Definitely the must-see concert of 2009, the famous all-boys British choir Libera will be performing in Manila in two much-awaited engagements on Oct. 25, 8 p.m. at the PICC and on Oct. 28 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu. The latter is being presented by the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation Inc.

The Philippine engagements follow the successful worldwide release of the choir's two hit recordings, the “DVD Angel Voices – Libera in Concert” from the memorable live performance in St. Pieterskerk, Netherlands, and “Eternal – the Best of Libera” which is a twin-CD package containing the choir’s most requested hits.  Both are released by EMI Records.        

The group of cherubic boys from Southern London had a successful 2008 US Tour where they showcased astonishing performances at the “Kennedy Center Honors” in Washington, DC and in the “Concert of Hope” offered by Pope Benedict XVI in New York.  The choir has also staged highly-acclaimed concerts  in Japan and Korea and had performed with international artists like Bjork, Elton John, and Lucianno Pavarotti.

The distinct sound of Libera is the blending of voices from its members with ages 7 and 14 years. Their repertoire ranges from classical pieces of Beethoven, Debussy, Pachelbel and other masters to Gregorian chants and Latin rite liturgies. Libera has also covered contemporary new age music of Enya and Brian Wilson. Among the group’s most popular songs include “Always With You,” “Far Away,” “Going Home,” “How Can I Keep from Singing,” “Sing Forever,” “Ave Maria,” “Sanctus” and “Adoramus,” among others.

The concerts  will be held in celebration of the RP-UK Friendship Week and  will be for the benefit of the British Alumni Association’s (BAA) Foundation for Disadvantaged  Children and Children’s Hour. It is brought to you  by BAA, in cooperation with The British Embassy Manila, The  British Council and British Chamber of Commerce Philippines.

“Libera Live In Manila” is presented by Shell; co-presented by Globe, British Gas, STRADCOM,  Thunderbird Resorts and also brought to you by  Alaska, SGV Foundation, Equipment Engineering Inc. [EEI] and  Zest Air. Special thanks to  EMI, United Overseas Bank, SR Metals, Liwayway Marketing. Media partners are Etc, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Phil. Star, Philstar.com, BusinessWorld, 92.3xFM, Dream 106.7 and  105.1 Crossover.  Official music channel is  MTV Araw-Araw while official residences are AIM Conference Center Manila [ACCM] and  Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa.

Tickets are available at Ticket World. For inquiries, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.  VIP tickets are available at the BAA Secretariat. For  tickets to the Cebu performance you can e-mail artscouncilcebu@yahoo.com. Libera Philippine Tour is another Concertus Production.

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Nickelodeon takes over your school

“Nick Takes Over Your School” has invaded campuses in Metro Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu and  it is all set to slime more students.

Students from Southville International School, Makati Hope Christian School, and St. Anthony School “got their Nick on.” In Cagayan de Oro City, students of Corpus Christi School, Kong Hua School, and St. Mary’s had a grand slime-and-grime time with Nickified games. Not to be outdone were students of Sacred Heart School-Jesuit in Cebu City.

“Nick Takes Over Your School Spellout” brought in an awesome experience of Nick-citing activities and hilarious games. Students played games at the “Happy Hub,” challenged themselves to “repair the happy square,” played SpongeBob SillyPants as they raced with SpongeBob’s pants on, balanced piles of krabby patties during the diner dash, and helped fill up Mr. Krabs’ cash register by clawing as many Bikini Bottom coins as they could. They also learned how to karate-chop the way SpongeBob and Sandy do and even mastered their boating skills as they “sailed” across a very slimy lane.

All participants got special certificates and gift packs while winners got the cool-timate prize – slime! Those who didn’t get to participate in the program games won  knick-knacks from the sponsors’ activity booths and tried their luck at Nickelodeon’s game booths, Rockstar, Yes You Are and Patrick’s Big-shot Sling-shot.  During the Slime Time segment, students got showered with  slime every time they would answer a Nick trivia correctly and  were given button pins that confirmed them “Certified Nickheads.”

This October, students of St. Paul College Quezon City, Immaculate Conception Academy, St. James College of Quezon City, San Beda College Alabang, Philippine Cultural High School and St. James College of Parañaque are all geared up when Nickelodeon comes for the biggest slime invasion. SpongeBob SquarePants will also be dropping by to be their classmate for the day.

Log on to www.nicksplat.com/ntoys for more information on NTOYS and to see photos of the school invasions.

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Better, nicer fit with Penshoppe’s Denimlab Recut

Penshoppe is introducing their latest in modern fashion, which they call Denimlab Recut jeans. We personally like this series because here, we can find something that fits our “requirement” for a jeans.

We got the skinny fit which does not extend very low on the hips, the fabric is better and more wearable as it molds to the form conveniently. Penshoppe, which is normally designed for the young, actually has something that suits a 40ish mom like us.

They told us that Denimlab Recut has a detailed, tailored fit which was the result of technically changing the jean specifications, ensuring that the nice curves were given the spotlight while the extra spaces were tucked away. Measurements were made even more precise from the waistline, hips, thigh, knee, down to the bottom opening.

To get the full benefit of Denimlab Recut, choose the right cut that matches your body using the Recut Fit Guide in all Penshoppe stores.

Penshoppe Denimlab Recut is available in all Penshoppe boutiques and in SM, Robinsons, and major Department Stores nationwide.  Visit www.penshoppe.com for more details.