Promoting Philippine fashion & culture

My dear Tita Conching (Conchita Sunico) will be honored in a special tribute given by former Karilagan International models, fashion designers, artists, production and office staff, sponsors, and friends on Friday, Jan. 29. Tita Conching founded Karilagan International which showcased and promoted Philippine fashion and culture around the world. She was the doyenne of Manila’s society who hobnobbed with the world’s rich and famous. Tita Conching was crowned Carnival Queen in 1935.

Apart from leading Manila’s high society, Tita Conching had her share of charity. She was the ultimate fundraiser for various causes. With her friends, she raised funds for the guerillas during the Japanese occupation. She was the tourism commissioner during the term of former President Diosdado Macapagal. Everyone who was once part of Karilagan International and whose life has been touched by Tita Conching may get in touch with Angie dela Cruz at tel. no. 896-2996 or 0918-3867925.

Tita Conching’s photo appears on this page. The photo of Mrs. Cecilia Henares, the lovely wife of Mr. Larry Henares and mom of my good friends Ronnie, Atom, Elvira, Danby, Juno and Rosanna was mistakenly used in another column I wrote last week.

Our apologies.

Rachel in a dual role

“I can’t wait for the return of Avenue Q. I just love the characters and the songs. The way those puppets come alive is just magical,” says Girlie Rodis whose talent Rachel Alejandro plays the dual role of Lucy the Slut/Kate Monster.

Rachel earned rave reviews and an Aliw Award for her performance as Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut. “I’m really excited to do Avenue Q again because I know a bunch of people who missed seeing me in it two years ago.  One of them is my mom.  I love seeing the way people come out of the theater with big smiles on their faces.  It is really one of the funniest shows ever,” Rachel says.

Avenue Q has had four sold out runs (including an extended run in Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre). “We are very excited to bring back Avenue Q to Manila. It is a show that brings so much joy and happiness to perform each night and we are so glad audiences are still craving for more,” says Bobby.

“I love Avenue Q because it’s about making your own way in the world, the friends you make and the lessons you learn along the way. One of my favorite songs is For Now which reminds us that even if it happens that your life sucks now, its not always gonna suck,” adds Rachel.

Avenue Q is the Tony Award-winning musical about being jobless, homeless, politically incorrect, having sex (whether hetero, homo or porno — and that’s just the puppets) and, ultimately, finding (or not finding) your purpose in life.

It runs from March 12 to 27 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. Avenue Q, with music and lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez and a book by Jeff Whitty, is directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga and has set design by Mio Infante, lighting design by Jonsy Reyes, and puppet design by Samuel Fuentes, based on the original Broadway designs of Rick Lyons. Tickets are on sale now. Call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.

A day of fun at Star City

Star City has always been the favorite theme park destination of Filipino families. Many have grown up patronizing it with friends, siblings, relatives and neighbors.

Kuh Ledesma, Diether Ocampo, treated children from their respective charity foundations to a day out at Star City during the holiday season. The family of William and Yayo Martinez, enjoyed what the park has to offer.

Kuh and Diether started their kiddie treats on the carousel, later moving to other rides such as Telekombat, the Wacky Worm, bump cars and ferris wheels. They also explored the horror house with its mummy’s tomb and the Viking ship.

The Martinezes, with friends in tow, gamely tried out the sci-fi jungle warfare offered at the newly opened Laser Blaster tag arena, along with game stations, and several themed arcades like Dino Island — a dinosaur enclave made more exciting with Korean animatrix technology. And like most people who come to Star City, they just had to go to Snow World, which provided them with a polar experience and a chilly feel on Asia’s longest ice slide.

William and Yayo immensely enjoyed Wild River, where passengers sit on dugouts that seem to rise atop a hill and fall rapidly down a water slide. They also burst their lungs out screaming aboard the Blizzard. William was initially eyeing Surf Dance, guaranteed to churn one’s innards inside out, but the premier attraction the family chose was the Star Flyer, the country’s first inverted roller coaster, which treats riders to a 70-second mélange of drops and sharp turns that leave them screaming for more.

Star City is the longest-running, free-standing amusement park within Metro Manila. It sprawls, in typically unplanned Filipino fashion, over 35,000 square meters, about one-fourth the size of Hong Kong Disneyland but with just as many rides.

Star City also mixes in the Pinoy eating and shopping frenzy. Muslim and Chinese traders have set up a line of booths providing highly affordable merchandise from clothes, footwear, toys and techno gadgets. An array of moderately-priced restaurants and fastfood outlets and food carts catering to every taste and palate are also within reach.

(Star City is back on its daily operation. It opens from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and from 2 p.m. to 12 midnight on Fridays to Sundays).