Events opening 2013/Multi-tasker RJ Ledesma

The opening of the Casa San Miguel Museum today, Jan. 12, will be preceded by the exhibition “I Consume, Therefore, I am!” of resident artist Jarzel Kistrin, and followed by a Pundaquit Virtuosi concert directed by virtuoso violinist Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata. The Museum is in the Center for the Arts, Barrio San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales.

“Portraying Luminescence, The Art of Edgardo Lantin” — the artist’s fifth one-man show — will open at Artspace, Ayala Museum on Friday, Jan. 18, and end on Jan. 30. The exhibit is part of a series of cultural events for 2013 supported by the insurance company Prudential Guarantee in celebration of the 90th birth year of its founding chairman Robert Coyiuto.

The musical “Katy”, based on the life of the Bodabil Queen Katy de la Cruz, will be at the CCP Little Theater Jan. 18-27. Actress-singer Isay Alvarez is excited to portray Katy, a famous performer in various US jazz clubs. The seasoned Isay, who was in the original cast of “Miss Saigon” in London, has made numerous films and TV appearances, and performed in various concerts and shows here and abroad. Nestor Torre directs “Katy”.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), under chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and executive director Emelita V. Almosara, is spearheading the celebration of the Philippine Arts Festival next month.

The Committee on Music headed by De Leon will stage “Tunog-tugan”, a Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival in Dipolog and Baguio. The richness of the genre will be fully explored and promoted through local and foreign gong and bamboo ensemble performances, lectures and workshops.

The Committee on Dramatic Arts headed by Lutgardo Labad will highlight, through “Tanghal”, the works and achievements of community and university-based theater groups from Marikina, Bohol, Albay and Cagayan de Oro. As a culminating activity, among earlier ones, “Ani ng Dangal” will honor at Malacañang Palace unsung heroes, artists, cultural workers, and those recognized with international awards in competitions and festivals. The opening ceremony at the Quezon Memorial Circle will have grand, rousing colorful activities.

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), founded by Cecile Guidote Alvarez, welcomes 2013 with “D Wonder Twins of Boac”, a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. The comedy combines 60s fashion and music under the setting of the late 60s local film industry — during a transition after its golden years — thus giving rare insights into the world of films, how they have evolved and shaped our culture.

The play also evoked nostalgia among viewers of past local films by using parallelisms between the big studios then: Sampaguita Pictures and LVN.

The modern adaptation of the Bard’s comedy is written by noted playwright-theater actor Rody Vera and directed by PETA artistic director Maribel Legarda, Philstage’s Gawad Buhay Awards winner and director of the hit musical “Care Diva”.

“D Wonder Twins of Boac” stars Cris Villonco and Chrome Cosio as the twins; Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Bodjie Pascua and Arnel Ignacio.

The comedy will be shown from Feb. 1 to March 3 at the PETA Theater Center, tel. 7256244.

Multi-Tasker RJ Ledesma

Much-in-demand host RJ Ledesma bested Luis Manzano, Raymond Gutierrez, Sam YG and Mike Lim, winning Aliw’s 2012 award as Best Male Emcee. A STAR columnist, RJ is also author of four best-selling books — thematic compilations of his columns. He made his mark in pop culture with his role as Joey in award-winning commercials from 1988 to 1992. Training with Rep Philippines as a teen-ager, he created, produced and appeared in his own comedy, and starred in several TV shows.

A Yoga expert, he was certified to teach the Ashtanga Yoga primary series in Yoga Thailand, and co-founded the Yoga Manila studio.

A former brand manager in Procter and Gamble in the late nineties, RJ pursued an MA degree in Real Estate Development at the MIT in the US in 2001. He is Executive V-P for his family’s real estate business and is a board governor of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association.

He co-founded and co-organized the Mercato Central food markets. Honorary vice-consul of Monaco, he is an active lay minister of San Antonio church and a member of Couples for Christ.

Despite RJ’s many distinctions, he is proudest of being husband to Vanessa — a former model, business consultant of a law firm and MercatoCentral co-founder — and as father to pre-kinder Fortune and to eight-month old Rene III.