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BEYOND GENUINO'S WANDERS Resoluteness is the face of Efraim Genuino when he talks about his vision to expand the operations of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), of which he is current chairman and CEO, from a mere casino operator to a top-notch provider of world-class entertainment and an active participant in promoting tourism in the country. As part of the initial salvo that would bring plans of building Entertainment City Manila closer to reality, the chairman has given his nod to the production of an entertainment show called “Wanders,” currently running at the greatly enhanced Pagcor Grand Theater at the Airport Casino in Paranaque City. Now drawing in crowds of foreign visitors who have casino fun as part of their tour leg, the one-of-a-kind entertainment package showcases the best of Filipino performers together with classically-trained Russian dancers and premier Chinese acrobats. The chairman describes “Wanders” as Pagcor's first serious venture into world class family entertainment, “a glimpse of the future of Pagcor in particular and the Philippine entertainment and tourism industries in general.” Bigger role By looking beyond just being a steward for the state in matters that involve gaming, Genuino is setting sights on bigger things, more notably the transformation of some 300 hectares of prime property along The drive towards redirecting and expanding Pagcor's core business is in line with the move of several Asian countries, notably While the two mentioned countries are setting aside billions of dollars to encourage investors to set up casinos and entertainment attractions, our government's current financial predicament heavily curtails Pagcor's new vision. But this has not stopped Genuino from trying – and in his persisting ways, succeeding in bringing into the country some modestly-sized but still formidable investors in the global gaming industry who would be able to initiate the ground breaking of essential capital-intensive infrastructure. The extension of Pagcor's charter for another 25 years, and renewable for another 25 years, has helped the state gaming corporation's bid to achieve its goal, a hurdle that had once discouraged potential investors from pursuing any projects. Doing wonders So we may all still be in for some pleasant surprises this year, as the humble but persevering Chairman is known for keeping his coups on a relatively low-profile level. Another parcel of good news is the report that Pagcor last year has once again beat its 2006 income record, declared at P25.4 billion. The revenues, coming mostly from overseas visitors who visit the country's strategically located Pagcor casinos and VIP lounges, are a boost to the government social and community development projects. Should Entertainment City Manila finally bear fruit, Genuino modestly assumes a 300 percent jump in earnings to $1.5 billion – which simply means there will be more funds that could be allocated to the state coffers. Currently, Pagcor is the second biggest contributor to the national government, second only to the internal revenue collectors. Novelty of “Wanders” Why not catch “Wanders” at the Pagcor Grand Theater? The production, put together by our own Filipino pool of talents, brings together the elements of theatre, concert, circus and dance in a multimedia setting. Genuino proudly casts “our own imagination and creativity” in the show's unique novelty. Conceptualization and directorial execution was handled by acclaimed stage master Bong Quintana, ably supported by performances of local stars, among them Nonie Buencamino, Calvin Millado and Frenchie Dy, and top local dance groups that include Whiplash, Hotleggs, and the Manouevres. Taking off from a sentimental journey of two “wanderers,” the theatrical treat unfolds through the performances of a motley of artists, both local and foreign. Quintana had been quoted as sewing together the diverse stage talents as his ultimate challenge in putting together the ensemble. The Russian dancers from Moscow and Belarussia have equally contributed to the power dancing, although our top Pinoy dance groups have admirable risen to the challenge despite their counterparts' more sophisticated ballet and dance state-sponsored scholarships. The Chinese acrobats, on the other hand, were handpicked from various acrobatic troupes in the Renovated theater Architect Jorge Raymundo, along with a team of engineers and technical staff, came up with a design work tailored to accommodate the production requirements of “Wanders” at the renovated Pagcor Grand Theater. The ceiling height had to be extended to give room for the acrobat display. A network of catwalks on the ceilings had been installed, making it easier for the performers to get to the drop-off points for harness and to utilize the fly space. The theater's interior was also reconstructed to complement a specialized sound system. Clearly, all the architectural changes have contributed to a well-designed production. “Wanders” is scheduled every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets. For inquiries, call 8527752 or 8527754. “Pag-usapan Natin” looks at local sports scene at IBC-TV 13 Watch “Pag-usapan Natin,” a segment of the IBC-TV 13 news program News Tonite, from 10:30 pm to 11 pm (Mondays to Fridays) as we discuss this whole week what ails local sports and what can be done to motivate athletes as they prepare for upcoming international competitions. Viewers may send their comments to Sunshine Television c/o Valle Verde Country Club, Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center,
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