at cost-efficient rates.”  “With the commercial operations, our customers can expect a more resilient network necessary for the continuity of their operations as well as greater route flexibility and better future support for bandwidth-dependent applications and services consistent with the growing trend of companies shifting their business critical operations to digital,” he added.

The 14,500-kilometer SEA-US international cable system, uses the latest 100 gigabits per second transmission technology to deliver an additional 20 terabits per second capacity.  Such additional capacity will cater to the exponential growth of bandwidth between the two continents.

The system was built by a consortium of 7 international telecommunications companies and links five areas and territories that include Manado (Indonesia), Davao (Philippines), Piti (Guam), Oahu (Hawaii, United States), and Los Angeles (California, United States).

Aside from forming part of the SEA-US consortium, Globe is also a member of an international consortium of telecommunications and technology companies operating the Southeast Asia-Japan Cable (SJC) system. SJC is an 8,900-kilometer cable system linking seven territories that include Brunei, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines, including the option to link with Thailand. The cable infrastructure is currently being upgraded to bring an increase of 6.5 Tb/s capacity with state of the art 100G technology.

Globe Telecom has also made investments in the East Asia Cable system (EAC), Asia Pacific Cable Network-2 (APCN2), Tata Global Network–Intra Asia cable system (TGN-IA), the City to City cable system (C2C), and is interconnected with major Trans-Pacific Cable systems that encompass the Unity, Tata Global Network-Pacific, (TGN-P) and the Japan-US Cable Network (J-US).