In tune with the Japanese beat: From drums to bags, festivities mark the Philippines-Japan friendship month

Darwin Banez, Mark Mathay from Ace Bags pose for a picture with Christine Cunanan and Embassy of Japan Ambassador Toshinao Urabe

Drum Tao has been steadily gaining worldwide recognition since it was established in 1993, and has since captivated 500 cities across 17 countries. The musical martial arts act consists of 15 members, an assortment of 50 drums and other traditional Japanese instruments, and finely crafted martial arts dance moves. All these are compressed in a two-hour spectacle of carefully arranged musical numbers.

To accomplish performing such an act, the members of Drum Tao go through a rather unique training experience to deliver such intensity – the group lives atop a mountain in Japan; each member has to go through a rigorous daily routine of exercise and drum practice. It is then no wonder why Drum Tao has mastered the art of giving a powerful and highly energized performance each time, in a very elegant, zen-like manner.

Darwin Banez, Toshinao Urabe, and Mark Mathay before the show

Travelife Magazine paved the way for Drum Tao in the Philippines, as the group staged their act last September 1 at Cebu’s Waterfront Hotel. Also supporting the run of Drum Tao was Ace Bags, a Japanese bags and luggage brand exclusively distributed in the Philippines by the Primer Group of Companies.

Ace Bags, strongly connected to its Japanese roots, is a brand known for its discipline, and mastery of its art, aims to promote Japanese ingenuity and craftsmanship – traits exhibited by the Drum Tao group, in the celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship month last July.

All Ace bags are proudly original, innovative, sophisticated, and high-performing. Ace carries a wide array bags: casual bags crafted especially for women, as well as soft and hard luggage and business cases for both men and women. Popular collections range from the ProtectA, ACEGENE, and Progres sub-brands. Progres was made especially for women, as the bags in this line strike the balance between fashion and functionality. ProtectA provides superior and quality protection in various hard luggage sizes. ACEGENE cases are perfect for business travel, with their outstanding durability and flexibility.

Ace is available in The Travel Club, Ladybag, Bratpack, SM Makati, Landmark Trinoma, Landmark Makati, Robinson’s Ermita, and Sportmart Terminal 3.