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Andi Manzano Biography – Meet The Family

February 14, 2015 Web Master

I like my family. And I like writing the Andi Manzano Biography knowing how fun it can be to have a DJ for a cousin. I turn on the radio and all I have to do is switch over to 89.9 to hear her voice. So I might as well share what do I know about her.

Born Andrea Bianca Manzano, she was known on Philippine radio by her other name, Andi9, on Magic 89.9. Originally one of the hosts of Good Times with Mo Twister, she eventually got moved into an afternoon slot also on the same station. As of late, she is enjoying the married life with GP Reyes, as shown on her blog, AndiManzano.com. But since she is more known as a host, I chose to highlight everything great she did. Think of it as putting her hosting resume to the spotlight.

Magic 89.9

Currently a radio disc jockey on the upscale radio station Magic 89.9, Andi knows to keep her audience interested with that pleasant voice and friendly demeanor. And she has a good command of English with an almost neutered “twang” accent. Listening to her makes the day more bearable.

She can host a show on her own but it has become evident that she makes the hosting job more natural and extra entertaining when shared with another DJ. And she knew that having a co-host meant giving her the opportunity to talk too. It’s not just HER show, it’s THEIR show. So she doesn’t hog the microphone to herself.

This was evident whenever her co-host, Jessica, is delivering the Hollywood news on their program. Andi knew how to keep sounding interested without diverting the attention to her. She would comment in between but would limit it to a few words with respect to the news presenter. Once it’s her turn to talk in between tunes played and commercial breaks, the pleasant and friendly demeanor is still there, upbeat and perky just like how her audience loved it.

Hosting on QTube

The same upbeat and friendly manner she hosted her show was the same attitude she carried over to her light magazine show, QTube, from the now-defunct lifestyle network QTV (now GMA News TV). Since the crew already realized her strength in hosting for 2, she has a co-host for this show, Filipino Australian model Andy Smith. No wonder the blog version of their program was eventually named “The Andi and Andy Blog”.

Andi provided the perky vibes that fans were already familiar with except that they have visuals to confirm what they have been thinking the moment they heard her voice on air – she’s cute. Cute as a button but you already knew that hosting is not limited to being cute. You need to deliver the goods too.

As a host, she knew that it’s about presenting a topic or personality, if it’s an interview. She has a way to make a segment about the topic or person interviewed, not about her. I mean you can make her talk but she would make it less about herself and more about the topic. She knew that as a host, there is enough attention on her. Knowing that it’s her job to divert the attention to the subject at hand meant that she’s clearly aware of the priorities set in hosting a light magazine type of show. And she has a brilliant way of making it look spontaneous.

Hosting Gigs on MTV Philippines

Can she make her topics interesting even when put in a show where she’s the only host? Based on what was seen on her roadie type of show, MTV Full Tank, yes. And since travelling is included in the package, she would enjoy the scenes without losing track of her hosting duties. She didn’t mind getting taped with a DSLR camera hanging from her neck. All inhibitions lost in the middle of a hosting gig, everything ends up going as natural as it can get.

As a host, she’s very casual. She won’t let the hosting duties limit her from describing just the place and the things that she sees. She doesn’t simply describe everything she sees, she describes everything she feels including the joy of having that starfish on her hand. She would share the joy of getting submerged knee-deep into the water close to the rocks and make it sound like the best feeling in the whole wide world in the same manner that she can share the mixed positive emotions of holding a live crab because she can’t decide on whether to eat it or not.

The common misconception about being an effective host is speaking ONLY in English. Wrong. She would mention a few Tagalog words in between her spiels and would not sound awkward or forced. Well, compared to me, her command of Tagalog is pretty “matatas” (fluent). So hosting in English with a few Tagalog words only shows the kind of hosting talent she can provide for you. We’re in the Philippines anyway. Why choose between English and Tagalog when you can speak both?

Talent is really in our blood. And most of the time it’s not limited to only one thing. Some of them like Luis and Andi found their strengths in hosting. For events and bookings, she can be reached on her aforementioned blog, and her social media accounts – her Facebook, her Twitter, her IG and her Pinterest.

As for me, why choose when I can have all talents? I just need to keep harnessing them one by one. Of course you get to judge for yourself the level of improvement that I have reached so far. All you have to do is to like my Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias.

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Edu Manzano Biography – Meet The Family

February 14, 2015 Web Master

Most of my followers on Twitter know me as Edu Manzano’s nephew since I mentioned it on my Twitter description hence the Edu Manzano Biography. Well, I have been into theater for years now but it’s still a different world compared to the showbiz career that my uncle Edu still keeps. So before he got parodied in the Facebook page Putangina mo din, who is Edu Manzano as a film star?

Born Eduardo Barrios Manzano, he decided to go to the Philippines to try his luck in showbusiness. It is safe to say that he is one of the young Filipinos with American citizenship that thought of capitalizing their immigrant status to try acting.

The “Leading Man” Years

Gifted with good looks and a striking sex appeal, one of the film production companies that gave him the leading man break was Viva Films. One of his earliest films was the 1987 remake of Mars Ravelo’s “Jack and Jill” starring Ms. Sharon Cuneta and current Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. He played the role of the guy that converted the boyish Jack into a feminine figure later in the movie (not really a spoiler).

Most of the movies he got into ranged from romantic drama to romantic comedies. In “Nakagapos na Puso” (Tied Heart), he was one of the leading men where one of the major characters was also played by Ms Cuneta. In “Misis Mo, Misis Ko” (Your Wife, My Wife), his role is less villainy and more human as a husband who discovered that his wife started cheating on him in retaliation to previous affairs that the character had. Maybe the closest role he got to an action hero during the 80’s was when he played the role of “Captain Barbell”, the alter-ego whenever the lead character Teng Teng (also played by Bautista) would transform with the help of the barbell.

But the most memorable role he had in this era was his role as the clueless, nerdy conservative boss in “Working Girls”. The character is not gay, just a consummate professional. It’s one of the roles that I can say he really owned since he really provided the right facial expressions and nuances that the role needed.

If this served as the peg for the next string of movies for him to shoot, it seemed like just a wait-and-see thing for everyone. And just when you thought he would be doing adult dramas and comedies for the rest of his career, well the action movie boom of the 90’s came along.

The “Pinoy Action Movie Hero” Years

During the 90’s, his movies became mostly action-packed either playing the villain or the hero himself. He was not always the bad guy. In fact if you would take time to follow his filmography you’d realize that he did not fall into the cardboard type of villain where he shoots people and laugh maniacally as usually seen in portrayals popularized by Paquito Diaz and Romy Diaz.

The only movie where he was laughing as loud as he could was when he played the villain Conde in the action fantasy film “Dugo ng Panday” (Blood of the Blacksmith) opposite current senator Bong Revilla. In the same manner that not all roles where he sported stubbles meant that he played the villain, there are roles where he wore corporate casual attire while donning the villain role.

But perhaps what served as a peg for the admin of the Facebook page of “Putangina mo din” was the action movies where his characters always would cuss in Tagalog (the infamous clip “Putangina mo“), hence the name of the page. Most of the characters he played that cussed onscreen were the villains. Although some “heroes” in these action films cussed too, it doesn’t have the same effect when it’s the villains who do. It proved that action movies in the 90’s really served a niche where cussing is allowed. It’s a man’s world so bed scenes are already expected and he was no exception to that.

Almost Typecast as a Villain

In between the 90’s and the 00’s, even if the movie genre is no longer under action, the roles he assumed still leaned towards villain territory since he has become very convincing in it. From adult drama to comedies, the commanding presence and that deep voice helped a lot in coming across as a domineering figure in roles that he assumed.

In “Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero” (loosely based on the erotic novel “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”), he played a sugar baron with a trophy wife (played by Patricia Javier). He almost had no mellow moments except for those instances where he was sleeping with his therapist (played by Sunshine Cruz). But even when he’s trying to go mellow, the deep voice still exerts that authority. It made such roles effortless for him.

There are roles that I can call “almost villain” due to the circumstances that the character he played like in the movie “Minsan Minahal Kita” (I Loved You Once) where he played the estranged husband to the character wife played by Ms. Sharon Cuneta. And this is where you realize the evolution of roles he played throughout the decades. While his earlier projects with Ms. Sharon Cuneta earned him the role of the romantic hero, in later movies, he was either the estranged husband or the romantic rival villain. The latter role was seen in his action-drama movie with Ms. Cuneta entitled “Pangako Sa Yo” (Promise to You) where the romantic hero was played by Mr. Bong Revilla.

The other signature role that got stuck with him was his role as the estranged husband in “Separada” (Separated) where the title role was assumed by Ms. Maricel Soriano. While not many casual film goers will know the title of the film where they heard these lines, they would sure know that it’s the characters played by the former couple that uttered these lines.

Get out of my house! I don’t need a parasite!

“And I don’t need a part-time wife!

The title alone is a spoiler. But at least the estranged husband is not the cookie-cutter type of villain where he can’t do anything right. This might be his film that co-starred with Ms. Soriano where he’s the least evil.

The comedies he starred in this era of his career was very different to the uptight (but still funny) portrayal he had in “Working Girls”. Well I can say that his role in “Wanted Perfect Father” as villain to the character of then Comedy King, Dolphy, is also uptight but not intended much to be funny. His role as an erratic husband stuck in a stale marriage in “I Do I Die Dios Ko Day!” was where he really let himself loose as he was one of the top-billed stars in that film alongside Agot Isidro, Redford White and Babalu.

I then realized that, upon closer look, if his roles in action movies almost got him typecast into machine-gun-wielding goons, his most popular roles in drama films almost got him typecast as the bad husband. Either he’s a cheating husband (in “Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero”, “Minsan Minahal Kita” and “Separada”) or a full-blown evil spouse (in “Abandonada”, also with Ms. Soriano). While almost typecast, I can manage to say that not all the villain roles he accepted are the same. This is testament to the kind of acting talent that he possessed.

As of this writing …

He just went out of his self-imposed retirement and returned to ABS-CBN to give it another shot at making movies and TV series as reported by the Manila Bulletin. Previously, he was one of the hosts of the afternoon talk show “Face The People”. He also returned to acting in movie via the romantic thriller “Halik sa Hangin” (Air Kiss) starring Julia Montes, Gerard Anderson and JC de Vera.

Do I see a collaboration with him in the future? I hope so. It would be an honor to finally work with a man known for being a consummate professional and a dedicated servant to the people. We’ll never know. But there are ways for you to be constantly updated. Just like my Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @KuyaManzano to be constantly updated. Gracias!

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Shakespeare Best Quotes: Valentine Edition

February 13, 2015 Web Master

Valentine weekend is a good occasion to revisit the Shakespeare’s best quotes. For me to find a bunch that would tackle love in various forms would be natural as The Bard of Avon is known to have written some of the best love stories ever staged.

I would be classifying the quotes I have gathered so far including the literary gems from which they are sourced.

The Early Stages

Love is too young to know what conscience is.
– from Sonnet 151

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.
– from Romeo and Juliet

The lunatic, the lover and the poet are of imagination all compact.
– from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.
– from Twelfth Night

Handling the Relationship

The course of true love never did run smooth.
– from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
– from All’s Well That Ends Well

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
– from Julius Caesar

But it is a melancholy of mine own, compounded of many simples, extracted from many objects, and indeed the sundry contemplation of my travels, which, by often rumination, wraps me in the most humorous sadness.
– from As You Like It

The Folly of Love

Men are April when they woo, December when they wed…
– from As You Like It

A man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
– from Much Ado About Nothing

There have been many great men that have flattered the people who ne’er loved them
– from Coriolanus

The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch
Which hurts and is desired.
– from Antony and Cleopatra

My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.
– from Romeo and Juliet

Love is merely a madness; and, I tell you, deserves as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do; and the reason why they are not so punish’d and cured is that the lunacy is so
ordinary that the whippers are in love too.”
– from As You Like It

Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.
– from Hamlet

Indeed there is a method to the madness called love – the same emotion that pushed Hamlet back into his madness. The same kind of madness I am about to assume once I get to play the title role this month.

Let this serve as an invitation to one and all. Catch Hamlet at DITO Bahay ng Sining. Click the poster to enlarge and see the dates. Ticket prices at Php350. For further updates, please like my Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Shakespeare Best Sonnets

February 6, 2015 Web Master

Reading Shakespeare’s best sonnets can be challenging especially when it is not included in the repertoire that you’re supposed to practice. It’s understandable anyway how some sonnets only get analyzed whenever you feel like browsing some of them to read on your free time and realize the aspects that made them extra interesting.

Well, writers will be writers and they would always find inspiration when they need it, modesty be damned. In case you’re a prude, consider yourself warned. I never pretended to be a decent man as I have urges that make me read some lines with colorful images hovering above my head. Just like the advice Mercutio gave his forlorn friend, Romeo, in the play “Romeo and Juliet”:

If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Now will he sit under a medlar tree
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.
O Romeo, that she were! Oh, that she were
An open arse, and thou a poperin pear

In what way can love not hit the mark? While Romeo had to intimately talk to Juliet in order to realize how much she loved him too, a little advice went naughty once you try re-reading the lines. Too bad, Romeo is too innocent to realize it. Just in case you missed the line that says “open arse”, you then would realize that Romeo needed to pop her in pear. Well, that escalated quickly. Then again, you know teenagers always have had issues with raging hormones.

And speaking of hormones, The Bard must have thought of Adonis as someone too hot and alluring for the Roman goddess Venus to resist. Too bad he’s a prick. But what is it really that the latter found attractive in this arrogant prick? Let’s face it. Some good-looking men deliberately act the part of the prick because it makes them extra attractive. It must have been that air of mystery that engulfs them in such a facade. Such is his sex appeal that Shakespeare found it fitting for Venus to say:

‘Fondling,’ she saith, ‘since I have hemm’d thee here
Within the circuit of this ivory pale,
I’ll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer;
Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale:
Graze on my lips; and if those hills be dry,
Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie.

Parks are meant for walking. Deers are meant for hunting. Tread on those hills and find some nice fountains gone gushing. And you realize it’s the Roman goddess of love gone rhyming. When erotica is sweetened with the help of double entrende, it makes you guess what Adonis is thinking. Which pair of lips should he be grazing?

And just when you thought it’s only women that are good with messing with their lovers’ heads, think again. One memorable exchange occurred in the play “Hamlet” between Hamlet and Ophelia. Ophelia is trying to strike up a decent conversation with Hamlet even if she can sense how his sanity is starting to get the best of him. The dialogue went as this.

HAMLET
Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

OPHELIA
No, my lord.

HAMLET
I mean, my head upon your lap.

OPHELIA
Ay, my lord.

HAMLET
Do you think I meant country matters?

OPHELIA
I think nothing, my lord.

HAMLET
That’s a fair thought to lie between maid’s legs.

OPHELIA
What is, my lord?

HAMLET
Nothing.

It’s all in the head and it’s a discussion about the head. In a sense, just when you thought that the welcome malice is all in Ophelia’s head when it comes to discussing where Hamlet may enter his head, Hamlet would twist the conversation about a place to lay his head. Sometimes Ophelia interprets the conversation as Hamlet giving her head only for Hamlet to adjust his choice of words in a way to refer to her lap as a resting place for his head. Then he mentioned resting “between maid’s legs” and Ophelia is confused all over again. See? Even our own heads got messed along with theirs.

If reading between the lines recited in several soliloquy stanzas delivered in plays like “Hamlet” hasn’t messed you up just yet, go and watch us in full crazy glory as I mess up with your heads as well. It would be a blast for me to play the titular role of Hamlet at DITO Bahay ng Sining. Updates, play dates and ticket prices would be displayed at my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and at my Twitter account @kuyamanzano. I would appreciate it very much if you would follow both accounts on social media for real-time updates. See you there.

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Shakespeare Background

January 29, 2015 Web Master

Every legend has an origin or a background. While William Shakespeare is more known today as the playwright that wrote timeless classics like “King Lear”, “Macbeth”, “Othello”, and “Hamlet”, he occasionally dabbled in acting. In this vein, we then explore how he started – in a theater troupe called “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”. Knowing them would give us a background about The Bard as a member of his troupe and how they presented his works onstage.

“The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” was formed during the reign of the virgin queen, Elizabeth I. They got their name from Henry Carey, their patron from whom the name “Lord Chamberlain” was taken. This troupe originally consisted of 8 members that shared the profits in case the play earned more than what it spent and debts since the rent needs to be paid. This then made them known as “the eight sharers”, a system that became prevalent throughout their existence. The eight-sharer platform eventually became a business system for them. Whenever one leaves the troupe, another will come in to fill that vacated “sharer status”.

The men that really kept the troupe assembled in the beginning consisted of James Burbage, the theater impressario, and his sons Cuthbert who became a theater builder and Richard who became one of the most celebrated actors of his era. Richard Burbage played most of the lead roles in this troupe. Since much of his earlier roles were not documented much, there was a speculation that he played female roles too as women are prohibited from joining the theater during the 1500’s. Most plays that Shakespeare wrote premiered with Burbage playing the title role like “King Lear”, “Richard II“, “Othello” and “Hamlet”.

And since most plays included a comedy role, the role often ended up with Willliam Kempe. Kempe is noted for his dancing skill and comic timing. For this reason, he became associated with such roles like Dogberry in “Much Ado About Nothing“, Peter in “Romeo and Juliet“, and Bottom (I like his name) in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream“. But his signature role turned out to be Falstaff, a character found in 3 of Shakespeare’s plays. Falstaff may actually be the most popular comic character that Shakespeare ever created – a character whose adventures are presented most of the time for laughs. Falstaff may be the best proof of how Shakespeare added depth to characters even if the genre is comedy, proving how even comedies still serve as theatrical challenges to anyone interested to play such roles.

While some of Shakespeare’s works don’t aim for historical accuracy, it still elicited controversy once in a while. The only recorded controversy so far of this theater troupe is their “special performance” of “Richard II”. At that time, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex was planning a revolt against Elizabeth I. His supporters then commissioned the said performance as if they are already conditioning the public of the Queen’s downfall. The Queen herself became aware of the propaganda, sensing that the character alluded to her was Richard II himself. It put the troupe in bad favor with Her Majesty. If not for one of the performers, Augustine Philips, testifying that they were offered 40 shillings more than their usual fee, they will not get pardoned. Because of this, the troupe got to perform again for Her Majesty the day before the 2nd Earl of Essex got executed by guillotine.

Shakespeare stayed with the troupe even if “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” changed their name several times depending on who patronized them. Finally, they earned the name “The King’s Men” after James I of England got crowned and patronized the troupe.

Before Hollywood stepped in to produce their versions of Shakespeare’s classic plays, 3 of the best-selling plays ever performed were remade by renowned Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi as operas: “Macbeth”, “Otello” (Othello) and “Falstaff”. It gave Italians an idea about Shakespeare presented in a genre they can appreciate best. French composer Ambroise Thomas, on the other hand, remade “Hamlet” for the French audience to enjoy and appreciate Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.

Shakespeare as a writer indeed inspired several generations despite the common notion of how his characters served as the toughest challenges ever encountered by any actor serious with theater. This is why it will be a fascinating event to witness my performance as the disturbed soul, Hamlet. Details are on the poster. For more updates, please click “Like” on my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. See you there.

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Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works

January 24, 2015 Web Master

Reading Shakespeare in its original form can be taxing for someone like me whose mother tongue is not even English. What more for the native English speakers who happened to be compatriots of the The Bard? It can put your mental stamina to the test especially when faced with text peppered with apostrophes and Victorian references that may not be always applicable today.

So how about analyzing the storylines as condensed in the books found on Project Gutenberg? Summarized versions of the books are found there for everyone to get a gist on the play that some folks plan to stage. A few ideas won’t hurt granted that I remove the spoilers. If you insist on the spoilers, just click on the images to see them.

Shakespeare Books: Random Commentary of Shakespeare’s Works — Screenshot from the 1936 film, “As You Like It”

– As You Like It

Perhaps the laziest title ever, it was the story about Orlando and Rosalind. The fact that Orlando had a brother who treated him like crap and Rosalind’s father got exiled by his brother to steal the duke title meant destiny. Well, more like finding a kindred spirit except that the next time Orlando met Rosalind, he didn’t recognize her anymore. Rosalind disguised herself as a guy when she escaped her uncle with her cousin, Celia, who in turn disguised herself as a poor lady. Yeah, long before Pinoys enjoyed gender-bending soaps from J-Drama and K-Drama, The Bard has been writing stuff like this. “As You Like It” is his best among them though. And the part about lazy titles has some truth to it too.

– Macbeth

Originally titled “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, it is about Macbeth who realized he got some malevolence in him the moment he received the prophecy from the 3 witches about him being the next king of Scotland. He never knew he wanted to be king until Lady Macbeth pushed him to. Maybe she’s just the flicker needed. So he killed the king. She framed the sons and the remaining heirs to the throne escaped, which gets you thinking what kind of upbringing they received. He accumulated power and wealth and thought that he’s invincible. The moment he realized that his reign is endangered, he had to go back to the 3 witches who told him about prophecies related to the only things that can endanger his rule. Too bad he read them all wrong especially the part about no human being born of a woman could ever kill him.

– Romeo and Juliet

If there is one love story that set the trend for most soaps today, it’s “Romeo and Juliet”. Young teens that fell in love way before they realized their families are enemies, sometimes it serves as a commentary about how the young fall too fast and think too slow. Not that falling in love is a bad thing but a series of coincidences and a whole lot of recklessness later [SPOILER ALERT], the couple is dead. And it all began with a letter that did not make it to the recipient. Such is the time when smartphones don’t exist yet.

– Othello

A tale of jealousy gone wrong, it showed how the jealousy of Iago spurned him to push Othello to be jealous of his wife, Desdemona. And all because Othello picked Cassio instead of Iago for promotion. Iago then made it look like Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, driving Othello mad with jealousy. Knowing how the opera version composed by Giuseppe Verdi chose to focus on this drama shows how Othello, as much as he is dubbed as “The Lion of Venice”, is just as guilible and powerless when it comes to wolves in sheep’s clothing just like Iago. Othello chose to believe his new aide instead of his own wife and it produced irreversible and painful consequences. I told you I won’t spoil much.

– Hamlet

And of course, Hamlet, the inspiration behind Lion King except that it was not mentioned in the animated film whether Scar had to marry Simba’s mom to be king. Here, it’s the marriage between his mother, Gertrude, and his uncle, Claudius. He was like “Mom, Dad’s barely a year dead and you got remarried? And to uncle, of all people?” It drove him nuts and jumped to the conclusion that no woman can’t live without a man, to hell with being a virtuous woman. He delivered a series of soliloquies that suggested he’s bonkers. He pushed Ophelia away before he could cheat on him (I told you he’s bonkers) and staged his plan for vengeance that could have suggested that he may not be as bonkers as we thought him to be. One big guarantee is that it turned out to be the greatest play that The Bard had ever written.

And so was the title of the play that I will be headlining as shown on the dates written on the poster. Everybody knew I’m bonkers and I can’t blame them if that’s best criteria they used for casting me as Hamlet. I hope to see you there. Don’t worry, I don’t bite. I would appreciate it more if you like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Shakespeare Biography: Focusing on the Man Himself

January 23, 2015 Web Master

From nicknames “The Bard” and “Billy Shakes” at least according to some fans, Shakespeare will always be one of the most celebrated writers in English literature. When a playwright demands acting depth even from characters meant to be funny, you know you have a writer that at least knows what to ask of his actors.

But as the man identified separately from his writings, who is William Shakespeare really? Until now, records disputed the date of his birth. So the only other proof that he had ever been born is his baptismal certificate which states that Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564. On whether this was the earliest case of a baptismal certificate being accepted as a legitimate proof that a person is born, it is not much of an issue anymore. Shakespeare existed because a portfolio got preserved along with his works. It can possibly be summarized into a bio-data but then again, we can go the resume route if we wanted to delve deeper into the professional himself.

His father, John Shakespeare, was an Englishman who moved to Stratford to work as an apprentice glover and tanner of feathers. He married Mary Arden sometime between 1556 and 1558. So it must have been years before Mary finally had a date with the stork and popped out William for the English literary world to enjoy. Well, not that early, I must say.

He had to be educated first, of course. His father sent him to the Stratford Grammar School near their home on Herley St the moment William turned 7 years old. No record matching such claim existed though. Besides he had to quit school at age 13 because his father could no longer afford him. They must have been that poor.

Everyone is free to speculate what kept him preoccupied between quitting school and becoming an actor-playwright as not much is said about it either. Suggestions about a legal career or an academic career are welcome. Historians are still disputing some claims anyway.

It was recorded though that in November 1582, he married Anne Hathaway, not the actress since the Anne Hathaway that William married was born April 1556. (In case you don’t believe me, please watch the movie “One Day” and listen to that horrible English accent.) They had 3 kids, 2 of which are twins. Susanna was the eldest, born May 26, 1583. The twins are Hamlet and Judith, named after William’s closest friends.

Not all of his works are plays. The plague in 1593 forced theaters to close shop until the plague is contained. This gave him time to write his non-dramatic poetry. I know a website that even shared how perverted his poetry is once in a while especially when bored. If not for the “occasional inspiration”, publishers in his time will not realize the literary gem “Venus and Adonis” turned out to be.

Once the plague was over, he resumed his theater career and joined The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the theater troupe that served as his drama lab for future hits like “Richard III”, “King Lear”, “Othello” and “Hamlet”.

How did Shakespeare die then? Some people still consider it as a mystery since nobody dies from drinking too hard in one night. One night is not enough to broil your liver but who know how long and how hard had he been drinking prior to that night? Besides, at the time of death, another plague is starting to take over in the form of typhus. Another set of speculations to entertain then.

As for reliving the works of Shakespeare today, I would highly recommend that you watch our take on one of his toughest plays ever staged, “Hamlet“. To get constantly updated about this project and the next upcoming projects that I am currently committed to, please like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Shakespeare and Company Paris Bookstore

January 21, 2015 Web Master

Shakespeare and Company Paris I found. I understand the initial shock when it comes to the address found in this intriguing bookstore named “Shakespeare and Company”. I was expecting to find it in England, not in Paris. But then again, if not for my curiosity piqued, I will not be motivated enough to explore what is in store for us here through the bookstore’s official blog.

Shakespeare and Company is managed by its proprietor, Ms. Sylvia Whitman, a position she inherited from her father, George Whitman, who founded this bookstore. In fact, Ms Whitman was generous enough to share her father’s ideals that he used in putting up this bookstore.

The highest quality of an individual is to be human. The phrase “to be human” means to follow life wherever it may lead, up and down, down and up, from the bottom of the world to the top, from darkness into light, through each degree of good and evil. As the circle of knowledge widens, life grows more beautiful and heroic. We are part of everything—men, books, cities, railroads—all made from the same atoms and molecules, all living together and dying together, joined into one imperishable unity that can never be divided.

Hmm, humanist ideals. I know a group in the Philippines that upheld humanist ideals. Then again, it served as the guiding principle that helped Ms Whitman maintain this bookstore. While some folks consider her endeavor as doomed, the transformation that this market is undergoing served as a challenge to her. I know how eBooks have often taken much of the attention away from the physical books themselves. But I applaud her efforts at keeping a bookstore that promotes literary classics. Besides, the online bookstore is already in the works. When will it be launched? No date has been mentioned yet.

Efforts to promote the bookstore are evident with the way they used social media in updating every bookworm worldwide. They have a SoundCloud page where they air their podcasts, a Tumblr page where some snippets of the bookstore itself are shared and of course, a Facebook page that may have more content than what is found on their blog. It must have been the uploaded photos and shared podcasts that directed much of the traffic to the Facebook page away from the official website itself.

The creativity level of some of the guests featured here is astounding. Imagine the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman used in a play as if the 2 poets are answering each other with lines from their poems. That must have been intriguing. What if these 2 literary luminaries had a history with each other? The dramatic reading of the play was also broadcast through this podcast episode on SoundCloud.

Despite having a “Shakespearean” reputation, the crew behind Shakespeare and Company try to make an effort to be relevant. Laura Keeling, the Events and Communications Manager of Shakespeare and Company, did not let their nationalities hinder their support for #JeSuisCharlie. A large group from their staff joined the January 11 rally in support for freedom of expression. At the end of the day, literature is still literature after all.

For a bookstore, they sure know how to keep the place populated with events that attract fellow literary junkies. It seems like Paris is a nice place to hangout when poetry readings are your thing. Cultural insights and commentary about how some folks would still favor paperbacks over eBooks can be read in their blog too.

William Shakespeare is still relevant today because the generations that he inspired keep his memory alive. This is also the reason why Ikarus Productions will stage “Hamlet” at DITO Bahay ng Sining in Marikina. In case you haven’t realized yet, I will be playing the title role of Hamlet. To constantly get updates and teasers regarding me and the play that I will headline, please like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Top 5 Musicals

January 19, 2015 Web Master

What could be the safest bet or measurement when it comes to identifying the top musicals today? It doesn’t have to be new as all musicals listed below have revivals. Performed worldwide to universal acclaim, the key for spotting them is in the kind of playlist worth saving to your mp3 player.

Sure, a nice libretto would need a solid storyline to go with the LSS-inducing tunes. But after listening to the songs on repeat mode, do you still feel like reliving that day when you first saw these musicals? Let’s analyze the list that I came up with.

– Les Miserables

The story of a bread thief that found salvation, Les Miserables dared question the definition of a good person. While addressing the fact that being a good person does not automatically erase the criminal record aggravated by violation of the parole conditions, it also addressed the kind of law enforcement done in France in the past. Jean Valjean did what he can to repay the kindness that the benevolent bishop did for him by paying it forward to Fantine and later on to Cosette. But these are nothing to Javert who chose to focus on the letter of the law. Confrontations and the precursor to the French Revolution were set to music that stays within your consciousness long after you have watched your first show.

– The Phantom of the Opera

One of the first romance-thriller musicals that became a major hit, “Phantom” was less of a morality play and more into examining Christine Daae’s mind. She has Daddy issues for sure – a weakness that the Phantom easily exploited. The grand orchestral sound looming above this magnificent musical gives me goosebumps from that first notes pressed on the organ to the blasting score produced to complement the falling chandelier. Every time you watch it again, you end up realizing that the Phantom is such a charmer. It might have been the mask that really provided the trick. With music that resonated through the halls reverberating up to the ceiling, sometimes the fallen chandelier can be viewed as an after effect of the booming orchestral sound just waiting for that hanging set of lights to drop.

– Cabaret

One of the earliest musicals that dared tackle edgy themes, Cabaret did not shy away from the roots of Nazism while performing upbeat tunes. If Les Miserables used the rising disappointment of the proletariat towards the ruling class as a subplot, Cabaret used the depressing state of Germany months before the Nazis came to power. Sometimes you end up viewing the song-and-dance numbers as attempts to lighten up the mood until you see the Master of Ceremonies performing “If You Could See Her Through My Eyes” with a dancer wearing an ape mask. It even ended up supporting the perception about its lead character, Sally Bowles. The happiness ends up looking like a facade for Sally while the happiness is used as a tool by the Master of Ceremonies to comment on issues like racism and changing social norms through songs performed. The ending struck a nerve at how things have changed the moment the Nazis have secured their hold on political power.

– Chicago

Upbeat music sung with lyrics leaning towards sex and violence, the song-and-dance numbers end up as commentary about the justice system. Billy Flynn was spot on in referring to the system as a circus. So why bother pretend to be serious about the trial of 2 of his clients, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart? Just “Razzle Dazzle” them and “they’d be begging for more”. Little wonder “Chicago” ended up as one of the musicals with the most reruns today. For a musical score that is heavily dependent on jazz, even the casual musical fans accustomed to contemporary pop music end up enjoying the Prohibition-era genre through this musical.

– Miss Saigon

Miss Saigon attracted controversy even during its premiere due to its “depiction” of Asian women as sexpots. It even angered some conservatives at how Vietnam War was used as a background for this edgy musical. But did the upbeat tracks cover up the stench and squalor of Saigon at the height of the Vietnam War? No. If ever there was a musical that addressed the melancholy and depression felt across the country through music, it was Miss Saigon.

It also presented well the point of view that each character harbored in these war-torn territories. “Dreamland” and “The American Dream” presented best the delusions of The Engineer. “Sun and Moon” and “The Last Night in the World” presented the genuine love between Kim and Chris. 2 of the most depressing songs in the repertoire are “I Still Believe” and “The Sacred Bird”, both sung by Kim. The only song maybe where almost everyone pretended to be happy is “The Heat is on at Saigon”. Music not only gave us LSS-worthy hits but it served as an effective tool to push the story forward.

You may have noticed how all of the musicals listed here involved themes that were edgy. It broke the myth that musicals tackle only happy themes. Obviously, some of the musicals listed used upbeat tunes to push the story forward. But it does not make the theme any less heavy. You get to realize that the moment you read the lyrics. Do you agree? Feel free to share on the comments’ section below. Don’t forget to like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Gracias!

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Top 5 Disney Movies

January 19, 2015 Web Master

Ah, Disney! The brand that made it cool to be a kid and great to sing along to animated movies. Nobody is too old for that stuff. In the course of having your daily dose of Disney goodness, favorites cannot be avoided. But we will limit it to 5. I will make it random too because choosing among them is already too much to handle, what more if we rank them.

– Toy Story

The story of Woody and Buzz serves as a reminder to kids about pride and prejudice. And first born children with self-esteem issues can relate. Whenever a new kid arrives in the house, it becomes the center of everyone’s attention, not you. You’re still a kid but the new kid is, well, new. It’s the same self-esteem issue that Woody felt upon the arrival of Buzz Lightyear. Woody is still the same toy. He is still fun to play with for his owner and cool to hang around with for his fellow toys even if he barely concealed his disdain for Buzz. Also, Buzz’s talents that Woody lacked just worsened the bitterness. When 2 “co-workers” find themselves in the same situations, they are forced to cooperate with one another. They end up discovering each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It took forever for Woody to realize that but at least they found great friends in each other.

– Finding Nemo

Nemo, just like some kids, got fed up with his dad who constantly told him that he can’t do much without him. Sure, Nemo’s Dad will forever be scared of what could possibly happen to his half-finned son. But every parent discovers their inner courage every time their offspring is in trouble. Nemo used to be embarrassed of his dad’s cowardice or lack of self-confidence in him. But, like some relatives, the only way they get to prove each other wrong is when catastrophe strikes. And also, Dory. She’s not as useless as you think she is. It’s her short-term memory loss that might even endeared her to some viewers. Getting voiced by Ellen DeGeneres is a major factor though.

– The Lion King

According to some critics, “The Lion King” is this generation’s “Bambi”. Mufasa’s death was a rude awakening to some kids as to how their recklessness can cause death of a parent. While Simba found solace in the “Hakuna Matata” lifestyle, the fact that his uncle’s crime of killing his father has yet to be brought to justice. Of course he had to take responsibility over the death too. While he may never bring back his father’s life, the best he could do is restore the kingdom to its old glory by facing his uncle head on. As to why some writers compare it to Hamlet, it’s more about the father-son vs uncle dynamic. Remove the madness quotient and everything else is kid-friendly.

– Wall-E

If ever there would be one film to recommend to parents with toddlers that can’t speak yet, it would be Wall-E. With 75% of the movie having no dialogue and just dependent on the characters’ action to get the story going, it served as the best homage to silent films without having to go black-and-white cinematography-wise. It was on second viewing that some fans realized its slight anti-technology statement where all humanity has

relocated to a different planet and become totally dependent on machines. And it all started when Wall-E found a seedling that might be a tree if nurtured well. With the help of another robot, EVE, they end up exploring how humanity needs to be restored, not overpowered, by technology. If that sounds like the best statement against films like “I, Robot”, then I don’t know what else could be.

– Frozen

Disney’s most famous animated film to date where girl power is best expressed. It also served as the best balance between the gender roles. Our lead female characters here, Elsa and Anna, are still princesses in distress. There are men available to save the day for them – the prince and the ice vendor. There are almost no wasted characters in this film because almost everyone served a purpose including that pesky monarch. In fact the pesky monarch ended up becoming a story device in how princes are portrayed in the past – the kind of man who can save the day by marriage to the princess. The safest spoiler that I can share here is it’s one of those Disney movies that did not end with the prince and the princess getting married.

How about you? What are your favorite Disney films so far? You may have your reasons for picking them from gender sensitivity, honesty about technology or how it hit some nerves in your personal life. Also, a little favor. Please like my official Facebook page, Kuya Manzano Fan Club, and follow me on Twitter @kuyamanzano. Muchas gracias.

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