Britain celebrates 350 years of anarchic puppet show

LONDON -- Dozens of puppeteers gathered in London on Sunday to celebrate 350 years of the Punch and Judy show, an anarchic English seaside entertainment known for its slapstick and casual violence.

On the second of two days of festivities, Punch and Judy men and women -- known as "professors" -- took their hand puppets on a procession in London's Covent Garden, staged shows for hundreds of children and held a church service with the red-nosed Mr Punch in the pulpit.

"Punch and Judy pokes fun at all the establishment, but it's got a lot of heart," said Maggie Pinhorn, organiser of Sunday's events, which commemorate the first recorded mention of Punch and Judy by diarist Samuel Pepys.

The show, performed by a single puppeteer in a striped booth, features the outrageous Mr Punch, who initially appears happy with his wife Judy and their baby before things go downhill when he is asked to babysit.

He fails terribly, sometimes even feeding the baby into a sausage machine, before getting into a fight with his returning wife, then a policeman, plus usually a crocodile and a ghost.

Punch fights off his opponents -- who can also include a devil, a doctor and a hangman -- using a stick, the original "slapstick", in a story descended from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte and its long-nosed character Pulcinella.

Children screamed with delight Sunday as they watched a series of shows in different booths dotted around the central London venue, each with its own special features, including French, Japanese, US and Australian versions.

Puppeteers insert a "swazzle", or two pieces of metal bound with fabric, into the roof of their mouths to produce the show's trademark squeaky voices.

"It's pantomime, it's a live cartoon," said Katey Wilde, 40, who performs in the seaside town of Brighton as Professor Peanut, having learned the art from her father when she was 17.

She mainly performs in schools, where about half of the children have never heard of Punch and Judy before, she said -- "but the reaction is always the same -- they love it. They can shout at the characters, they can change allegiances, they love it."

Punch and Judy's popularity waned in the 1980s and 1990s as critics objected to what they saw as a ruthless portrayal of domestic violence, but Wilde said Punch had "weathered the storm".

source: interaksyon.com

Filipino Fashion Designers Take London

MANILA, Philippines — London was bedazzled, to say the least, when top Filipino designers showcased the best of the Philippines in front of the royals and the movers and shakers of this cosmopolitan city.

The Ayala Foundation together with the London-based organization Prospero World presented an ambitious philanthropic event dubbed “The London Philippine Fashion Show” to raise funds for the projects of Cente of Excellence in Public Elementary Education or CENTEX at the historical Victoria House in London.

Guests present at the event were Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and his lovely wife Princess Marie Chantal. Members of the organizing team were Mercedes Zobelm (she was responsible for the success of Women for Women International in the UK) and Gloal Foundation for Humanity founder Jacqueline de Chollet.

Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president and chief operating officer of the Ayala Corporation welcomed the distinguished guests and organizers to the event and presented a brief but meaningful picture of the Philippines. He also stressed that any philanthropic support will best be maximized in areas of education, art and culture, environment and sustainable environment which are the core advocacies of Ayala Foundation.

Furthermore, Zobel de Ayala highlighted another important detail that evening beyond raising funds for CENTEX. “Tonight, we also present to you the creativity and craftmanship of Filipino designers that is truly world class.” Zobel de Ayala declared with pride.

The select-Filipino designers who participated at the event were jewelry and accessory designers Wyn Wyn Ong, Joyce Makitalo and Celestina; fashion designers Cary Santiago, Michael Cinco, Josie Natori, Rajo Laurel, Frederico de Vera, Jasper Garvida, Jun Escario, Lulu Tan Gan, Mich Dulce and London-based designer Lesley Mobo.

Among all the participating designers only Wyn Wyn Ong, Lulu Tan Gan, Michael Cinco, Mich Dulce and Lesley Mobo made it to the event.

I was privileged to have been invited by no less that Mr. Zobel de Ayala himself to attend the event. Manila Bulletin Fashion Editor Joyce Fernandez, Tatler Editor in Chief Anton San Diego, Zee Lifestyle Publisher Eva Gullas and former Mega Editor in Chief Carla Sibal were also present to cover the event. It was such a moving moment to witness how the international crowd was awed and amazed at the greatness of Filipino talent and creativity.

“I felt so proud of being Filipino as I watched the works of our designers. Filipino talent is world-class!” Bea Zobel Jr. proudly declared after the show.

Lulu Tan Gan and her daughter Jessica were to me the best dressed ladies of the evening. They were of course wearing their signature knitwear that creates a modern look of the Filipiniana.

Michael Cinco and Cary Santiago’s haute couture collections were the crowd favorite. Princess Marie Chantal remembers vividly the details of Cinco’s white dresses and Santiago’s black column dresses when we had a short chat.

This event was indeed a triumph of the Filipinos in London. A true moment of Pinoy Pride in a global stage.

source: mb.com.ph