Picking up on TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS

At the matinee performance of Tiny Beautiful Things by The Sandbox Collective, I found myself reflecting on lessons that could enrich our daily lives. The show gently tugs at the heartstrings, but in the best possible way—it lifts you up, giving you a sense of strength and courage. It’s a letter of advice you didn’t realize you needed, one that quietly reminds you of your own resilience.

One of my favorite lines, “Dear Sugar,” encapsulates the heart of the play. The letters of advice are intimate, personal, and delivered with such warmth that they feel almost like a conversation with an old friend. The experience was immersive—not just as a spectator, but as someone who could relate deeply to the themes of vulnerability and compassion. I found myself longing for the art of writing letters again, the kind that offer anonymous solace and the freedom to express without judgment.

The cast, led by Iza Calzado, Rody Vera, Ketchup Eusebio, and Gabby Padilla, are nothing short of outstanding. They are mirrors of us all, embodying the struggles, hopes, and messy realities that Cheryl Strayed’s Dear Sugar column addresses. Through their performances, we see our own lives reflected—our challenges, our triumphs, and our need for a little guidance when life gets tough. Tiny Beautiful Things reminds us that we are all connected in our shared humanity. We may be luckier or less fortunate than others, but we’ve all been—or will be—Cheryl at some point in our lives.

Directed by Jenny Jamora, Tiny Beautiful Things is the opening production of The Sandbox Collective's 10th season. The show is currently running at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Ayala Circuit, Makati, and will run until December 8, 2024. Tickets are available through thesandboxco.com or via Ticket2Me.

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Tiny Beautiful Things: Finding Familiar Communities with Anonymous Voice

Making its Philippine premiere, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS: A Play About Life – In Letters will serve as The Sandbox Collective’s season finale this November 2024, capping off the theatrical company’s 10th-year anniversary season, #SandboxNowandTen.

Cast of Tiny Beautiful Things: (L-R) Rody Vera, Ketchup Eusebio, Jenny Jamora, Iza Calzado, Gabby Padilla, Regina De Vera and Brian Sy

Straddling the line between fiction and non-fiction, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS: A Play About Life – In Letters draws its plot from author Cheryl Strayed’s stint as an anonymous advice columnist. Director Jenny Jamora sought to create a set that was at once nebulous and familiar, while never straying from the physical constraints of Sugar’s apartment, noting the collaborative journey both the actors and the artistic team have taken to create the world of TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS. “How much Sugar shares of herself is reflected in how she and the letter writers share the physical space,” she shares. “The space is physically the same, but toward the end of the play the way they use it should also reflect the community this group of people has become.”

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS will feature Iza Calzado in the role of Sugar. She will be joined by three other cast members who will portray a revolving door of letter writers, all seeking advice from Calzado’s character. Although the characters maintain anonymity by using code names in their letters, their stories reflect the wide human experience–with all the highs and lows–that will strike a familiar chord with the audience.

Iza Calzado as Sugar

Joining Calzado are Rody Vera, Gabby Padilla and Ketchup Eusebio as the letter writers. Rounding out the cast are Gawad Buhay awardees Regina De Vera and Brian Sy (swing/letter writer at certain performances).

At the helm of the production is Gawad Buhay awardee Jenny Jamora who will be directing the show. Joining her in the artistic team are Marcel David as assistant director, Kayla Teodoro as set designer, Kiefer Sison as lighting and technical director, Arvy Dimaculangan as sound designer, Krystal Kane as costume stylist, and JV Rabano as photographer.

Leading the production team is Toff De Venecia as managing artistic director, alongside Anna Santamaria as finance and operations director, Sab Jose as marketing and PR director, and Maine Manalansan as design director. Joining the production team are Charyl De Guzman as production manager, Pachot Festejo as head stage manager, Loreta Arroyo as marketing and PR manager and Marielle Filoteo as social media manager.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. The play is based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, and was co-conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail, and Nia Vardalos.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS will run from November 16 to December 8, 2024 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati. Friday shows will begin at 8 PM, while Saturday and Sunday shows will run at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM. 

Tickets are available at Ticket2Me (bit.ly/tinybeautifulmnl) and through our official show buyers.

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​​LG Re-Imagines the Holidays With New Refrigerator Models

It’s no surprise that the holiday season is a favorite among Filipinos. Especially in the new normal, it’s the perfect time to celebrate and rekindle relationships to make up for lost time. House gatherings, no matter how big or small, whether with friends or family, are sure to be aplenty. However, with all the food and leftovers during the holidays, you’ll need a ref that’s up to the task.

Mr. Sungjae Kim, LG Philippines Managing Director with Ms. Iza Calzado

L-R: Mr. Jun Lee, Product Director for Home Appliances, Ms. Iza Calzado with Mr. Sungjae Kim, LG Philippines Managing Director

Knowing the Filipino’s penchant for hosting parties, LG recently hosted an event focused on the South Korean brand’s newest refrigerators, which are perfect home upgrades for the holiday season. The highlight of the afternoon was the LG InstaView Side-by-Side Refrigerator, which boasts of an Instaview Panel that is 23% larger than its predecessor. Knock twice and you’ll see what’s inside. If you do decide to grab something, the popular door-in-door feature gives you easy access to frequently used items without needing to open the whole door and letting warm air rush inside.

 

The LG InstaView also offers key LG innovations such as LinearCooling^TM for sealing in freshness and reducing temperature fluctuations, DoorCooling^+TM for fast and even performance, and UVnanoTM which automatically reduces 99.99% of bacteria from the water nozzle with UV light.

The event, which was hosted by new LG brand ambassador Iza Calzado, also featured other refrigerators for different markets and use cases. The hosts highlighted the RVS-Q245NS, an even bigger Instaview model, the RVT-B149BS and the RVT-B145PZ, two similar, high-performance top freezers with a sleek and modern silhouette that fits any lifestyle, and the RVT-B119DG, which is the perfect ref for smaller spaces.

Mr. Jillian Yap, LG Refrigerators Senior Product Manager and Ms. Iza Calzado checking out the LG Instaview Refrigerator

Another segment during the event focused on what a smarthome is and how it works. Representatives from LG demonstrated how you can control different home appliances on your mobile phone with just one app. Even if you’re away, you can also receive remote notifications on your mobile phone and control the appliances remotely. They also showed how the different LG smart appliances can be monitored through the Home Dashboard on LG TVs.

 

LG’s Managing Director Mr. Sungjae Kim was in a festive mood during the event, saying “We at LG know how much Filipinos love Christmas time and how it’s the season to reward the family or one’s self with much needed tech upgrades…With LG, it’s never too early to get your Christmas wishlist.”

Mr. Sungjae Kim, LG Philippines Managing Director

Reimagine the holidays and upgrade your home with the latest and greatest from LG. To know more about LG’s offerings, visit the official website at https://lg.com/ph and follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. You may also check out LG’s official flagship stores in Lazada and Shopee.

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WWF Philippines joins Earth Hour 2016 and more life-changing programs

For 20 years, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the Philippines has been pursuing the protection of wildlife and the conservation of the environment for the current and future generations. Thus the programs and campaigns of preserving endangered species, use of renewable resources and more has been ongoing for the past decades and continue to help in these causes. Three notable activities are up close to the Philippine culture and it has not only conserved natural resources but also uplifted the lives of the people.

First are the eco-tourism programs in Donsol, Sorsogon where visiting the endangered whaleshark (now 469) aka "butanding" has changed the attitude of Bicolanos towards the gentle giant. Before it was considered as a pest in the sea waters towing away fish which is the main source of living, it has become a major attraction in the area and the people of Donsol recognized the importance of the butanding in the marine ecosystem. They have helped conserve and improve the number of whalesharks and also protected their habitat. [see full story here]

Next is creating a renewable energy through solar powered lamps where common electricity is not reaching the remote islands in Palawan. These lamps help the students in studying during night time and be ready for school the next day. It is also currently helping fishermen in navigation while they go out to the sea at night. The lamps are very cost-efficient and functional that the Gift of Light program aims to spread the light to more areas in the Philippines. [full story]

Another is the propagation of the tamaraw in the Mindoro province when it almost became extinct. The Mangyans and the local government of Mindoro, together with WWF, has doubled the number of the local buffalo to 405. This preservation is very significant not only to the Philippines but also to the ecosystem in the area.

More and more activities have been ongoing but one of the highlights this year is the Earth Hour which will happen on March 19 2016 at 8:30-9:30PM. Manila has been a great contributor to the saved energy since this event started. Each and everyone is invited to turn off their lights and conserve energy at the said date and time and pledge to save mother earth now and for future generations. Conservation of this energy has a huge impact in slowing down global warming which we are experiencing today. This event will also take place in 170 countries around the world in more than 7000 hubs and cities.

Manila's hosting of the Earth Hour will take place in Quezon City Memorial Circle and spearheaded by WWF Philippines ambassadors Mikee Cojuangco, Rovilson Fernandez, Marc Nelson and now joined by Iza Calzado.

For more information about Earth Hour and donate to the causes of WWF Philippines, visit http://wwf.org.ph/. You can give and see updates in social media by following the following: #EarthHour2016 #RenewableIsDoable #ChangeClimateChange

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