[SEATTLE] Of Glassblowing and Hiking

 

Before we go back to Chihuly, let’s get Little Si Trailhead out of the way first, shall we? Hiking is not really my thing, and I did not have the appropriate footwear. To give you an idea, I was wearing elevator leather brogues. My rubber shoes bailed on me last year, okay? I ended up trading my dress shoes for Havaianas. Have you ever hiked up a mountain on Havaianas? I did. It was challenging but obviously way better than hiking while donning a meeting room get-up, no? How was the hike?

[SEATTLE] Sleepy in Seattle

In line with limited vacation leaves per year and my annual Broadway Barrage tradition, I’ve decided that the best way to go about this one-week annual vacation is to transit on a weekend somewhere in the Pacific Coast before heading towards the Big Apple. For this year, Washington state became the obvious candidate because of the plethora of trans-Pacific flights landing there. Sleepy in Seattle it is, then. The objective is to see and do as much in two days before indulging in Broadway goodness.

A Simple Favor

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Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) is that annoying mom at school who volunteers for everything and makes you feel like such a bad parent. Being a single mom, she supplements her income by maintaining a vLog about basic mom stuff ranging from recipes to occasional gossip. Emily (Blake Lively) is the exact opposite. Ever stylish and elegance personified, she rarely attends any of her kid’s school events and her idea of a playdate is indulging in martinis at two in the afternoon. The two mothers meet through their children, resulting in an unlikely friendship. One day Emily asks Stephanie a simple favor. She asks her to pick up her kid at school. Three days later, she still hasn’t come back. An investigation follows with her husband Sean (Henry Golding) being considered as the main suspect for her disappearance. As the search for her intensifies, so does Stephanie’s feelings for her grieving husband.

Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka

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Jaz (Alex Gonzaga) and Migs (Vin Abrenica) first meet in Bataan. She is there to check out the Ruined Bar which is popular for its spoken word gigs. He is there because he is brokenhearted after his fiancée leaves him without an explanation. The two enjoy their time together and engage in a rebound romance. One year later, he leaves her after one call from his ex. Unable to move on, she seeks the help of Dr. Rolex (Candy Pangilinan), a quirky doctor who claims that she can cure heartbreak by literally changing a patient’s heart. The tag line of her clinic, NSKTN KLINIKA, is: “Change your heart. Change your mind. Change your life!” after all. Jaz arrives in a consultation room full of patients who are desperate to get rid of their memories for the sake of moving on. When her turn comes, she hesitates, but eventually decides to have the procedure done once and for all.

The Nun

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1952, Romania. A convent high atop the hills is haunted by a malevolent entity in the guise of a terrifying nun. The nun is actually a demon which goes by the name of Valak (Bonnie Aarons), a designated president of hell. First summoned by the original owner of the abbey during the middle ages, the unspeakable evil has been kept at bay with the intervention of the Catholic Church, which claims the property for its own. Through perpetual adoration, a round the clock prayer accomplished by the sisters in shifts, the entity grows weaker. However, this endless invocation is interrupted when the bombs of war fall over the country. When one of the nuns commit suicide, she is found by Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), a French-Canadian herder who supplies the abbey with charcuterie. A report is made to the Vatican, which sends the duo of Father Burke (Demián Bachir) and Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) to investigate.

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

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More commonly known by his nickname Goyo, Gregorio del Pilar (Paulo Avelino) was the youngest Filipino general during the Philippine-American War. After the assassination of Antonio Luna, President Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado) gives the young general the assignment of rounding up all troops still loyal to the fallen general in an effort to beef up their forces against the Americans. As they move the capital farther north away from Manila, hearts of young girls flutter at the sight of the playboy, his reputation often preceding him. He sets his eyes on pretty Remedios (Gwen Zamora), one of the daughters of a wealthy merchant but their romance is cut short by the arrival of Felicidad (Empress Schuck), the president’s sister and his ex-flame. As the Americans make headway in capturing more and more provinces, what remains of the revolutionary forces seek refuge by hiking the Cordilleras, where Goyo decides to build fortified trenches to delay the advance of the enemy.

Side Show (Atlantis Theatrical)

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Come, look at the freaks! Welcome to Side Show, a collection of circus acts featuring the likes of the Bearded Lady, Dog Boy, Lizard Man, 3-Legged Man, and many more. But at the heart of the act are the haunting voices of twins Daisy (Gab Pangilinan) and Violet (Kayla Rivera) Hilton. Under the exploitative tutelage of Sir (Wency Cornejo), the conjoined twins have been under his custody since their aunt died, making him the sole legal guardian. When talent scout Terry (Markki Stroem) discovers the vocal prowess of the duo, he is convinced that he has found a runaway hit. After a bit of prodding, he convinces his vocal coach friend Buddy (David Ezra) to train them for a more sophisticated audience in Chicago. Will the tandem be able to withstand the pressures of showbiz given their condition?