A #PobCrawl like no other

MANILA, Philippines — February is National Arts Month. Not that there’s a lack of appreciation throughout the year, but the many festivities this month just prove that there really is no stopping the local arts scene. Now in its fourth year, Fringe Manila is one of the notable ones, happening from Feb. 7-25. It’s a multi-arts festival and by that, we mean it’s going to be a month-long celebration of everything from theater, music, dance, performance art and film to spoken word, magic, and even burlesque and cabaret.

This year’s Fringe Manila is presented by Pineapple Lab and is centered around Poblacion, Makati. With a series of performances, exhibits, workshops and pop-ups in our fave spots like Commune, Dulo, Kapwa and The Social, it’s best to be in-the-know. While we’d love to go to every show, researching things like schedule, slots and ticket prices (some are free though) will come in handy. There’s a festival guide on their website (www.fringemanila.com) that you can download for that. But if you’re looking for recos, here’s a list of shows that we’re excited for:

Pineapple Jam

Schedule: Feb. 11, 6 p.m. at Lokal Hostel

Ticket price: Free admission

Think: alcohol, old and new friends, and impromptu music-making featuring songs that are on everybody’s playlist. It’s basically how you should celebrate before Monday hits, and a great way to celebrate the end of the first weekend of Fringe Manila.

Maylee Todd’s Virtual Womb

Schedule: Feb. 22, 8 p.m. at Dulo MNL

Ticket price: P400

Ever wondered what it’s like to have projections, live video feed, dancing, installation, 3-D projection mapping, and live music all in one exhibit? Probably not, but it seems like a pretty cool multimedia experience to have as part of Maylee Todd’s vagina installation. (Yup, you read that right.)

Conversations: Club Discussions on Fashion and Business

Schedule: Feb. 24, 11 a.m. at Commune Cafe + Bar

Ticket price: P500

Designer Esme Palaganas is about much more than just clothes. With Basic Movement Club, she starts conversations about the larger role of fashion in shaping our community. On Feb. 24, get schooled on the business of fashion by Young STAR faves like Rik Rasos, Kim Jones and Carl Jan Cruz through a panel discussion moderated by Andrea Ang and Esme herself.

Art attack: Dee Jae Paeste makes wall art for different establishments all over Manila.

The Starving Artist Tour: a food and street art walk by Dee Jae Paeste

Schedule: All Wednesdays of February

Ticket price: P2500 (inclusive of all food, drinks, dessert, and a signed art print)

Whether it’s trying a pop-up menu, discovering restaurants on what was once a random alley, or spotting a new street art along your usual #PobCrawl route, no trip to Poblacion is ever the same. The area is bustling more than ever and the community is just getting bigger, so what’s a better way to know its old and new secrets than by being toured by someone who’s seen it all?

A trip down memory lane: This one-man act is all about our '90s obsession.

Eljay Castro Deldoc’s Nobenta Nostalgia: A monomusical

Schedule: Feb. 18, 20, 25, 8 p.m. in Pineapple Lab

Ticket price: P400 (inclusive of one free drink)

So you’re obsessed with the ‘90s? Reminisce over the joys of growing up in the time of Sineskwela, Princess Sarah and peak Jolens (Jolina Magdangal, our true kween) in this one-man act featuring Phi Palmos. It’s an “unfinished live docu about ‘90s TV” told through a series of interviews, monologues and songs.

* * *

For more details and updates, like facebook.com/FringeMNL, follow @fringemnl on Twitter and Instagram, or visit fringemanila.com.