If you’re making the rounds of the Christmas bazaars for holiday gifts, make Echostore part of your itinerary. On December 8-10, nonprofit corporate-led foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress goes to Echostore to bring you unique, locally made, and eco-friendly gifts and products from microcommunities in Bulacan, Pandacaqui (Pampanga), San Manuel (Tarlac), Cebu, Bohol, Davao Oriental, and Lake Sebu (South Cotabato).

Entrance is P100, which also entitles you to a free coffee. For tickets, call Echostore at (02) 901 3845.

Echostore is located at the ground floor of Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Meet the characters of the all-digital full-length animated film Dayo, an official entry to the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival, as they conquer the malls this December. Catch Bubuy, Anna Manananggirl, Narsi, Nano, and Carpio at SM North Edsa on December 7, Glorietta on December 12, and Ayala Center Cebu on December 18.

Opening on December 25, Dayo is the story of 11-year-old Bubuy (voiced by Nash Aguas), whose grandparents are abducted by mythical creatures from the magical world of Elementalia. On his quest to save them, he meets Anna Manananggirl (voiced by Katrina Legaspi), a teen manananggal who helps him out.

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Stage actress Karylle, who was handpicked by boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to sing the Philippine national anthem at the Pacquiao-dela Hoya dream match in Las Vegas on December 6, will be wearing an Albert Figueras creation.

The wine-red Filipiniana terno created by New York-based Pinoy designer Figueras is cut in a serpentine line and features a heart-shaped neckline for the bodice. It is draped with checkered dupione silk and has a silk tapis woven with checkered patterns in red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, and pink, superimposed on paisley and royal blue acanthus leaves outlined with Mutzumo-cut beads and glass beads with holograms of flat sequins. Embroidery and beadwork lend the gown a scalloped finish.

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Ballet Philippines returns to its classical roots with the staging of Alan Hineline’s Coppélia, a classical piece dubbed the last ballet of the Romantic era, largely considered the precursor of modern ballet.

“Ballet Philippines hasn’t done classical pieces for a while now.  We wanted to bring back fully classical ballet in the Philippines, and Coppélia is good as a start,” said BP chief operating officer Alan Hineline, who serves as artistic director with Max Luna III. “Filipinos love a story, and with Coppélia, this is what we intend to draw them in.”

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Visual artist Igan D’ Bayan’s newest exhibit, “Filipiniana Diabolica,” explores the horror show of Philippine history. His subjects range from Pinoy thrillers, regal shockers, and Eraserheaded babies puking neon purple bile of too much information and utter lack of wisdom.

“Filipiniana Diabolica” is a continuation of Igan D’ Bayan’s exploration of histories. An earlier installation show, “Studies in Unnatural Histories,” also revolved around the same theme. [Listen to a Talking Parts podcast with Igan D' Bayan here.]

“Filipiniana Diabolica” opens on Sunday, November 30, 2008, 6 p.m., at the Kaida Gallery on 122 Kamuning Road, Quezon City. Chickoy Pura of the Jerks will play on opening night. Show runs until December 17.

Someone tipped us off a few weeks back that Pinoy jazz singer Charmaine Clamor’s newest album, My Harana: A Filipino Serenade, was on its way to the music charts, and now it’s official: My Harana has debuted at #7 on JazzWeek’s World Music Charts.

My Harana is Charmaine’s second recording that has made it to the World Music Top 10. It is a collection of native Filipino courtship songs in which Charmaine sings in eight different languages and dialects. Her last album, Flippin’ Out, made it simultaneously to the top 5 of JazzWeek’s world and traditional jazz radio charts, considered a rare feat.

Charmaine is in Manila and will perform at 19 East on November 29. Following this, she will be back in the US for a series of concerts that will take her to Los Angeles,  San Diego, and New York City.

Image: CharmaineClamor.com