Have you got a pink minute?

“Pink Minute” is the name of a campaign being launched by Avon Philippines to raise awareness of breast cancer, the No. 1 cancer afflicting Filipino women.

October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Avon is seeking not just to educate women on how to prevent and recognize the signs of breast cancer, but also to raise funds for cancer treatment centers, as well as educational drives among community women, especially on how to detect cancer through breast self-exams. Early detection remains a key strategy for survival and recovery.

Next month, Avon is partnering with iconic institutions, including Manila City Hall, Manila Hotel, SM Mall of Asia and other major buildings, to bathe their structures in pink light to highlight the need for action on breast cancer. On Oct. 20, Avon celebrity ambassadors, along with its army of sales associates and representatives and members of breast cancer support groups, will gather at Quezon Memorial Circle for the symbolic lighting of the monument.

At the same time, Avon is selling the “Live, Love, Laugh” necklace to all those interested in helping the cause. Retailing at P299, each necklace sold will give P50 to the maintenance of the breast cancer center (in PGH), which provides assistance to about 150 women a day.

Two millennials, politically correct and wrestling with ethical dilemmas unique to the “global warming” generation, debate whether they should have a child. Right in the middle of a queue at their local Ikea.

This is how “Lungs” begins. Compared to Sandbox Collective’s (in association with 9 Works Theatrical) previous outing “Himala: The Musical,” which was a tribute to a beloved movie and counted on a large cast to bring a village to life, “Lungs” is stark in the extreme. For one thing, there are only two people onstage, and for another, the pair cavort, argue, make love, and try to reach consensus within the bare outlines of a cage—or a frame, scaffolding or lungs, if you will—that confine and locate the characters, only known to us as M and W.

Written by Duncan Macmillan, “Lungs” has been described as a “distinctive, off-kilter love story” that is “brutally honest, funny, edgy and current.” Doubtless, the main draw for local audiences would be TV-movie actor Jake Cuenca, who is making his theatrical debut. But his partner, Sab Jose, last seen in “Eto Na! Musikal nAPO,” holds her own. And, because W is given the pithier lines and longer strands of monologue, she sometimes ends up upstaging the veteran actor.

Under director Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, “Lungs” proceeds apace, even if the actors’ energy seems to flag toward the end. But the fast-paced dialogue, the seamless transitions, and the palpable sincerity of Cuenca and Jose make for an evening of compelling theater.

“Lungs” runs weekends until Oct. 7 at Power MAC Center Spotlight, Circuit Makati. Gab Santos will play the role of M at the Sept. 29 shows.

Skal International Makati, which promotes travel and tourism here and abroad, recently marked its 37th anniversary with rites honoring their Tourism Personality awardees.

Honoring these travel figures were Skal chair Bobby Joseph, president Jimmy Bautista (president and COO of Philippine Airlines), and vice president Farid Schoucair (general manager of New World Hotel Makati). This was the 28th year that Skal handed out the awards.

Awardees were Gov. Houdou Nakamura of Nagasaki Prefecture of Japan, Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo, Resorts World Manila’s Kingson Sian, Richard Masselin of Pan Pacific Manila, All Nippon Airways general manager Akihiro Hosoya, Deedee Ledonio of Coltrans Exhibitions and Transport Inc., Naia general manager Eddie Monreal, Joanne Rae Ramirez of Philippine Star, Annalisa Burgos of ABS-CBN News Channel, Lawrence Tan of LKY Group of Companies, Capt. Peter Tay of Boracay Adventure Travel and Tours, the late tourism secretary Jose Aspiras, and Raul Esperas of Naia Press Corps.

Partners in this year’s affair were the Department of Tourism, Pagcor and New World Hotel Makati.

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