Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
FILIPINO FOLK ARTS
The Philippines has a rich folk arts heritage, but a scarcity of funds and committed audiences
with money to spend on tickets means it's in danger of being forgotten. Folk dances such as
tinikling
, which sees participants hopping at increasing speed between heavy bamboo poles
that are struck together at shin-height, are seen in cultural performances for tourists, but are
only performed occasionally in theatres. The same goes for
kundiman
, a genre of music that
reached its zenith at the beginning of the twentieth century, and combines elements of tribal
music with contemporary lovelorn lyrics to produce epic songs of love and loss. To see if
anything is on check out websites like
W
ticketworld.com.ph. The CCP sometimes puts on
shows (see p.70); otherwise your best bet is to join the tourists at restaurants such as
Barbara's
(see p.89) or
Zamboanga
(see p.91).
Meralco Theater
Meralco Ave, Ortigas.
Stages every-
thing from ballet and musicals by overseas companies to
pantomimes with local celebs. Check websites such as
W
ticketworld.com.ph for the latest shows.
OnStage Theater
Greenbelt 1, Makati
. Small venue
mainly staging drama by local theatre groups, including
Repertory Philippines (
T
02 571 6926,
W
repertory
philippines.com),
CABARET AND BURLESQUE
Amazing Show
Manila Film Theater, Jose W Diokno
Blvd, Pasay
T
02 834 8870.
Fun transvestite musical variety
show involving singing, dancing and comedy skits, especially
popular with Korean tourists. Tickets for foreigners usually
around P2000.
Tues-Sun 8-9.15pm.
The Library
1739 Maria Orosa St, Malate
T
02 522
2484,
W
thelibrary.com.ph.
Nightly stand-up comedy/
karaoke from veteran Manila drag queens where audience
participation is very much part of the show - attracts local
straight and gay audience. P100-500 cover charge.
Daily
7pm-1am (shows from 9pm).
Manila's
premier
English-speaking
theatre group (Jan-April).
Paco Park
/
Rizal Park
“Paco Park Presents” hosts free
classical concerts at 6pm on Friday, performed under the
stars in the historic cemetery (see p.72); Rizal Park (p.65)
stages similar free “Concerts at the Park” every Sun at 6pm.
THEATRE, DANCE AND CLASSICAL MUSIC
Most performances at the following theatres are listed
in the Manila English-language daily press, usually the
Philippine Daily Inquirer
and the
Philippine Star
.
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Roxas Blvd, Malate
T
02 832 1125,
W
culturalcenter.gov.ph.
Events here range
from art exhibitions to Broadway musicals, pop concerts,
classical concerts by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra,
tinikling
and
kundiman
. The CCP is also home to the
Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater), where
smaller dramatic productions are staged and films shown;
Ballet Philippines (
T
02 832 3689,
W
ballet.ph); Bayanihan,
the National Folk Dance Company (
W
bayanihannational
danceco.ph); and the CCP's resident theatre group, Tanghalang
Pilipino, dedicated to the production of original Filipino plays
(July-March;
W
tanghalangpilipino.org.ph). Nearby is the
Folk Arts Theater, built for the Miss Universe Pageant in 1974
and now staging occasional rock concerts and drama.
CINEMAS
Arthouse cinema
A venue for arthouse and independent
films is the UP Cine Adarna (
T
02 981 8500,
W
filminstitute
.upd.edu.ph), UPFI Film Center building at Magsaysay and
Osmeña avenues to the northeast of Quezon Memorial Circle,
but screenings don't take place every day, so call ahead.
Multiplex cinemas
Most shopping malls in Manila house
multiplex cinemas that show all the Hollywood and Asian
blockbusters in the original languages, including The
Podium mall (18 ADB Ave, Ortigas;
T
02 633 8976), with
late-night screenings on Fri and Sat; Greenbelt 3 in Makati
(
T
02 729 7777) and Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive,
Makati (
T
02 898 1440). Tickets are usually around P150-
210. In the Malate area, try Robinsons Place in M. Adriatico
St (
T
02 536 7813). Tickets for cinemas in the Greenbelt
and Glorietta malls can be reserved online at
W
sureseats
.com for collection at the venue.
SPORT
When it comes to sports and games in Manila, you'll have quite a bit of choice if
bowling
or
golf
is your thing. A general
overview of sport in the Philippines is given in Basics (see p.41).
person (plus P35 for shoes).
Open daily 10am-1am
.
Paeng's Midtown Bowl
Level 2, Robinsons Place,
M. Adriatico St, Ermita
T
02 525 6442,
W
puyatsports
.com.
P120-150 per person (plus P35 for shoes).
Daily
10am-1am.
BOWLING
Bowling Inn
1941 Taft Ave, Malate
T
02 522 3818.
P150-200 per person.
Daily 10am-1am.
Coronado Lanes
4/F Star Mall, EDSA, Mandaluyong
City
T
02 725 3965,
W
puyatsports.com.
P100-140 per
