It has been a while since I last traveled out of the country alone and I had the opportunity to go to Bangkok, Thailand to host and perform at the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines “MICE Philippines: We Take Your…
Read MoreThe mega-hit musical of the 90’s RENT makes a comeback to the manila stage in celebration of Nine Works Theatrical’s 15th Anniversary. Director, Robbie Guevara, Producers, Santi and Anna Santamaria along with Musical Director Daniel Bartolome and Choreographer PJ Rebullida…
Read MoreWhen I heard that PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) was doing a musical version of the hit movie One More Chance using the music of Ben & Ben, I was both excited and also curious on how this beloved 2007…
Read MoreMeet the cast of the Philippine adaptation of the Korean hit series “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” led by Kim Chiu who plays Secretary Kimberly (Kim) Liwanag, and Paulo Avelino who plays my son Brandon Manansala Castillo aka BMC. I…
Read MoreIt has been 24 years since Miss Saigon was last staged in the Philippines. I still remember how excited I was to see the show back in the Cultural Center of the Philippines where Lea Salonga and some of the…
Read MoreI had the pleasure of being invited to the Vernissage of the INTIMATE AUDREY at S Maison where I met the son of Audrey Hepburn, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, and her granddaughter, Emma Hepburn Ferrer. I felt I got to know…
Read MoreWe had our first staycation in three years at Dusit Thani Manila. We had been looking forward to this for quite some time now. The warmth and hospitality of the staff is felt the moment you enter the hotel. We made…
Read MoreWhat a night! The Tatler Ball returned after a 2 year hiatus with a bang to celebrate Tatler Philippine’s 21st Anniversary. It was truly a remarkable evening of philanthropy, love and friendship, after almost 3 years of uncertainty with the…
Read MoreAs a parent there is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of my children. Now that everything is easily accessible on the internet, we make sure to properly guide, guard and monitor our children’s online activity. …
Read MoreMy daughter Angia was recently awarded FAVORITE MAKEUP TRANSFORMATION at Nylon’s BIG BOLD BRAVE Awards Night held at House Manila. I am so proud of my baby who started doing make at home for fun and since then has been recognized…
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As an actor I get to play many roles which is fun to do but the role I treasure the most is being a father. I consider it an honor and privilege to be the father of Mariella, Angia, Sofia…
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It’s time to show some love to our Dads as we celebrate Father’s Day this coming June 17. I know it can be a bit difficult to look for a gift for our dads since we think they have almost…
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Out of all the songs in The Lion King, the one that made a major impact on me to this day is the song He Lives In You. It is first sung by Mufasa to his young son Simba and…
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I have a confession to make, can you believe that I have never eaten at the internationally acclaimed and Michelin-starred restaurant Kam’s Roast in Hong Kong, not even at the legendary Yung Kee Restaurant. For the life of me I…
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Have you seen the newest Mother’s Day video from PLDT and Smart? I must admit it got me hooked from the moment it began that my eyes started to sweat by the end of the video. I truly appreciate how…
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Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you haven’t had the time to buy your Mom a gift or you still don’t know what to give her, then here are some gift ideas that will truly make your…
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As you may know I have four daughters and some of you may have read my earlier post about fatherhood https://francolaurel.com/i-love-being-a-dad/. You will know I became an instant father when I married Ayen in 2001. When Angia was born the…
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One of the things I am very particular with is how my hair looks and I am sure a lot of you have the same concern. What we often forget is how to take care of our scalp. I recently had…
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It is not easy when you hear the word “NO” especially when you are expecting an affirmative answer. We have all experienced rejection at some point in our life. I have gone through my share of rejections professionally and in…
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When you get invited to Raffles Makati’s signature, brasserie-style restaurant Mireio you have to make sure you clear up your schedule cause you are definitely in for a gastronomical treat. That is exactly what I had during the special lunch…
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