An electrifying evening with Bob Sinclar

Manila’s dance party crowd braved the chilly January evening’s sudden downpour as they trooped in droves to the World Trade Center, venue for Avant Artists and Driven Manila’s First Big Party of 2011. Headlined by DJ extraordinaire Bob Sinclar, the evening was electric with excitement and anticipation. Manila’s very own music meisters Benjo Marquez and David Ardiente, served as the frontliners.

The SRO crowd gave a thundering applause as the evening’s main artist, Grammy-nominated producer and DJ Bob Sinclar came on stage. He is the musical genius behind groundbreaking tracks such as Love Generation, World, Hold On, Lala Song, and the new chart-topping hit Tik Tok. Sinclar set the party venue ablaze with the eager crowd wildly stomping and gyrating into the wee hours of the morning.

Performing for the first time in Manila, Sinclar’s (born Christophe Le Friant) First Big Party was a success with Manila’s beautiful dance party crowd in attendance. The convivial mood of positivity, love and good vibes permeated the entire evening, with the event probably setting the record for being one of the biggest exclusive dance parties to be held in the country. Trendsetting state-of-the-art lights and effects served as scintillating backdrop to a truly memorable evening that raised the party experience to new heights.

Avant Artists’ Allen Mojica shared, “Manila’s party people can look forward to bigger and better party events as Avant Artists intends to raise the bar by bringing in world-class performers to the country.” Driven Manila’s Domino Primero added, “Everyone here tonight is part of history as we begin to create change in the local dance music scene, putting Manila back into Asia’s clubbing map.”

QEFF awards night set

The second Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health (QEFF) with the theme Sa Ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Ina… will hold its awards night on Feb. 19 at the PICC, Manila. The nationwide documentary and short narrative filmmaking contest is open to student and non-student filmmakers. The festival seeks to highlight the interactions between the socio-economic, cultural, environmental and political factors in the maternal and child health in the country through film.

Held once every two years, the first QEFF was held in February 2008 with the theme Malayo sa Bituka which literally means far from the guts.

The second QEFF gathers 37 local film entries and 17 local and international guest entries.

Filmmakers from as far as Pampanga, Marinduque, Bicol, Iloilo, Negros Oriental and Zamboanga joined the contest. Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, Australia, Canada and the United States also sent contributions.

The Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival is named after Dr. Honorato Quisumbing and Dr. Juan Escandor, two martyrs of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Dr. Quisumbing continued to serve in the Philippine General Hospital during World War II, even though most of his colleagues had fled the area. Dr. Escandor served as a barrio doctor during the martial law days, and was accused of being a rebel-sympathizer. Both were killed while on duty.

Double A at the CCP

Pianists Abelardo Galang II and Jose Artemio Panganiban III return to Cultural Center of the Philippines in a concert of works for two pianos by Brahms, Poulenc and Rachmaninoff tonight at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater). The concert is titled Double A: A Duo-piano Concert, with the subtitle Ace Pianists for Pacesetters. Galang and Panganiban, two pianists-friends who have established their careers in two different parts of the world, are coming together to perform for this concert. Double A is sponsored by GMA 7.

For the CCP concert, Galang and Panganiban will perform Brahms’ Five Waltzes, op. 39 and Sonata for Two Pianos, op. 34b; Poulenc’s Elegie, L’embarquement pour Cythere and Capriccio d’apres Le bal Masqué and Rachmaninoff’s Suite no. 2, op. 17.

For details, call CCP Box Office at tel. no. 832-3704 or log on to www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.