The role of media in modern societies

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
30 July 2008
The Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) 17th annual conference, the largest and most prestigious gathering in Asia and the Pacific region to tackle the United Nations 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), was held at the historic Manila Hotel from July 14 to 17.
On the first day [...]

Jay is Cinemalaya’s best

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
24 July 2008
“Assistant director lang po ako ng Diyos [I’m just God’s assistant director],” young director Francis Pasion said in his acceptance speech after Jay, the video he directed, was named Best Film (a misnomer considering it hasn’t even been converted to 35mm film) in the full-length category during the [...]

Miss Real Estate Philippines : A beauty pageant of a different kind

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
22 July 2008
Summer is over but the temperature is still rising, particularly at the Philippine Real Estate Festival as it presents 24 gorgeous young women vying for the title of Miss Real Estate Philippines on July 25 at the SMX Mall of Asia.
The second annual beauty pageant intensely screened over [...]

Kristine Hermosa: Loveless lady

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
21 July 2008
Visit Athens and you’ll be mesmerized by the magnificent relics of a once glorious civilization. Greek sculptures, particularly, have put many in a trance with how artists had carved meticulously in perfect form human anatomy. Perfect beauty is what the Greeks of ancient civilization had defined.
If people thought [...]

Practical and daring acts of musical reinvention

By Nickie Wang
Reinvention is the word that best describes the reappearance of a prominent rock band, and the daring move of an artist who attempts to make a solid niche in the world of music. Battle-scarred Rivermaya, with new vocalist Jayson Fernandez, bounces back with a new album entitled Buhay, and Nancy Jane spruces herself [...]

West Side Story: Tony finds his Maria

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
10 July 2008
Finally, Tony has found his Maria.
This was announced recently by Stages, the production company that is mounting an all-Filipino cast of the Broadway classic West Side Story.
This musical offering, which will be staged at the Meralco Theater from September to October, is anchored by a strong ensemble headed [...]

Lea Salonga to try on Cinderella’s glass slippers

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
5 July 2008
Tony award-winning Broadway singer Lea Salonga continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
This month, she plays a beautiful girl rescued from a life of drudgery by her fairy godmother and eventually marries a handsome prince in the lavish production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
Running for a month at the Cultural [...]