Arrived from Nyoy's surprise birthday party around half an hour ago.

I wanted to go to Greenbelt and Glorietta this afternoon (technically yesterday) to window shop, then Anne and I arranged to meet for lunch. We went around and caught up with each other's lives, because man, the last time I saw that girl was last October at Ann Arbor Montessori for that Eclectic Acoustic gig. She left at 3 for a wedding she coordinated with a bunch of friends, so I spent the afternoon going around Glorietta and Greenbelt.

Most of my time was spent reading in Powerbooks Live and even a couple of hours checking my mail online. Hahahaha, initially I planned to watch movie alone, either Sea Biscuit or Last Samurai.

Nyak, I keep hearing about the status of the guys' flight back to Manila from Naga the whole time. Their initial flight got delayed, so we had no idea at first if the party was still on. Thankfully, they got a 4:30 pm flight to Manila.

When it was an hour before I had to meet Anne, I went ahead to Starbucks 6750, where we had planned to meet. I decided to go there early so I can sit down and read the new book I just purchased from Powerbooks.

While I was sitting by the window (hahaha, I love to sit where people love to pass), I suddenly saw two familiar people pass by. It was AJ with Nyoy in tow, walking towards Makati Shang. As it turned out, Nyoy had a solo gig there for a debut. Hehehe, then while I was well into my book, AJ went inside Starbucks for coffee. Nyak, he said that Nyoy still had no idea about what was to happen.

Anne and I managed to hitch a ride to Nyoy's village with her friend April, who happened to be my old teammate from the DLSZ high school track and field varsity! We met up with Peachy, Teena, Eloi, and the rest of the Mannos' Angels at Chowking near Nyoy's house, and when we were all assembled, we walked to the Volante residence.

Sat at a table with Tita Sherbet, Jill, Diane, Lexi, Peachy, Anne and Teena. We kept anticipating when Nyoy's arrival would be, because it was almost midnight, and he wasn't there yet. A joke about him catching the last full show of a movie even circulated for a while.

When Nyoy finally arrived, everyone went inside the house. When Nyoy opened the door, we all sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Hahaha, I think he was kinda speechless. I couldn't really describe what his face looked like. Hahaha, naks, may birthday speech pa si birthday boy before the prayer. Then after that, everyone started lining up for the food. Hahaha, Tita Sherbs naman, kumuha na ng food even before everyone else.

We spent most of our time sitting at the table, talking and stuff. Hahahaha, then Sir Hanzel started passing Nyoy's old pictures from the living room to our table, and my golly, most of the pics were hilarious. I wonder how embarassed Nyoy was about the goofier ones.

I got to talk to Nyoy about my thesis, thank goodness. Gah, when I told him I was doing the whole show production enchilada and then asked him about his, ANG DAYA MO TALAGA, NYOY!!! All you really did was perform??? Gah... But thanks for the offer talaga. I'll keep you posted about the letter I need to give you. (Nyak, as if mababasa talaga niya ito.)

Hitched a ride home with Tito Sunny, Tita Sherbet, and Jill, who were driving Diane home. Hahaha, parang probinsya talaga ang Las Pinas.

Anyway, it's technically Sunday, January 25, 2004...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NINO DEL MAR VOLANTE!!!

...and today's also the release of the second album of Nyoy Volante with Mannos! Great job, you guys! Let's make it to platinum this time!