Author: Ely Valendez

Anino sa Likod ng Buwan

Uncomfortably Brilliant: Why ‘Anino sa Likod ng Buwan’ Still Matters

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ON A QUIET Saturday night — I found myself entering a different kind of space. The air felt still, the audience hushed, and as the lights dimmed, it was as if the outside world dissolved. I was about to experience Anino Sa Likod ng Buwan, the award-winning one-act play written by Jun Robles Lana, first recognized in the 1993 Bulwagang Gantimpala Playwriting Competition. ANINO is an adaptation of the Cinemalaya film of the same title. I’m more than glad to have been able to catch tonight’s show, it’s closing show. This staging, directed with restraint and surgical emotional precision by Tuxqs Rutaquio, featured a cast configuration I now consider unforgettable: Edward Benosa as Joel, Ross Pesigan as Nardo, and Elora Españo as Emma. I didn’t just enjoy this trio — I adored them. Their rhythm, tension, and emotional shifts felt instinctive and lived-in. Nothing felt performed. Everything felt dangerously real. This isn’t the kind of cast you watch — it’s the kind that pulls you into their unraveling. The story takes place in a tight, …

Kokoy De Santos-starrer Ateng

ATENG: A Revival That Hits Hard

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Some plays entertain. Some plays provoke. And then there are productions like ATENG — the kind that manage to do both with disarming precision. On November 13, I attended the press preview of the show a day before its official run. You would agree with me that even from the snippets I’m sharing with you alone (see my YouTube vlog below), it was clear: panalo na. The room was alive — laughter bouncing off the walls one minute, and an almost reverent stillness the next. ATENG doesn’t simply tell a story; it pulls its audience into a memory — personal or collective — whether we are prepared for it or not. The production marks the revival of the 2005 Palanca-award winning one-act play by Vincent de Jesus. Known for narratives that fuse wit and wounded truth, de Jesus once again offers a script that feels universal yet deeply intimate. This staging runs from November 14 to December 7 at RAMPA Drag Club, transforming a nightlife venue into a raw, compact storytelling arena. In a way, …

Philippine–Italian Chamber Music Concer

Philippine–Italian Chamber Music Concert Takes Center Stage on Oct. 16

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Two cultures, one stage, and a shared devotion to the beauty of music—this is the spirit behind the Filipino-Italian Chamber Music Concert happening on October 16, 2025, at the Asia Pacific College Auditorium, 3 Humabon Place, Magallanes, Makati City. Presented by the Philippine Italian Association (PIA) in collaboration with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and made possible through the support of Joel’s Place and 98.7 DZFE-FM The Master’s Touch, the concert highlights the seamless harmony between Filipino emotion and Italian musical tradition. A Cross-Cultural Evening Led by Maestro Alessio Benvenuti At the forefront of the performance is Maestro Alessio Benvenuti, the MSO’s concertmaster and a Makati-based violinist whose career has spanned continents. Since 1996, he has performed in over 2,000 concerts across the United States, South America, Central America, Asia, Tunisia, and Europe—each stage sharpening the unmistakable artistry he brings back to the Philippines. He is joined by an ensemble of exceptional musicians: Alfonso Encina (Violin II), Sara Gonzales (Viola), Arnold Josue (Cello), Lawrence Palad (Bass), and Mariel Ilusorio (Piano). Together, they will weave a …

Alexander Vikulov leading the Manila Symphony Orchestra, it was a night of elegance, emotion, and sonic mastery in the heart of Manila

A Night with the Manila Symphony Orchestra: When Manila Breathes in Music

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There are nights in Manila when the city feels louder than usual — not because of traffic or crowds, but because art decides to take up space. This weekend was one of those nights. The rain lingered over the bay, the streets glistened, and the world felt like it was pushing people indoors. Yet inside Aliw Theater, something powerful unfolded: a performance by the Manila Symphony Orchestra that reminded me how alive the city’s cultural pulse truly is. The MSO: Nearly a Century of Sound Founded in 1926, the Manila Symphony Orchestra has lived through war, rebuilding, cultural shifts, and generations of changing tastes — yet it remains steady, almost stubbornly graceful. It’s one of the oldest orchestras in Asia, and every performance feels like a continuation of a legacy Manila is lucky to have. Watching them isn’t just about listening to classical music. It’s about witnessing history breathing. “Dancing with Tchaikovsky”: A Dialogue of Emotion That night’s concert, Dancing with Tchaikovsky, felt like stepping into a story told not with words, but with movement …