Mulan with a magic touch

As a kid I was in awe of the traveling carnivals and sideshows that highlighted special holidays and town fiestas.

Next to Christmas and New Year and the town fiesta, the arrival and performance of a carnival troupe was a much-awaited event, that kids always look forward to. The attractions it featured like the magicians and illusionists, jugglers, fire eaters were some of the most memorable entertainment faces of our childhood. There was a time when I entertained the wild idea of becoming a fire eater.

With youthful innocence, we were impressed by the carnival "heroes." We thought the magic tricks were not tricks but real, the illusions, not illusion. Nevertheless, as a wholesome, exciting and inexpensive form of popular entertainment, especially during fiestas and the Christmas holidays, the memory of good old town carnival still lingers in my mind.

When I moved to the big city, I got exposed to various forms of entertainment but the carnival stayed intact in my "probinsyano" heart. It was perhaps my stint at the Metropolitan Theater that gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the remarkable talents and skills of the unique breed of performers behind the carnivals, such as illusionists, acrobats, gymnasts, pugilists, stuntmen, thespians, dancers, musicians and choreographers.

Essentially performing artists in their own rights, it certainly takes a great deal of talent, skill, dedication and hard work to develop and hone their art into near perfection. Such world-class performance will be shown when the world-class acrobatic and magical show billed Hua Mulan Fantasy Magical Journey comes to town for a series of engagements until Jan. 2 at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.

The Hua Mulan Fantasy Magical Journey, is related to the epic saga of Mulan, first popularized in the hit movie of the same title and whose theme song, Reflections was sung by our very own Lea Salonga.

The 11-day holiday treat brings to the local entertainment scene an exciting, wholesome and fun-filled acrobatic and musical performance that celebrates honor, courage and the importance of the family as interpreted through a variety of authentic magical acts and acrobatic stunts.

In five scintillating acts, the one-hour performance traces the epic saga of Mulan leaving the audience awe-struck through nerve-chilling action scenes involving the use of instruments and tools such as diabolos, straw hat, flower pots, meteor, wushu sword, plates and lasso. They will also marvel at such breath-taking attractions as "wheels in action," "balancing the plates," "swallowing the sword", "cutting the body," and "levitation act," among others.

Behind these awesome acrobatic feats is a 30-man star-studded cast from the renowned Hebei Acrobatic Circus Troupe from the Chinese province of Hebei. It boasts of an array of brilliant and accomplished acrobats, magicians, gymnasts, stuntmen, pugilists, thespians, singers and dancers who have gained international acclaim for their acrobatic and magical skills.

Tickets to the Hua Mulan Fantasy Magical Journey priced as P700, P500, P400, P200 are available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Supermalls and SM Department Stores and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket booths. Call Ticketnet at 911-5555, Ticketworld at 891-9999.

Photo exhibit on 30 women

Filipinas, a photo exhibit on 30 women will be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) on Feb. 1 until March 12.

Filipinas is an intimate portrait of 30 women photographed by Isa Lorenzo. These women represent the arts, education, social work, civil society and politics. Isa photographed the women without elaborate costumes, no frivolous props, and backdrops.

Among the women photographed by Isa were, Estefania Aldaba-Lim, Ligaya Fernando Amilbangsa, Teresita Ang-See, Eugenia D. Apostol, Corazon C. Aquino, Daisy Hontiveros Avellana, Helena Z. Benetiz, Gilda Cordero Fernando, Virginia Oteyza De Guia, Fe del Mundo, Nena del Rosario-Villanueva, Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil, Ameurfina M. Herrera, Alice P. Lorenzo, Eva Fidela Maamo, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Rosario G. Manalo, Solita C. Monsod, Lourdes R. Montinola, Virginia R. Moreno, Maria Isabel Ongpin, Fe and Honorata Muyot, Socorro C. Ramos, Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Santanina Tillah Rasul, Gloria Romero, Leonora Paraan San Agustin, Armida Ponce-Enrile Siguion-Reyna, and the late Haydee B. Yorac.

Filipinas, is presented by Silver Lens Photography together with the Asia Society Philippine Foundation, the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It is also CCP’s visual arts presentation for the National Arts Month of February.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is free. For particulars call 832-3702.