Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — This weekend, watch a play about a fictional fraternity, attend the book launch of a Manila city guide, be part of the last Oktoberfest party of the year, see local musicians perform, join a street party in old Manila, meet book publishers and authors, participate in a creative hub party, and take part in an arts festival.
Poised as Escolta’s last blow out of the year, the last Block Party of 2017 will be packed with open houses, exhibits, and other activities. Co-presented with the real estate app, Swoop, the Block Party festivities will start at 11 a.m., which includes: a Swoop lounge tour, a Block Market, Everyday Escolta by the creative laboratory Hub Make Lab, an Escolta photowalk, a lambanog pop-up, open houses by architecture studio One Zero and concept store Standard Objects, Brew at Home with Kalsada Coffee, the “Manila, Manila, and More” book launch, and Koffee Junkie Club by The Den and street artist Garapata.
The night will end with a street party featuring DJ sets by Deej Fabian, The Grrs, Diego Castillo, Mike Lavet, Boy Kills Robot, and Hernandez Brothers. There will also be live performances by Ja Quintana and Kadin Umali.
For more information visit the Escolta Block Party Facebook page.
Manila, Manila & More: The Book Launch
Attend the book launch of “Manila, Manila & More” on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2 p.m. at Grae Studio, 5/F First United Building, Escolta St., Manila. The book is a city guide featuring creative communities, food spots, and burgeoning arts and design industries in what may be Southeast Asia’s most underrated capital, Manila. The launch will include a talk on branding by Serious Studio, as well as a panel discussion on building communities with Marika Constantino of 98B, Eric Paras of A-11: artelano 11, Dee Jae Paeste of Kapwa Studio, and more.
For more information, visit their Facebook event page.
The Rest is Noise Year-End, an event that celebrates local musicians, will gather 21 music acts for their last show this 2017 on Nov. 25 at the Century City Mall event space. The performances will include Orange & Lemons, Crwn, IV of Spades, Ang BandaAg Shirley, Skymarines, Rusty Machines, BLKD x The Tooters, Moonwlk, Cheats, NINNO, Ben&Ben, She’s Only Sixteen, Autotelic, BP Valenzuela, Oh, Flamingo!, Similarobjects, Aia De Leon, Ourselves The Elves, and Shirebound and Busking.
There will also be a special performance by Joey Ayala at Ang Bagong Lumad alongside Dong Abay. Tickets will be available on the day itself for ₱500. Century City Mall is located at Century City, Kalayaan Ave. cor. Salamanca St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.
“Pamantasang Hirang (Sa Dilim Man)”
The De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS – CSB) is staging a play written by Tim Dacanay, a Palanca Award-winning playwright, called “Pamantasang Hirang (Sa Dilim Man)” from Nov. 23 to Nov. 25 at the DLS – CSB School of Design and Arts Black Box Theater. The play, which revolves around the brotherhood of a fictional fraternity, was first shown at the 2008 Virgin Labfest 4.
Black Box Theater is located at the 6/F DLS – CSB School of Design and Arts campus, 950 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
UNKNWN.Day w/ No Regular Play (Live)
Unknwn, an event group that hosts music-driven experiences, will take over the last San Miguel Oktoberfest party of the year on Saturday, Nov. 25, 4 p.m. at the Antidote bar in I’m Hotel. Antidote, known for its 360-degree view of Manila and its jellyfish bar, will have tunes played by Brooklyn duo No Regular Play, as well as Emel Rowe, Samantha Nicole, Badkiss, RH Xanders, Lustbass, and Mikail.
I’m Hotel is located at 7862 Makati Ave., Makati. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.
On Saturday, Nov. 25, Globe Telecom will host a reading event at Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street, in line with the country’s National Reading Month. The event will start with a storytelling session to be led by Bianca Gonzalez. This will then be followed by a series of creative writing workshops, educational talks by leading book publishers, and a meet and greet with New York Times journalist Aurora Almendral. Admission is free.
Fully Booked is located at B6, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig. For more information, visit their Facebook event page.
The Alley at Karrivin has been a burgeoning creative hub since it opened its doors in 2016. The neighborhood is home to Chef Jordy Navarra’s acclaimed Toyo Eatery, and his soon to open Toyo Panaderya, as well as galleries The Drawing Room, 1335 Mabini, and Bellas Artes Projects, and shops such as Lanai and Aphro.
This Saturday, the shops at The Alley will be having an open house and with it comes free flowing snacks and beer from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Anonymous and design collective Hydra Design Group will be having a pop-up design film festival at Poison Doughnuts. Eyedress will also perform to accompany the launch of the “Manila Ice” music video.
BGC Arts Center Festival: Champions of Passion
The Alley at Karrivin is located at Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati. For more information visit the Facebook event page.
Titled “Champions of Passion: Soulful Feats of Art,” the three-day festival will feature performances, exhibits, and workshops from Steps Dance Studio, Spit Manila, Ateneo Chamber Singers, Antrosininglaya Theatre Company, Third World Improv, and Silangan Chamber Guitar Ensemble, Mary Joy Roxas, Twin Bill Theater, Make Believe Productions, Tabsing Kolektib, and Juana Change, among others.
The festival runs from Nov. 24 to Nov. 26 at the BGC Arts Center, 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For ticket information, visit their Facebook event page.