The history of theater musicals will never be the same without Les Misérables, which is playing Manila this month. Smart Communications’ unrivaled premium postpaid brand Smart Infinity is rolling out the red carpet for its members with unmatched perks and privileges tied with the musical. In line with the production’s Manila run, Les Misérables’ composer Claude-Michel Schonberg visited Manila ahead of the touring cast to meet some members of the local media.
In one-on-one interviews held at Solaire recently, Schonberg—who’s also responsible for another renowned hit (Miss Saigon)—revealed how he caught the virus of music and never allowed it to leave his system ever since. At one point in the interview when he was recognized for helping place Filipino artists on the world music map, he dodged credits and revealed he fell in love with “Filipinos singing like angels in a Lino Brocka film” most likely to be Orapronobis.
He did not want to take credit. He also wanted to give it back to the talents of our singers who were at the right place and time when Schonberg was touring the world in search of Kim with Alain Baublil.
“Before I met the first Filipino singer and before we arrived in Manila in 1988 [to search for Kim for Miss Saigon], I discovered Filipino singers through a Lino Brocka movie. That’s where I realized that there is a population of Asians singing like Italians! I didn’t know that. The first time we came here because I asked Cameron Mackintosh to stop in Manila during our worldwide tour looking for Kim, that was the first time he sent somebody to check this country and we realized that you were already entertaining Asia. We didn’t know that. Without that movie, I would never have realized that there are brilliant singers here,” disclosed Schonberg.
Julie carceller, Smart’s head of multi-Segment marketing Group
For someone seeing Les Misérables for the first time, he said, “I would say that it’s a story and you already know each character in it. You may be one of them or was one of them or where you are working, you know Javert; there are plenty of Thénardiers out there or you may be Cossette who is always the victim; or perhaps you also know a girl like Fantine. You already know by heart all of the characters of Les Misérables. And you will learn that there are plenty of barricades still to be taken.”
On with unrivaled theater experience
Smart Infinity is known to pamper members with best-in-class gadgets, travel and shopping experiences. But most of all, Infinity is widely popular for bringing Broadway to Manila with previous staging of The Phantom of the Opera, Mama Mia, Cats, Chicago and Wicked.
“Smart Infinity honors its tradition of bringing the Broadway experience to the Philippines, with Les Misérables as our premiere lifestyle signature for 2016. A true icon among Broadway musicals, Les Misérables is a performance rich with timeless qualities that captivate worldwide audiences. As the country’s leading premium postpaid brand, Smart Infinity parallels this timelessness through rewarding experiences that enable you to indulge your every passion. “For you to enjoy Les Misérables as passionately as we do, this is the dream we dream,” said Julie Carceller, head of Multi-Segment Marketing Group.
Infinity members were the first to purchase tickets to Les Misérables since September but the perks don’t stop there. With the latest offers linking total Broadway experiences to Infinity’s premium postpaid offers, there is a way to take the musical experience further for members.
For details on these exclusive offers and experiences, visit www.smart.com.ph/infinity and follow Smart Infinity on Instagram @smartinfinity.
Renz Verano and Sassy Girls at 2016 Seasports Awards Night
OPm singer Renz Verano
Renz Verano and the Sassy Girls treat Baywalk habitués to a free concert on March 20 at 7:00 p.m., capping the awarding ceremonies for the 2016 Manila Bay Seasports Festival, to be hosted by Raqi Terra and Lyka Barista of 90.7 Love Radio.
Presented by Manila Broadcasting Company and the City of Manila, in cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard, the sea sports festival will feature Dragon Boat Racing as well as Stock and Formula Races for Motorized Bancas.
Town’s newest girl group Sassy Girls
Teams taking part in the much-awaited annual watersports derby include Bruins, UP Alumni, EAM Events Paddling Interactive Crew, Adamson University, NTMA Dragons, Manila Ocean Park, Philippine Blue Phoenix, Onslaught Racing Dragons, Rogue Pilipinas Paddlers, Pilipinas Wave Warriors, Maharlika Drakon, Dragons Republic Paddlers, One Piece Drakon Sangres, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard, Triton A & B, RCP Sea Dragons, and Amateur Paddlers Philippines.
90.7 Love Radio lady jockeys Lyka Barista and Raqi Terra
In the motorized banca competition, racers from Rizal, Bataan, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, La Union, Quezon, Ilocos Sur, and Navotas will compete in the stock and formula races.
The 2016 Manila Bay Seasports Festival is supported by Cobra Energy Drink, Kremtop, The Generics Pharmacy, Executive Optical, Revicon, M. Lhuillier, My Juiz, White Castle, and Herco Trading Corporation.
