Category Archives: Arts

‘Miss Saigon’ Returns To Broadway With New Title, ‘Miss Philippines’

March 1, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Filipina Eva Noblezada, right, as Kim in London’s ‘Miss Saigon’ revival

LONDON, England (The Adobo Chronicles, San Francisco Bureau) – The West End return of ‘Miss Saigon’ ended its run on February 27, and the musical is headed back for Broadway. Filipino actors Eva Noblezada and Jon Briones will reprise their roles as Kim and the Engineer in New York.

This production will arrive on Broadway in spring 2017, with performances scheduled through January 15, 2018. It will then embark on a U.S. national tour later in the year in Providence, RI, followed by engagements in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and more than 50 additional cities.

Casting is currently underway.

The Broadway revival will, however, see a major change. For one, the title of the musical will be changed to “Miss Philippines,” in recognition of the fact that the role of Kim and others in previous productions of the musical were largely played by Filipinos.

In addition, the setting of the revival will be in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation, just before the Americans liberated the country.

The musical numbers will remain the same.

Arts, Diversity, Film and TV

Black, Asian and Latino Film Celebrities Form Their Own “Oscars”

February 2, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

HOLLYWOOD, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – In an apparent response to the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations for two years in a row now, a group of famous celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Tyler Perry and Spike Lee is partnering with Black Entertainment Television (BET) to establish the Boscars, the Black Oscars. The Boscars will award and recognize outstanding achievement in film among Blacks.

Not to be outdone, Asians in Hollywood led by director Ang Lee, actors Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu, and scriptwriter Ronnie Del Carmen are also forming their own “Academy of Motion Pictures.” They plan to establish their own Oscars which they are calling Ascars.

Of course, Latinos won’t allow themselves to be left behind. They are in discussions with Univision and Telemundo to hold an annual film awards for Latinos. They’re calling it Lascars.

The Internet activist group responsible for the hashtag #Oscarssowhite, has thrown its unconditional support for the triple move by the film celebrities of color.

Meanwhile, Native Americans in film are also in the process of establishing their own Oscars. Unfortunately, the move is on hold until they come up with an appropriate name for their awards. They can’t use NASCAR because that name is patented by the Daytona-based stock car racing organization.

Is this the beginning of the end for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Oscars as we know it?

Stay tuned!

Arts, Government, Politics

Philippine Legislator Wants Con Artists To Be Recognized As Professionals

January 9, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Believe it or not, artists are not considered professionals in the Philippines. But that is going to change soon, if a proposed Congressional bill filed by Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas, Jr. is passed and becomes law.

House Bill 6068 seeks the recognition of artists as professionals so they could be accorded the proper rights and privileges due them, according to a report by GMA News.

Under the bill, an artist is defined as “any person who creates or gives creative expression to, or recreates works of art, who considers his artistic creation to be an essential part of his life, who contributes in this way to the development of art and culture and who is or asks to be recognized as an artist.”

It also includes con artists, whose modus operandi are getting more and more creative and sophisticated.

The bill said an accredited artist refers to an artist who is a Filipino, at least 18 years of age, who complies with the requirements for accreditation provided for in the bill, or those members of existing arts guilds duly registered and accredited as provided for by the law.

In anticipation of the bill’s passage, Filipino con artists — including pickpockets, manufacturers of fake I.D.s and some scamming personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) — have been registering their creative craft in droves.

It’s more fun in the Philippines!