Sun.Star Weekend | September 25, 2010
short reviews
C5
audiosyncracy
Trey Songz, “Passion, Pain & Pleasure” (Atlantic Records)
Never Let Me Go Based on the novel by acclaimed “Remains of the Day” author Kazuo Ishiguro, “Never Let Me Go” raises intriguing questions about medical ethics and the nature of humanity itself. Some may find its tone suffocatingly heavy, and the score can feel a bit melodramatic and intrusive here and there. But if you give into it, you’ll find yourself sucked into this melancholy alternate world, an ambitious hybrid of sci-fi drama and coming-of-age romance set in a British boarding school. (AP)
Trey Songz has a new album? Yup. The singer, who became an R&B star after the release of his breakthrough 2009 CD “Ready,” is trying to capitalize on that success with “Passion, Pain & Pleasure.” But what the 25-year-old should have been is patient. The new effort shines at moments, but it sounds rushed – some of the songs are average when they could have been outstanding. “Bottoms Up,” the lead single, has a club-ready beat, but the lyrics are weak and Nicki Minaj steals Songz’s thunder with her animated rhymes. “Unfortunate” starts off nicely, but its hook is annoyingly repetitive while “Red Lipstick” and “Doorbell” feel cheesy. Even the Drake-featured “Unusual” is unnecessary. Songz fares better on the tunes about love lapses: He sounds cool on the Mario Winans-assisted “Can’t Be Friends” and classic on “Please Return My Call.” He downright demands that his lover come back on the thumping “Made to Be Together.” Songz also shines on his signature bedroom grooves “Love Faces” and “Massage.” “Ready” was a Grammy-nominated album that made Songz one of R&B’s leading male and helped him break onto the pop charts. This new album should have been released as an extension of that project.
Earth Kids: Art Workshop and Science Exhibit
Kids will have their hands full of learning and activities this September as Parkmall brings them the Earth Kids: Art Workshop and Science Exhibit, together with the 8th Cebu Bird Show. The art workshops, which are open to kids from ages 3 till 12 yrs. Old, will be held at the ParkmallKidz Zone on September 24, 25 and 26, 2010. Activities shall include Clay Sculpting, T-shirt Printing and Mural Painting. Plus, be amused by a showcase of different bird species at the 8th Cebu Bird Show happening on September 26, 2010 at the Atrium West Area of Parkmall. It’s a good way to remind the kids how wonderful nature is and it will also be a good way for them to get in touch with nature through lectures and showcase of Birds, their behaviors and their talents.
WILA to celebrate 19 years
Catfish You should see the film, and you should force yourself to learn as little about it as possible beforehand. Directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost didn’t know what they were in for, either. They started out making one kind of movie and in no time found themselves lens-deep in something completely different. Producer Andrew Jarecki, who directed the Oscar-nominated 2003 documentary “Capturing the Friedmans,” found himself in a similarly unpredictable situation; the results here are similarly breathtaking. (AP) ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE FROM THE INTERNET
The Women in Literary Arts (WILA) Cebu will be celebrating its 19th anniversary this Sept. 26 at the Casa Gorordo Museum. WILA is the only creative writing group for women that have existed for almost 20 years in the Philippines. The celebration will include literary readings, induction of new members and officers, and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing. To be inducted as new members are Liza Baccay, Kei Valmoria, and Gloria Sommers. New set of officers for the next two years are Hope Sabanpan-Yu, chair; Jeneth Borlasa, vice chair; Karla Quimsing, secretary; Ma. Milagros T. Dumdum, treasurer; Lilia Tio, auditor; and Erma M. Cuizon, press relations officer. Inducting the new officers and members is awardwinning poet-essayist Judge Simeon Dumdum Jr., WILA honorary member. WILA will also be signing an MOU with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), formally signifying their partnership to promote the Cebuano literary arts in various programs and activities to be held at the Casa Gorordo Museum. Themed, “Into the Twenties”, ka-WILAs will be dressed in “roaring 20s” costumes. Providing the intermission are the U.P. Cebu Serenata and Literature students.
World DanceSport Open jumpstarts sports tourism in Cebu
Sports Tourism is given a boost with at least fourteen countries represented as DanceSport athletes and adjudicators (judges) converge at the Pacific Grand Ballroom, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City on September 26, 2010 (Sunday) for the 2010 Cebu World DanceSport Open and 5th Dancesport Sa Sugbu. Organized by DanceSport Team Cebu City this World DanceSport Open gathers DanceSport child, adult and juvenile athletes from all over the world - Bulgaria, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Singapore, HongKong and Korea. In the Philippines, Metro Manila, Makati City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Baguio City, Tacurong, Sarangani, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, General Santos, Davao and Dumaguete are represented.
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Vocals are top-notch and production crisp on “Please Return My Call,” a 1990s-sounding sincere plea to a lover.
foreview September 25 Cebu Comic Convention Featuring comic book art exhibits, panel discussions, art workshops and talks by comic book professionals during mall hours at the Activity Center, Ayala Center Cebu.
Hannah Hansen vs. David Puentez Experience two major House music acts in one delightfully exhilarating party at The Penthouse, 3rd floor CJRS Point. Asia Town I.T. Park, Cebu City.
Fashion on Spotlight Featuring the collections of Cebu’s young designers and the fresh faces of today’s young student models. Event starts after dark at The Taproom, Ma. Luisa Rd., Banilad.
Ongoing until September 26 Their Books 3 “THEIR BOOKS” is an award-winning fund-raising project of Tsinelas participated in by writers, columnists, editors, musicians, painters, media practitioners, teachers, the academe, politicians and other prominent personalities in Cebu. These people are asked to donate books from their personal collections. The books are then put on sale for the public. Hence, the name “Their Books”. At the Ayala Center Cebu, during mall hours.
September 29 Scuave: The 2010 Pre-Holiday Collection Formo’s Thread Style series, featuring the creations of Yves Camingue, 9 p.m. at Formo, Banilad Town Centre.
Every Friday Sink ‘n’ Drink Fridays: Beer Pong Bring your friends and challenge them to a game of billiards, darts and the all-time favorite BeerPong! Only at Sulanders Sports Bar, Roofdeck, Mactan Pension House, National Road, Lapu Lapu City, in between the old and new bridges.
Every Saturday Disco Deluxe Listen to the music of the 1980’s as only Gilbert Go can dish it out! Music starts when the sun sets at Formo, Banilad Town Center.