[NEW YORK] Budget and Itinerary (10)

TUESDAY: 21 October 2025

Philippine Airlines (BKK - MNL - JFK/HNL - MNL - HCM) - 650.00

Philippine Airlines (Neighbor Free x2) - 225.00

Airbnb (8 Nights/Union City) - 900.00

USD1,775.00

[MANHATTAN] Broadway Barrage Season 10

10 SEASONS. I just find it hard to believe. When I started this personal tradition back in 2016 I didn't really believe I would be able to commit to it and make it an annual thing. Sometimes you simply have to stop finding excuses and just do it. 10 years and counting! Here's to another 10!

Hell's Kitchen (Broadway)

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It’s Manhattan of the 90’s and seventeen year old Ali (Lulu Oro Hamlett) is serving a full course of teenage angst. She lives in dangerous Hell’s Kitchen but it’s all good since her mother Jersey (Jessica Vosk) is white and friends with all the security guards and police men. The single mother household is cooped up in Manhattan Plaza, in an artist housing that exposes Ali early on in life to the performing arts, considering all their neighbors are involved in fostering creativity. Ali has a crush on African American youth Knuck (Phillip Johnson Richardson) yet any chance of a possible relationship is blocked by racial stereotypes as well as the fact that she is underage. And then she meets Miss Liza Jane (Angela Birchett), a piano virtuoso who takes her under her wing at the first sign of potential talent. There begins her journey to becoming a musical prodigy.

Stranger Things : The First Shadow (Broadway)

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1959. Socially awkward weirdo Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) moves in with his family from Nevada to a new house in Hawkins after an incident at his old school. There he is met by a diverse high school population: small town girl with big city dreams Joyce Maldonado (Alison Jaye) and her boyfriend Lonnie Byers (Logan Gould); town sheriff’s son James Hopper Jr (Burke Swanson); sexually hyperactive teens Karen Childress (Dora Dolphin) and boyfriend Ted Wheeler (Jamie Martin Mann); blabbermouth Walter Henderson (Ian Dolley); method actor wannabe Alan Munson (Neil McCaffrey) as well as class radio DJ Bob Newby (Patrick Scott McDermott). However, it is with Bob’s adoptive sister Patty (Ayana Cymone) who is  considered as the school outcast that he forms a bond. The problem is that Henry has a unique ability that leans towards violence as well as an eerie connection to a parallel dimension threatening to bleed into theirs.

Waiting For Godot (Broadway)

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Vladimir (Alex Winter) and Estragon (Keanu Reeves) meet up and seem to have no clear idea as to what they are doing or where they are. One complains about lack of sleep and getting beaten up by somebody. One complains about his boot, which he can’t manage to remove. The two of them discuss random topics about life while waiting for someone named Godot. They can’t recall whether they have already met the guy but they are positive that he will be swinging by to meet them later that day. And then they witness the arrival of another duo, Pozzo (Brandon J. Dirden) and Lucky (Michael Patrick Thornton). Pozzo is abusive to wheelchair-bound Lucky who is treated more like a pet than a companion. Vladimir and Estragon wonder if Pozzo is Godot, but he doesn’t clarify. A Boy (Eric Williams) also appears saying he is sent by Godot, but fails to provide any useful answers.

Operation Mincemeat (Broadway)

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World War 2 is a complicated chess game and Johnny Bevan (Zöe Roberts) is running out of ideas to outwit Hitler and his forces. He encourages his subordinates at MI6 to pitch ideas but he is down on his luck, until the right mind comes along. Charles Cholmondeley (David Cumming) has a weird but brilliant plan. They will dump a body off the coast of Spain planted with documents of a fake invasion of Sardinia in lieu of Sicily, hoping that the Nazi spies littered around Spain will take the bait. Naval intelligence officer Ewen Montagu (Natasha Hodgson) backs him up and soon they are collaborating with secretary Hester Leggatt (Sam Hartley) and new clerk Jean Leslie (Jessi Kirtley) furnishing a fake life for the dead body that might just win the Allied Forces the war that will end all wars. But is a spy within their ranks going to ruin their brilliant plan?

MJ the Musical (Broadway)

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King of Pop Michael Jackson (Brett Grey) is preparing for his concert and making a lot of demands that outstrip their production cost, much to the chagrin of his finance guy Dave (Joey Sorge). Meanwhile, reporter Rachel (Bailey McCall) worms herself into the dance rehearsals, keeping Michael on edge due to his trauma with the press. With a camera rolling most of the time, Michael recalls his childhood starting out in showbiz with his brothers in a band called the Jackson Five. He also reminisces the abuse he suffered from his demanding father Joseph Jackson (Michael Andreaus) as well as the unwavering support of his mother Katherine (Sasha Allen). Motivated both by his love of music and fear of becoming irrelevant in the midst of younger musical acts coming and going, Michael offers his best, but not giving himself some much needed slack might just take a toll on his body and his life.

Death Becomes Her (Broadway)

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Aging diva Madeline Ashton (Megan Hilty) has had two Oscar nominations so far but nobody really escapes from the clutches of ageism in Hollywood. She also has a mean streak, particularly toward her long-time frenemy Helen Sharp (Natalie Charle Ellis) who pays her a visit backstage just to flaunt her cosmetic surgeon fiance Ernest Menville (Christopher Sieber). This proves to be a mistake because Madeline has a bad record of flirting with Helen’s boyfriends, and Ernest is no exception. Months later, Madeline and Ernest are getting married and Helen is locked up in a mental institution vowing revenge. Years later, she returns with a successful book launch and a voluptuous figure while Madeline withers. The latter gets an invitation from a certain Viola van Horn (Michelle Williams), CEO of Siempre Viva, whose clientele comprises young, fit, and seemingly ageless individuals. Is Madeline ready to trade her soul for eternal youth?

Maybe Happy Ending (Broadway)

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Helperbot-3 Oliver (Andrew Barth Feldman) resides in his own apartment at Helperbot Yards in Seoul, a sort of retirement home for humanoid robots no longer needed by their owners. Oliver is positive that his owner will be coming back for him. In the meantime, he receives his Jazz Monthly subscription and takes care of the potted plant he gave him which he names HwaBoon. Years pass and Oliver still believes that his situation is temporary as he goes through his daily routine. His tranquility is bothered when the robot living in the unit across from him knocks on his door to borrow his charger because hers just broke. Claire (Helen J. Shen) is a Helperbot-5 model who seems to be more in tune with their reality. As they spend more time together, she convinces him to finally make the trip to Jeju Island together so he can find his owner, once and for all.

The Queen of Versailles (Broadway)

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Jackie (Kristin Chenoweth) has always belonged to the working class and as she passes by gigantic mansions on the way home from work, she vows to one day build a huge house of her own. The answer to her prayers eventually comes in the person of David Siegel (F. Murray Abraham), a wealthy old man who has made his fortune after discovering the magnetic pull of time shares among the American middle class. He proposes to Jackie even if she already has a young daughter in tow. On their honeymoon in Paris, the newlyweds visit the Palace of Versailles, which serves as Jackie’s inspiration. She will build the largest home in America when they go back home to Florida. It appears nothing can hold Jackie back from achieving her dreams. And then the stock market crashed. David, in an effort to liquidate assets and cut losses, contemplates the future of his wife’s pet project, but she isn’t going down without a fight.

[SAMUT PRAKAN] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: October 18, 2025

Sukhumvit Line (Saphan Khwai - Chang Erawan) - 62.00

Erawan Museum (Fried Rice + Coke) - 100.00

Admission Fee (The Ancient City + Erawan Museum) - 600.00

Sukhumvit Line (Chang Erawan - Kheha) - 15.00

E-Bike (3 hours) - 250.00

Van (The Ancient City - Kheha) - 25.00

Sukhumvit Line (Kheha - Phra Khanong) - 31.00

THB1,083.00

Estimate of THB1 = PhP1.80

TOTAL - PhP1,949.40

[SAMUT PRAKAN] Erawan Museum + The Ancient City

Technically, you have been to Samut Prakan. If you have landed in or taken off from Suvarnabhumi International airport, that is. Although tagged as Bangkok’s airport, it really is located in neighboring Samut Prakan province. If you want to legit land in Bangkok, you should book a flight to Don Mueang instead. But is the airport all there is to it for tourism in Samut Prakan province? Going back to Bangkok for the nth time just to chill, I decided to check out possible daytrips easily accessible from the capital. Erawan Museum and The Ancient City, both attractions being from the same developer, topped the list.

Midnight's Children

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On the 15th of August 1947, at the stroke of midnight, a new country was born. British India was partitioned between the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan, from which the modern day countries of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh would emerge. However, not only nations were born but also 1,001 babies. Referred to as Midnight’s Children, the 1,001 don’t just share their country’s birthdate, but are also given unique abilities that set them apart from the rest. One of 1,001 is Saleem Sinai, born at the exact moment as his country, he receives a letter from the prime minister as well as sufficient media coverage. His telepathic gift allows him to tap into the minds of the other 500+ who are still alive by the time they reach 10 years of age. Decades later, he writes his autobiography about a life whose ups and downs are intricately linked to the country of his birth.

Quezon

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Senate president Manuel L. Quezon (Jericho Rosales) and speaker of the house of representatives Sergio Osmeña Sr. (Romnick Sarmenta) gear up to make a formidable tandem for president and vice-president as the Philippines prepares to hold its first election. The United States of America through the Tydings-McDuffie Act aims to grant independence to its former colony through a ten-year Commonwealth transition period, after which the country will become its own republic. However, the road to presidency is not without challenges as Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado) mounts an opposition campaign. Outgoing governor general Leonard Wood (Iain Glen) also serves as a tough obstacle as he shrewdly plays along with Quezon’s political games. Meanwhile, journalist Joven Hernando (Cris Villanueva) reflects on his decisions in supporting his friend’s presidential campaign as he gets entangled in his grand web of political deceit, leading to the hostile takeover of his newspaper.

Cinemartyrs

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A budding Filmmaker (Nour Hooshmand) comes from a line of local cinema pioneers, her Mother (Raquel Villavicencio) being a film researcher herself. Her effort to commit the massacres during the Philippine-American war to film is not well-received by her school’s panel, criticizing her lack of narratives from Mindanao. And so she forms a team to head down south to Jolo so they could include a well-known story passed down through oral tradition that claims an American-led massacre happened there during a local wedding where even women and children were slaughtered as they huddled in their mosque. Entry to the community is difficult due to military presence and reluctance of the local population to allow outsiders to come in. As they finally manage to set up and start filming, the actors as well as the Filmmaker herself start to convulse as they are possessed by the spirits whose stories they dare tell.

Open Endings

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Charlie (Janella Salvador) is having issues with her current fling, not just because of their snap decisions when it comes to their budding relationship but also because she has a problem with Charlie’s circle of friends. It’s not the four of them per se, but rather their histories with one another, given how all of them have been involved with one another either romantically or sexually through the years. Kit (Klea Pineda) is having an affair with a married woman who happens to be the mother of one of her students. Mihan (Leanne Mamonong), on the other hand, is still in love with Hannah (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) but afraid to commit. When Hannah surprises everyone with the revelation that she is engaged TO A GUY, the other three are shaken to their core and are left wondering about their own paths in life. Old feelings are stirred as a hard deadline is suddenly imposed for pursuing old flames.

Habang Nilalamon Ng Hydra Ang Kasaysayan

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Political speechwriter David (Zanjoe Marudo) and political strategist Kiko (Jojit Lorenzo) are more than heartbroken after their presidential candidate loses her bid to a traditional politician. Kiko goes back home to his partner Bea (Dolly de Leon), a history professor who has lost all enthusiasm to teach her discipline. After all, Filipinos never learn, do they? Meanwhile, David finds a worthwhile distraction through dating apps, matching with election lawyer Mela (Mylene Dizon) whom he knocks up after their one night stand. As the two discuss the possibility of marriage, inconvenient truths begin to surface, such as Mela being the daughter of a retired Martial Law general who was accused but never found guilty of “disappearing” many an activist during that time, including Bea’s father. As the four meet at dinner after David’s book launch in which he tackles disinformation, an awkward repartee of opinions and political ideologies will be the main course on the menu.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

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Bloom Where You Are Planted is a documentary focusing on the agrarian realities of the Cagayan valley which has attracted many activists to do research and bring to light the challenges plaguing the farming community there. This documentary focuses on three individuals. The first one is Agnes Mesina, a coordinator of Makabayan who has been redtagged due to her involvement in the community. This documentary explores her vocation as well as the effect of her job on her relationship with her son. The second is UP undergraduate Amanda Echanis who was prominent in the news for a time after she was arrested with her baby in tow. This documentary gives an update on her current life in prison for almost half a decade now while her son is cared for by her elderly mother. The third is Randy Malayao whose murder is recounted by a journalist friend of his, still striving to seek justice for his slain comrade.

Republika Ng Pipolipinas

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A documentary crew heads over to the town of Pulong Palay where they follow the daily life of Corazon Vitug (Geraldine Villamil), a widowed farmer who renounces her Filipino citizenship and declares herself president of the Republic of Pipolipinas, the plot of her farmland that will become the newest micronation within the country. Despite having a few friends supporting her cause, a lot of people in town are wary and see her as a deranged psycho succumbing to the pressures of her life's tragedies. As her story goes viral on social media, a group of people with their own vested interests approach her and propose to join her newly formed nation, among them film star Alessandra de Rossi (Alessandra de Rossi). As they try to settle their differences to form a new country, they must work together to uncover corruption involving the town’s local government accused of grabbing land to turn into paid dumpsites for imported trash.

Kalahating Bahaghari

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Hindi lamang ang mga magulang kundi pati na rin kanyang pandinig ang kukunin kay Jim ng isang hindi inaasahang pangyayari. Siya ay maiiwan sa pangangalaga ng kanyang Kuya Luis na magtataguyod sa kanya upang makapag-aral at makapagtapos. Ang isa sa magiging pangunahing suliranin ng mag-Kuya ay ang pag-iisang dibdib nila Luis at Marina na matindi ang galit sa mga tomboy at bakla. Ito rin ang magiging dahilan kung bakit maaantala ang pagtanggap ni Jim sa sariling katauhan. Matapos maranasan ang hindi kaaya-ayang pakikisama ng hipag ay bubukod ito at matututong mamuhay mag-isa habang tinutuklas ang kanyang pagkatao. Hindi naman makaiiwas si Marina sa mga tomboy at bakla dahil magdaan ang maraming taon ay ang mga anak naman nila ni Luis ang lalantad na hindi ayon sa kanyang paniniwala tungkol sa nararapat na kasarian. Sa makabagong panahon ay ang kanyang apo naman na si Joshua ang sasabak sa mga pangungutya ng lipunang sadyang ayaw umunawa.

The Satanic Verses

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A plane en route from India to the United Kingdom explodes in midair over the English Channel after it is hijacked by separatists whose negotiations with authorities have fallen apart. Everyone in the plane is killed by the explosion. Everyone, but two. Gibreel Farishta is a Bollywood superstar who has attained popularity through the portrayal of Hindu gods on film. Saladin Chamcha, on the other hand, is an English speaking emigrant who has severed ties with family back in the subcontinent so he can live an immigrant’s life in London where he garners critical acclaim as a voice over artist who can summon a thousand different voices. Both men are aboard the Bostan flight when it devolves into a ball of fire, but they miraculously survive the explosion as well as the fall. Soon, Gibreel grows a halo behind his head that glows from time to time while Saladin is transformed into a devil with horns.

Good Boy

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Indy (Indy) is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who has served as its human’s best friend since puppyhood. The sad thing is that Todd (Shane Jensen) is terminally ill, often coughing out blood and rejected at new medication trials due to the advanced stage of his illness. His Sister (Arielle Friedman) makes it a point to always check up on him but it is Indy who really serves as his companion. When he decides to move into an old cabin in the woods formerly owned by their Grandfather (Larry Fessenden), it is Indy who immediately senses the presence of something sinister, often manifesting in dark corners of the house and giving the dog nightmares about what really happened to the grandfather and his own dog. As the malevolent entity becomes more and more aggressive, Indy stands by to protect Todd, but what can a dog really do against evil?