Watch "It's Christmas: The Musical" at SM Davao City on December 11, 2011

After bringing Christmas treats like the Nutcracker with Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja, Celebrate Joy with Mascara Productions and A Joyful Company with The Company in the past years, SM City Davao now brings a unique and very enjoyable musical which children of all ages will surely love.

“It’s Christmas: The Musical” unfolds a unique story of a little girl who finds herself at the mall. And while she opts to stop and rest on a bench, she falls asleep and awakens to an empty mall. Startled by a talking mannequin, her adventure begins while meeting characters along the way. Until a mean spirited elf steals away all the fun, which makes everyone work out a secret, to change his ill ways and make him happy. Then, the girl wakes up only to find out all is but a dream…or is it?

Being presented by Theatre Down South with the artistic direction of veteran actor Michael Williams, the musical promises to warm everyone’s hearts.

Celebrate your favourite season at your favourite mall, SM City Davao! Catch TDS’ Its Christmas! The Musical live at the Event Centre, December 11.

Film Literacy Program Launched at SM Cinema

ABS-CBN Marketing Director Marjorie So, Star Cinema SVP Malou Santos, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro with SM Cinema's SVP Edgar Tejerero

SM Cinema recently launched its Center for New Cinema, which aims to utilize SM theaters as alternative classrooms for review centers, workshops, stage plays, and film reviews during the 9am to 1PM slot at SM City Manila.

Part of this is a Film Literacy Program held in cooperation with award winning filmmaker Nick Deocampo and the Department of Education. In line with this, Deocampo has prepared a Film Literacy Kit, which includes lectures on critically acclaimed films like The Flor Contemplacion Story by Joel Lamangan, Foster Child by Brillante Mendoza, Jose Rizal by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Mins’y Isang Gamu-Gamo by Lupita Concio, Memories of Old Manila by Nick Deocampo, Sisa by Gerardo de Leon, Batas Militar by Mike Alcazaren.

It also includes a lesson plan for a selection of educational indie movies by Eddie Garcia, Eddie Romero, Rory Quintos, Raymond Red, Jose Mari Avellana, Mike de Leon, Ishmael Bernal, and Lino Brocka, among others.

These movies tackle topics such as history, social and political issues, values, human rights, religion, and many other subjects that are helpful as an alternative medium of instruction. Lecturers now have the option to choose a film from the kit, request for a film of their choice from SM Cinema, with the option to watch it at the SM theaters or at their own auditorium.

Secretary of Education Brother Armin Luistro and Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim were the guests of honor during the launch, and were joined by Star Cinema SVP Malou Santos and ABS-CBN Marketing Director Marjorie So. SM Cinema SVP Edgar Tejerero and SM Supermalls AVP for Operations Royston Cabunag welcomed them during the event, which also included a the formal turnover of the film literacy kits to the Department of Education, as well as a lecture by Nick Deocampo and the screening of his film Sine/Cine.

Alfonso Dolls

Take a look at these designs by Mr. Alfonso Guinoo. Beautiful, aren't they?

I've looked into my file photos and saw the pictures of Alfonso dolls which was displayed during the fashion edge exhibit in SM Davao.

Alfonso Guinoo, "Tito Boy", as he is fondly called is dubbed as Mindanao's fashion czar. He is known for interpolating the designs and fabrics of Mindanao's diverse cultural heritage into wearable clothes. His works have been exhibited and viewed in various fashion shows in Manila, Malaysia, Australia, the United States, and South Africa. Here at home, he has been honored with several awards of which are the Lifetime Achievement Award by the City Government of Davao, the Trophy of Achievement by the Davao Tourism Association, and the prestigious Datu Bago Award in 2004. He is now the adviser of the Fashion Designers Guild in Davao.