Approaching the exhibition in a critical and poignant manner, The Hotel Painter seeks to reclaim Abstraction’s dignity in a society that has relegated it to mere decoration. Playfully taking the hotel environment as a starting point for this type of dismissal, Olazo attempts to look at it from another angle, where the hotel instead becomes a temporary refuge for a reflection on painting.

For the exhibition, he revisits a series made in the mid-90’s called ‘The Idiot Paintings,’ which focused on experimenting with acrylic stains, wax pouring and other varnishes. Once again taking this freer and more spontaneous strategy, he concentrates on expression rather than form by methodically filling his surfaces with seductive colors and strong gestural marks. Mistakes are, therefore, encouraged and accidents celebrated.

This exhibition coincides with Erik Sausa: Sacred Spaces that is concurrently on view in the Upstairs Gallery.

For more information, call 576-5024. Manila Contemporary is open from Tuesdays to Sundays. Visit them at Whitespace 2314, Pasong Tamo Extnsion, Makati.

Launched recently at Imperial Ice Bar, Vintage Summer Collection’s key pieces include lightweight color blocked parkas, bold striped polos, flecked jacquard knits, and pastel marl sweatshirts – all showcasing fun twists on popular classics. Complementing these highly-wearable pieces is the brand’s Spring/Summer 2013 color palette that is very much reminiscent of the 80s like bold primary colors of Windsor Blue, Fern Green, Spectra Yellow and Red.

Truly, Lyle & Scott Offers more than just the usual collared shirts and other preppy basics befitting of the modern gentleman, it continues to tap into the more fashion forward sentiments of today’s more style conscious individuals.

For a refreshing take on classic streets, make sure to check out Lyle & Scott’s Vintage Summer collection available in General Bonifacio High Street, Bratpack Greenbelt 5, and Bratpack Alabang Town Center.

The Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant, is the exclusive distributor of Lyle & Scott in the Philippines.

While on a hunting expedition Prince Tamino chances into the realm of the tyrannical Queen of the Night. The unsuspecting Tamino meets up with the good-natured bird-catcher Papageno. Together they overcome many an ordeal. The biggest one is yet to come: They have to save Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, from the clutches of Sarastro. Taking four years, Curt Linda, champion of animated film, created together with his young team a little treat, which they drew by hand, picture for picture, and animated onto imaginative backdrops.

The Little Magic Flute free screening is on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Room 3, 4th Floor of the Goethe-Institut Manila. For more details, call 840-5723 or visit email program@manila.goethe.org.

The show features three series of works by Drilon: recent paintings in oil on canvas, abstract drawings and nude sketches. The artist produced these three different series simultaneously, shifting between painting and drawing, figuration and abstraction.

The works in the show are an extension of Drilon’s current body of work as an abstractionist, indicated by the presence of familiar forms and the artist’s usual visual codes. Filling up the Main Gallery space are Drilon’s recent paintings, which highlight his continuing fascination and exploration of abstraction. The paintings in this series still employ forms that have appeared in his earlier works: lines, loops, brush strokes converging to form inchoate masses.

In contrast to the paintings in the show are Drilon’s series of small drawings, exhibited in the gallery’s two smaller and more intimate spaces. One room houses his series of nude sketches, based on live models. The other room in the gallery contains Drilon’s series of abstract drawings in charcoal on paper: a progression of loops revolving and rotating within themselves.

Rock Drilon has held over fifty solo shows throughout the Philippines, France, Switzerland and the US. He served as the Director for various art institutions, including the Kanlungan ng Sining (1991-1992), the Brix Gallery (1997-1999) and Mag:net Gallery. He is currently based in Iloilo City, where he continues to paint while heading the Cinematheque Iloilo.

NOW Gallery is open from Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is located at the Mezzanine of the Ecoplaza Building, 2305 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City.

For inquiries regarding the exhibition, please email info@nowgallery.net or call 555-0683 or 555-0684.

Gising, featuring works by Annaleah Aldaba, Dodge Carpio, Alee Garibay, Clara Herrera, Issay Rodriguez, and Jose Tanierla, is presented to you by Forte Coffeehouse. Group show opens on May 25, 7 pm, and runs until June 8 at Forte Coffeehouse (120 Maginhawa St., Teachers Village East, Diliman, Quezon City).

 For more information, contact Pat Rodriguez at rodriguez.apb@gmail.com.

Man of the Hour: Marlon Stockinger

TATTOO, the most reliable broadband in the country, showcased the raw speed and power of a Lotus F1 car by bringing within the reach of the Filipino people the true-to-life experience of being behind the wheel through the features of the authentic Lotus F1 simulators.

In an intimate dinner  at the Outback Steakhouse in Glorietta 4, media friends and guests were given a sneak preview and the first chance to try out the one-of-a-kind Lotus F1 simulators. True to TATTOO’s premium on speed, guests were encouraged to try out the unique virtual experience of what it was like to go up to 300 km/h in the Lotus F1 car of either Filipino pride & Tattoo brand ambassador Marlon Stockinger or Lotus F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen.

As excitement grew in the crowd with the extraordinary chance to hop into the Lotus F1 simulators, media guests were given the pleasant surprise when Tattoo brand ambassador Marlon Stockinger stepped into the exclusive dinner to give them his well wishes as well as a few pointers on how to race using the Lotus F1 Simulator.

After a quick talk and briefing by real Lotus F1 engineers, the TATTOO Lotus F1 Simulation Challenge began. In the ultimate speed test to see who could finish with the fastest time on the tracks of a typical F1 circuit, guests were pitched against each other to outrace one another.

First placer Ivan Isada

By the end of the competition, three speedsters emerged at the top, with close scores of an average of 1.40 seconds per lap. In third place was Sharleen Banzon of Top Gear Magazine, while Angelo Sison of Pinoy Loves Wheels took second place, and Ivan Isada, who was part of the victorious Team Tattoo for the Manila Speed Show Pit Stop Challenge, came out on top with first place.

“We want our guests to know the speed and power that Tattoo has personified through our broadband services,” said Dong Ronquillo, Head of Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business. “Bringing the Lotus F1 experience closer to the public gives them a more hands-on experience of what the brand can bring to the table. It’s all about getting to the speeds you want and the services that can bring you there, that is what has to TATTOO offer.”

When it’s all about blazing internet speeds, TATTOO takes the lead to provide quality broadband services in the country. For the fast-paced and always on-the-go, Tattoo Black provides speeds of up to 42mbps that comes with unparalleled premium customer service and benefits. Tattoo@Home offers a complete line-up of home broadband connections for those who prefer to surf indoors with their families while Tattoo Torque, the ultra high-speed unlimited home broadband service, has the fastest connections reaching 150mbps.

Everyone’s inner racer can go full throttle as Tattoo continues to grow and expand its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network nationwide, providing the ultimate in broadband experience. Unleash your inner need for speed with Tattoo – live without limits. Visit tattoo.globe.com.ph to know more.

Being one of the participants of the said event, SM Ladies’ Fashion will feature new vibe of styles as they go heavy on geometric patterns, jewel tones, summer bright, and New Floral – an array of multi-faceted prints in abstract, oriental, and canvas-like variations

“This year’s show celebrates womanhood and the different facets of the stylish woman,” says Charlene Yu-Banzal, Vice President for SM Ladies’ Fashion. “Our vision is to give our customers a wider berth of choices so they can better explore their style persona.”

SM Ladies’ Fashion wants to give the shoppers their clothing needs that requires a variety of style personalities and of course the material and design itself.  It continues to elevate affordable ready-to-wear apparel with brand offerings that meld international fashion trends and consumer demand.

The show is segmented into various style tribes—Corporate, Ladies Who Lunch, Weekender, Party, and Resort. The SM woman is poised to find her style personality, represented by this grand collection.

The Spring/Summer 2013 collection promises a vibrant display of SM staples and on-trend items, all curated by leading industry experts. Check out related offers on discounts by visiting the SM Ladies’ Wear Department at select SM Stores nationwide.

Plot: The Minister for Transport, Bertrand Saint-Jean, is woken in the middle of the night by his personal private secretary. A bus has crashed into a ravine. He goes there, he has no choice. Thus begins the odyssey of a State official through an increasingly complex and hostile world. Speed, power struggles, chaos, economic crisis… In the frantic chain of events, one emergency replaces another. What sacrifices are men ready to accept? How long will they last in a State that devours those who serve it?

Admission to this screening is free. AFM is located at 209 Nicanor Garcia Street (formerly Reposo Street), Bel-Air 2, Makati City. For more information, please call 895-7585 or 895-7441. You may also visit www.alliance.ph.

After seeing Hollywood fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker in the opening of SM Aura and losing track of the Fast and the Furious 6 cast led by Vin Diesel (they’ve been all-over the city), the madness that has engulfed the metro is not yet over.

Save the lingering adrenaline and excitement for a fully-loaded weekend!

1. Wanderland Music Festival: Saturday, 11 am at Globe Circuit Events Ground

The first of what is to be an annual outdoor music and arts festival is finally happening! See The Temper Trap, Neon Trees, Nada Surf, Avalanche City, Colour Coding and Tully on Tully plus some of the best local bands perform live in one awesome event. Add live art performances by artists Anjo Bolarda x Martojaks and Thursday Room, inflatable slide, jousts, Velcro wall and a handful of booths and you’ll have summer’s ultimate sonic playground. There’s no better way to end summer than to join Wanderland 2013. Tickets are available at all TicketNet, TicketWorld and SM Tickets Outlets.

2. Levante: Friday, 6pm at Eastwood City

Gourmands, gourmets and anyone who just can’t help loving food, a new night food market is coming at you at Eastwood Citywalk 2. Grand opening is on n May 17, Friday from 6pm to 3am.

3. Yummy Eats 2013: Saturday, 10 am at NBC Tent

Yummy Eats, Yummy Magazine’s most anticipated eating and cooking fair is back on its third year! Enjoy a day of non-stop eating on May 18, Saturday, at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

4. I Silk-Screened This Tee: Saturday, 4 pm at Trinoma Cinema Lobby

Let your creativity take the lead! Make your own tees at Artwork’s event. To join, simply purchase your silk-screening kit for Php 299 at any Artwork stores or during the event itself. First 50 silk-screeners will get free Moonleaf milk teas. To top it all, Up Dharma Down will play a live set during the event.

5. Regine Velasquez Live: Saturday, 6 pm at Market! Market! Activity Center

Watch the one and only Asia’s Songbird as she performs live at Market! Market! Admission is free.

6. Pace UP Fun Run 2013: Sunday, 5 am at UP Diliman

Organized by RunRio Inc., Pace UP is the biggest running event to happen in Diliman this month. Categories open for registration are: 3k, 5k, 5k Student (exclusive for UP students), 10k and 15k. Registration is open until race day. For more information, visit http://runrio.com/2013/04/pace-up-fun-run-2013/

To give you a heads up, an inspirational event will open the coming week:

7. Nick Vujicic: Unstoppable Dream: Monday, 7:30 pm at Smart Araneta Coliseum

Evangelical and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic will be having his inspirational talk this Monday. Born without limbs, Vujicic serves as a global symbol of hope not only for overcoming his disability but also for delivering motivational speeches around the globe. Call Ticketnet at 911.5555 for details.