Category Archives: Special Events

VAN GOGH ALIVE COMES TO LIFE AT BGC ARTS CENTER

Created and produced by Grande Experiences, Van Gogh Alive is a multi-sensory experience to entertain the whole family. For a limited time, visitors have the unique opportunity to experience Van Gogh’s art and venture into his world. Van Gogh’s works have been displayed and enjoyed around the world for over a century – but never like this. Van Gogh Alive at the BGC Arts Center is presented by the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. with Del Monte Philippines. This exhibition is also made possible through our ticketing partner, TicketWorld, exhibition partner, LG Philippines, and special thanks to Alveo Land and the City Government of Taguig.


Van Gogh Alive is the large-scale, multi-sensory experience that has inspired over 9 million people across 100+ cities around the world. The digital spectacular opens on Friday, 20 October 2023 for a strictly limited season at the BGC Arts Center, Taguig City.


Make no mistake – this is no ordinary art exhibition. Traditions of tiptoeing through silent galleries and viewing paintings from afar in quiet contemplation are forgotten as visitors find themselves interacting with art in ways they never imagined. From start to finish, visitors are surrounded by a vibrant symphony of light, color, sound and aroma that has been called an ‘unforgettable’ multi-sensory experience. Van Gogh’s masterpieces come to life, giving visitors the sensation of walking right into his paintings, a feeling that is simultaneously enchanting, entertaining and educational.

This year, the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. takes Van Gogh Alive to new heights at the BGC Arts Center with more interactive, in-depth experiences, taking visitors on a historical art journey. Get to know Van Gogh and his artworks at the Introduction Hall. Be part of his story in the multi-sensory experience through the state-of-the-art SENSORY4™ immersive gallery. Draw Van Gogh’s famous artworks at the Art Studio, and take home your very own masterpiece. Capture creative photos at the Sunflower Mirror Room and Vincent’s Bedroom.

Van Gogh Alive is a fascinating, cohesive story about one of the greatest known artists in history,” said Maria Isabel Garcia, Managing Director and Curator of the Bonifacio Art Foundation. “It touches you on so many levels whoever you are. It is faithful to its promise to immerse you into the artist’s work, with glimpses into an inner life that led to his captivating masterpieces. Van Gogh Alive will hold you long beyond your visit.

Grande Experiences’ state-of-the-art SENSORY4™ immersive gallery combines with a tailored exhibition space to allow projection of enormous crystal-clear images. Set to an evocative classical score, a thrilling display of over 3,000 inspirational images transforms the world around you. You will truly lose yourself the vibrant colors and vivid details of Van Gogh’s work.

Adults and children alike will forge their own paths and find their own meaning as they wander through the galleries, exploring hidden nooks, viewing artworks from new angles and discovering unique perspectives. Visitors have the chance to examine Van Gogh’s sources of inspiration via photographs and video displayed alongside his works. But for many, the greatest pleasure lies in simply standing still, indulging the senses as waves of sights and sounds, intense and beautiful, wash over them.

Doors are open to the public starting Friday, October 20 from Tuesdays to Sundays; 10 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 10 PM on weekends. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/VanGoghAliveTickets and at BGC Arts Center TicketWorld Box Office.

Ticket prices:

●2-Hour Pass: P1,200 (adult), P890 (child/student up to college level)
●Premium Flex Pass: P2,500 (adult/child) – Enter and exit anytime within the day of your scheduled visit, with a special entry lane and complimentary Van Gogh Alive program; Limited slots available.

Van Gogh Alive at the BGC Arts Center is presented by the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. with Del Monte Philippines.

Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Wonder in Manila

The most exciting family event is making a comeback in Manila. Feld Entertainment brings back Disney on Ice at the Mall of Asia Arena! Watch your favorite Disney stories come to life as we experience non-stop fun this holiday season. Multiple shows will start from December 22, 2023 to January 7, 2024.


Feld Entertainment presents
DISNEY ON ICE
100 Years of Wonder
December 22, 2023 to January 7, 2024
SM Mall of Asia Arena

SCHEDULE OF SHOWS
-December 22, 2023 (3pm & 7pm)
-December 23, 2023 (3pm & 7pm)
-December 25, 2023 (11am, 3pm, 7pm)
-December 26, 2023 (11am, 3pm, 7pm)
-December 27, 2023 (3pm)
-December 29, 2023 (3pm, 7pm)
-December 30, 2023 (11am, 3pm, 7pm)
-January 1, 2024 (3pm, 7pm)
-January 2, 2024 (3pm)
-January 3, 2024 (3pm)
-January 5, 2024 (3pm)
-January 6, 2024 (11am, 3pm, 7pm)
-January 7, 2024 (11am, 3pm)

TICKET PRICES
3pm shows:
Front row – Php5,200
SVIP – Php4,000
VIP – Php3,100
Lower Box Center – Php2,300
Lower Box Premium A – Php2,000
Lower Box Premium B – Php1,900
Lower Box Regular – Php1,700
Upper Box Center – Php1,000
Upper Box – Php800
General Admission – Php300

11am & 7pm shows:
Front row – Php5,000
SVIP – Php3,600
VIP – Php2,900
Lower Box Center – Php2,100
Lower Box Premium A – Php1,800
Lower Box Premium B – Php1,600
Lower Box Regular – Php1,500
Upper Box Center – Php800
Upper Box – Php600
General Admission – Php200

ON-SALE DATES:
October 7, 2023
via SM Tickets outlets and online: www.smtickets.com

SEAT LAYOUT


FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Fan Zone Opens at Mall of Asia Music Hall

Catch the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 fever wherever you are! It could be right where 16 of the world’s 32 best basketball teams will engage in battle — at the massive Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, or the state-of-the-art SM Mall of Asia Arena in the Bay Area in Pasay City.0

Or, it could be somewhere else. If you want to have the best of both worlds — world class basketball and world caliber entertainment — then theFIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Fan Zone (FIBAWC Fan Zone) is the place to be starting Opening Day.

Truly, thank goodness it’s Friday! Entertainment galore, mixed with star celebrity sightings and exciting raffle prizes, awaits visitors when the FIBAWC Fan Zone opens on August 25 at the fully-airconditioned Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City.

And the best thing about this super special event is that ADMISSION IS FREE! So, bring the whole family, invite all your friends, and drive right to the very heart of Metro Manila’s foremost fun destination.

Located at the ground floor of the Entertainment Mall of the SM Mall of Asia on Seaside Blvd., adjacent to the iconic giant Ferris wheel, the MOA Music Hall will welcome visitors to the FIBAWC Fan Zone from August 25 to September 10 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The fun-filled activity dates coincide with the frenzied action raging on the same days at the nearby Mall of Asia Arena, where the Group and Final Phases of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be held. Fans are ready to be regaled by interactive booths from global partners and local sponsors, basketball arcade machines, shooting activities and challenges, and more.

Surprise celebrities have also been invited to mingle with fans for Meet and Greet sessions and photo opportunities. Other than the exciting prizes that will be raffled off, fans can also purchase FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 merchandise as well as tickets to games.

Yes, tickets! The hottest commodity around today! Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, a watch party will be assembled for those who want to follow the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 games held in Okinawa and Jakarta!

Imagine that! Since these fixtures will not be available to regular pay-per-view customers here, except in limited institutions, from the FIBAWC Fan Zone, you can watch Luka Doncic and Slovenia and defending champion Spain battle with global competition in Japan and Indonesia for the right to fly to the Philippines for the Final Phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 at the MOA Arena.

How about that for the ultimate treat? So, everybody, get ready, because the heat is on. And it couldn’t get any hotter than at the FIBAWC Fan Zone! See you there!

Manila Wrestling Federation Takes Modern Pinoy Wrestling to A Higher Level in “MWF: Road to Fate 2023”

The Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF) continues to further establish its status as the Philippines’ premier professional wrestling entertainment brand as it delights the fans with its annual spectacle MWF: Road To Fate 2023 – featuring a roster of 100% Filipino wrestling stars. The already jam-packed event is set to take place at Power Mac Center Spotlight PMCS Blackbox in Circuit Makati on August 20, Sunday.

MWF: Road To Fate 2023 is also set to debut on national television as part of MWF’s weekly series “Aksyonovela TV”, which airs on RJ’s Rock of Manila TV (available on SkyCable Channel 229, or rescan digital TV boxes) and its social media channels (Facebook and YouTube) every Monday night at 9 PM.

Headlining this year’s extravaganza is the conclusion to the storied rivalry between MWF founder Robin Sane and current MWF Pinoy Wrestling Champion Fabio Makisig. Sane was MWF’s inaugural champion in 2018, defeating Makisig in a knockdown-drag-out war, before losing the title to Southeast Asian wrestling scene pioneer Ho Ho Lun the following year. Long-time fans are heavily anticipating the championship rematch between two of the federation’s greatest rivals.

Among the other marquee matches set for Road To Fate 2023 is the volatile tag team match between the brand’s top villains – “Mr. Philippine Wrestling” Jake De Leon and Main Maxx (Oro, Plata, Mata) and the avenging heroes, the “Queen of Philippine Wrestling” Crystal and the returning Pinoy Strong Style pioneer “Danger” Rex Lawin. MWF’s resident televangelist, the fan-favorite Bro. Jomar Liwanag of Bahay ng Liwanag is also set to prove his otherworldly powers in a handicap match against his former minister Kaibigang Aaron and his lovable superhero friends El Katipunero and Super P.

MWF: Road To Fate 2023 also features MWF mainstays including Nigel “Suplex” San Jose, Bro. Benny Soriano, CJ Serafin, Danny Zamora, Joya, Dabid Ravena, Migs Valdez, Razael, Ken Cifer, Chelsea Marie, Isaiah Valencia, Kanto “Kilabot” Terror and Tarek El Tayech, Veronica Shannon, Tricia Ligaia, Mr. Sy and Kurt Jimenez, as well as MWF trainee/aspirant Pink Shirt.

Tickets to MWF: Road To Fate 2023 are available now at Ticket2Me. The event will also be later uploaded in episodic form in MWF’s fan-exclusive channel on Gank. For more details, visit MWF’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X.

CONQuest 2023 is bringing the biggest local and international creators together for an unforgettable weekend in Manila

CONQuest Festival 2023, AcadArena’s award-winning gaming and pop culture convention slated for June 2-4, is gearing up to be bigger and bolder than its previous iterations in all ways possible.

CONQuest 2023 presented by Globe expands on last year’s SMX Convention Center venue to include the adjacent Seashell Lane, Conrad Manila, Mall of Asia (MoA), and National University MoA (NU MoA). The multi-venue setup will host a variety of events such as the Alliance Games in partnership with NU Laguna and NU MoA. This weekend event will feature over 70 local and international guests celebrating gaming, tech, music, pop culture, and everything in between.

Headlining the CONQuest 2023 guest roster are Valkyrae, Pokimane, Sykkuno, South Korean rock indie band The Rose, and Filipino singer-actor James Reid. Other notable internet personalities include Fuslie, Michael Reeves and LilyPichu, and anime content creators JoeyTheAnimeMan and AkiDearest.

“We always joked about eventually growing CONQuest in Iloilo to the point we’d get to Manila and have international guests,” said CONQuest founder and AcadArena Chief Growth Officer Justin Banusing. “We even had OfflineTV as an April Fools’ joke. But thanks to the community’s undying passion, our dreams are coming true.”

CONQuest 2023 also brings musical acts into the fray for the first time with the introduction of Music Night. Joining The Rose and James Reid are local stars Carousel Casualties, Oh Flamingo!, and Autotelic, as well as international DJs James Landino and Hyper Potions.

A number of warmly-received guests from last year’s CONQuest are also set for a return. This includes Genshin Impact voice actresses Anne Yatco and Ratana, Vtuber Bao, and content creators Atsu and BTMC.

The allure of worldwide attention has also enticed some of the biggest brands to support CONQuest, who extends its gratitude to Presenting Partner Globe, as well as Platinum Partners Riot Games, Predator Gaming, and Blockchain Space. Joining the roster are Gold Sponsors composed of Lazada, Grab Philippines, Jollibee, Kumu, Coin98, coins.ph, SVGA, NU Laguna, UniPin, and Tier One Entertainment.

Tickets are selling fast at https://www.conquestph.com/

About AcadArena
AcadArena is a company guided by its mission of building communities and creating everyday heroes through the power of technology, gaming and storytelling. On top of running CONQuest, one of the largest pop culture conventions in Southeast Asia, AcadArena has supported over 250 student clubs and 1,100 scholars all over the Philippines and Brazil and brought the first academic esports laboratory to life.

The Rose, James Reid, Hyper Potions, Autotelic to headline Music Night on CONQuest 2023

CONQuest 2023 just got bigger with the addition of Music Night event on June 2023.

Aside on meeting your favorite content creators and streamers, this year’s CONQuest will feature a special music night on June 2 & 3, 2023 at SMX Convention Center.

On June 2, fans can party with DJ & music producer James Landino and musical duo Hyper Potions for free at the Rave Night. James Landino is an internationally recognized video game/anime composer and DJ based out of Los Angeles, California. His influence of electronic music bridges the gap of gaming, anime, and nightclub culture together, amassing millions of plays across multiple platforms. Hyper Potions is an American electronic dance music project founded by Ian Tsuchiura (Sushi Killer) and Kevin Villecco. Hyper Potions has 200,000 subscribers on Youtube and their 2022 song Muffin has been streamed over 20M worldwide.

June 3 edition of Music Night – which is the band night and will feature South Korean indie rock group The Rose LIVE. They’ll be joined along with music acts such as James Reid, Autotelic, Oh Flamingo!, Lesha, Timmy Albert, and Carousel Casualties. The Rose headlined Wavy Baby Music Festival in Cebu and brought their “Heal Together World Tour” in Manila last January 2023 in front of a sold-out crowd.

Access to the June 3rd CONQuest Music Night are available at https://www.conquestph.com/tickets. Premium pass holders of CONQuest 2023 automatically joins the CONQuest Music Night and no need to purchase the add-on. CONQuest daily & 3-day passes requires to purchase CONQuest Music Night add-on for Php5,000. The Rose meet and greet are also available.

CONQuest 2023 scheduled to be held in SMX Convention Center Manila on June 2 to June 4, 2023. Visit https://www.conquestph.com/ for more details.

FIBA World Cup Draw event successfully held at the Big Dome

The road to the prestigious FIBA World Cup Tournament started last weekend when the draw event held at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum in April 29, 2023. The event was attended by FIBA president Hamane Niang and other prominent figures in sports and entertainment such as Manny Pacquiao, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA Global Ambassador Luis Scola, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Yao Ming among others.

The draw was led by FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador Luis Scola (Argentina) and 2011 NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), along with Local Ambassadors from the three host nations: 2014 Philippine World Cup team member LA Tenorio and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray (Philippines), former national team member and current president of Levanga Hokkaido Takehiko Orimo (Japan), and actor Raffi Ahmad (Indonesia).

Here’s the results from FIBA World Cup Draw event:

Group AGroup BGroup CGroup DGroup EGroup FGroup GGroup H
AngolaSouth SudanUSAEgyptGermanySloveniaIranCanada
Dominican RepublicSerbiaJordanMexicoFinlandCape VerdeSpainLatvia
PhilippinesChinaGreeceMontenegroAustraliaGeorgiaCôte d’IvoireLebanon
ItalyPuerto RicoNew ZealandLithuaniaJapanVenezuelaBrazilFrance

Reminders
-Groups A & B will play in Araneta Coliseum
-Groups C & D will play in SM Mall of Asia Arena
-Groups E & F will play in Japan
-Groups G & H will play in Indonesia

Pop icons Sarah Geronimo and Billy Crawford also performed at the draw event while Fil-Am hip-hop sensation Saweetie made her Manila concert debut during the event.

FIBA World Cup 2023 Tournament starts August 25, 2023. It has been announced that the first 2 games of Gilas Pilipinas team will be held at the Philippine Arena on August while the final rounds of FIBA World Cup will now take place at the Mall of Asia Arena from Sept. 5 to Sept. 10, 2023.

Single game tickets will be available soon, bundle tickets now available here: https://philippines-ticketing.worldcup.basketball/

Saweetie to Headline FIBA World Cup Draw with Electrifying Performance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 29, 2023, Celebrating her Filipino Roots

Grammy-nominated rapper and global fashion icon Saweetie, who proudly embraces her Filipino-Chinese and African-American heritage, is set to bring her unique blend of music and style to the prestigious international sports event, headlining the FIBA World Cup Draw at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, April 29, 2023. This performance will be a homecoming of sorts for Saweetie, as she connects with her mother’s Filipino roots and celebrates her diverse background in the Philippines. Known for chart-topping hits like “My Type” and “BestFriend” and her captivating live shows, Saweetie’s performance promises to create an unforgettable experience for basketball fans worldwide.

Photo by Kevin Pableo | MANILA CONCERT SCENE

Saweetie’s involvement in the FIBA World Cup Draw highlights her unparalleled talent and connection to the world of basketball. As a leading force in the music industry and a trendsetter in both music and fashion, she is the perfect choice to headline this prestigious event. Her magnetic stage presence and energetic performances will undoubtedly captivate audiences and contribute to the excitement of the FIBA World Cup.

Born Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, Saweetie is an acclaimed rapper, singer, and songwriter known for her chart-topping hits and magnetic stage presence. Since her breakthrough in 2017, she has released numerous successful singles and albums, garnering a loyal fanbase and solidifying her status as a leading force in the music industry.

The FIBA (International Basketball Federation) World Cup is a global basketball competition held every four years, featuring teams from around the world competing for the title of world champion. It serves as a platform for countries to showcase their basketball talent and promote the sport globally. The FIBA World Cup is a celebration of basketball excellence and unites fans from diverse backgrounds in their shared passion for the game. Catch the FIBA World Cup Draw and Saweetie’s fiery performance LIVE on OneSports and OneSports+ via Cignal, SatLite, and Cignal Play.

An escape to the ‘90s:‘Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical’ opens at Newport World Resorts

This summer and beyond, Newport World Resorts is breaking out of the ordinary and creating epic experiences and adventures for everyone within one property. Escape into world-class entertainment as the country’s pioneer casino, hotel, and entertainment destination brought its all-Filipino hit musical back to the stage.

On April 21, Ang Huling El Bimbo (AHEB) made its highly-anticipated comeback to the award-winning Newport Performing Arts Theater featuring a new cast, fresh choreography, stellar production, and iconic songs that struck a chord in the hearts of Filipinos. The show has a regular schedule every Friday and Saturday at 8PM, and matinee performances every Saturday and Sunday at 3PM for April with new show dates recently added in May to accommodate more fans and theatergoers.

Newport World Resorts’ production outfit Full House Theater Company (FHTC) has pulled out all the stops to set the stage and prepare the cast during rehearsals. New members of the cast shared their epic experiences in bringing the show to life.

Nino Alejandro and Bullet Dumas showcase their improvements during  rehearsals

Even as a master of various crafts, award-winning artist Nino Alejandro who plays Anthony, still has plenty of new things to learn from the acting workshops with FHTC Director Dexter Santos and Co-Artistic Director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. Alejandro shares, “The new experiences I had during our rehearsals were the daily acting workshops we got to do with the First Lady of Philippine Theater, Ms. Menchu Launchengco-Yulo. Also learning from and working with Direk Dexter has helped me sharpen and broaden my process.”

Before joining the cast of AHEB, indie folk artist Bullet Dumas recalled singing the ‘90s iconic track “Poorman’s Grave” in gigs. Now, audiences witnessed him perform it onstage as Emman. Given his familiarity with the piece, the challenge was to give it a new flavor. According to him, “When something you thought was very much familiar with somehow surprises you again and again, you will love the process. It always felt like a Eureka moment whenever Direk Dexter Santos, Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, Myke Salomon, OJ Mariano, and my castmates help me realize different approaches to how Emman can tackle the song.”

Actor, singer, and host Anthony Rosaldo made his theater debut playing young Hector, one of the lead roles in the musical. Since the rehearsals, he knew AHEB is a difficult show to mount yet this brought a fun experience for him as a newcomer. “Coming in as a newbie in theatre, it is important that I kept my focus and really put in a lot of hard work during our rehearsals. The audience will see a very excited and enthusiastic young Hector”, Rosaldo says.

Experience a nostalgic escape to the ‘90s in the hit musical Ang Huling El Bimbo at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are now available at Newport World Resorts Box Office, TicketWorld, and SM Tickets outlets: P3,776 (SVIP), 3,236 (VIP), P2,696 (+GOLD), P1,942 (SILVER), and P1,079 (BRONZE). Recommended for audiences aged 13 years old and above. For inquiries, contact the Newport World Resorts National Sales Team via JhayR Dela Cruz at 0917 818 9847, Raf Sangco at 0917 807 9387, Carl Cuaresma at 0917 829 2173, and Girah Manaligod at 0917 872 8309.

Escape the ordinary at Newport World Resorts, you know you want to. For more information on Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical and its show schedule, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts and @fullhousetheater on Facebook and Instagram, @nwresorts on Twitter. Join the #TindahanNiAlingNena challenge on TikTok. Tag the official AHEB TikTok account @aheb.2023 and use the hashtags #AHEB2023 #AngHulingElBimboTheMusical #NewportWorldResorts #YKYWT. Make the most of your visit and sign up for an Epic Membership or download the Newport World Resorts Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw Principles explained

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda will take place on 29 April in Manila, Philippines and will be carried out according to specific draw principles.

Scheduled at 19:30 local time (GMT +8) at the Araneta Coliseum, the draw for the flagship event will see the 32 participating nations finding out how exciting their path is going to be.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw Principles will be based on the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, and on geographical principles. The Philippines and Japan, as host nations, will play at home in one of the groups hosted in their country.

The three hosts of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 have selected a preferred team based on commercial reasons. USA will play in the Philippines, Slovenia will travel to Japan and Canada will land in Indonesia.

What are the Draw Seedings?
The 32 teams have been placed into 8 pots, each containing four nations. Philippines, as host of the Group and Final Phase, is placed in pot 1. All other teams are placed in their respective pot based on their position in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike:

Seed 1 – Philippines, Spain, USA, Australia
Seed 2 – France, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania
Seed 3 – Greece, Italy, Germany, Brazil
Seed 4 – Canada, Venezuela, Montenegro, Puerto Rico
Seed 5 – Iran, Dominican Republic, Finland, New Zealand
Seed 6 – China, Latvia, Mexico, Georgia
Seed 7 – Jordan, Japan, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire
Seed 8 – Lebanon, Egypt, South Sudan, Cape Verde

How will the Draw be carried out?
The following video explains the complete FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw Principles:

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda will be available live and in full on the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Website, on the FIBA YouTube channel, and official streaming service Courtside 1891, it will be broadcasted live by many of FIBA’s official broadcast partners across the world on both television and digital services.

For more information about the activities, the VIPs and details regarding the event, please check this page.