Flashbacks: June/juin/Junio/Hunyo

The month of June is very special to me. It's the month were a lot of cultural activities are happening especially in the diplomatic circles. June 2 is the National Day of Italy, the month also culminates the French Spring in Manila and the start of fete de la musique and June 12 is our very own national day.

The French Spring in Manila is a three-month long celebration in honor of the Philippine and French culture. Last year's theme is FSM06: Sama sama which features Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" (see blog on "First Blog, Last Heartbreak") which is originally in French but is shown then in Pinoy version. I also watched the amazing Allegoria Stanza of the La Baraka Company which featured a mix ofFrench contemporary and hip hop dance. The events were held at the CCP and they are well attended. This year, the Alliance Francaise and the Embassy of France came up with another exciting line-up of events. One of these events is the Manila Jazz Festival ( http://gator224.hostgator.com/~alliance/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=99990001 ) to be held at the Hotel Sofitel at 6 pm onwards. I was invited by my French teacher but I really doubt if I could attend.

The Italian Embassy celebrated their national day last April 25 instead of the 2nd of June because the monsoon season. It was jump-started by toasts and operatic arias in the sunset.Traditonal Italian cuisine was served throughout the night and products from Italy such as Bulgari, Ducati, Adidas, Malboro Classics ( I never thought Marlboro Classics is Italian!) and Diesel were featured at the exhibits. Wines flooded the Coconut Palace which exuded grace and charm that is very Italian. The night was highlighted by a fashion show of well-known Italian designers.

Reminiscing last year, I was soaking wet as I was sipping wine at the same venue. All the preparations for the grand event were ruined as rain poured and guests were squeezed inside the covered parts of the Coconut Palace. I didn't finish the party last year for my ex and I are scheduled to watch the ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Musikal that time at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute. CCP Figaro was still open that time (the hell that they closed it!) and there are still a few restaurants at the Harbor Square. We were having coffee just before the show as the fireworks go off at the Coconut Palace signalling the end of the Italian reception. It was cold and raining that time but I have someone to cuddle up with.

Last June 11, the annual "asalto"entitled "Bayan, Bayani, Bayanihan" was staged at the CCP Main Theater in celebration of the Independence Day Celebration. The performances of Mon David and Bituin Escalante were superb as they belt out popular Filipino jazz tunes. The performances of the "Philippine Idol" finalists were all crap. They sing at their worst live! Gian Magdangal and Mau Marcelo were staples in the Filipino music scene but not topnotch. There's nothing spectacular in this year's asalto. The Ballet Philippines' rendition of the "Swimming in the Ilog Pasig" was ridiculous, transition and continuity is really bad throughout the program and the Philippine Madrigal Singers were a bit shaky that night. I captured Eula Valdez' "Ikaw ang Superhero" at the Asalto via my N70 phone ( the video was grabbed by ZZZZ multiply sit at the zsazsazaturnah@multiply.com ) and it almost brought me to tears as I remember that same moment last year. It was a time where we are almost at the CCP everyday to get tickets and to attend to these events. My partner that time came to the asalto in radiating red. That is the point where I told myself " That person is the one". I just can't forget that smile and those ideas that makes us argue all the time.

"Mga Hinabing Gunita' was the theme of last year's asalto. It was much more elegant and interesting that time. History and art were the prevalent premise of the show. The numbers were more vibrant (led then by no less than "The Company") and more meaningful. The only asalto signature that delighted the crowd was the street tribal dance performance of the winners of the Aliwan Fiesta ala "Sinulog" style followed by fireworks at the CCP lobby.

I invited my ex this year but I was ignored. It's good that my invitation did not matter. It was a senseless show anyway. Mylah, my officemate said: "Eh lahat naman ng gawin mo boring, hindi maganda. It's hard to please you these days. You were a nicer person last year."

Could someone be my next superhero?