How many cities in the Philippines have their own theater? Marikina is one…read more I once attended a summer art workshop organized by the Marikina City Government. All recitals and exhibits were held in Teatro Marikina. Though it was not as big as CCP's Main Theatre or Ateneo's Henry Lee Irwin Theatre, it was quite spacious. I couldn't remember exactly how big it was because the recital happened a long time ago, but, it was surely bigger than CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute or even Ateneo's Rizal Mini Theater. If I am not mistaken, it could be the same size as a regular movie house. Not bad for a community theater. Unfortunately, Marikina does not have a resident theater group so this establishment is not really used for its main purpose quite often. Yes, Marikina organizes a summer art camp almost yearly and the recitals are held here. But, I hope that sometime in the future we can regularly stage plays and have cultural shows here too.

For those bitching about how Art should be more accessible to everybody, may I present to you the…read moreTiu Theater. Formerly the old Louie's THX Cinema, the theater has recently been reinvented as an events venue back in 2014, and has hosted a number of concerts, plays, recitals, and performance art pieces. But what sets the Tiu apart from other event venues is how committed it is to making Art more accessible. The management of the Tiu will go out of their way to look for worthy art groups to sponsor. They have even staged a couple of free shows, just to get people more chances to watch these kinds of works. Time will tell if the Tiu can sustain and thrive with this kind of setup, but I'm happy we have such a venue for the arts.

Back in the day, the Tiu Theater used to be Louie's THX, the most high-tech movie theater in Makati…read moreat the time. These days, the Tiu Theater has become an events venue. I had the opportunity to come here for the Luna Art Festival in early 2015, and I loved the intimate, community-like vibe that was present all throughout. Inside the main theater, performers like the Adinkra Lumads group and other ethnic Filipino musicians and dancers performed to a crowd of art enthusiasts, and at some point, people took off their shoes and started dancing in the middle of the aisles! There were also a bunch of merchants outside the theater, selling shirts, food, jewelry and more. The back part of the theater is dimly-lit (adds to the vibe, I think), and has large murals painted on it, cementing the Tiu Theater's position as a haven for artists to showcase their work - be it performance art, visual art, handmade crafts, and more! I always enjoy events that are hosted here because it's always a good time with quality people in attendance.

Globe Circuit Event Grounds, more commonly known as Circuit Makati, is a fairly recent development…read morefrom Ayala, replacing the old Sta Ana. Race Track. (Sorry horse racing bookies!) As far as event grounds go, it doesn't get much better than Circuit Makati. I've been to quite a few events that happened in Circuit (and have one held there in the past!) and Circuit is a fantastic venue. Not only is it probably one of the most accessible venues to the nearby university audience (it's in Makati, so it's in decent proximity to the uni crowd), but it's pretty easy to get there. The venue itself is highly flexible, and you can have any sort of event you want from a music festival to a rave to a bazaar. The area comes in these sorts of components that you can rent out each: there's the parking lot, the open grass area, and the sort of auditorium cove thing that has amazing acoustics. And the rates are pretty negotiable depending on what you get. Globe Circuit Event Grounds is one of the hottest upcoming events places, so expect to see more amazing events held year every year.

For a long time, Metro Manila lacked a decent venue for open air events. Mall Of Asia concert…read moregrounds? No, don't wanna sit on the dirty concrete. Amoranto Stadium? Uhh...let's just move on. The Circuit Event Grounds totally revolutionized the outdoor concert scene with its birth. I know this venue is actually part of a whole development called Circuit Makati, but everybody just uses that name to refer to the massive field with a canopy. Aside from being the home of the annual Wanderland Music & Arts Festival and the one hit wonder eponymous Circuit Fest (can we please have that back?? it was amazing despite the thunderstorm), the event grounds also host various bazaars and skate fests. I really like this place for concerts because the grass is perfect for sitting/lying down on between artists' sets, haha. Another major point is that it's strategically located in the heart of Makati. A little difficult to find on your first go, but everything is easier after that. Also, it's right smack in the middle of the Metro, so both QC and Alabang peeps don't have to go to far from their homes to attend a fantastic event.

The good ol' Araneta Coliseum. These days, it's better known as the SMART Araneta Coliseum, but…read morescrew that, it will always be just "Araneta" to me. I've seen so many shows here over the last three decades that I have lost count. Somehow it's begun to feel like home. They've done some renovation work here and there but only a fool would miss that the place is old and in need of a complete upheaval. However, to me, this only speaks to its appeal. The bathrooms are kept clean, there are more than enough food establishments to go around, and the seating divisions are strategic. I love coming here!

I've been to loads of concerts and basketball games that were held at the Smart Araneta Center and…read moreI've always had a generally good experience. The place itself is quite old and dated though but it still does the job of holding events for a thousand-seating capacity. Getting out of the area once a concert or game ends can be quite a hassle but the exits are situated in strategic areas all around the center anyway. What I particularly like about the place is its close proximity to the Cubao MRT station, which is connected through Farmers Market and Gateway Mall and is easily accessible by foot.

There's something to be said about smallish event venues. they're more intimate, they make the…read morelives of numerous event organizers easier, and when you pack a small venue, it looks impressive. The SM Skydome is one such venue. Quickly making a name for itself as the venue of choice for more intimate concerts and gigs, the Skydome is a great place to watch a live gig. If I do have a gripe, it's the fact that the Skydome is not exactly the easiest venue to go to. Sure, you'd think that being inside SM North would make it automatically accessible, but that's actually the problem. You end up entering a variety of entrances and walking quite a bit just to make it to the Skydome. But hey, nothing is ever perfect. Good venue, overall.

As a concert junkie, I've become a Skydome regular for the past few years since nearly every time a…read moreband I love comes to Manila, they play here. It's about the size of a basketball court, except circular, with an open space front and center of the stage and bleachers stacked against the walls. Pretty good for intimate shows; if you're at the front the barricades are set in such a way that you can still high five a band member if they bend down on stage. The tickets for events here are always affordable, no matter who's producing the show, so it's easy to get tickets for the pit (known in layman's terms as the standing area). I wasn't impressed the first or second time I went here, but I'll admit the place has grown on me.

I first watched Tanghalang Ateneo's play in Rizal Mini Theater. For my Filipino class back in…read morefreshman year, we were required to watch a theatrical production made by one of Ateneo's most popular theater organizations. I got lost at first going there because I didn't really know where Rizal Mini Theater was. I though it was going to be in one sketchy dark corner of the campus that I haven't explored yet. I was so wrong! Rizal Mini Theatre is actually inside Faber Hall, one of the most developed buildings in the Ateneo. Rizal Mini Theater is nowhere near the size of Henry Lee Irwin Theater, but it's definitely not "mini". It has a capacity of almost 150 people. The theater is fully air-conditioned and they have comfortable seats for students and guests. This is also where theater kids rehearse for their next stage play. It definitely has all the equipment necessary for a breathtaking play or performance.

Don't let the name or size fool you, the Rizal Mini Theater, is bigger from the inside. While the…read moreseating capacity of this particular theater doesn't match the other one on campus, the Henry Lee Irwin Theater, this one mostly holds plays for the student organizations, which are also open to the public, many of which are visited by prominent screenplay writers and directors from all over the country to witness the Atenean students perform to the best of their ability and strive for their beloved "magis" ("the more") in the theater and performing arts. However, not just veterans of the field are here, but you can also witness a lot of fresh talent; many a young student's first theater experience at the university level was in this theater, be it for their basic English and Literature subjects or for the "Newbie" productions for the theater organizations of Ateneo, including ENTABLADO, Tanghalang Ateneo, and Blue Repertory.

While it may be a hassle to reach the Philippine Arena from Metro Manila, my experience of it has…read moreso far been worth it. I watched Katy Perry's Prismatic World Tour there on May 7, 2015. Katy Perry herself said it might be her biggest show in the entire year she toured with up to 30,000 seats filled on that drizzly Thursday night! But you know what? While it was definitely huge and obviously packed, everything was still so organized. Going in and out of the show was such a breeze, people piled out at a steady pace with hardly any wait. It was the traffic that was a problem, but that's a country-wide problem, and a consequence of a venue this large. So can we finally have U2 over? I highly recommend event organizers to check this place out!

Philippine Arena opens up the surround Manila areas to acts that formerly wouldn't come due to…read moreminimum capacity requirements for venue. I really enjoyed the concert I attended. With 30,000 people in attendance, getting in and out of the concert venue itself was really well facilitated. I understand that a lot of attendees were frustrated by the wait time to get out of the arena parking areas with their cars. I've been to dozens and dozens of large venues, from arenas to amphitheaters, and it is the same story. It is just unavoidable to create a traffic jam when the arena is this big. But, some concert experiences are not possible without that many people in the audience The only solution? Make the best of a bad situation. Filipinos need to learn the art of the tailgate: come early, leave late, bring snacks and drinks and lawn chairs. Wait out the rush. Also, please don't forget to bring trash bags. Always be courteous while partying.

Viva Manila is a yearly event that just started off last year although I did miss this year because…read moreof school duties. Ugh, studies can sometimes be in the way, right? Anyway, I love attending events like this because it makes me feel better about being a Filipino because I get exposed to history and our culture that I only get to experience in books. What I also love about Viva Manila is that it is held in Intramuros--my favourite place in Manila. They also invite artists to sell their crafts and there's also a slam poetry that encourages poets to channel their works not only on paper but to tell out their thoughts through spoken words. How wonderful would that be to speak out in front of everyone and express your thoughts with the emotions that you have while writing them. In Viva Manila, not only does the old Filipino culture get celebrated but also the new.

Viva Manila is an organisation that promotes arts and culture in the old city of Manila and…read moreespecially bringing back Intramuros to live. Pasyal Sundays is a monthly, free event that is organized by Viva Manila. It is generally held in General Luna street or Maestranza and it is always car free. They have around 50 booths with local foods and drinks and crafts. And while the market is going on they have various local artist performing things such a parkour, martial arts and as the night becomes darker they have poets and musicians coming up on stage. For anybody who loves manila or wants to understand the city better, this event is an awesome place to go that will inspire you to know and care more about Manila.