“M. BUTTERFLY” NATIONAL TOUR 2019 ALL SET FOR SIX-CITY RUN FROM FEBRUARY TO JUNE

The M. BUTTERFLY National Tour 2019 is all set to spread its wings even wider to reach major cities namely Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cebu, Davao, Manila and Baguio.

Presented by Tony and Grammy award winning producer Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW Entertainment (producer of highly-acclaimed independent films Bhoy Intsik and Bwaya), the M. BUTTERFLY National Tour 2019 was decided upon by the producers to bring this world-class masterpiece to those who did not have the opportunity to catch its 2018 Manila run. After all, location should not limit one’s exposure to the arts and culture.

Most theater companies in our country whose successful productions in Manila are often hindered from bringing their projects to other key cities because of the many challenges and technical details involved. And this is why Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW Entertainment are taking this bolder step to carry on their mission and advocacy in the performing arts and to further enhance audience development throughout the Philippine archipelago.

This revival production of David Henry Hwang’s M. BUTTERFLY is the winner of the 2018 ALIW AWARDS for Best Play, Best Actor and Best Director. It was also nominated for two  Best Featured Actresses in a Play and Best Ensemble.

M. Butterfly, which tells the story originally premiered on Broadway in 1998 and won 3 Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Feature Actor and Best Director.

Synopsis: René Gallimard is a member of the French embassy in China. René is mild mannered and considers himself to be poor with women. He meets and falls in love with Chinese opera star Song Liling, a woman whom he considers to be the embodiment of the perfect woman, Madame Butterfly. But when West meets East, everything is not what it seems…

Targeting audiences between ages 18 and beyond, the producers are hoping that this classic drama, inspired by Giaccomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly’, will likewise resonate to theater audiences from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that “ love, power and deception holds no boundaries – whether this be in a rural or urban setting.”

RS FRANCISCO, the 2018 Aliw Awards Best Actor for M. Butterfly shall reprise his iconic portrayal of Song Liling, the Chinese opera singer who is Gallimard’s object of affection and seduces him through his biases of the East then exploits their intimacy to collect classified information for agents of the Chinese Communist Party.

RS first essayed this role in May 1990 for Dulaang UP, opposite veteran actor, writer and critic Behn Cervantes. On its debut, M. Butterfly immediately rose to critical acclaim with packed houses and box office success in over 100 performances throughout the Philippines.

In the many years thereafter, RS Francisco’s theater credits in numerous productions and variety of roles continued to hone his craft as a compleat artist. In films, his most recent awards include the SINAG MAYNILA Best Actor, the STAR AWARDS Movie Actor of the Year and the SUBIC BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Best Actor.

When M. BUTTERFLY was revived recently on Broadway, RS had thought of bringing it to life once again to the new theater audiences of today. After all, this is the only ‘one’ role that continues to remain as closest to his heart.

To add a diverse twist to the M. Butterfly National Tour 2019, young actor AIRA IGARTA will step into the role of Song Liling as alternate in certain performances. As an original member of the Kurogo ensemble of the play’s 2018 Manila run, Aira is a stage and film actor from the Theatre Arts Program of UP Diliman where he took part in several Dulaang UP and Dulaang Labortoryo productions. Trained by the likes of Tony Fabella and Luther Perez, Aira was originally a dance and voice scholar at Quezon City Performing Arts Foundation (QCPADFI).

French actor OLIVIER BORTEN shall essay the role of Rene Gallimard, a former French diplomat, who relates the story of his passionate, disastrous affair with Song Liling from his cell in a Paris prison, where he is serving a long sentence for treason.

Philippine theater royalty JENINE DESIDERIO, who among many other theater, film, television and recording credits, assumed the lead role as Kim in the West End’s original Miss Saigon, will portray Gallimard’s wife – Helga. The pair married as a matter of convenience; Helga’s father had diplomatic connections that helped Gallimard ascend in his career.

After 25 years of stage acting experience in the United Kingdom, Scottish NORM MCLEOD has stepped in the Philippine stage as Manuel Toulon, the French Ambassador to China who also happens to be the dominant and strong-willed superior of Gallimard at the embassy in Beijing. Toulon promotes Gallimard to vice-consul and charges him with collecting information to aid the American war in Vietnam.

Trilingual American actor LEE O’BRIAN will once more personify Marc, the sexually unapologetic best friend of Gallimard. He encourages Gallimard to take sexual advantage of the women around him without regard for their feelings or even their consent. Although M. Butterfly was Lee’s first theatrical endeavor, his acting skills have already been tried and tested in international films Edsa Woolworth and Forgive Me Father. O’Brian also portrays Sharpless in M. Butterfly for a brief while.

Portraying the different roles of Suzuki, Comrade Chin and Shu Fang is powerful and well-rounded artist MAYEN ESTAÑERO. Her impressive performance in the 2018 run of M. Butterfly landed her an Aliw Awards nomination for Best Featured Actress. Mayen’s previous theater credits include Dalanghita Production’s Corazon Negro, An Operetta as Maestra, Virgin Labfest’s Mula sa Kulimliman as Leila and Sugid Production’s Buwan at Baril as Asawa. Comrade Chin is a member of the Red Guards, a paramilitary arm of the Communist Party in China. Song communicates with Comrade Chin often, to pass on the classified information he gathers from Gallimard.

Twice a finalist as Best Actress for the Aliw Awards, MAYA ENCILA receives her third nomination as Best Featured Actress for her unique characterization of Renee and Pin-Up Girl in M. Butterfly. The stunning Arizona native plays a young, sexually liberated Danish woman with whom Gallimard has an affair. Renee’s boldness presents a stark contrast to Song’s modesty, which Gallimard finds both exciting and obnoxious. A true expert in performing arts, Maya has taken the stage countless times as Mary Lennox for The Secret Garden, as Belle for Repertory Philippines’ Beauty and the Beast musical and as Lara for Philippine Stagers’ KATIPS, to name a few.

Rising soprano star JASMIN SALVO will be the new Opera Singer for the national tour.  The members of the ensemble playing the role of Kurogo are as follows: PHEITH IENA BALLUG, ULLYSES BASA, SASA CABALQUINTO, FRANCO FERRER and JOHN PAUL ORTENERO.

The artistic team of M. Butterfly are as follows: Jhett Tolentino and RS Francisco (Producers), Ohm David (Set), Eric Pineda (Costume), John Batalla (Lighting), Jethro Joaquin (Sound), Joed Balsamo (Music) and Carissa Adea (Choreography).

The M. BUTTERFLY NATIONAL TOUR 2019 will benefit 10 charitable institutions namely: Iloilo Prima Galaw, Philippine National Red Cross Iloilo Chapter, The Children of Cebu Foundation, Silliman University Culture and Arts Council, the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Love the Children Foundation, House of Hope Foundation, Halfway Home for the Boys and St. Louis University Culture and Arts Center.

Ticket merchants per area:

ILOILO, DAVAO, CEBU, BAGUIO – SM Tickets at any SM Mall nationwide or online at SMTickets.com

DUMAGUETE – Culture and Arts Council Office, Silliman University through contact nos. (035) 422-4365, (0917) 300-0346, (0999) 797-7825

MANILA – TicketWorld through contact no. (02) 891-9999 or ticketworld.comThe ticket prices vary per city between P500 to P2,000 plus taxes and fees.

Check out M. Butterfly at the following social media:

Facebook: /MButterflyPH

Twitter: @MButterflyPH

Instagram:@MButterflyPH

YouTube: MButterflyPH

For further inquiries, please contact JHETT TOLENTINO at (0906) 576-6914.

“I Love You, LC!” - Romantic Comedy Film

“I Love You, LC!” is a story about an obese Filipina (Patty Sandoval) who is in love with a hot guy (Lloyd Corpuz). Accidentally, an incident revealed that Lloyd is not interested with Patty because she is too fat.

Hurt, Patty embarked on a journey of losing weight through an unconventional weight loss method, that does not require any supplement, surgery nor exercise and without ever feeling hungry, called the low carb and intermittent fasting. This unconventional method helped her transition from “yucky” to “yummy” in a matter of few months. All her friends, including Lloyd, are shocked with her transformation! 

Now armed with a sexy body, Patty is more determined than ever to win Lloyd’s heart! Will Lloyd now finally be interested with the new and yummy Patty? Or is there a deeper reason why Lloyd isn’t interested with Patty? Will Patty now have him happily ever after? Find out soon in Philippine cinemas starting February 27, 2019!

“I Love You, LC!” (ILYLC) is a full-length Filipino independent romantic comedy movie by Alma D. Roxas-Aguila of Aguila Media Productions and Services.

It is a movie conceptualized by Dave Aguila, founder of Low Carb and Intermittent Fasting Philippines (www.facebook.com/groups/lcifph), the largest, most interactive and fastest growing online low carb community in the country today. This group aims to spread awareness that obesity can be reversed without any supplement, surgery nor exercise and without feeling hungry.

ILYLC is a result of Dave Aguila’s realization about the need to step up in spreading awareness about the dangers of obesity and how it can be reversed or prevented via low carb and intermittent fasting when the membership of his online low carb community grew phenomenally from January 07, 2018 to more than 350,000 members after a year!

Globally, we are now at the highest rate of obesity. In the Philippines alone, there are about 18 million Filipinos who are suffering from being overweight or obese. Obesity is a very serious subject as this is a precursor to a lot of serious illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, etc. which is why Dave Aguila, with his wife Alma Roxas-Aguila, decided to produce a movie that will help spread awareness of LCIF.

ILYLC is written by Dave Cecilio and directed by Dave Aguila and Dave Cecilio.

Compassionate Healing at Holistic Integrative Care Center

Have you heard of this thing called Integrative Care?

Integrative Care is very new in the Philippines and there are a few medical clinics treating patients through this method. One of them is Holistic Integrative Care Center.

Holistic Integrative Care Center is a medical facility in the Philippines that offers revolutionary and multi-dimensional approach to patients. HICC is patient-centered, focusing on healing the person in mind, body and spirit. They encourage the patient to take responsibility and be an active participant on their own care and healing.

HICC makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative to provide patients with the best treatment possible. Their mission is “to provide superior, safe, cost-effective, and patient-centered integrative health services in a caring and collaborative environment, specialized in both treatment of several diseases and both promotion of health and wellness;  to contribute to patient’s health and well-being through exceptional medical care, guided by our core values and innovation in clinical and medical researches.”

Their SERVICES are as follows:

·         Integrative Medicine                                     

·         Functional Medicine                                      

·         Natural Medicine                                           

·         Energy Medicine                                            

·         Orthomolecular Medicine                             

·         Gerson Therapy                                             

·         Holistic Psychotherapy                                   

·         Scalar & Photon-electromagnetic therapy

·         Chelation Therapy

·         Glutathione Therapy

·         Mineral Repletion Therapy

·         Immune Therapy

·         Ozone Therapy

·         Detox Programs

·         Infrared Hyperthermia

·         Nutriment (Holistic Food & Workshops)   

HICC is located at UG-11 CPT Condominium, Calle Estacion, Makati City, open Monday-Saturday (10am-6pm).

HICC hotlines:

02-744-5355
0917-622-4565

For more details, visit their pages at 

https://www.hiccph.com
https://www.facebook.com/hiccph/

I got the opportunity to personally try their services I was able to take a detailed view of what the Center is offering, and also fortunate enough to try their Body Scan (a 1-minute procedure that scans all the organs in your body using a Quantum Resonance Magnetic Analyzer). With this procedure, you can have an overview of your entire body condition so that you can attack a disease before it progresses. Prevention is still better than cure. We were also given a Glutathione with Vitamin C shot.

Scalar & Photon-electromagnetic Equipment

The "Body Scan" room, with a Quantum Resonance Magnetic Analyzer

Dra. Imelda Edodollon, or “Doc. Meddie”, HICC’s founder, interpreted the. True results of my body scan  and gave me pointers on how to  address my health problems enough, her approach is holistic, healing would come from, their center diagnosing your problem and providing some technical procedures and "myself" taking full responsibility on my own body by eating and living healthy.

The caring & passionate doctor, Dra. Imelda Edodollon, Founder & Medical Director of HICC

After her medical inputs, it’s Chef Arlene’s turn to educate us. Based on our results too, she told us what to eat and what not to. She shared with us some healthy food preparations that we need in order to prevent the diseases we are prone to from developing into our body. She even introduced to us “Kombucha Tea”, a fermented drink that brings many health benefits like aiding digestion, facilitating detoxification, reducing arthritis pain, and lowering cholesterol levels, to name a few. Convinced, I bought a Kombucha starter pack and started my 1st fermentation process. As of this writing, I am already a Kombucha Tea drinker and I must say, “it doesn’t taste bad and I feel better!”

The beautiful holistic Chef Arlene Clemente
(photo credits: Ms. Paula "Pinkikay" Cabildo)

Indeed, it was a time well spent. Learned a lot from this experience, you can definitely get "Healing that cares" from this Center. Thanks HICC. More power and may your tribe grow!

For more details about HICC, their products and services, follow them on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/hiccph/ or call 796-1865 or 744-5355. HICC is located at Cityland Pasong Tamo Condominium, 6264 CALLE ESTACION, Pio del Pilar, Makati, 1235 Metro Manila. They are open, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

***********

About HICC:

Holistic Integrative Care Center (HICC) is a medical facility in the country that aims to provide superior healthcare services that are safe and cost-effective. HICC not only treats diseases but also promotes health and wellness.

HICC has started through the passion of Dr. Imelda “Meddie” Edodollon as she reversed with the help of the Creator and her learning’s, the illness of her father. Doc. Meddie’s father suffered from Heart, Lung and Kidney failure on top of OSAS, Status Asthmaticus, Hypertension. Her heart sank when she saw her father unresponsive in the emergency room. He was intubated thrice. Seeing her dad helpless, she knew she has to do something outside of the box of her medical training. And this lead her to integrative medicine. Her dad’s condition was reversed. He has recovered and enjoying life. She now extended this to all people who suffer from chronic degenerative diseases.  

And as of today, HICC is known to everyone as the center who provides healing that cares in catering and treating and reversing diseases out of love and compassion.

Also, HICC was awarded by the consumers’ choice award as the Most Outstanding Integrative Wellness Center.

About Doc Meddie:

Dra. Imelda Edodollon earned her medical degree from University of The East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. She completed her pre-med course, B.S. Medical Technology at the University of Sto. Tomas.

But there’s a lot more she has to offer --- take a look at her diploma and certification wall inside her clinic, that says it all. -->

About Doc Meddie:

Dra. Imelda Edodollon earned her medical degree from University of The East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. She completed her pre-med course, B.S. Medical Technology at the University of Sto. Tomas.

But there’s a lot more she has to offer --- take a look at her diploma and certification wall inside her clinic, that says it all.

She is also one of the pioneer Filipino doctors to graduate from the International Medical School of Integrative Medicine and from Gerson Therapy in Gerson Institute, USA.

As of today, she is a member of a medical alliance of integrative practitioners- PRIMA and different trainings are far from done.

Apart from being caring and passionate about making people feel better again, she is one of our medical geniuses who never stop exploring and studying possible cure to diseases crippling people’s lives.

About Chef Arlene:

Chef Arlene Clemente is a certified Holistic Chef who graduated “Cum Laude” from Baliwag Universty with a degree of B.A. in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She also finished another course,  “Raw Food Culinary Arts from Bali, Indonesia. 

She heads the Nutriment Department of HICC. She promotes “Plant-based Diet” to all existing patients and customers of the Center.

The Aesthetics Studio

Need a  beauty hub specializing on Eyebrow Embroidery, permanent makeup, yumi & velvet lashes, facial, ipl, waxing, rf/cavi & nail spa?

The Aesthetics Studio is one of the pioneers who introduced semi-permanent and permanent makeup procedures using micro pigments. We started with permanent eyebrows, lips & eyeliner. Soon enough, we upgraded into medical micropigmentation like areola & scalp pigmentation as well as BB glow. In addition, we are the first to launch keratin lash lifting in the country. Other than permanent makeup, we also offer other wellness related services.

Kristine Lucas, the founder and owner, has long been teaching permanent and traditional makeup. Her passion for teaching became her mission and paved the way to The Aesthetics Studio by Kristine Lucas.

Our success in these areas lead the way for us to finally set up Permanent Makeup Academy PH. True to it’s Mission statement which is “To exceed client’s expectations by providing the most up to date technology in terms of service in the aesthetics industry.” TAS is committed in promoting quality training and in providing the best products that pass our standards. We make sure that we regularly re-invent ourselves with the latest trends and techniques thru regular trainings abroad.

With this, TAS Vision to be the most sought after and trusted center for permanent makeup, eyebrow embroidery & aesthetics, is within reach.

TAS Main Services:

Permanent Makeup

• Eyebrow Embroidery (3D, 6D, Ombre Look)
• Permanent Lipstick
• Permanent Eyeliner
• Semi-permanent BB Glow
• Scalp Micropigmentation 

Facial

• Skin Perfection Oxygen Peptide
• Agas Whitening
• Diamond Peel

Slimming

• RR, Cavi and Vacuum Therapy
• RF Face
• RF / Cavi
• Ultherapy

TAS can also help you with your nails, lashes and skin. They offer other services like:

• Manicure
• Pedicure
• Gel
• Nail Art
• Hand & Foot Spa
• Paraffin Hand & Feet
• Yumi Keratin Lashlift
• Lash Extensions
• Waxing
• Wart Removal
• IPL
• Hairstyling & Makeup

You can visit The Aesthetics Studio in any of their following branches:

Makati:

208 La Fuerza 2, Bldg. Chino Roces Ave. cor. Sabio St. MakatiCity, 0916 – 2207852

Las Pinas:

Unit 5, 2nd Flr. Psalm 23 Commercial Bldg. Block 25 Lot 1 Caroline Masibay St. BF

Resort Village, Las Pinas 0917 553 4348

Alabang

LG8 Richville Corporate Tower Alabang-Zapote Road, Madrigal Business Park,

Alabang, Muntinlupa City, 02 – 8303241

Nasugbu

Dalampasigan Cmpd. R. Martinez St. Nasugbu, Batangas, 0917 553 4348

Contact Rannie Lucas for more information, ran29lucas@gmail.com, 0917 855 8242

The Aesthetics TEAM

Rannie Lucas – Operations Manager

Former Vice President for a Real Estate company, gives him the experience needed to create the perfect ambience with client comfort in mind 

Lester Rodriguez – Senior Artist for Men

A former musician and a Business Management graduate, Lester is a sought after artist for men permanent makeup needs

Joanne Batino – Territory Manager

Lead staff trainer and senior aesthetics therapist/artist.

The Permanent Makeup Artists

 

The Hair & Makeup Team

------------------------------

And the Master Artist, Kristine Lucas

A loving wife, mother of three and an entrepreneur.

Before venturing into the aesthetics industry, Kristine was as a Marketing Manager for a well-known I.T. Company. Though already successful in her initial career, her innate skills and love for Makeup keeps resurfacing, hence, she started training locally at The Basement Academy (now called HD Academy), Center for Aesthetics Sciences (CAS), Makeup Forever & Kryolan Philippines.

To further hone her skills, she pursued further studies abroad. She continued her makeup training both under Kryolan & Muse Beauty Pro in San Francisco, Salon Boutique Academy in Texas and Yumi Lashes in Beverly Hills, LA. Realizing the latest trend in Permanent Makeup, she then took lessons in Eyebrow Embroidery & Permanent Makeup in Aesthetics International Academy in Singapore and Pitangui Lee Na Young Academy in Korea, Biotouch in Thailand, Biotouch in the US and attended.

Kristine has experience doing make-up for celebrities, print-ads, electronic billboards, magazines and concerts and has built her own center for aesthetics and permanent makeup services – The Aesthetic Studio by Kristine Lucas (TAS). Other than aesthetics services, TAS is also the center for aesthetics trainings.

"Everyone is Beautiful. Let me enhance it naturally and bring it to the next level" - Tin