Arts and Leisure

“Not much is known about the personal life of Marco Polo. Did a young man of such energy and vigor have a love interest during his long sojourn in China? What we know from the recorded narratives about Marco Polo is that he was commanded by the Great Khan to accompany the Mongol princess Kogajin en route to her intended royal bridegroom in Persia. Was there a a romantic relationship between the two? Many authors wonder. This musical production is one such dramatization of what could have happened: Marco Polo finding true love amidst the setting of an East-West encounter rich in historical significance. Did Marco and Kogajin succeed in their quest for true love?” Author and Composer Rogelio Saldo Chua

Music is a combination of vocal and instrumental sounds to produce a harmonious expression of emotions. The earliest people crafted materials that mimicked repetitive sounds like whistling, clapping of hands or stomping of feet. These instruments made matters vibrate in the air making melodic soundwaves.Musical instruments evolved in step with changing applications and technologies of its era, from crude forms to modern synthesized chords of the new generation. There are five major categories of musical instruments:

The pandemic is almost over and so are the travel restrictions. Time to discover or re-discover the Philippines.

Whether you are a local, balikbayan or foreign tourist on staycation or vacation in the Philippines, here are some suggested places from the experiences of a former OFW now retired and resident of Tagaytay. It’s almost freewheeling as your visit should be — unchartered but adventurous.

Leuven Past

From a cloth-weaving center, Leuven, one of the largest cities in Europe in the 14th century, became a university town in 1425. It is now the largest university in Belgium and the oldest Catholic university in the world. As the story goes, the townspeople were asked to choose between becoming a centre of trade or a center of learning. And they chose the latter.