What to see on the big screen: ‘12 Years A Slave’
MANILA, Philippines - 12 Years A Slave is this year’s big Oscar winner, taking home Best Film, along with Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong’o and Best Adapted Screenplay for John Ridley. This week, it enjoys a wide theatrical release in cinemas nationwide, and we suggest you see it on the big screen. Many of you have probably downloaded screeners, but now is the time to fully appreciate Lupita’s beauty and the touching story. 12 Years A Slave is based on Solomon Northup’s memoir, about the time he was kidnapped in Washington, DC and sold into slavery. For 12 years, he had to work in the Louisiana plantation fields before he was released. We should all support Filipino movies but a movie this good should not be passed. In fact, we should all watch this to learn how good filmmaking is done. And again, to appreciate Lupita.
Where to drink: Cerveza, Craft Beer Festival
As anything artisanal is being pushed into the limelight, we think it’s time for artisanal beer to get the same attention. Tonight, you can be part of Cerveza, the first gathering of the country’s best microbrewed concoctions from GPOINT Smorgasbord & Bar, Fat Pauly’s, Katipunan Craft ales, Palaweño Brewery, and Craft Ale’s. If you’re not familiar, craft beers are from breweries that produce a limited amount of beer. Because of its limited quantity, producers are instead focusing on flavor and brewing technique. And the flavors are usually unique. Take, for example, Katipunan Craft ales: they only produce 2,000 bottles per month (compared to the hundreds of thousands San Miguel prepares monthly), and its Indio Pale Ale has a fruitier, more bitter taste than its mainstream counterparts. That means you can taste the true and pure hoppy flavor of the beer, without any other additives. We’ve yet to try the other brands available at Cerveza, but it might be a good idea to make a game out of it. Shots for every pretentious dude who announces he only drinks foreign craft beer? Cerveza will be from 5 p.m. until midnight at the Circuit Makati, with performances by She’s Only Sixteen, The Cohens, Three.!, Flooza, Fuseboxx, The Blance, and Surface Intensions & Ube.
Where to be this weekend:The Great British Festival
Drinking tea and having a droll sense of humor does not make you British. On the bright side, you can feel like a real Brit at the Great British Festival, happening this weekend at the Bonifacio High Street in BGC. It’s going to be a weekend of trade exhibitions, business talks, fashion shows, live music from Taken By Cars, live cultural acts, a sports activity booth with football coaching sessions from the Younghusbands, and a pop-up theater. There will also be booths on general information about Britain (which is only a part of UK, and is not the UK) and visa information. To top it off, there will be a UK in Miniature exhibition and screening of British films. We hope they play Bridget Jones’s Diary, which is the story of all our lives. Oh, is that Madonna over there? Toodles!
Where to do something crazy: Pyromusical
The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition happens every year so many people have grown jaded. Yes, the fireworks are always impressive, but fickle Filipinos want something more, something new. And yes, we’re still recommending the Pyromusical as the place to be this weekend. Tonight will be the exhibition of the Liuyang New Year Fireworks of China and the Vulcan Europe of Germany. (Pyromusical is ongoing every Saturday at 7 p. m. until March 22). If you’re already bored, think of what you can do with the fireworks in the background. Your possibilities are endless: Propose to your girlfriend, be there for your friend, hug your family. It’s a good time to be with a special someone amid the dazzle of the lights. Intimacy is also a great idea, you just need to find the perfect venue. You don’t need to be part of the throng of people who troop to MOA to see the fireworks. You can find a quiet spot near or around MOA (Two E-Com is an intimate venue) as you go snap, crackle, and pop. We’re not talking about sex, okay? True love eh. The Pyromusical Competition takes place every Saturday until the end of the month.
* * *
Tweet the author @kojibberish.