Quickstrike

During a visit to Luis Lorenzana’s studio a couple of years ago, a painting of a female robot in a Maria Clara outfit caught my eye. I offered to buy the painting but the artist refused to sell it to me.

I saw this painting again when I went to Lorenzana’s exhibit called Quickstrike and saw that painting framed and reminded him of our conversation before. Luis said, “Now you know why I didn’t want to sell it.” That painting was the basis for Lorenzana’s new limited edition designer toy called Maria Robo Clara. It was that same female robot in the painting but as a toy, it is now on top of a hamburger.

This new toy was launched at Secret Fresh Gallery in Greenhills, San Juan City together with Luis’ other limited edition designer toy called Señor Tetanus Especial, which comes in a larger edition of 204 pieces (all technically one-of-a-kind since all 204 pieces have different hues of blues, reds, yellows, greens, oranges and violets). Maria Robo Clara and Señor Tetanus Especial bring Luis’ total designer toys to four. The other two, which have been local auction favorites,  were El Romantico and Mona Lisa Overdose.

The Tetanus exhibit included a large oil painting and several small watercolors, which were all sold out during the opening day.

I’m so glad to see a talented and truly wonderful artist like Luis doing well in the art scene and that people appreciate his beautiful works of art. There may be a few more pieces of the Tetanus designer toys left, so check out Secret Fresh Gallery today!

Congratulations, Luis!

(Secret Fresh Gallery is located at the ground floor of Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan City.For more information, call 570-9815 local 7 or e-mail [email protected].)

Ready for this year’s Ironman 70.3

Cebuanos came to represent the Queen City of the South at the press conference of the Asia Pacific Cobra Ironman 70.3 held at Shangri-La at the Fort recently.

Sunrise Events Inc. founder Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr., who welcomed guests, was joined by event host Matteo Guidicelli, Chiqui Reyes and Kenneth Cobonpue, who will design the 2016 Ironman 70.3 Philippines medals and trophies.

Also present at the launch were Asia Brewery Inc. commercial division president Hubert Tan, Ford Philippines managing director Lance Mosley, Tourism Promotions Board COO Domingo Ramon Enerio III, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, Cebu provincial administrator Mark Tolentino, Globe Telecom VP for content Jil Bausa Go and Shangri-La Mactan director of sales Natalia Zotova.

Uytengsu said, “On Aug. 7, we’ll have over 2,900 athletes from 43 countries, marking the biggest triathlon in the history of the Philippines. Cebuanos, together with the organizing Sunrise Events Inc., guarantee a world-class setup for the Shangri-La Mactan Resorts and Spa. We are truly honored to be chosen as host for the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship, marking the first time that this elite event is held in Asia, outside of Australia and New Zealand.”

This year’s competitors will be led by defending champions Tim Reed and Caroline Steffen. The 2016 Asia Pacific Ironman 70.3 Championship event sold out 2,900 slots in 28 minutes when registration opened in October 2015.

Produced and organized by Sunrise Events, backed by Cobra Energy Drink as title sponsor and Ford as presenting sponsor, the 1.9-km. swim, 90-km. bike and 21-km. run race will offer the biggest prize money in the Philippines at $75,000 and the highest points earned. Also up for grabs are 50 slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Tolentino said, “The Province will be ready to welcome all participants and their families with the traditional Cebuano warmth and festivities.”

Tan added, “Year after year, we dream bigger, we grow stronger and we aim to achieve greater heights. For eight years we’re able to successfully grow and build a community of enthusiasts who dare to push their mind, body and spirit to its limit. And this year, we celebrate and share this moment of well-deserved success with everyone behind the Cobra Ironman 70.3.”

Other celebrities expected to join the event are Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes, The Voice Philippines coach and Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.Ap, actor Paul Jake Castillo, news personalities Gretchen Fullido, Kim Atienza and Dyan Castillejo, Ivan Carapiet, Bubbles Paraiso, Xander Angeles, Anthony and Maricel Pangilinan, Sara Black and Gilbert Remulla.

Guidicelli shared, “The sport not only changed my life and inspired me to live a healthier lifestyle, it also introduced me to a lot of cool people and athletes. Some have become my inspiration to push harder while many have become like a second family to me.”

The event is supported by Globe, Philippine Airlines, Summit Water, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, 2Go Express (official courier and logistics partner), Asics, Gatorade, Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu Province, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City, Talisay City, Prudential Guarantee, Oakley and Timex.

The action will be aired live on www.ironman.com courtesy of Globe Telecom.

Philippine Ballet Theatre takes on the classics

Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT), now on its 30th season as one of the resident companies of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), presents The Great Classics on July 29 to 31 at the CCP Main Theater with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Herminigildo Ranera.

Guest artists include the “Golden Boy of Ballet” Joseph Phillips of the famous Mariinsky Theatre; and Jared Tan, a homegrown PBT artist now with the Atlanta Ballet.

PBT danseurs Ian Ocampo, Peter San Juan, Matthew Davo, Jimmy Lumba, Crimson Guirjem, Mark Pineda and Julafer Fegarido will partner with PBT soloists Lobreza Pimentel, Regine Magbitang, Joni Galeste, Kim Abrogena, Veronica Atienza and guest artist Veronica Ylagan.

For this production, artistic director Ronilo Jaynario has selected Act 2 of Swan Lake, the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, Diana and Actaeon from Esmeralda, Flames of Paris and the Grand Pas de Deux from Paquita.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will perform on July 29 and at the gala on Saturday, July 30, both at 8 p.m. Other performances will be on July 30 at 3 p.m.; July 31 at 2 p.m and 7 p.m. 

(For inquiries, call PBT at 632-8848 and 255-8076 or the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 and TicketWorld at 891-9999. For special booking arrangements, contact Sylvia Lichauco-de Leon

at 0920-801684, 0917-8555652 or e-mail [email protected].) (Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.) Photos by Pepper Teehankee on a Canon PowerShot S120