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The Comedy Cartel - The Best Stand-Up Comedy Act in Manila!

Have you seen the Best Stand-Up Comedy Act in Manila?

I highly recommend Comedy Cartel if you are sick and tired of the usual gay comedy or slapstick humor in the comedy bars in Manila. I like the more intelligent humor (and sometimes green jokes) of the Comedy Cartel based on taboo truths about the Filipinos. However, I don't like some of the proteges' tasteless jokes about Christianity just to get a laugh from the crowd. Also, I'm hoping they could get a female stand-up comic to be part of the cartel.

I created a video sampler of the best jokes during the Laffamania last July 28 in Spicy Fingers. It features my favorite jokes by Eric Villarama, Alex Calleja, Mike Unson and Tim Tayag. It is guaranteed to make you laugh. You can watch the full Laffamania show every other monday by 8pm in Spicy Fingers. The show runs for two hours featuring the Comedy Cartel and their proteges. The next shows would be August 11 & 25, and September 15 & 29, 2008. They also have practice Open Mic sessions to test new jokes every 9pm Wednesday at my favorite wi-fi place in Serendra -- Kape Isla.

The Comedy Cartel is a guild of professional comic artists whose aim is to expand and master the art of comedy beyond the usual definitions through the practice of the classic monologue form of standup and through sketch comedy. In other words, it was created to impress chicks...

This group is the first of its kind in the Philippines. As the Comedy Cartel, they hope to instill in each artist, professionalism, mastery, and respect for the art of comedy by providing training and building resources to further the craft. If they fail, then it's back to selling hot dogs!

The Comedy Cartel is composed of Alex Calleja, Stanley Chi, JB Dela Cruz, Marlon Olivan, Tim Tayag, and Mike Unson. Other members include: Vic Anastacio, Trian Lauang, Red Ollero, Uli Oposa, Chickie Manio, Ryan Puno, Raffy Taruc, and Eric Villarama.

The Comedy Cartel is exclusively managed by:
eCircle Entertainment (www.eCircleEntertainment.com).
Telephone: +632 533-9316.
Mobile Number: +63917-8860706.
Email: info@eCircleEntertainment.com

GK Taguig 2.0! - The Best for the Least

On 8-8-08, instead of watching the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, I witnessed the launching of the new GK Designer Village (GK 2.0) by Tony Meloto and the grand vision for Taguig 2.0 by Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga!

All the best architects in Manila will be helping to design the next level of GK community. The best architects for the least of our brothers (and for the least fees). The new GK community looks like the HDB (Housing & Development Board) Condos of Singapore. It would be low cost condominiums designed and supported by the countries top architects: Bobby Manosa, Bong Recio, Jun Palafox, Edith Oliveros, Budji Layug and the top architects of the United Architects of the Philippines! The first GK Designer Village site will be created in Taguig along C5. No doubt, GK is building a First World Philippines and raising a First Class Filipino.

"To build a nation is to have direct impact on the lives of the poor and to influence those who have the power and the means to help them. It can start with charity but it must be a work of social justice to even the playing field and to recognize that all Filipinos are equal in worth and dignity. It begins with the heart where love resides, but it must be sustained with excellence and stewardship. We have to raise Filipinos to be first-class citizens in the Philippines so none of our people will feel second-class anywhere in the world." - Tony Meloto

Aside from being a Tony Meloto fan, I'm now a fan of Mayor Freddie R. Tiñga. He is transforming Taguig to be world class city by leveraging on technology to solve social issues in our country today. To bridge the gap between the public school education and private schools, he is implementing a distance learning program in the public schools. It would be equipped with Video Conferencing facilities to get the best teachers to educate the students of Taguig.

He also envisions Taguig to be the first 100% WIMAX city in the country! Yahoo! He is doing it by creating his own telecommunications company in Taguig. In my previous job, I worked with Smart and Globe to influence them to give unlimited broadband access for free or minimal cost. But the Telco giants are controlling unlimited broadband access for fear that it might have a huge impact on their voice business. I admire Mayor Tiñga's vision and if Globe/ Smart won't do it, he will build his own telecommunication system. Clap! Clap!

Did you know that Taguig will be equipped with 194 surveillance cameras by the end of 2008 and 400 cameras by end of 2009? They use Israeli technology for their cameras such that they could monitor the entire city virtually and they can even zoom in on plate number as needed. This would significantly reduce the crime rate in Taguig.

Lastly, he is planning to build a new modern airport in Taguig with better runway facilities, and to automate 100% of all the government transactions. Wow! All I can say is, let me know how I can help you, Mayor Tiñga, and I can offer my services and expertise to the city of Taguig.

I'm glad that we made a great decision to move from Manila to Taguig City. I'm voting Tony Meloto for President in 2010!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Cinderella Tips - 10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater

10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater

1. Don't bring your camera. You would have to deposit your camera with the security guards. You don't want the hassle of lining up to get it after the show.

2. The show starts on time at 8pm. There is a major construction along Vito Cruz which creates a traffic jam around the CCP area. Target to be in the CCP area around 7pm. There are plenty of parking spaces beside CCP.

3. Mobile phones are allowed. Please turn it off or put it in silent mode. I hate it when a phone rings in the middle of the show.

4. Buy the Souvenir Program. It would cost you P200 for the souvenir program. I also bought the original soundtrack of Lea Salonga's Cinderella for P550. Buy them during the intermission period. I still regret that I did not buy the Miss Saigon Manila Souvenir Program.

5. If you are watching in Balcony 1 or 2, please bring binoculars. In the balcony section, you can only appreciate the music and see the live orchestra. You can't see the facial expressions not unless you have binoculars. Also, you won't be able to see the top portion of the stage.

6. My favorite performances are the Impossible/ It's Possible and Step Sisters' Lament. Impossible/ It's Possible is the last act before the intermission where Godmother turns the pumpkin into a golden carriage, the mouse into horses, and Cinderella into a beautiful princess. Step Sisters' Lament is the sour graping of Joy and Portia over Cinderella which is the third song after the intermission. Don't miss it.

7. Sleep before watching it. Some of the love songs can have a lullaby-effect and induce sleep. The plot of the story is of course predictable. Watch it for Lea Salonga, for the lavish costumes, and for the enchanting waltzes and marches.

8. Watch it with your daughter. This is one of the musical plays where you should bring your daughter. It is very inspirational.

9. After the show, eat in Ice Bergs. The nearest hangout place is Harbour View Square besides CCP. You can hangout in Starbucks, Figaro, Dencio's, Pancake House or Ice Bergs after the show.

10. Don't miss watching Cinderella. The cheapest ticket is P500 Balcony. I would recommend to watch in the lower area if you can. You can buy the tickets in National Bookstore outlets. Cinderella will play in the Philippines from July 29 to August 24, 2008 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the tour will also play in mainland China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Related Posts:

Cinderella in Manila! I'm Proud to be a Filipino : )
Cinderella Tips - 10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater
Cinderella - Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It

Cinderella - Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It

Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It
(from the Cinderella Souvenir Program)

1. Cinderella was the only musical written by Rodgers & Hammerstein for Television. Its live premier on CBS was viewed by 107,000,000 people - the largest television audience to date.

2. Julie Andrews was the first Cinderella. She wrote Lea Salonga a goodluck letter and I quote:

" My Dear Lea, I know that you'll soon be starting the tour of 'Cinderella' - and I just want to send you my thoughts and all good wishes for a wonderful success. The music is so pretty -- and I would love to see you in the play. Enjoy! Much Love to you-- and I hope we meet up again soon. Julie"

3. Cinderella made an easy transition to the stage and began appearing in theaters around the US. In 1996, according to the R&H Theatre Library, more than 250 productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella were presented in the US alone.

4. CBS re-staged the television version of Cinderella with a taped broadcast. It featured a cast as remarkable as the original with Ginger Rogers and Walter Pidgeon as the King and Queen and a young Broadway star-to-be, Lesley Ann Warren, playing Cinderella.

5. Cinderella made television history again when 60 million viewers tuned to ABC-TV's "The Wonderful World of Disney," for the dazzling 21st century remake. Its all-star cast included Whitney Houston as The Fairy Godmother, singing and TV sensation Brandy in the title role, Bernadette Peters as the Wicked Stepmother, Whoopi Goldberg as The Queen, Victor Garber as The King, newcomer Paolo Montalban as The Prince, Jason Alexander as his Steward and with Veanne Cox and Natalie Desselle as the Wicked Stepsisters.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Related Posts:

Cinderella in Manila! I'm Proud to be a Filipino : )
Cinderella Tips - 10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater
Cinderella - Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It