Category: Lifestyle

Barangay Granada took home PHP1 million in cash prize after defending its title in the 44th MassKara Festival Street Dance and Arena Competition Sunday night to clinch its fifth champion’s trophy in 10 years. Besting nine other contingents during the showdown at Paglaum Sports Complex, its winning streak continued after bagging the championship during the festival’s return in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Village chief Alfredo Talimodao Jr. said their victory has cemented the status of Barangay Granada as the ‘home of the champions’ and dedicated the ‘honor and pride’ to the people of the barangay. ‘I bring back all the honor, praises and glory to God for granting our prayers as we conquered our fifth MassKara title,’ he said in a statement on Monday. The crowd favorite danced their way to another title with an elaborate seven-minute production of performers garbed in colorful costumes, masks and headdresses, backed up by some 200 propsmen to showcase dances and scenes depicting the theme of ‘Super City Bacolod’. Aside from being the grand winner, Barangay Granada also bagged three of the four special awards, including Best in Headdress, Mask and Costume, Best in Theme, and Best in Music, which has a cash prize of PHP25,000 each, as well as corporate awards from FoodPanda and Pocari Sweat, which came with PHP75,000 worth of food vouchers and PHP50,000 in products, respectively. Choreographers Joedem Casabuena and Mark Philip Lamirez once again helmed Barangay Granada’s winning performance together with costume and mask designers Joenel Buenaventura, Christopher John Puerta and Romnick Rafael. ‘I’m so happy. The dancers and propsmen delivered what we practiced during the rehearsals. We worked hard, stayed up late, and we even scolded them. This is the result of all that,’ Lamirez said in an interview after they were declared the grand winner. Casabuena and Lamirez were also instrumental in the village’s successive victories in 2014, 2015 and 2016. After Barangay Granada took a respite in 2017, the duo also steered Barangay 18 and Barangay Estefania to the titles in 2017 and 2019, respectively. This year, Barangay Tangub, the sixth placer in 2022 and the champion in 2018, was adjudged first runner-up, taking home PHP500,000, under trainors Ramil Huyatid and Alfredo Joseph Muyco, and costume designer Brent Naranja. The first runner-up in 2022, Barangay Sum-ag, mentored by veteran dancer-trainor Segundo Jesus Cabalcar Jr., settled for second runner-up, with a cash prize of PHP300,000, as well as a special award for Best Introduction Video with a PHP25,000 cash award. Notably, Cabalcar also choreographed and trained Barangay Tangub when it won the title in 2018. Meanwhile, the rest of the contingents, including Barangays 21, 34, 40, Cabug, Mansilingan, Vista Alegre and Handumanan, received consolation prizes of PHP100,000 each. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he takes pride in showcasing the MassKara Festival street dance and arena competition not only in the Philippines, but also to the rest of the world. Distinguished guests who attended the culminating event were led by Senator Ronald de la Rosa, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose and Department of Tourism-Western Visayas Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez.

Source: Philippines News Agency

(KPL/Prensa Latina) Under the sublime chords that distinguish it, the 39th edition of the Jazz Plaza International Festival will arrive on stages in Cuba from January 21 to 28, 2024, to embrace those who admire its art today.

(KPL/Prensa Latina) Under the sublime chords that distinguish it, the 39th edition of the Jazz Plaza International Festival will arrive on stages in Cuba from January 21 to 28, 2024, to embrace those who admire its art today.

The event, which will take place in the provinces of Havana and Santiago de Cuba, has among its guests important musicians from the Caribbean island and other nations such as Canada and the United States, organizers announced this Friday at a press conference.

In exclusive dialogue with Prensa Latina, Bobby Carcassés, initiator of the festival, gave his opinion on this: for me it is a way to show what Cuba is, a way to impose ourselves above the impossible and create the miracle that jazz implies in Cuban music.

The capital’s Hotel Nacional hosted the meetin
g where this performer, 2012 National Music Award winner, also discussed his pictorial work ‘Meditation’, which accompanies the visual cover of the contest.

According to the virtuoso, it is a design that he has enriched over several years and is related to his practice of Yoga, in addition to being linked to a book that he wrote and will be published within the framework of the event.

For his part, pianist Roberto Fonseca, artistic director of the event, discussed international participation and thanked Carcassés for allowing Cuban jazz to be heard in the world.

Under the slogan Pa’que flujazz at our rhythm, Jazz Plaza also reserved the International Colloquium ‘Leonardo Acosta in Memorian’, from January 22 to 27, which will host specialists, jazz professionals and the industry.

The upcoming edition will honor outstanding figures of the music such as Bola de Nieve, Miguelito Cuní and César ‘Pupy’ Pedroso.

In this capital, the National Theater of Cuba, Karl Marx, Martí and América, the Tito Junco Room of
the Bertolt Brecht Cultural Center, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Cuba Pavilion, the Cuban Art Factory, the Gardens of the Mella Theater and The House of Culture of Plaza de la Revolución municipality will echo the harmonious festival.

For the opening day, the Amada Música concert is expected, led by maestro Joaquín Betancourt, a performance that will celebrate the 15 years of the Jazz Band and the 50 years of artistic life of this artist, 2019 National Music Award winner.

Meanwhile, in Santiago de Cuba, the festival will be inaugurated with the presentation of pianist Nachito Herrera together with the Symphony Orchestra of that province, who will be joined by other guests from various regions in the east of the country.

For this edition, saxophonist Ted Nash, accompanied by the Cubadentro project, will invite you to enjoy a work with the Malpaso Dance Company at the emblematic Teatro Martí.

Source: Lao News Agency

Today, the ASEAN Secretariat warmly received artworks from the KONNECT ASEAN Resident Artists of the ASEAN Foundation.

Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong delivered remarks at the KONNECT ASEAN’s Artwork Handover Ceremony at the ASEAN Gallery this afternoon along with Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN Lee Jang-Keun and Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation Piti Srisangnam. DSG Phanthavong also opened the KONNECT ASEAN Exhibition at the ASEAN Secretariat which will be on display on 16-20 October.

KONNECT ASEAN, supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, aims to create a sense of ownership of the ASEAN identity amongst artists and cultural workers in Southeast Asia.

Source: Association of SouthEast Asian Nation

First lady Kim Keon Hee visited an annual festival held to raise breast cancer awareness in Seoul on Sunday, the presidential office said.

Kim highlighted the importance of regular breast cancer examinations and improved awareness of the disease and its treatment at the Pink Festival in Yongsan Park in central Seoul, according to the office.

Kim, who serves as the honorary chairwoman of the Korea Cancer Society, also took part in a self-examination demonstration and met with breast cancer patients.

The Pink Festival marks its 23rd edition this year.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) drew to a close Friday, attracting more than 140,000 movie lovers to the southeastern port city for the past 10 days.

The 28th edition of the BIFF screened 209 films from 70 countries at four theaters, including 88 world and international premieres, its organizer said.

The festival’s seat occupancy rate came to 82 percent, higher than last year’s 72 percent, demonstrating the power of Asia’s largest film festival despite initial concerns about a leadership vacuum following an internal feud.

The New Currents Award, in recognition of passion for and interest in social issues, went to “The Wrestler” by Iqbal H. Chowdhury and “September 1923” by Mori Tatsuya.

The Kim Jiseok Award went to “Paradise” by Prasanna Vithanage and “Bride Kidnapping” by Mirlan Abdykalykov. The award was established to mark the spirit of the late BIFF program director Kim Ji-seok.

Both “The Voices of the Silenced,” co-directed by Park Soo-nam and Park Maeui, and Jin Jiang’s “Republic”
received the BIFF Mecenat Award for outstanding Asian feature-length documentaries.

The Sonje Award, given to the best Korean and Asian short films, went to “Mydear” by Jeon Do-hee and Kim So-hee and “21 Weeks Later” by Nasrin Mohammadpour.

South Korean actor Jang Sung-bum of “Work To Do” was chosen as Actor of the Year for his “profound comprehension of the work, insightful character analysis and subtle performance” that left a “lasting impression,” the organizer said.

Oh Mi-nae of “Concerning My Daughter” was the other recipient of the same award for her expression of “subtle emotions and changes in the conflicts of the character through a delicate and passionate performance.”

The festival ended with the screening of Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor” featuring Andy Lau. The industry satire is about a has-been Hong Kong movie star who tries to make a comeback.

The 18th edition of the Asian Contents and Film Market drew nearly 2,500 participants from 49 countries, up 30 percent from the previous year, ser
ving as a vibrant venue to promote and sell original content from various countries and regions.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the opening ceremony of the 104th National Sports Festival in the southwestern city of Mokpo on Friday, saying he will strive to develop the sports industry and enhance the welfare of athletes.

Yoon was joined by first lady Kim Keon Hee at the ceremony held at Mokpo Stadium in the city 309 kilometers south of Seoul. The annual competition, hosted this year by South Jeolla Province, will run through next Thursday, with the participation of nearly 20,000 athletes.

In congratulatory remarks, Yoon wished for the competition’s success and stated his commitment to further developing the sports industry and improving the welfare of athletes.

He also vowed to ensure equal access to sports, including by underprivileged groups and the disabled, and to expand sports infrastructure in the provinces.

Prior to attending the opening ceremony, Yoon and Kim visited the Gongsaengwon orphanage in Mokpo to celebrate its 95th anniversary.

The orphanage was founded by Yoon Chi-ho, a Christ
ian preacher, in 1928. After he went missing during the 1950-53 Korean War, his Japanese wife, Chizuko Tauchi, who later adopted the Korean name Yoon Hak-ja, raised 4,000 Korean orphans until her death at the age of 56.

President Yoon noted the love and dedication of Yoon Chi-ho and his wife, and thanked the orphanage staff for their continued work.

He also expressed his wish that the orphanage will continue to serve the less privileged and develop into a symbol of the friendship between South Korea and Japan, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to providing more generous support to the socially weak and vulnerable.

Source: Yonhap News Agency