To birdwatchers, seeing a new species is a life-altering experience—like falling in love, perhaps, or witnessing a miracle.

“Life became different when I saw my spark bird,” says Alice Villa-Real, a member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, whom a select group of journalists had accompanied to the Candaba marsh in Pampanga, the refuge of many migratory birds from Europe during the winter. Organized by the outdoor products distributor Recreational Outdoor Exchange, the trip included first-time birdwatchers, the youngest of whom was two years old.

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Birdwatching is an activity that young and old would enjoy. The youngest of our birdwatching delegation at Candaba was two.

Planning to go birdwatching? Here are some basic tips for first-time birdwatchers from the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines:

1. Wear clothes in colors that blend with the environment, such as green, dark brown, and gray. Don’t wear anything bright or you’ll stand out and scare the birds away.
2. Apply some sunscreen. Birdwatching usually goes on for hours so you want to make sure you’re protected. Wear light, long-sleeved clothes. Bring a hat as well.
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• Television host and actor Ryan Agoncillo launches a coffee-table book, Ploning: The Making, a companion to the recent Judy Ann Santos starrer Ploning film.
• With classes opening very soon, teachers might want to take advantage of the Theater-in-Education course offered by PETA. The five-day course teaches educators some creative ways of teaching.
• Dell recently launched its newest laptop and desktop models.
• On Sunday, May 18, take your kids to the Life Is Good watermelon festival at Bonifacio High Street.
• Catch Bituin Escalante next week at the Captain’s Bar at Mandarin Oriental.
• Sam Concepcion, Cheska Ortega, and PJ Valerio will be performing at the “Enchanting Teens Musical” at Enchanted Kingdom.
• Philstage recently gave awards to the best of Philippine theater in the first and second quarter of the year.

Photo: “Day 183/365: Philippine Gothic” by {karen}
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Enchanted Teens Musical” performers: Kevin Concepcion, Jackie dos Santos, Cheska Ortega, Sam Concepcion, Athena Tibi, PJ Valerio and Janeena Chan

Summer sizzles further at Enchanted Kingdom(EK) with the high-energy performances of today’s hot teen idols Sam Concepcion, Cheska Ortega and PJ Valerio in “Enchanting Teens Musical,” which goes on stage on May 17 and 24 at the Spaceport Zone.

What’s more, park guests get the chance to take home a Sony PSP with the Pepsi Everyday Magic Promo at Enchanted Kingdom until June 8.
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The timelessness of the world’s most beloved standards comes back to life with the soulful rendition of one of today’s most respected vocal talents, Bituin Escalante.

Join her at the Captain’s Bar, Mandarin Oriental Hotel on May 17 and 24, 9 p.m., in her solo concert series “The Standards . . . In Bituin.”

Listen to the classics and let Bituin bring back the good old days of music as she takes on the songs of Billie Holiday, Janet Siegel, Tony Bennett, and the many others that ushered in the golden age of jazz.

Tickets are at P1,000 and P800.

Get your tickets at selected National Book Store branches, selected major Robinsons Department Stores, and Greenbelt 1 and Glorietta 1 Ticket World offices.

You can also call 891 9999 or visit the Ticket World Website for tickets. Contact the Mandarin Oriental at 750 888 local 2446.

The Philstage (Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group) gives its verdict.

In the first and second quarterly citations of the Gawad Buhay, the performing arts awards program organized by Philstage, Tanghalang Pilipino’s Kudeta gets nine citations, including awards for outstanding play, stage direction (Floy Quintos), lighting design (Dennis Marasigan), and set design (Tuxqs Rutaquio), among others.

Repertory Philippines’ Hamlet and PETA’s Skin Deep tied with six awards, and Ballet Philippines’ Latin Heat went away with five citations.

Read the complete list of citations in Gibbs Cadiz’s blog.