Supreme agenda

‘The Boy in the Bathroom’ is a must-watch

MANILA, Philippines - These days, it’s hard to become a recluse when the omnipresent social media looms over everyone’s heads. But in The Boy in the Bathroom, one kid manages to do so. Genius. In the play, David decides to lock himself away with his daydreams because of his obsessive-compulsive disease, his overbearing mother, and his disillusionment with the world. But things change when he meets a girl, and wonders if it’s time to open the door and explore the unknown. The quirky musical, which is being staged on Feb. 19 and 21 at the CCP, was much loved when it was first staged at last year’s Imaginarium Festival, hosted by The Sandbox Collective. The play returns with Topper Fabregas, Caisa Borromeo, and Sheila Francisco, with Toff de Venecia directing the show.

See superheroes and Eraserheads songs combine at Manhid

We all know Batman, Superman and Wolverine, but you probably haven’t heard of Bantugan, Lam-Ang, Allunsina and Dilim. That’s because these are the new batch of Philippine superheroes to be re-introduced to pop culture. In Paul Alexander Morales’s Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical, developed by Ballet Philippines, written by Aureaus Solito, and staged at the CCP, local myth is rewritten to include these comic book-inspired superheroes, redefined for local culture and history. This new musical is set in an alternate Philippines, where the EDSA Revolution failed and Manila is terrorized by the disease Kamanhiran (apathy). Your usual fare of superheroes battling supervillains follows, with the score set to Eraserheads songs, some of which were written during the musical’s premiere in 1992, before the band became famous. Unfortunately, the ‘heads won’t be there to perform when Manhid is restaged this weekend until March 8, but Radioactive Sago Project will be present to provide live vocals.

Go on a movie marathon at the Singkuwento Fest

If you can’t wait for Cinemalaya or Cinema One Originals, here’s an under-the-radar film fest to tide you over. The Singkuwento International Film Festival is hosted by the National Center for Culture and the Arts in Intramuros, and started as a non-competition festival featuring shorts. This year marks its first competition, and it will screen 30 finalists for one week. Apart from the shorts, the festival will also screen full-length films from emerging and established directors, such as Jason Paul Laxamana’s Magkakabaung, Peque Gallaga’s T’yanak, Francis Xavier’s Bwaya, Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes’ Sonata, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s Ang Huling Cha Cha ni Anita, and Mes de Guzman’s Ang Kwento ni Mabuti. The festival will officially open today with Roberto Reyes Ang’s TNT, an award-winning documentary about an illegal immigrant in the US; Perry Escano’s Ang Platinong Buhok, a study on film legend Ama Quiambao; Nash Ang’s Paraiso, which depicts the lives of typhoon Yolanda survivors; and Jun Lana’s Barber’s Tales, where Eugene Domingo takes on her dead husband’s role as village barber at the tail end of the Marcos era. The Singkuwento International Film Festival is one of the countless film fests cropping up in the city, but if its goal is to promote Philippine cinema, it’s very much a welcome addition.

Cure your V-Day hangover at the Teatrino Film Series

If you missed the indie favorites Shift and Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa when first screened at the Cinema One Originals and Cinemalaya respectively, you have to do yourself a favor and go to the Teatrino Film Series today at Greenhills. Siege Ledesma’s Shift (2013) examines a relationship between a female call center agent and her gay best friend. It’s funny, light, and almost sweet, until you realize the girl, deftly portrayed by Yeng Constantino, falls for Felix Roco, who in turn falls for a guy. Another love story that isn’t is Alvin Yapan’s Sayaw (2011), which follows Paulo Avelino, Rocco Nacino and Jean Garcia in a beautiful dance-centric film brimming with homoerotic and feminist undertones. Both explore the possibilities of romance in an unlikely pair, and if you’re still feeling bitter over your lonely Valentine’s, this may be your solution.

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