Hold tight to your cows, glass slippers, and golden hairs, theatre fans! We’re heading into the woods to see one of the most anticipated comebacks on the Philippine stage!

New theatre collective, Theatre Group Asia (TGA), has announced its next production following the success of their acclaimed one-woman show, “Request Sa Radyo.” Stephen Sondheim's "Into The Woods” will be making its way to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater stage this August!

As if that news alone couldn’t get more exciting, TGA dropped the bomb last Jan. 17 when they revealed Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga will be joining the production as The Witch, a role she had previously done in 1994.

“She is good, she is nice, she is right, she is the witch! Making her grand return to the Philippine musical stage after six years, Lea Salonga is back and ready to weave her magic in Into the Woods!” said TGA in a post, sending musical fans into a frenzy and increasing the demand for ticket details. This is Lea’s first musical in the Philippines since her performance in “Sweeney Todd” in 2019, another Sondheim musical masterpiece, and directed by the late Bobby Garcia.

The group has also unveiled another cast member: Filipino American Arielle Jacobs, known for her debut role as Nina in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights,” is set to play Cinderella. The actress had starred in various Broadway musical productions including as Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and as Nessarose in Wicked.

“Into The Woods” brings together some of the most iconic fairytale characters into one setting. The stories of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel are tied together by an original storyline following a baker and his wife who are trying to break a curse by a wicked witch. To do so, they must venture into the woods to gather three items from the aforementioned characters. A chaotic adventure through forest and song, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1987 and won three Tony Awards including Best Score and Best Book. It has since been produced throughout the world and was adapted into a film by Walt Disney Pictures in 2014.

This upcoming production aligns with TGA’s mission to present world-class theatre shows to the Filipino audience, all the while championing Filipino creatives and fostering connections within the international theatre community. Show dates and ticket prices should be revealed in the coming weeks. Sign up here to be the first to know about it!

Follow Theatre Group Asia on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

The Philippines will be having its first-ever lion dance competition!

Welcome the Year of the Wooden Snake and celebrate the festivities early on at the GH Mall. In partnership with Pawchester and Huang Lion & Dragon Dance Group, the GH Mall is set to host the Philippines’ first-ever Lion Dance Competition on Jan. 19, 2025, at the East Wing Atrium.

The thrilling competition will feature 10 Lion Dance teams from the Chinese community in the Philippines. They will showcase their talent and creativity by adding their own flare to the beloved and traditional cultural performance. Already known worldwide for a display of awe-spiring acrobatic stunts, colorful props, and heart-thumping drumbeats, GH Mall visitors will be in for a splendid event that they shouldn’t miss!

The Lion Dance Competition will have five categories: Snake, Centipede, Bridge, Drunken, and Scorpion.

“We’re so excited to share our culture to everyone and for them to watch the lion dance performances for themselves. Our goal is to make this a yearly occasion during Chinese New Year, so we can continue bringing the community closer,” said Maine Uy, CEO of Pawchester.

“When we celebrate Chinese New Year, the lion dance is symbolic because the drumbeat during the performance is meant to ward off bad luck. The more noise we make, we welcome more good luck into our lives,” said Gaius Uy, owner of Huang Lion & Dragon Dance Group. “The goal is to foster a community among lion dance performers, and to showcase Chinese culture to a wider audience.”

This will be the first time that Pawchester and Huang Lion & Dragon Dance Group will host a competition of this size, with P100,000 up for grabs for the champion team. The first runner-up will receive P80,000 and the second runner-up will get P50,000.

Don’t miss out on this auspicious occasion! The Lion Dance Competition will be held at the East Wing Atrium of GH Mall on Jan. 19, 2025, from 10 AM to 5 PM. More events are lined up on Jan. 29, 2025!

For more updates and information, follow the GH Mall’s official Facebook and Instagram pages!

Location: GH Mall, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan, Rizal, Philippines 1502

Opening Hours: 10 AM to 8 PM (Mondays to Thursdays), 10 AM to 9 PM (Fridays to Sundays)

Filipino alternative pop sensation, Cup of Joe, is serving up a new album and is ready to take the OPM Scene by storm!

The band introduced their sophomore album in an intimate media conference last Jan. 13 at The Astbury in Makati City. Gian Bernardino (vocalist), Raphael Ridao (vocalist), Gabriel Fernandez (guitarist), CJ Fernandez (guitarist), and Xen Gareza (keyboardist) unveiled “Silakbo,” their forthcoming studio album slated for release on Jan. 17. This is the band’s first full album and explores a different sound from their 2023 EP, “Patutunguhan.”

'Silakbo': A Poignant Look into Human Experiences

“Silakbo” features 10 tracks, all of which are emotionally charged and embody the group’s raw honesty and personal experiences. The Filipino word describes a sudden burst of intense emotions which perfectly encapsulates the content of the record for it explores the five stages of grief — with two tracks representing each stage from denial, anger, bargaining, and depression to acceptance.

“We poured our hearts and souls in ‘Silakbo,’ and it’s a reflection of not just the emotions we’ve been through but also those of our listeners,” shared Rapha, one of the band’s vocalists.

The album opens with denial tracks “Bagyo” and “Wine” which the group described as tempestuous and filled with longing and vulnerability. The quintet also talked about how the album showcases a different side of their musicality and how sonically wise, it’s familiar but also different as they explored new sounds and grew as artists while creating the album.

“We’re very excited about this track because there’s something in that track that we’ve never done before. So, watch out!” teased Gian.

“Kanelang Mata” and “Bubog” were written by the band’s vocalists and were explained as the stage where one is trying to blame their pain on the situation, others, or oneself. Rapha shared how “Kanelang Mata,” which in English means Cinnamon Eyes, was written at a time when he felt lost and had “solid anger” towards himself. Meanwhile, track four talks about finding it difficult to look at yourself in the mirror.

The group also offers a more intimate sound with “Siping” and “Pahina” as it talks about the bargaining stage where one starts to question their situation — even the hypothetical ones, such as "What if?" and "If only." Meanwhile, the depression tracks “Multo” and “'Di Maari” provide a haunting retrospection before closing off with “Hinga” and the title track “Silakbo” where the record finds peace in acceptance, offering a powerful resolution.

“This track [Hinga] is about allowing yourself to breathe in the middle of the darkness, and to accept your reality,” Gian explained.

“We actually wrote this in the middle of production,” added Rapha, saying how the idea for the song was unexpected and fit into the concept right away, allowing them to compose and produce it quickly. They also told us how the last two tracks focus more on self-growth rather than the concept of moving on from the pain. We believed it was a beautifully conceptualized album, urging listeners to grow with the highs and lows of life instead of trying to avoid or hold back these intense emotions.

“Hayaang sumigaw ang pusong nabilango” is a lyric shared by Gian from their title track, making us even more excited for its release. The band also performed an acoustic version of the album’s lead single, “Multo” which was released last Sept. 14.

A perfect blend of heartfelt lyrics and musical innovation, Cup of Joe continues to prove that with them, it’s more than just music, but also about the shared experience of being beautifully — and heartbreakingly — human.

The 'Silakbo’ Concert Series

Since forming the band in 2018, Cup of Joe has released a series of singles and collaborations that put them on the map. In 2024, they performed their first solo concert — a two-day sold-out show at the New Frontier Theatre.

This time around, the band is shattering expectations as they announced their upcoming two-day concert series set next door at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, a testament to their ever-growing fan base and their knack for delivering electrifying performances. Happening on Feb. 8 and 9, the event will also serve as the grand unveiling of “Silakbo,” bringing its poignant tracks to life in a night of unforgettable music.

“Having the opportunity to connect with our fans through this album and these concerts feels like a dream come true,” Gian expressed, having manifested their dream of playing at a huge venue from a previous interview.

But that’s not all. Cup of Joe is also taking “Silakbo” on the road with an exciting regional tour. They’ll be back in their hometown Baguio for a two-day concert at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center on Mar. 6 and 7 before moving to Davao to play at the SMX Convention Center on Mar. 22. The tour wraps up in Cebu on Mar. 29 at the IC3 Convention Center.

Tickets are already on sale and by the looks of it, the Araneta show is already sold-out! However, Cup of Joe invites everyone to listen to their new album and join them on this incredible journey of music, emotion, and connection. Whether you’re grieving, healing, or somewhere in between, the band emphasizes that your feelings are validated and hopes that their new album will make their listeners feel more seen and heard.

You can pre-save “Silakbo” here. Follow Cup of Joe on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram for updates, teasers, and behind-the-scenes peeks on their most ambitious project yet.