Foreigners
will get a chance to understand Pinoy culture better when they watch the funny
performance of Manila Vanilla at Mabuhay Restop located in Roxas Boulevard
corner T,M, Kalaw Ave.
It
is a widely known fact that Filipinos are very hospitable people, so much so
that they greet guests not by asking, “Kumusta (How are you)?” but by asking,
“Kumain ka na ba (Have you eaten)?” Such quirks and other peculiar
Filipino traits are celebrated in Mabuhay Restop’s Manilla Vanilla--a unique
musical comedy directed by Nestor U. Torre, with music composed by Ryan
Cayabyab.
Mabuhay Restop’s Manila Vanilla! stars Celine Fabie of the Ryan Cayabyab Singers and Spotlight Artist Centre's "Katy: The Musical," Astarte Abrahan of Resorts World Manila's "The Sound of Music" and Repertory Philippines' "A Portrait of the Artist as a Filipino"; singer and comedian Andy Bais; and entertainer and Gawad Kalinga volunteer Edward Fernandez.
 |
| Celine Fabie, Andy Bais, Astarte Abrahan |
“At Mabuhay Restop, we want our guests to get to know and experience the Philippines like never before,” says owner and president Rose Cabrera, a UCLA-educated California lawyer and GK advocate. “We don’t just offer great food and entertainment; we also offer voluntourism tours and other avenues to provide visitors with an opportunity to create better lives for communities who need it most.”
What
makes this show and venue even more worthwhile to patronize is the
purpose behind the effort . . . A Catalyst of Nation-Building.
As a
museum, travel café, and social enterprise in one, Mabuhay Restop is devoted to
promoting Philippine culture and heritage in creative ways while making a
difference. The social enterprise has committed to give 30% of Mabuhay Restop’s
net income to Gawad Kalinga, a Filipino nation-building movement dedicated to
eradicating poverty and restoring human dignity through building empowered and
sustainable communities. |
| Rose Cabrera, President |
Other
AttractionsTo add to its repertoire of shows, Mabuhay Restop also offers something for the kids and kids-at-heart with Mga Kwento ni Tita Beauty, also written and directed by Nestor U. Torre. A spin-off from Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang, the show features creative and theatrical storytelling featuring 6 original Filipino and English tales imbibed with valuable moral lessons.
