Preview: Giselle Sanchez is Salaminkera

I had the chance to preview Salaminkera at the press briefing held at the Manila Penninsula Hotel. Back then I had the slightest idea what to expect. When they told me it was a one-woman play, I pictured Giselle Sanchez doing a monologue for the entire duration of the show. I also expected it to be short and straight to the point. Giselle is known for witty humor, which is something that I was looking forward to.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the production was actually far more intricate than I had imagined. Perhaps the script evolved through time, but the cast consisted around 10 people, which includes dancers and “volunteers” from the audience. Giselle even sings from time to time.

Salaminkera is so cute and adorable, I would take her home to hang in my bedroom.

Part of me feels that the running time is longer than it should be. The main meat comes at the second half of the show, where Salaminkera tries to outwit members of the “audience”, comedy-bar style. One of the questions goes like this: how many legs does a centipede use to run? 98, because two will be swung like arms. Harharhar.

There are a lot of scenes that could have been cut from the production. Perhaps these are late additions to satisfy sponsors? There were also some timing issues here and there, but nothing too jarring.

Giselle’s glass-accented costume was well thought of, and radiates brilliantly when hit by stage lights. What better costume for the mirror lady than spandex and a corset made of glass? She even has a salbabida around her waist!

As far as props go, using an LED display on the mirror is a sweet touch. I found the lighting in the area to be either inadequate or overbearing at times, but this should be the least of their worries since the target venue will be huge mall.

Still, there were a lot of funny lines and interesting moments. Giselle’s acting is a little over-the-top, even for a stage production, but she carries it well and maintains the energy the entire time. Her punch lines are spot on. For that, I give her an five truckloads of piping hot kudos. ‘Yung special. With egg.

Simply put, Salaminkera an interestingly intense production that shows potential to become a full scale production. Who knows, she could be the next Darna or Captain Barbel! The fact they are kicking this off as a free show is just an added bonus for the average Juan. Or Juana, as the case may be.

Apparently Salaminkera comes from very humble beginnings. When Giselle Sanchez was first approached by George de Jesus III with the script, they envisioned playing for a very small audience. This all changed when executives from Merck heard about the play. Seizing the opportunity they offered to become its major major sponsor.

On second thought, I haven’t really seen any other sponsors.

Sangobion is an iron supplement made primarily for women. The primary content is ferrous gluconate which is organic and easily absorbed by the body. In addition, Sangobion contains other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin B12, folic acid, and Sorbitol. It fights signs of iron deficiency such as fatigue, paleness, lack of concentration, dizziness, and weakness.

Women will also be delighted to learn that on the actual day of the event, every purchase of Sangobion will entitle you to one raffle ticket. The prize is a trip to somewhere special in the country. I conveniently forgot the details, since I was rejected for not passing the “female” requirement for the raffle. Boo hoo.

The show came at the height of Vice Ganda’s controversial joke which used Jessica Soho as the punchline. Although Vice Ganda apologized, Jessica Soho was still visibly shaken. After the show, we asked Giselle what she thought of it, to which she responded saying that Vice was just doing her job as a comedian, and that people need to lighten up a little. When asked what she thought about having to involve the MTRCB, she felt it was unnecessary and that we should support comedians who are only trying to earn a living.

That’s it, folks. Watch out for Salaminkera at 3 p.m. on June 8 at the Glorietta 1 Activity Center.

Thanks to Angie Limbaco and First Tier Brands for the … oh wait I didn’t get a loot bag! 🙁

Full press release follows.

[showhide type=”press-release”]

Sangobion Promotes Iron Deficiency Awareness with Salaminkera

The body needs specific vitamins and minerals to stay in tip-top condition. Although needed in minute quantities on a daily basis or in larger doses in certain instances, these essential substances are what make the system’s inner workings remain in perfect balance.

According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency anaemia is the most common nutritional disorder in the entire world, particularly among women and children. In fact, three out of every five women of reproductive age are prone to iron deficiency, although they may not necessarily be aware of their body’s iron shortage.

Iron is a necessary element for optimum health. It is needed to replace blood loss during menstrual cycles, cure bouts of dizziness caused by anemia, correct weariness and fatigue, help gain more focus & concentration, and aid in periods of gestation, lactation, pregnancy, and such periods surrounding childbirth. It is also required for the normal functioning of the immune system.

Some sources of iron in our daily diet include red meat, eggs, liver, oatmeal, nuts, as well as food supplements and formulations like Sangobion.

To promote awareness on the wondrous effects that iron has on the body, Sangobion proudly presents a one-woman show called “Salaminkera,” an educational and entertaining performance of the well-loved comedienne, Giselle Sanchez. This empowering event will be held on June 9^th at the Lower Ground Level, Building A of SM Megamall.

When it came to presenting Salaminkera, Giselle Sanchez was the natural, most obvious choice. The loving wife, doting mother, and established career woman is the epitome of a true Sangobion woman. Giselle has been a regular Sangobion user since she gave birth to her second child, and so she understands the benefits the organic iron supplement offers firsthand.

“These days, women play multiple roles. These overlapping tasks can take its toll on your health, making you haggard and tired, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Women need balance juggling all of these acts. Drained energy will leave women feeling empty and tired. Luckily, iron supplement Sangobion is there to help us,” shared the multi-talented comedienne.

Giselle is a firm believer that the greatest comedy is always based on the truth. Inspired by the evil queen from the timeless tale of Snow White, Giselle will tackle issues relevant to today’s women as the truthful “woman on the mirror.” She will extol the numerous virtues of iron, discuss the three signs of iron deficiency, and will share the wonders that Sangobion has done for her—and what the supplement can do for other women. Of course, she will also provide honest answers to whatever questions may be thrown her way.

Coined after the term “salamangkera,” a Filipino word for magician or wizard, Salaminkera is ideal for those who love mincing words and always being told the truth.

Sangobion is an organic iron supplement that has benefitted Filipinos for over 30 years. It fights signs of iron deficiency such as fatigue, paleness, lack of concentration, dizziness, and weakness.

Sangobion is primarily made up of ferrous gluconate, which is organic in origin, is the most easily absorbed of all ferrous salt, and has less gastrointestinal side effects compared to ferrous sulfate. The supplement also contains other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin B12, folic acid, Sorbitol, and other minerals.

With the help of Sangobion, Giselle hopes to inspire Filipinas everywhere and give them a boost of confidence through Salaminkera so that they can keep looking, feeling, and performing their best.

Expect an enjoyable magic mirror ride as Salaminkera and Sangobion take everyone to an inside look at the world of the average Filipina. With insights coming from Giselle’s personal experiences, expect jokes and laughter to also contain bits of wisdom that will tickle both the funny bone and the mind.

Among the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Merck constantly aims to provide the best pharmaceuticals and life science solutions to patients and customers across the entire country. Sangobion comes in capsule, syrup and drop form, and is available in all major and leading drugstores nationwide. For more information, visit www.sangobion.com.ph.
[/showhide]

Giselle Sanchez – Salaminkera photos

[slickr-flickr tag=”20130531salaminkera”]