"Sayang naman kung hindi ko ipagpapatuloy ang talentong ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos"--- CRIS NICOLAS

ms. nicolas (far left), with a follie de mwah dancer and mr. pocholo mallilin

club mwah and cris nicolas: the soul and the creator

Sobrang nakakamangha. Iyan ang impresyon na iniwan sa amin ng mga bagong production numbers na masasaksihan sa de-kalibre at world-renowned na classy club- ang CLUB MWAH. And to be among the very distinguished visitors and audience na 'capture crowd' ng sozy club na ito, tunay naman pong nakakataba ng puso.

Sa taong 2020, napansin pa namin, mas lalong naging SOSYAL ang pagtatanghal nila. Mas lalong naging creative, high end, and expensive in taste. Ayaw talagang paawat ni Ms. Cris Ncolas sa paglikha ng isang tunay na 'legit' performance o pagtatanghal sa club nila.

To think, iisang tao lang talaga ang nasa 'creative process' ng lahat ng mga detalye sa shows nila. Dahil si Ms. Nicolas din ang direktor, choreographer, costume designer at set designer ng lahat ng CLUB MWAH shows. Kaya once again, we say, tunay ngang nakakamangha.

"Sayang naman kung hindi ko ipagpapatuloy ang talentong ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos", pabungad na naging tugon sa amin ni Ms. Nicolas sa isang impromptu interview. "Kung titigil na lang ako at magpapahinga, ano'ng mangyayari? Eh, ang lawak-lawak pa ng mga ideas ko. Makarinig lang ako ng isang magandang musika, aandar na ang mga imahinasyon ko. At hindi ako makukuntento hangga't hindi ko nae-execute ang mga ideas ko.

"And now that Club Mwah's audience is capturing the hearts and minds of the Millenials, mas lalo pa tuloy ako ngayong natsa-challenge", naging pagpapatuloy ni Sir Cris. "Naisip ko naman this time, puro classy production numbers naman ang gagawin ko for 2020. 'Yung tipong hip-hop ang dating na babagay sa conservative taste ng mga mature audiences namin. Kaya ang ginawa ko, sexy na hiphop numbers na classy ang taste. Tulad ng Vogue production number namin at ng Rolling In The River song na binigyan ko ng kakaibang look and movements."

Kaya maski ba na-heart bypass operation na si Sir Cris, 'yung kakaibang energy niya ay hindi pa rin nawawala. She performs with so much intensity and zest.

"Performing is my life, and I won't replace it with anything else in this world", muli pang sabi ni Sir cris. "Kung minsan nga, ang clamor and requests ng mga audiences namin sa outside bookings ay ako na lang daw ang solo na mag-perform. But I will insist them, dapat kasama ko ang buong Follies de Mwah. Minsan lang akong nag-perform ng solo sa labas dahil hindi ko matanggihan ang hiling ng isang malapit na kaibigan. Gusto niya talaga, ako lang ang solong mag-perform, kaya para hindi siya magtampo, pinagbigyan ko na.

"It's all a collaborative effort naman, eh, and I can't say na ako lang ang dapat i-credit sa ganda ng shows and performances namin", dugtong niya. "Nariyan sina Koko Artadi at iba pang mga loyal na Follies ko who stood by us through thick and thin. Ang masaklap lang, duon sa iba na naglakihan agad ang mga ulo, biglang lilipat sa ibang bars. Pagkatapos mo silang turuan, ihasa na maging total performer, kukunin nila ang ang mga ideas mo at magsasalita pa ng laban sa iyo. At may isang gay bar diyan, panay ang pirata sa mga Follies ko. Nakakapika na kung minsan, pero wala akong magagawa. That's life. Basta ang masasabi ko lang, iba pa rin ang crowd ng Club Mwah dahil desente ang mga palabas namin at walang mga naghuhubad na mga kalalakihan sa mga pagtatanghal namin. Lalong walang macho dancer sa club namin!

"Just recently, may isa akong miyembro sa Follies na naging pasaway. Maski may show kami, duon siya pupunta sa mga raket niya sa labas. Kaya sabi ng mga loyal Follies ko, tanggalin ko na lang daw. Sobrang nag-iinarte na, eh. Kailangan pa, sinusundo siya. Masyado nang pa-importante. Iyan lang kung minsan ang masasakit na bagay na nangyayari sa isang tulad kong nagte-train sa mga aspiring performers", naging pahayag pa ni Sir Cris.

But many good things are now coming along the way with Club Mwah at sa mundo ng isang alagad ng sining sa katauhan ni Cris Nicolas.

"Magkakaroon na ng kapatid ang Club Mwah, at ito ang Comico Bar", sabi ni Sir Cris. "Baka magkaroon na kami ng soft opening sa second or third week ng February. At ang grand opening naman ay sa unang linggo ng buwan ng Marso. Comico bar is a comedy bar, but we will also have regular performers there. Gagawin naming desenteng comedy bar ito.

"And of course, hindi kami nauubusan ng mga outside shows and out-of-town invites", pagtatapos na wika ni Sir Cris. "Lumalawak na kasi ang audiences namin. And to my surprise, pati mga Millenials ay na-appreciate na ang high-end kind of shows. Kaya naman I am glad na hindi nasayang ang lahat ng efforts ko."

Go for gold, Sir Cris!





(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)
club mwah video above, courtesy of mr. evo joel contrivida of evoandgrace blog site.***

cris nicolas captivates

cris nicolas shines

crisnicolas in a heavenly production number at club mwah

cris nicolas in red

cris nicolas in silver

cris nicolas in a funny production number

cris and the follies in green

cris nicolas and the follies de mwah

Add caption

THE RHYTHM OF LOVE AND AJ PEREZ (r.i.p.)

I saw your eyes from up the Skies

In one cold and tranquil night

When the clouds Up There, suddenly formed itself into two huge eye balls.

What a great transformation, indeed.

I thought at first, they were the very Eyes of God itself.

But the wind that suddenly blew upon my ears told me: "They were the eyes of your friend AJ."


When I slept at night that very same evening,

I dreamed.

That you visited me at my room and laid beside my bed.

You were telling me something I could not quite memorize the words

because I was so sleepy already and almost half-awakened, and half-asleep.

I could feel the warm breaths of air as you spoke so near to me...

You breaths were so sweet and real, like that of a living human.

And the breath that came-out from your mouth smelled so good, too!

Oh, my.


And I could also feel,

your warm breast, the heat that comes-out from your body on a cold, cold night.

It was like giving me the warmth and the heat, comforting me.

Almost so living,

not almost half as dead.


But the dream, it suddenly stopped.

Because your father suddenly appeared and you were gone at an instant.

What a very bad timing for a dream. Haha.


And it ended just like that.


THE RHYTHM OF LOVE AND AJ PEREZ. 

I guess, it's all so real.

Because the rhythm was so penetrating,

so true.

And the love that I still feel for you-


Would continue on



FOREVER.




Happy, happy birthday on February 17, my angel and my friend, AJ.







(words by robert manuguid silverio)

POPOY CUSI: MAHAL NG KANYANG MGA KAPWA PINTOR...

POPOY CUSI (FAR RIGHT, IN CAP), SHOWS-OFF HIS NUDE SKETCH PAINTING WHICH HE DID FOR LESS THAN 30 MINUTES ONLY, BLOGGER ROBERT POSES BESIDE THE PAINTING WITH A PILOT-FRIEND OF MR. CUSI

BLOGGER ROBERT POSES BESIDE MASTER POPOY WHILE PAINTING

POPOY CUSI WITH FELLOW PAINTERS: WELL-LOVED

A NUDE SKETCH PAINTING OF MASTER POPOY

MASTER POPOY AT "M GALLERY" WITH MRS. JEANNE MONTEVERDE (MIDDLE, IN WHITE SHIRT) AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS

AT "M GALLERY"

Ilang beses na naming nasaksihan kung gaano kamahal ng kanyang mga kapwa Pintor si Master Rafael 'Popoy' Cusi. Ilang okasyon na rin iyon, lalo na sa mga Painting Exhibits sa M GALLERY, kung saan, sa tuwing bisita doon sa M GALLERY si Master Popoy, talagang sinasaludo, inaakap, tinatabihan at pinagkakaguluhan nila ang kanilang "Master".

Tulad na lang nu'ng nagdaang Christmas Party sa M GALLERY at sa birthday bash late last year ni Mrs. Jeanne Monteverde na siyang may-ari ng M GALLERY, talagang nakita namin kung gaano ka-importante sa kanila si Master Popoy. Lalo na si Mrs. Monteverde na laging ina-announce pa sa michrophone at ina-acknowledge ang presence ni Master Popoy.

At kapag inuman session na, isa-isang tatabi kay Master Popoy ang mga kapwa Pintor niya- 'yung iba mga ka-edad na niya at ka-contemporary, at karamihan ay mga aspiring new Painters din. Lahat sila, magpapakuha ng "selfie" photos kay Master Popoy.

Sa mga hindi pa nakakaalam, Master Rafael 'Popoy' Cusi was named as the Master Watercolor Painter in the Philippines, pero bukod diyan, internationally-renowned din siya all-over the world, at hinangaan din siya ng husto sa Germany at iba pang mga bansa sa Europe. Hindi lang naman watercolor ang forte niya. World-acclaimed din ang mga oil paintings niya at nude sketches.

Recently lang, nag-publish ng bagong series of oil paintings si Master Popoy na pawang "Still Life" paintings. na-post iyon sa Facebook ni Mr. Ivan Irinco at marami talaga ang humanga.

Kuya Popoy (as we fondly call him), inspires so many people. Kapag ka-kuwentuhan mo siya, napakaraming 'words of wisdom' ang matutunan mo sa kanya at magagabayan ka ng mga salita niyang iyon sa buhay. Napaka-logical person niya. Para siyang isang Ancient Philosopher din dahil sa dami ng kanyang mga angking kaalaman sa katotohanan at kalaliman ng buhay. A true-blooded artist.

Isang tunay na kaibigan, isang imortal na Pintor, isang dakilang Artist, isang mapagmalasakit na Guro para sa mga kabataang nais matuto sa pagpipinta... ano pa nga ba ang kulang? Wala na. Halos perpekto na.

At hihintayin na lamang namin, ang pangalang Rafael 'Popoy' Cusi bilang National Artist. Hindi malabaong mangyari 'yun, di ba?




(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)
MGA LITRATO, KUHA NI EDWARD JAM POSERIO, sa mga events sa M
GALLERY

"STILL LIFE" PAINTINGS AND OTHER PAINTINGS BY MR. CUSI, mga kuha naman ni MR. IVAN IRINCO

"TAAL" PAINTING BY POPOY CUSI

A "STILL LIFE" PAINTING BY POPOY CUSI

ONE OF THE RECENT PAINTINGS OF POPOY CUSI

A SPECIAL FASHION ESSAY- "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW AND LANCE RAYMUNDO..."

Sometimes, dreams are seemingly real...
In there, you feel him better.
Like,
The heat that comes-out from his chest
And the breaths of air that comes-out from his mouth
As you lay in his breast
As he gave you warmth and comfort and assurances...

Not to fear
Not to question
Not to doubt.

Only in your dreams,
Will he be able to come sometimes...
Perhaps, to tell you that he's still there
And continue on loving him

Even when people sees it differently
Even when people ridicules
Even when people tells to that you are crazy.

You still know deep inside you,
He is true.
He is real.

He assumes himself in many different forms
angles, sizes, visibilities...
at one time, a MOON.
in the other, a flowing RIVER.
and most of the times
the STARS you see at night
and the rare appearances of full RAINBOWS in your life.

He visits you in surprising manners
and you say to yourself:
"Happy Days Are Here Again".

A few times, when reality takes over, you falter.
You continue not to believe in him anymore again...
But as you regain yourself-
you soon will know,
you have lived a life of bounty, of wonder, of plenty...
in many ways
than money.

You were luckier,
you may not have the money,
but you have other things that only you would feel and know.

In the darkness of many nights,
you never felt lonely
you never desired for company.

Because he's there always
to give you contentment,
peace,
LOVE.

It's now the month of February, 2020.
And his birthday is getting near.
Perhaps, that's the reason why
He's reminding you again

of


FOREVER.

And perhaps, too,
he wants to convey something to you.
He wants you to have a better life

from now on
and until the time you see each other again
in a separate dimension of time and space.

Yeah, he's coming back again soon.
Together with another friend
And that would be the 3 of you
again.

Just like before when you played together
in the beachfront of 
a dream

that was long ago forgotten.

Maybe others no longer really believe in what I say
They no longer believe in me at all
But even if I die again
I know you will still be there for me


Whatever it takes.

I will always LOVE YOU.




ETERNALLY.

YOU, MY ANGEL
MY FRIEND.
MY RAINBOW.
MY MOON,



AND MY




FOREVER.

(as written by robert manuguid silverio,
photos courtesy of mr. lance raymundo).***

CED TORRECARION, HINDI MUNA GAGANAP BILANG PONTIO PILATO SA TAONG ITO PARA SA DULANG "MARTIR SA GOLGOTA"

ced: a break from Pontius Pilate character this year

ced in a nice hair cut

ced: ruggedly handsome

ced as a corrupt cop in his new indie film

ced with his "dolce far niente wellness spa" family

Isa sa mga hindi namin malilimutang pagganap sa entablado ay 'yung kakaibang pag-arte na ipinamalas ni Ced Torrecarion bilang Pontio Pilato sa Senakulong Martir Sa Golgota ng Tanghalang Sta. Ana (na ginaganap taon-taon sa Plaza Calderon, Sta. Ana, Manila). Kaya naman nu'ng muli namin siyang makita para kapanayamin, ang tinanong namin agad sa kanya ay kung muli ba niyang gagampanan ang papel na Pontio Pilato sa taong ito?

"Hindi na muna siguro", naging maagap na kasagutan ni Ced Torrecarion. "Kasi, for the past 7 years already, I have been portraying it na. Kaya this year, I wanna' have a break na muna. For personal and important reasons, pass muna ako this year.

"When I first portrayed the Pontius Pilate character, I really prayed to God that I will be able to portray the role effectively", dugtong na sabi pa ni Ced. "Nu'ng unang in-offer sa akin ni direk Lou Veloso ang character na iyan, I accepted it at once and it became my vow to the Lord. At that time kasi, my mom was battling with the Cancer sickness. Naging panata ko sa Diyos na gagampanan ko ang papel na Pontio Pilato para sa Diyos, at para matulungan Niya ang mom ko na may sakit noon na Cancer. My mom died more than a couple of years back, but I haven't stopped portraying Pontius Pilate. I feel, this time, pahinga naman ako.

"Hindi natin nakita kung ano ang hitsura at ang pananalita ni Pontio Pilato", anya pa. "At 'yun ang naging hamon para sa akin. At base naman sa mga nakapanood na sa akin sa pagganap ko sa papel na iyon, halos lahat naman ay pinuri ako."

Nagkaroon din ng pasumandaling 'break' si Ced sa mga pagganap niya sa mga 'dark characters' nu'ng medyo maiba naman ang role niya sa katatapos lamang na teleserye sa channel 2 na Starla, kung saan ang naging papel niya doon ay isang married man with 'extra-marital' affairs.

"Naging happy ending naman ang role ko doon, dahil sa pagtatapos ng teleserye ay bumalik ako sa asawa ko", kuwento pa ni Ced. "Naghihintay ako muli ngayon ng panibagong offer para sa isang teleserye. Kaya heto, medyo may time ako ngayon sa business namin- ang Dolce Far Niente Wellness Spa at sa sports ko na basketball."

Ced is glad to announce na may bagong Promo Offer ngayon sa DOLCE FAR NIENTE WELLNESS SPA:

"For only 450 Php., they can avail for our One Hour Body Massage with a bonus package of Gold Collagen Mask treatment", anya. "It's like hitting two birds in one stome. Nakapag-body massage ka na, kikinis pa ang mukha mo at gaganda sa aming Gold Collagen Mask na ginagamit ng karamihan sa mga artista ngayon. Kaya sana, habang existing pa ang promo namin na iyan, mag-visit na sila sa Dolce Far Niente Wellness Spa sa mga branches namin sa Road 3, project 6 at sa Victor St., Guadalupe Viejo, Makati."

Meanwhile, natapos na rin ni Ced ang isang indie film na dinirek ni Richard Sanchez at pinamagatang Behind The Maskara.

"Isang corrupt policeman ang papel ko dito", kuwento ni Ced. "Ang setting ay sa probinsya at under ako sa payroll ng mga Hacienderos doon. Kontrabida ulit ang role ko sa pelikula."

Ang dream role pala ni Ced na magampanan someday ay ang role ng isang Psychotic.

"I love portraying offbeat characters kasi, mas may challenge for me", muling sabi ni Ced. "Dahil na rin siguro may theater background ako at mas sanay ako sa mga mas mapanghamong papel, kaya I find offbeat characters really challenging to portray."

At 'yung huling tanong namin kay Ced na payag na ba siyang magpa-seksi sa mga pelikula o TV roles, heto naman naging sagot niya:

"Paghahandaan ko pa", huling sambit ni Ced. "I need to go to the gym muna. As of now, hindi pa ako ready. I need to shape-up first."




(sinulat ni robert manuguid silverio)

**photos courtesy of Ced Torrecarion's FB Page

"SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW", MS. CRIS NICOLAS' DASHING BUT SEXY PERFORMANCE, AND A NIGHT AGAIN AT CLUB MWAH....

ms. cris nicolas in another great performance as she renders the song "somewhere over the rainbow" to club mwah audience

the Prince of Cambodia (center with scarf in blue polo short) together with the "follies de mwah and mr. pocholo mallilin and cris nicolas of club mwah

It was another night again at Club de Mwah (better known to all as CLUB MWAH)...

But it was the PERFECT one for me, I mean, the most perfect of all my visits at Club de Mwah...

Because this night, I've got no company, I've got no friends with me, I've got no invited media people to assist to and take care with. Because tasks, companions, friends, sometimes, they all burden me much already...

In being alone, I, most of the times, comes into contact with my Angels, and they let me feel Okay.

That night at Club de Mwah, it was different though, Because it was the right time and the right place, within the boundaries of some great horizons in an unending space...

The crowd was inviting that night. Composed of the Prince of Cambodia, distinguished and important people from Italy, wholesome Canadian couple, Thais, Doctors, Educators, Singaporeans, and a couple of handsome male stars from Viva Artists Agency....

But as inviting as it was, I preferred to sit alone on the cozy, upper part of Club de Mwah, near the bar and located at the left corner of the Smoking Area section-

wherein I could view them all too-precisely, up from the second floor of the bar, like that of a birds' eye-view.

From there, I could see, the elegance and classy ways of the Foreigners, the distinction and class, the exuberant laughs, the smiles of the handsome male artists and little stares and glances of those friendly Educators and Professionals. They were never discriminating to me at all, but rather, in their moves and charms, they were accepting me as one of them....

The crispiness and very clear sound inside Club de Mwah was so refreshing to the ears, thanks to Mr. Reinheart Mallilin, who managed to stay with me for a while as we both felt delighted by the great music being played and by the feeling that Club de Mwah reveals...

The sound inside this club transcends, as if you no longer belong on this very earth- because the sound you hear was all too-perfect and all too-clear....

And as the show begins, something more was destined to happen...

In the past blogs and articles, I have written so much about how great and powerful are the shows at Club de Mwah...

But this time around, at the early start of 2020, it gets to be classier in taste, much more splendid and aristocratic, 'super-fine' in execution and all the tastes and feelings goes right there into some kind of 'high-end' ecstatic wonder and delights...

Songs were properly selected, production numbers were excellently-crafted. Really CLASSY, as we say over and over and over again.

But let's not forget about the colors and the lights, too. The costumes, most especially, which are all glittering in gold and silver, green and red, yellow and brown. Oh, wow.

The stage design, captivating.

And the PERFORMERS? Pretty amazing. All the great words fit in there.

Especially to Ms. Koko Artadi who was not only dancing so gracefully, but she was also acting with great emotions in all her musical and dancing parts...

But again we say, there's something MORE. A hidden agenda, maybe? Or a sudden surprise?

That my RAINBOW never leaves me wherever I am. He lets me feel his presence. He could be my angel, too, disguised as a rainbow, or a Moon, disguised as a light.

When Ms. Cris Nicolas sang the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", I realized, it was all so true.

It was not a Fantasy, after all.

Because being with these kind of people, places and friends, the rainbow attests it's all too-real.

And as Ms. Nicolas further sang the song with great power and intense performance- almost like that of a  'Tina Turner' kind of style and moves and curves and rends...

Oh, my.

What a dashing and sexy performance, indeed!

The more the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" became so much more magnificent and heart-rending. It hits you right there in the HEART.



"Somewhere Over The Rainbow", Ms. Cris Nicolas, and Club Mwah.

In one night, it all makes the difference.

In living upon the Planet Earth,

Nothing could be more beautiful


than




FOREVER.





(as written by robert manuguid silverio)

THERAPEUTIC ATHLETIC MASSAGE, IN DEMAND AND MOST REQUESTED AT DOLCE FAR NIENTE WELLNESS SPA....

actor jay manalo being massaged by a DFN female therapist

ejay falcon being massaged by a DFN male therapist, using the Therapeutic Athletic Massage.

an old athlete being conditioned by a DFN male therapist

actor jay manalo being massaged by a DFN massage therapist, using the Therapeutic Athletic Massage

actor polo ravales being massaged by a therapist of DFN (the Therapeutic Athletic Massage)

lee ann, one of the owners of dolce far niente wellness spa

ced and lee (far right) with TV performers and artists who visited their spa recently

Dolce Far Niente Wellness Spa's most in-demand and most requested massage service nowadays is the Therapeutic Athletic Massage, a kind of massage that is designed for athletes, performers and busy people who are always on the go.

What makes this kind of service massage unique is the fact that it avoids sores and conditions the body before and after the games played by Athletes, and for performers (actors and the likes) in the movie, theater, and TV industry- it prepares their bodies for more functioning and strength.

"Yeah, currently, it's really the in-demand massage at our Wellness Spa", Ced Torrecarion who owns Dolce Far Niente Wellness Spa together with his girlfriend Lee Ann, told a blogger. "Mostly, those who avails this kind of service massage at our Spa are actors who are athletes, too, in their personal lives. Nagustuhan kasi nila 'yung athletic stretching ng massage na iyon- because it relieves them of sore and conditions their bodies before their games and even after their games.

"Actor Ejay Falcon is our suki to Therapeutic Athletic Massage, also Jay Manalo, Polo Ravales, and others", Ced continued. "So if your are an actor who also loves to play basketball or other games, I suggest they try our Therapeutic Athletic Massage service at Dolce Far Niente Wellness Spa, it's really good for their body."

But aside from the Therapeutic Athletic Massage, other body massages of DFN (Dolce Far Niente) Spa are also so good. They have the hard massage, the soft massage, the Swedish Massage, the Thai Massage, to name a few.

A veteran actress. who is very much respected in the movie and TV industry, but we'd rather not mention the name, enjoyed so much her massage recently at DFN.

"Nakatulog talaga siya", Ced further revealed to a blogger. "She had tried other massage Therapists from other Spas, but the Therapists daw at DFN are the best. I really felt flattered when that veteran actress told it to me. I am glad as the owner of the Spa, to be able to deliver only the best kind of body massages by our Therapists."

One thing Ms. Lee Ann, who is Ced's girlfriend in real life, would like to clarify though is that DFN doesn't offer EXTRA SERVICE at their Spa.

"We are committed in serving them with courtesy and respect", Lee said to a blogger. "We ask that they treat our staff in the same manner. We reserve the right not to serve those who use offensive language or behaviour in an aggressive manner."

So clear. DFN is a wholesome Wellness Spa, and no "hanky-panky" business there, okay?

One thing more, all the precious oils, lotions and the likes being used by the Therapists of DFN are original and expensive.

"I personally buy and shop for them", Lee Ann said in the end. "I shop for those exotic oils somewhere in Manila. I only want our customers to be pampered and not mix the oils being used in their bodies with cheap ones. I give them all the utmost respect."

So busy bodies out there who wants to take a break from it all, just do nothing and relax at DOLCE FAR NIENTE WELLNESS SPA. It's surely the best kind of treat you could give to yourself. Forever.



(written by robert manuguid silverio, with photos courtesy of Dolce Far Niente Wellness Spa).***