Ward 448, Debunking the HIV Stigma, Sowing Compassion and Understanding, Giving Information

“WARD 448” a play written and directed by Rodel Mercado is a trilogy that presents the stories of individuals that have HIV virus affliction. The play depicts the fight-or-flight response of persons infected with this devastating and life-threatening disease and how discrimination, ignorance and the stigma exacerbate the predicament of the persons with HIV.

From the point of view and reportage of Jennylyn Braza, a news reporter with Karina Macaspac and Jenney Cañeja as alternates, the story of three (3) RITM in-patients who stay in the same ward will figure in their news story.

The headliners are Carla Mae, a mother of three with Anna Escobia and Justine Torralba as alternates; the men who have sex with other men group who work at BPO are VJ Mendoza, Kevin Posadas and Rey Correjado; and seasoned thespians Ronnie Martinez and Roeder Camanag who alternately portray Francis, a jaded drag performer. 

‘Inside Out’ on Sept 10 at RCBC auditorium

“Inside Out” is a dance concert inspired by the book of the same title. The book is a compilation of lectures of yogini Dadi Janki, who was touted by scientists as having the World’s Most Stable Mind.

In 1978, the Medical and Science Research Institute at the University of Texas conducted a study on the brain activity of people who meditated. Dadi Janki’s results showed that while performing actions, lecturing and doing math, her brain waves recorded delta, a state equivalent to deep sleep and regeneration.

In most of her lectures, she explains that developing a calm mind under all circumstances is based on using the powers of the soul—peace, love, purity, happiness and truth.

“Inside Out” will be held on Sept. 10, 7:30 pm at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza. This one-woman show, performed by Marge Enriquez, is directed by Bong Cabrera and choreographed by Kris-Belle Paclibar.

Philippine Opera Company Presents 'Passion' The Tony Award Winner For Best Musical From Sept. 14-29

“ PASSION is about how the force of somebody's feelings for you can crack you open, and how it is the life force in a deadened world." - Stephen Sondheim

For its 20th year anniversary celebration, The Philippine Opera Company is inviting everyone to a romantic journey into and through the many shades and mysteries of love as it proudly presents a new production of PASSION - the 1994 Tony Award for Best Musical from September 14 - 29 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

From the Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, and based on the 1981 Italian film ‘Passione d'amore’, discover the power of love in PASSION with the wondrously complex landscape of the human heart as the subject of this haunting, intensely emotional one-act chamber opera that many consider to be Sondheim's deepest and most powerful evening of musical theatre.

Roma Pradhan Stages Charity Concert "Musical Soirée" For The Fifth Year

To soothe ourselves from the summer heat, it would be great to have a night of alluring and wonderful songs from Indian singer Roma Pradhan as she performs for a one night only concert Musical Soiree V. As the title suggests, it is already on it's 5th year of bringing musical entertainment as well as to raise funds for the Tahanan ng Pagmamahal Foundation.

The benefit concert will be staged at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City on April 27 from 6 to 8 PM. Roma Pradhan started Musical Soiree in 2014 as a way of giving back to the community. 

The fifth installment of her annual fundraising show promises to be even better than previous years as Roma will be performing a variety of Hindi music genres, ranging from Bollywood classics to more the modern hits of today. As per previous years, she is also known for performing a Tagalog song at each show; this year she will be singing "Tagumpay Nating Lahat," a song originally sung by award-winning international Broadway star Lea Salonga.

Award-Winning Play "THE NORMAL HEART" All Set To Open On July 3

AAI / The Necessary Theatre proudly announces the Asian premiere of " THE NORMAL HEART " - the 2011 Tony Award Winner for Best Revival of a Play about the early rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s. During this period, a deadly epidemic was decimating North America’s gay population, killing people in the thousands, devastating an entire generation and changing the way we think about sex forever.

Written by playwright and activist Larry Kramer, " THE NORMAL HEART " is a largely autobiographical play that puts a human face to an issue often mired in numbers, facts and statistics as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the openly gay founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. He watches in horror as friends and lovers fall prey to a mysterious virus targeting his community.