The value of ThemeWorks

When the super rich, the power brokers, and celebrities stage events of gargantuan proportions, who do they call? Miguel A. Miñana of ThemeWorks of course!

Miguel brushes elbows with the high and mighty who certainly look up to him to stage grandiose events. An expert in events management, he is one of the best, if not the best organizer in the country today.

And they are the high-powered events that always put him in the limelight. One of these is the Mar-Korina wedding which people say was a classic in its simplicity and elegance. At the Mar-Korina affair, whom he assiduously prepared for four long months, Miguel was the over-all head of production, technical and physical set-up as well as head of security and coordinator for media accreditation.

But where did Miguel come from? Miguel’s expertise in events management started when fresh out of college at the De La Salle University he got into advertising with a focus on event management. In 1992, he set up his first event company with a partner. In 2001, he went solo with ThemeWorks and as they say, the rest is history.

Always at the center of things because of his famous clients, Miguel’s involvement with high-profile affairs comes from a long line of events he has done for Malacañang. Miguel is the man behind the State Dinners of the Palace together with Malacañang’s Social Secretary Bettina Aboitiz. It started in 2001 with the State Dinner in honor of Prince Andrew. He also did the production of the weddings of the Mikey and Dato Arroyo as well as the Asean Summit with 27 heads of state in attendance among other Palace receptions. Miguel was also in-charge of the very private 50th Birthday Celebration of Jaime Augusto Zobel with a loungey New York ‘70s theme.

Among his most memorable events are the State Dinner for Pres. Bush, the Asean Summit Reception, the Mar-Korina wedding and several events of his corporate clients Hope P20Million event, the Nike Hoopwars, the Roche National Conferences held out of town and the staging of the major Awards Night for Shell.

Miguel has to his name close to 200 events in almost nine years of ThemeWorks. He looks forward to more exciting and challenging events ahead like an event in Europe or in his favorite city New York. For inquiries email [email protected] or visit http://themeworksevents.multiply.com.

Let the spelling begin!

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opened last week for a limited holiday season repeat run until Dec. 13 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Spelling Bee has already had three hit runs this year, including a run in Singapore’s Victoria Theatre last August. Spelling Bee is survivor for nerds. This tribe is a motley collection of six socially-challenged 12-year-olds battling it out for glory: To be sole survivor in their local spelling competition.

Contestants are winnowed down to a winner via increasingly difficult, bizarre and multi-syllabic words. Along the way there is romance, cliff-hanging suspense, great songs and much wit. The competition is intense. The words are hilarious. Let the spelling begin!

Spelling Bee will feature “starring roles” each night for two volunteer audience members and two surprise celebrity guest spellers.

Atlantis Productions brings back the stellar cast of theater veterans Cathy Azanza-Dy, Pheona Baranda, Johann dela Fuente, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Lorenz Martinez, Noel Rayos, Felix Rivera, Joel Trinidad and Shiela Valderrama-Martinez. Spelling Bee is directed by Bobby Garcia, choreography by Chari Arespacochaga, set design by Tuxqs Rutaquio, lighting design by Johnsy Reyes, costume design by Twinkle Zamora, vocal coaching by ManMan Angsico and musical direction by Jojo Malferari.

For details, call 892-7078 or 840-1187.