Auditions for the title role of Pinocchio, set on March 1

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Repertory Theater for Young Audiences is holding auditions for the title role of Pinocchio in the forthcoming production of the same name opening on August 16, 2014.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 1 at 10:00am at the Onstage theater 2nd floor Greenbelt One.

Auditions are open to boys and girls 10 to 15 years of age .Girls must be willing to play a boy. Boys older than 15 should be less then 5 ft.

Those who audition should be able to sing in a high or tenor voice, to move well and be able to take choreography, and to speak good English.

RYTA is specially searching for home schooled children who can perform on weekdays. Because of the number of performances, the role of Pinocchio will be alternately played by at least five actors.

Auditioners should fill out an application form available either at the REP office or on line and learn the audition song before the auditions. Lyrics and music can be picked up at the rep office (please bring a flash drive) or can be emailed. Contact Oliver Usison at 8433570 550882 0r olison14@yahoo.com.

Pinocchio will run from August to December. Rehearsals will start on June 9. Rehearsals will be from 6:00 to 9:00pm from Monday to Friday.

RTYA is in its 22nd year of providing professional theater for young audiences. It performs for schools, organizations, charity fund raisers and for families who want their children to experience enjoyment of live theater and to benefit from this experience.

DOTC: Brand new MRT coaches may help ease traffic by 2015

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With Metro Manila traffic expected to worsen further over the next few years due to the implementation of multiple infrastructure projects, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is hoping that it will finally be allowed to add 48 brand new Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) to the Metro Rail Transit III (MRT-3) system at the soonest possible time.

“We hope that the order preventing us from adding brand new LRVs will be lifted immediately, for the public’s sake. The DOTC will be able to increase MRT-3’s capacity within 2 to 3 years starting from the time that the court allows us to proceed. Since more passengers will be able to take the train, EDSA traffic should be mitigated considerably,” said DOTC Spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal.

The transport agency’s MRT-3 Capacity Expansion Project involves the purchase of 48 brand new LRVs through an open and transparent bidding process conducted last year. After the contract was awarded to China’s Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company in January, however, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati issued a Temporary Order of Protection (TOP) to halt the process.

The Project will increase MRT-3’s trips per hour from 20 to 24, which will translate to a 60% increase in the number of passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD). This means that, from the current 23,640 people who can avail of the rail service every hour heading towards one direction, the Project will make it possible for 37,824 passengers to enjoy this convenience.

Currently, the rail line’s average daily ridership is already over 560,000, and its highest single-day passenger count is 620,000. The Project will not only help ease the gridlock on EDSA, it will also make the MRT-3 experience much more bearable for its riders.

Sagcal clarified that “the Project will take 2 to 3 years to complete because the LRVs will still be manufactured. A prototype will be tested on the system within 12 to 18 months, followed by the delivery of 3-4 units per succeeding month. This means that traffic decongestion can already start by 2015. All we’re waiting for is the court’s go signal.”

On 30 January 2014, the Makati RTC issued the TOP in favor of MRT Holdings II, Inc., which claims to own and control 100% of the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC). MRTC owns the MRT facilities pursuant to its 1997 concession agreement with government.

MRTC’s Board of Directors has since confirmed that the filing of this injunctive suit was unauthorized, and the DOTC has pointed out that it has no contractual relationship with MRT Holdings II.

The transportation department believes that it has sufficient legal grounds to proceed with the addition of new LRVs in line with public interest. The Project is urgently needed after MRTC failed to add any LRVs to the rail system despite DOTC’s demands for it do so since 2007.

(From the Department of Transportation and Communications dotc.gov.ph)

“Maalaala Mo Kaya” (MMK) pocketbooks available in bookstores and newsstands

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It’s time to flip through the pages of the “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (MMK) pocketbooks once again, as ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. brings back stories for Filipinos to stay tuned for; stories that are set to not only thrill, but to serve as reflections for real people with real tales to tell—of love, family, career, or country.

Two stories will be hitting bookstores and newsstands to kick things off—“Popcorn” and “Fishball” by favorite “komiks” writer and editor KC Cordero.

“Popcorn” details different kinds of love—the love of a boy named Earl for a girl named Maya who has overcome obstacles, the love of Maya as a daughter for her mother Aling Clara, and the love of a mother that asks for nothing except the well-being of her children.

On the other hand, “Fishball” goes into how “puppy love” plays out—between two innocent young ones who are faced with the obstacle of living in two different worlds.

Apart from the romance, “Fishball” also contains life lessons such as respect for one’s family, the importance of making the right decisions, and the necessity of keeping an open mind. Bear witness to the story of Ian, a fishball vendor named Imee, and her older sister Leslie as it unfolds at the turn of each page.

These two inspiring MMK pocketbooks today are available at National Bookstore, 7-11, and BookSale stores and outlets nationwide. Grab copies now and enjoy!

LINE Theme Shop lets you decorate your messaging experience

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Newly launched LINE shop opens your chat rooms for everyone’s favorite LINE characters.

LINE, the world’s leading mobile platform with over 350 million users, has unveiled its new Theme Shop for Android and iPhone users in the Philippines.

Through the store, Filipinos can purchase themes that decorate their LINE chat visuals with LINE characters Leonard and Sally. What’s more, the themes of the ever popular Cony and Brown are still available to users for free.

Since first being introduced in June 2013, LINE Themes have been downloaded more than 200 million times by users around the world to add a personal and colorful touch to their LINE interface.

“The Theme Shop already offers a wide variety of themes centered on the beloved characters of LINE,” said Greg Kim, Senior Manager of LINE Plus Corporation. “In the next months, we will be adding Hello Kitty and Rilakkuma themes, and we promise to deliver more fun-loving motifs as the year progresses.”

Filipino users can also purchase themes from the LINE Web Store (http://store.line.me) and send them as gifts to their LINE friends.

LINE is now available on Firefox Marketplace

The Firefox OS platform has been gaining particular traction among smartphone users, including Filipinos. In line with that, the mobile messaging app has continued to expand its reach and is now available on the Firefox Marketplace.

“We are glad to welcome Firefox users in the Philippines to LINE,” says Kim. “One of our main goals is to advance our accessibility to more Filipinos, so they can enjoy LINE’s unparalleled mobile platform services.”

1. Themes are only supported by the iPhone and Android versions of the LINE app.

2. iPhone users can only send Theme gifts to friends via Web Store only.

3. Purchased themes are supported for 180 days after sales end.

*Useful Links:

LINE Homepage

PC: http://line.naver.jp/en/

Mobile: http://line.naver.jp/app/en/

LINE Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/Line.Philippines

LINE Official YouTube Page

www.youtube.com/lineappglobal

LINE Official Blog

http://en.lineblog.naver.jp/

For LINE Partner:

http://line.naver.jp/partner/pc/index/en

DSWD launches Adoption Consciousness Week

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently launched the observance of Adoption Consciousness Week by setting-up Help Desks in selected SM and Ayala Malls to provide information on adoption for interested individuals and families.

The Help Desks are manned by social workers from DSWD Central Office, Field Offices IV-A, IV-B, and National Capital Region, as well as accredited child-placing agencies, such as Norfil Foundation Inc. and Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF).

 Information about adoption including the processes, requirements, and its benefits and effects are discussed here.

Prospective adoptive couples may visit the following malls on February 15, 16, 22, and 23: SM City Manila, SM City Fairview, SM City Marikina, SM City Southmall, SM Megamall, Market Market Mall, Glorietta, and Greenbelt.

With this year’s theme, “Legal na Pag-aampon sa Lahat ng Pagkakataon,” the awareness week aims to highlight the importance of adhering to the legal adoption process in every situation, including during disasters.

dswd.gov.ph