Annie’s charm

The much-anticipated  classic Strouse-Charnin musical Annie saw its gala night performance with standing ovation and rousing applause from the audience at a packed Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.

After its first successful staging in the country in 1980 with Lea Salonga playing the title role, Annie rekindles its love affair with the Filipino audience while charming new generations with its inspirational story about a charismatic orphan’s optimistic outlook in life against all odds.

Playing the role of Annie are Krystal Brimner, who is the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Child Actress for her role in the indie film Honor Thy Father; and newcomer Isabeli Araneta Elizalde. Both girls bested hundreds of other hopefuls who auditioned for the role.

Also included in the cast in the roles of orphans are Maria Francesca Rojas and Precious Lainey Galvez as Annie’s best friend Molly; Chrysse Jilliane Jover and Maria Ericka Peralejo as the shy Kate; Shanti Leialoha Gleason and Gwyneth Jearei Dorado as the quiet July; Natalia Victoria Escaño and Alba Berenguer-Testa as the crybaby Tessie; Cydel Virie Gabutero and Atascha Chloe Mercado as the bossy Pepper; and Stephanie Ginger Karganilla and Sofia Jade Wong as oldest orphan Duffy.

Joining the kids for the main roles are award-winning actor Michael de Mesa who plays the wealthy Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, the “first lady of Philippine theater” Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Ms. Agatha Hannigan, Jill Peña as Secretary Grace Farrell, Mako Alonso and Red Concepcion alternating as the conniving Daniel “Rooster” Hannigan, Justine Peña as Lily St. Regis, and James Paolelli as Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Multi-awarded theater actress Joanna Ampil said, “Impressive performances aside, the set and design were fabulous. I think today’s youth will learn a lot of things, like the love for music and production value, just by coming to the show.”

With the positive reception for Annie, Resorts World Manila’s commitment to revive Philippine theater is on track as it continues to champion Filipino talent.

Director Michael Stuart Williams, who is also the creative director of RWM’s production outfit Full House Theater Company, said, “On a broad perspective, the challenge is how do we take Annie’s story and make it relevant to today’s audiences. There is something quite universal about it, which is why Annie is fast becoming a modern-day classic.”

(Annie stages every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 4. Tickets are now available at the RWM Box Office and TicketWorld outlets. For more information, visit www.rwmanila.com.)

Experience Yayoi-Ken now

(From left) Yvonne Yao, Jessica Craven, Brandon Vera, Kha Santia, Gab Chee Kee, AJ Matthews and Jacqueline Gobing.

Japanese food lovers are in for an oishi treat as Yayoi-Ken is now open at the third floor Bridgeway of SM Megamall Building B. It is the restaurant’s first branch in the Philippines.

Yayoi had a couple of nights of food tasting for friends and everyone seemed to love it.

The restaurant was brought to our shores from Japan by Plenus Company Limited, which has been in the food business since 1980 and operates 3,000 restaurants.

In 1886, during the Meiji Era (a period of modernization in Japan), founder Tamijiro Shioi infused Japanese tradition into his restaurant called Yayoi-Ken that served Western-style cuisine. Today, with cooking operations and product development at Plenus, Yayoi maintains the high standards of Japanese taste and continues to integrate tradition and innovation with its advanced menu system, allowing customers to place their orders through a touch-screen menu on their tables.

With the support of Plenus Global, Yayoi Philippines managing directors John Gobing, Jacqueline Gobing and Yvonne Yao aim to acquaint Filipino diners with the restaurant’s unique menu items as well as high-tech ordering system.

Jacqueline said, “We have always been passionate about food, and we believe Yayoi offers authentic flavorful Japanese cuisine.”

The three executives discovered Yayoi-Ken during a visit to Fukuoka, and they were promptly inspired. “We loved it so much that we decided to bring it to the country,” shared Yvonne.

Yayoi has a wide variety of dishes and beverages served in the Teishoku style of Japanese dining.

The typical serving of a Teishoku is a set of a main dish, miso soup, vegetables and pickles on the side, and a bowl of flavorful Japanese rice, all served at the same time to awaken the senses with the distinctive aroma, texture and taste of each dish. What was sold at one yen per Teishoku 130 years ago in a dreamy ancient wonderland is now available in more than 400 outlets all over Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, the US, Australia, and the Philippines.

(For more information, visit www.yayoi.com.ph, Yayoi Philippines on Facebook and  @Yayoiph on Instagram.)

Keeping your loved ones safe

(From left) GSK compliance manager Celine Uy, vaccines marketing manager Victor Gomes, vaccines government affairs manager Tattie del Rosario, promotions team leader Mitch Quiray and CME officer Chris Soriano.

Everyone who knows me knows I love dogs.  Dogs are indeed man’s best friend but they, too,  can give humans problems. In fact, if one doesn’t know how to approach dogs properly, one might even put oneself in danger.

Despite our love and fondness for these furry friends, a total of 783,879 animal bites (mostly from dogs) across the country were registered last year, 10 percent higher than that of 2014 and among those bitten, 40 percent are under the age of 15.

During the “BiLiS” rabies awareness campaign event, anti-rabies advocate Rex Tomen, who runs the site rabiespoi.org, shared his heartbreaking story with the audience on how he lost his five-year-old son to rabies. He recalled how his son was scratched on his back by a neighbor’s Cocker Spaniel.

“We washed the wound and cleaned it with alcohol. The dog’s owner told us it was vaccinated for rabies so we didn’t bring our son to the doctor anymore. This was our mistake,” Tomen shared. Soon, Tomen’s son was showing symptoms of being infected with rabies. Two days later, his son passed away. It turned out that the Cocker Spaniel’s vaccination was done three years ago, thus ineffective against rabies. Rex had already been bitten twice, but he never thought a scratch could also prove just as fatal. “Rabies can be fatal and it can come from either a bite, scratch or even a lick — everybody needs to know that,” added Tomen.

Rabies is a fatal disease transmitted to humans through animal bites or even scratches, most commonly by dogs. It is vaccine preventable, but once infection begins, death is inevitable.

“Rabies is considered a neglected disease that is 100-percent fatal but 100-percent preventable,” Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial explained.

“Effective and safe medicines have been available for decades to prevent the disease in humans and animals. None of these deaths should have occurred since we have the necessary interventions to prevent rabies such as: 1. promotion of responsible pet ownership; 2. early consultation when bitten by animals; and 3. timely administration of vaccines,” Ubial added.

The Department of Health has lined up various advocacy campaigns to disseminate information about the illness and how to prevent it. The office also encourages pet owners to have household pets vaccinated at designated time periods.

Lastly, the public is warned against approaching stray and possibly rabid animals and is reminded to immediately go to the nearest DOH-recognized Animal Bite Treatment Centers when needed.

BiLiS stands for: Bi — Bilisan ang paghugas ng sugat (wash the infected area); Li — Linisin ng alcohol (clean with alcohol); and S — Sumangguni sa doktor ukol sa tamang pag-gamot ng sugat (consult a doctor).

Truly world-class

Mandala Spa & Resort Villas CEO, owner and managing director Jove Schrottmann (left) receives two World Travel Awards 2016 trophies from WTA president Graham Cooke.

Mandala Spa & Resort Villas in Boracay was named at the World Travel Awards 2016 as the Philippines’ Leading Resort and the Philippines’ Leading Spa Resort 2016.

The resort’s victory was announced at the red-carpet gala of World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia held in Da Nang, Vietnam. World Travel Awards is voted for by travel and tourism professionals worldwide, and this accolade recognizes the commitment to excellence demonstrated throughout the year.

To celebrate this victory, book and savor a sweet escape at a special 25-percent off on Resort Villa stays good for two. This includes round-trip transfers (Boracay Airport, Caticlan), a three-day/two-night stay at a Resort Villa (Single or Double occupancy), daily breakfast for two, daily guided yoga for two, Cleopatra Milk Bath for two, 15-percent discount on spa treatments and 20-percent off on treatment packages. The offer is valid until Dec. 15.

(For inquiries or reservations, e-mail [email protected].)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)