Hahahaha, found this somewhere...

Cajon is the Spanish word for box. The instrument originated in colonial Peru, when slaves, whose African drums had been forbidden by their masters, resorted to codfish boxes and overturned drawers to play their rhythms. It wasn´t until the early 1980´s, when the great flamenco guitarist, by way of the percussionist Rubem Dantas, who found it in Peru, re-introduced the cajón, but now standing holding its own as an authentic flamenco rhythm instrument.

The construction of the cajón has changed quite a bit since the days of the codfish boxes. The player sits on the instrument and plays it with his hands between his legs. The “new” cajón produces a more broken and buzzing sound and has found its way to percussionists and drummers around the world.

And to think I was checking out a couple of cajons just the other day.

I'm watching the replay of American Idol right now. Hahaha, I usually catch the 11:30 pm replay instead of the earlier evening telecast because I'm always in front of the PC during that time.

Ever since I phased out of my Broadway phase last year (heck, exactly last year, hahaha), I opened up my ears to other music. I felt so deprived at first, because I had no idea what's the trend. But then I managed to go with the flow. Now I've finally broadened my horizons. None of that hard rock music, though. I had too much exposure to that in the span of a few weeks when I was with Maui and that darn rock opera. Hard rock really isn't my thing.

Then there was the groupie phase. It was quite the experience. It really helped me get exposed to more music. Well, mostly acoustic and all that other stuff, but at least I listened more. Soon my mp3 player full of Broadway musical songs were seldom listened to, and I returned to my CD player, listening to acoustic (during the peak of its trend) artists, and wearing out the CD of this one band's album (need I mention the group's name?).

I was chatting with my friend Bunny last night...

Bunny: i have an article about about the difference between fan, groupie and band-aid though
Bunny: it may help
Me: oooh, you do? coolness
Bunny: it's a bit youngish in perspective though...if you don't mind my saying.
Me: it's okie
Bunny: yeah.
Me: wait, what's a band-aid?
Me: is that like a PA or roadie?
Bunny: no...no...you see;
Bunny: a "fan" likes the music, buys the cds, watches the videos, buys the merch....purely arm's length support
Bunny: a "groupie" is like you say, superficial, they "claim to like the band and they do
Bunny: though more or less the rep is not too pleasing and they tend to only like the bands as the "trend" says.
Bunny: "band-aid" are people who know the band, help with the promotion, understand the music etc, etc.
Me: i see...
Bunny: i say you may be more of a band-aid in that case, rather then groupie.
Bunny: ah okie...i get it
Me: i'd love to read the article though
Bunny: all right, i'll search for it
Me: hahaha, to use those terms...in my time, there used to be more band-aids. now all i see are groupies
Bunny: i'm admittantly a mere fan. i don't have time to be band-aid
Me: hahaha, true, a lot of time is poured out nga
Bunny: yep...i wish i had time to band aid, hehehe
Me: funny nga eh. people used to call me by my forum nick, tymeless, yet i found so much time to go out and attend the gigs and rackets and stuff
Bunny: hehehe
Me: if you were a band-aid, what band in particular would you stick to?
Bunny: Urban Dub, Kjwan, Sandwich.. Pinas...kasi I already know the people there eh. La lang akong time nag cultivate.
Me: coolness, that would be fun
Bunny: i know! hehe

Then we started talking about...what if I try to manage a band or something? Nyak, I'll probably mess up. Plus I have this tendency to get anti-social when I'm around strangers. It would be cool though. Imagine all the people I could meet.

I just found out today that my friend Chevy has become an "assistant manager of sorts" to the acoustic band After Eve. Coolness. It made me think about it more.

Right...

Then again, I have to graduate first. Ahahahaha...

Maybe I should just stick to stage management, ehehehe...

When I woke up this morning, I was in such a hurry because I slept in. I noisily walked to the dining room when my mom shushed me because my brother was on the phone taking an overseas call. As it turned out, it was a job offer in New Jersey. Tempting offer, because of all the benefits, plus green card application to all immediate family members.

My mom then said that Kuya can take me to the US if he does take the offer, because New Jersey's near New York. Broadway, woohoo! Hahahaha...

Anyway...

Met up with Peachy and Sybil at Galle. We decided to check out the mall show of some band (ahahahaha) before we all head to Podium for the Akafellas. We spent most of our time window shopping first, then we went for the food court. Huwaw, lotsa people. Crowded... But lotsa people I know as well, so it was fine. Of course, I couldn't resist doing my patented "huwaw" a few times to acknowledge my presence, mwehehehehehe...

When we got to Podium, the fellas were already in the middle of their set, and we settled ourselves next to Teena, Ate Tere, Mika, and Sarah (with sister). Hahaha, of course, "huwaw" again, teeheehee...

Too lazy to write more. Joseriz reviewer is calling me. Hahaha, and to think that I'm still chatting with Dandan, Peachy and Pam right now.

So when I went to check my mail last night as part of my routine ever since I sent that article, I found an email waiting for me in my inbox. It was from Chalk!

hi hogi! thanks for your article, i've forwarded it to my editor. i don't think it will make our May deadline though, so i guess we'll see about putting it in a future issue. in any case, thanks! =) now that we've seen a sample work of yours, we might consider tapping you for future assignments with Chalk. we'll just keep u posted, if ever. thanks!! -- Nana

Darn, it didn't make the May deadline. I wanted it to be included there because it's a music issue. Just in case some nameless elements get to be included in the issue, people could see my article. Darn. Oh well. I just want my work to be published, that's all. And I want people to read it, specially for a group of people.

I have simple joys when walking around Makati, specially during the first few minutes I step off the bus at certain places. I like standing at certain places where the sunlight bounces against huge glass windows of buildings, as if they became one giant reflector for a photo shoot.

I've been enjoying walking though these areas of light for a year now. I like how it perks me up in the early morning when I'm too cranky or tired to go to work, or when I'm just at the bottom of a barrell.

One of these days, I'm gonna take a pic of myself with that light along those areas, teeheehee...

Caught Star In A Million this evening just to watch Kathy and Allotte strut their stuff.

When the show started, I thought I was hearing things again. Kathy Dizon? Charlotte Gaiser? Ehehehehe...

Anyway, they survived this week. Good luck for next week, girls!

To vote for Kathy Dizon, key in STAR 2 and send to 2366.

To vote for Charlotte Gaiser, key in STAR 10 and send to 2366.

Here's an excerpt from yesterday's Sunday Inquirer Magazine...

A PALM SUNDAY REFLECTION

Fan and friend

PALM Sunday leads me to reflect on the difference between a fan and a friend.

The dramatic entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday morning was like a Jesus Fans Club Day. The name "Jesus" was already a very popular name in both the rural and urban areas (Caesarea Philippi, Galilee, Judea, Jordan, Bethany). At a time when his people were agitating for a king to liberate them from Roman bondage, this man Jesus entered the urban center during the most crowded and potentially explosive national holiday, the Feast of the Passover.

Images of Old Testament liberator-kings like Jehu (2 Kgs. 9:13) and Simon Maccabaeus (1 Mc. 13:51) triumphantly entering the city amidst shouts of Hossana (which meant "Save us!") and the waving of palm branches, filled the minds of the people who now were also shouting Hossana to Jesus and waving palm branches. They were the "fans" of Jesus (today's Jesus Freaks) who wanted their "idol" to be a king according to their own fantasy. When Jesus demolished his fans' political dream of a violent takeover by riding not on a warrior-horse (symbol of war), but on a colt (symbol of peace), the Jesus Fans' Clubs disintegrated and turned around to become his crucifiers.

Public figures like politicians (especially during election time), religious leaders, community organizers, social activists and movie stars are popular only as long as they have fans and idol-worshippers around them. A movie love team once told me that they already had 27 Jimmy and Janna Fans Clubs around the country. They said, "It's fun having movie fans around us, but movie fans tend to dictate to us what to do and what not to do." Fans, they said, have the power to put you up on a pedestal, and also the power to shoot you down if you failed to fit the image they created for you."

That is why Jesus was a dismal failure during Holy Week. Because he was neither a politician nor a movie star; he did not care about being popular. Because he was a Prophet, all he cared about was to announce the truth about the Kingdom of God even if that kingdom was not popular both with the people and the Temple hierarchs. At that particular moment of truth, Jesus needed a friend, not his fans.

The difference between a fan and a friend...Hmmm...

Before I was a friend to at least one person. Then because of a wonderful opportunity that came their way, they began to rise in their chosen industry. Fans flocked them wherever they went. Last year, I could easily walk into their gigs, even get to chat and hang with them for quite a while before, in between, and after sets. This year, it's hard to even get near them because they're always flanked by fans.

It felt weird, I tell ya. Plus a number of things have changed. Some memories even come back to haunt me as well.

Either way, even if things have changed or not, these people are still humans. "Putting them on a pedestal", be it so high or not, is what fans do. To be honest, it doesn't really help at all.

My favorite quote from the article above:
They said, "It's fun having [movie] fans around us, but [movie] fans tend to dictate to us what to do and what not to do." Fans, they said, have the power to put you up on a pedestal, and also the power to shoot you down if you failed to fit the image they created for you."

These people aren't perfect. To quote a line from the movie Sabrina, "Illusions are dangerous people; they have no flaws." I guess that's why my friend Reiner told me before to look for the flaws in the people I admire. To realize they're human.

I apologize din if may matatamaan na people in this entry, but it saddens me how some would go out of their way to do anything, even become gofers to these people, just to show how appreciative they are of them, or how much they admire them, or any other reasons you can think of. I'm sorry, but if you try looking at it from the outside, no matter how much you say otherwise, it sort of looks pathetic. I'm sorry, friends.

I saw Maika's most recent journal entry. It's funny how we were talking about the same topics last night. Things have become pretty different now.

I've been somehow involved in theater for 10 years now, and I've discovered these little things some people called "withdrawal symptoms".

But that's life. That's also how it is in theatah. Things keep changing ever so suddenly, that you have to learn to deal with it.

Still awake, huwaw.

Came from Dish around an hour and a half ago. It was Lexi's 18th birhtday celebration, and we got to watch the Akafellas there, coolness.

Met up with Peachy and Sybil right after my dad and my brother dropped me off in Power Plant. Ahahaha, my mom didn't want me to commute wearing my getup (which was a short blue dress), so she had Dad drive me. Anyway, Peachy, Sybs and I first dropped by Dish. Found Aileen there sitting with some friends, then we went back out again and window-shopped for a while. When we came back, we found Lexi sitting at one of her reserved tables with her UP friends, and Tricia was there as well! Wheee! It's been a long time since I last saw Trish.

We sat at the table next to them, near stage left. Sybil went to sit with some other friends. Once again, Peachy asked us to buy beads from her, like she did last Friday when we were in Galleria and even when we were at Podium, hahaha. Dandan finally arrived, and then Maika finally caught up (we thought she might not make it before Dish starts charging for entrance). Peach suggested we do the Picture Card thing, so we all went back out. Hehehe, and what was written on the picture card? "magaGANGda", ehehehe...

We had dinner while Rockin' Revival was onstage. Ooooh, familiar oldies, I like. Call me weird, but I did like some of their repertoire.

When I found out that Robi was already outside, I went out and handed him the Akafellas CD (Maika's and my birthday gift to Lexi) I asked them to sign. Peekshur-peekshur with Sybil and Aileen, then we went back inside.

Here's something really funny. Earlier, when we were just sitting around, Lexi introduced us to one of her guy friends (oops, forgot his name). She then asked me who he looked like. At that time it seemed that everyone seemed to notice his resemblance to someone, except me. I really couldn't tell. When we were eating, and Lexi was sitting at our table next to the guy, I got a good view of his profile. HOLY KAMOTE, now I knew who he looked like. From where I was sitting, the guy sitting next to Lexi seemed to look like Nyoy Volante. Freakyyyy...

When Rockin' Revival was done, there were several minutes of house music, and then I saw the fellas walk out. Once again, I acknowledged my presence, ahahaha. I even heard Paulo say "Where's Hogi?" while he was walking towards his mic while the stage was still dark.

During the entire gig, cameras flashed once again. I think Maika had her arms temporarily glued to the table, ready to snap, ahahaha. Then when they announced that an Alexis Lorenzo was celebrating her birthday, we couldn't find Lexi for a while. Good thing she appeared right away. And when Robi announced that thehy were going to sing an old familiar song, Aileen reacted right away, saying "NNOOOooooo!!!" Ahahaha!

After the gig, I took Lexi backstage to meet the guys. Rawr, I brought the wrong pen, so it wouldn't write on the CD, so Robi offered to get a pen from his car. I didn't want him to go all the way to his car, but he insisted. Gak, hassle pa tuloy.

When we left backstage and hung around outside Dish, peekshur-peekshur once again with the guys, while half of them were bidding goodbye because they had to go to this birthday party, I think. Hahaha, when all the guys had already left, Peachy and I were standing by the railing, saying goodbye to Robi, who was downstairs next to the fun jump thing. Then I saw not one, but two familiar faces walking near Oliver's Sandwiches towards the escalator. It was Jimmy B and Nina! So of course Peachy had to call Nina and even ran down the escalator to catch up with her, while the rest of us followed. Peekshur-taking again with Nina (ahahaha, only Peachy had a pic taken with Jimmy), then when they left, we went to Seattle's Best so some of us can get some coffee.

Well, that's mostly it. I gotta get some sleep now.

After a year, I posted again in the first forum I ever joined.

It's Lea Salonga's news group. In case you're curious, you can find it here.

I used to log in everyday to read posts and lots of other news. I found out about the news group from my friend Anna, who's Lea's # 2 fan (hahaha, we in the group all know that another girl has claimed the throne as #1 fan). She used to go under names such as "Bigsis222" or "Manang Lea", then she finally changed it to plain old "Lea Salonga". And now? It's "Lea Salonga-Chien". Naks, Manang is so darn proud of her Rob.

Anyway, what I liked about the news group is that Lea really does take time out of her busy life to check the forum and answer all the questions thrown at her. I learned it was really her answering when I was working with her in Proof two years ago. I sent her a message early one week, asking about a joke she got from a link online that she told us backstage (when Krissy and I were rolling on the floor in tears and silent laughter). I didn't get a reply from her. Instead, she came up to me at the theater and told me that she couldn't find the link anymore. Huwaw.

And imagine my surprise when I found out that she's here in Manila for a week and a half because of some work she had to take care of. Man, I miss that girl. I got half of my perkiness from her (the other half came from Tita Menchu), ahahaha...

Man, I miss the girl who cracked Rex Navarrete jokes everyday.

Check out her signature in the news group: "If you ain't got nothing nice to say, just shut the f*** up." Ahahaha, I can't agree more. Does anyone else share the same sentiments?

Lea: I'm back in LA, and will return to Manila in time for rehearsals.
Me: Coolness. When will rehearsals start?
Lea: Mid-July, but I don't start until a week or two after... I have stuff to do here first.

Mid-July... I gotta get in! It's gonna be at the Meralco Theater, and because of her, the pay's sure gonna be good. Bobby! Miss Berns! Hire me!

"Beloved Narnia", from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe...

My heart can still remember
My mind can clearly see
My beloved Narnia
The way it used to be

There is nothing quite like Narnia
In the splendor of its Spring
When fields were glowing gold and green

As my heart remembers
Can you see along with me
My beloved Narnia
The way it used to be

The river of silver
And the brilliance of the trees
Skies of sapphire blue
The flowers sparkling and new
Summers in Narnia
The fairies at play
As butterflies whirled
In a graceful ballet
The forests would ring
With laughter and song
The Naiads, the Dryads
Raced with the wind
The She-trees and He-trees
Danced in the glen
As mischievous Satyrs
Played all day long

It seems so very long ago
Now our lives are bleak and cold
How we long for the summertime
And not this grief untold
But it's not just the summer I truly miss
It's the love, the laughter and the bliss
The love and the laughter
Of Narnia of old

These images of happiness
Remain clear, pure and strong
In the memory of every Narnian
As we hope and pray and long
As our hearts never fail to remember
As our minds always clearly see
Our beloved Narnia
As it can be...
As it will be...
Once again beautiful,
Happy and... free...
And free...

That's just a starter.
I miss...

...the Hogi Hall, and our movie and park gimmicks.
...my bestest friends in the world, Rosa, Iam, and Ari.
...the magaGANGda, teeheehee.
...the Akakada.
...AKU days with Jill, Dandan, Maika, Tita Sherbet and Tito Sunny, and all that darn bottomless iced tea.
...the first forum Jillie made, where all the late-night posting evolved into chats.
...late-night chats and conferences with the original angels.
...Playshop, and the late-night after class bonding we have over dessert and coffee.
...the Narnians, with their Word Factory, Monopoly, and Uno Stacko games in the upstairs dressing rooms.
...the SBC (south bound crew); Jamie, Dein and Chevy, and out stop-overs at Mini-Stop and 7-Eleven.
...Tita Menchu, her loud perky self, and her backstage lovelife stories.
...my Atlantis Family; Miss Bernice, Bobby, Krystal, Bea, Karen, Jem, Arnel, and all the actors Bobby would pre-cast.
...Hard Rock nights with Krystal, Jem and Bituin.
...the old fun I used to have with the band.
...my UST friends, and how they brought out my artistic side.
...the Funky Bunch, and how everyone was still a bachelor and acting like little kids, and how we loved watching movies while sitting at the front row.
...McDo days with lots of different crowds.
...how my cousins and I would get together and have fun, even by just hanging around someone's house.
...Kuya Bobot and his childish ways.
...my dad back when he hasn't retired yet.
...Bro. Ceci, one of my grandfather-figures ever since 5th grade.
...fellowship with my YFC friends, especially at CCP.
...singing and performing with the very first Alabang Playshop MT class, with Ari, Dein, PauloNav, Chevy, CJ, Kris, Tim, Beth, Mitch, Ronelli, Ruthie, and all the rest.
...my track and field teammates, and our escapes from Coach Diaz.

...I miss...

...the way things used to be.

Hahaha, found this in someone else's blog.
This is just too adorable.

Hahaha, I forgot how amusing Lea's forum can be. I've been visiting it more often now. I guess it's to make up for the lost time, hahaha. It's been a year since I last visited.

Another reason why it amuses me is that Lea answers every question right away. One asks something, and you get a reply in less than 24 hours. Naks.

Luz is gonna be Lea's dresser again for Baby! Gaaah! I wanna get in!

I realized today how much I wanted to do with my life. I want to be so many things, sometimes even all at the same time.

I want to...

...be an actress... Hahaha, not a TV or movie actress, though. I'm loyal to the stage.
...be a stage manager... If I can't be onstage, I can settle being behind the scenes. Heck, I can't sit still in one place, which is probably why office life isn't for me, hehehe.
...be a dancer... One of my frustrations, ever since I was a kid. When I was five, I refused to take ballet lessons because I was afraid the other kids might laugh at me because I was fat.
...sing and play the drums for a band... Hahaha, back when Rosa and Iam and I were a lot younger, we wanted to form a band, and I was taking drumming lessons then.
...work at a magazine... Despite the office environment, I like a place where I can meet lots of different people.
...go to the park where my brother went to in Minneapolis... Ever since I saw my brother's pictures, I want to go to a similar place where I can just sit and watch the sunset.
...be a photographer... Ever since I took those black-and-white pictures for Fotogra class, I wanted to take photos like those, maybe even better.
...be a figure skater... Hahaha, I just thought of this now, because I saw Stars On Ice on TV.

Come to think of it, I want to go ice skating again. I only did it at least a couple of times, but I actually miss it.

Anyone wanna go with me to South Mall or Megamall to go ice skating?

OK, first things first...

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!!!

Woke up at 3am to go with my mom and Grace to the salubong, then we heard Mass at our parish church. To my surprise, the Mass was going to be in Filipino, by Father John, this Indian priest from our parish. Holy kamote, despite the good homily he gave, I sometimes had a hard time deciphering what he was saying during the rest of the mass.

Took a nap till noon, but my brother woke me up sometime before then because he wanted to show me this new game he just downloaded for our Gameboy Advance SP. It was called Kirby, Nightmare in Dreamland. He woke up, telling me I just try it out. I tinkered with it for about 2 minutes with him looking over my shoulder, then returned it to him so I can go back to sleep.

Hahahaha, when Kuya left this afternoon to go to Ate Maui's house, I had the Gameboy with me the whole time. Nyak, bad move. Now I'm hooked to the game. That Kirby's a cute little character.



Now I'm watching Sharon on TV. Wahahaha, Jett's one of the guests, and their topic for the week is 80s songs. Baduy ko, I know, but I love 80s songs, hahahaha.

My deprived self finally got to watch The Passion of the Christ last night. We got hold of our neighbor's DVD and we all holed up in my parents' room to watch it.

Man, my heart ached for Jesus and Mary. Holy kamote. But I have to admit, I didn't cry during the whole duration of the film. It's funny, really. I could only cry when I watch a movie alone. Weirdness.

My darn Y!M's acting up. When I logged off last night, I couldn't log back in. So I spent the rest of the night playing Kirby again on the Gameboy. I swear, I'm getting addicted to it. I almost finished the whole thing yesterday, but my brother loaded another game, so everything was erased. So I had to go through everything all over again. I didn't realize how late it was when I got a text from Tita Sherbet at almost 4 in the morning, asking why I wasn't replying to Y!M messages. Hahaha, so when I logged in just now, I got a barrage of offline messages from a lot of people.

Mami Sherbs, thanks for the concern. Teeheehee, I'm perfectly all right. Mas lalong nawala antok ko when you told me about that big poster of "neopet". Hahaha, ayan tuloy, naubusan pa ng battery Gameboy ko. Wahahahahaha!

My friend Lawyn called this afternoon. Their first day of Playshop started yesterday, and she told me quite a bit about it. Tito Freddie (Santos) is teaching all the Musical Theater classes in Alabang this year, and I'm mentally ramming my head against the wall because I didn't get to enroll.

Why didn't I enroll? you may ask.

My thesis is in the way

My mom wanted me to concentrate on thesis alone

My 'rents won't be paying for it, because the last time I was in Playshop, I was on scholarship

I don't have a racket, so I can't pay for it myself.

Grrr...

The class is in the evening, and I'm regretting even more that I didn't enroll. Grrr... So far there are 11 people in the Master Class. There's Lawyn, Mae, Chevy, CJ, Anna, Mikki (who will be joining the intermediate class for their showcase because his voice is still cracking), and even Gary's back! Man, the only time Dr. Gary was in Playshop was during the first year Playshop came to Alabang.

Gah, one of these days, I'm gonna go visit their class.

I’m deprived of the internet right now. Hahahaha. My brother had to surrender his free internet account to the company when he resigned, and my school account has been disabled because the term is finally over.

Went to school yesterday to get my course cards. That, plus we held more auditions for our thesis. When Anthony and I realized that none of us brought audition forms yesterday, we both rushed to his condo in Makati and got some and made it just in time for the auditions. The 3 people who tried out were actually pretty good. The first one, Jerome, used to be in music production with Me-an until he shifted during his 2nd year. After his audition, Miss Cindy and I agreed that he could play Joseph if only he wasn’t so short. His voice was crystal clear and perfect for the role. We started debating between Jerome and Rian (who went to the last audition we had), because the latter had a so-so audition, but he could do justice to the role as well. Then two others from Coro San Benildo tried out, Rupert and this other girl. Pretty good too, considering Rupert already had a cold yesterday. Nice.

Boring afternoon, so I decided to hang around with Me-an at the cubicle. Realizing that she’s finally graduating from college, we started talking about her career opportunities. She was kinda shy to ask about a job at Hit Productions, where she had her OJT, even though she really did want to work there. Heck, after she told me everything that she did there for OJT, even I want to work there, even just as a voice talent.

Jill arrived in school then, so I went with her to get her course cards. Hahaha, in both subjects that we went to, she had one prospect. Jillie, OK yung sa Insocio class mo, layogenic pa yun, hehehe.

When Tito Sunny came and picked Jill up, I finally boarded a bus. But I didn’t go straight home. I went to ATC to check out Playshop.

The new venue's pretty big. Much, much better than the one we had at Festival Mall last year. I found a bunch of people hanging out outisde the entrance, and there was Tito Freddie with Anna, Lawyn, Mae, CJ, Chevy, Eric and a bunch of others. When it was time for their class to start, they all went inside. I lingered near the doorway and watched them do this Heaven, Man and Earth exercise. When Jennie arrived, she let me hang with her at the table at the front of the room. I told her I wanted to join, but with thesis in the way, I couldn't. Then when I wondered aloud if I could still join, but then she gently lectured me that I shouldn't be distracted from my thesis. Rawr...

Pam suddenly arrived with Mikki, and we hung around the doorway for a while. Then they both invited me to walk around inside AAV while the class is still going on, so we did. We walked around for about an hour, looking at all the houses we passed by, talking about anything under the sun, then we headed back to ATC. First we went to the food court to get a drink, then we walked back to the venue. We passed by this stall that sold sapin-sapin and stuff, so we bought some and even some cassava with cheese. We ate them outside the Playshop place. Yum.

Eric went outside and saw us, and he wanted to hang out by McDo at the "lovers' hill" (as I call it). While we were walking, Eric started doing this familiar bass tune...Hahaha, it was the beginning of "Bongga Ka Day". Mikki joined in as well, imitating Robi. Hahahaha.

We ended up sitting by the big tree talking, and then we trooped back to outside the Playshop place, just hanging out again till I had to leave.

Rawr, Miss Cindy just moved all our work for thesis to June... Which means I have nothing to do this summer. I need a racket...

Met up with Myron at Podium after lunch today. I see the guy has finally moved on and bagged himself a nice girlfriend, hehehe.

While I was walking through Megamall to get to Podium, I passed by Slimmer's World. I saw Peachy on one of the treadmills, teehee. We agreed to meet after my Podium thing.

Darn, the only upcoming racket Myron has is this drag racing thing that's still in the works.

Met up with Peachy after her gym session. We mostly walked around Mega, just window-shopping. Hahaha, after a side trip to Kameraworld, I wasn't surprised when we first visited Stiches 'n' Things so Peach can buy more beads.

More window shopping, and then I couldn't resist buying something from Candy Corner. Grrr... Peach didn't want to eat any junk food, because she wanted to lose some weight. Guilt trip tuloy abot ko. Hahaha, I can still tie knots into those strawberry things, hehehe. I can't believe I can still do that.

I stayed with Peachy till her mom picked her up, and then I headed home myself.

I can't wait for tomorrow. I'm attending a couple of lectures at CCP with Moppet.

I need a racket... Is there anyone out there doing a show or something? I want something to do...

Moppet and I went to CCP today to attend their lecture series. Scheduled today was a talk about acting in musical theater by Monique Wilson, and directing musical theater by none other but Bobby Garcia.

When we reached the entrance, we asked the lady outside where the venue for Monique's lecture will take place. She told us that it was cancelled. Gak... Then I asked if Bobby's talk was also cancelled, at the same time hoping it wasn't so our trip wouldn't be a total waste. She wasn't sure, so she let us head on over to the Dream Theater and ask.

Bobby's talk wasn't cancelled, thank goodness. But instead of Monique's talk, we were offered a free tour of CCP. OK, fine, we'll go, because there's nothing to do anyway. Our group was pretty small, less than 10, really. Then we were introduced to our guide, Julius, and we went around the entire building, checking out all the theaters and other stuff. Nothing I haven't seen before. Hahahaha, but it was my first time to go to Balcony 2 of the CCP Main Theater, and man, my acrophobia kicked in. Thank goodness we weren't seated there when we went to watch Darna last year.

When the tour was done, Moppet and I went to the gift shop. I found these pretty butterfly clips (Peachy, too bad they didn't have any pink ones), while Moppet found these porcelain dolls that her mom would love. We didn't buy anything yet though, because we were getting kinda hungry. So we headed to the buffeteria to grab some lunch.

After lunch, we went back up to the lobby. That's when we finally saw Bobby enter with Chari. Hahaha, when I told them I was attending the talk, Bobby let out one of his trademark "Pfffft!" laughs (which I sometimes find annoying, sometimes contagious).

Bobby's talk was quite informative; I picked up a lot sitting there enduring the whole 3 hours just listening to him. And this is the director who doesn't talk much during rehearsals. Hahaha...

After attending that lecture, I wonder if I can make it as a director?

I want everyone who reads this to ask me 3 questions, no more no less.

Ask me anything you want.

Then I want you to go to your journal, copy and paste this allowing your friends (including myself) to ask you anything.

Hahaha, the title above is from the musical Rent.
I was looking through my old journal entries, trying to find a good "back on this day" topic, when I came across April 11th, 2003. Almost exactly a year ago. And I realized I have a picture to match.

I just wanted to post this here, plus the fact that I "owe" someone this pic, mwehehehe...

On April 11 of last year, this guy graced the stage of OnStage Theater (sounds redundant, doesn't it?), clad in a bright red Santa dress. Yes, you read it right. A dress.



Anyone recognize this person?

*whistling*
No comment.
How can you help someone forget?
I'm being cryptic for a reason.

"I'm a hollow reed... Trouble blows through me like the wind... Whoooooosssshhh..."

You don't see me talking.
*looks around*

I don't know what to think anymore. From now on, I'm keeping quiet. Hell, I've been doing that for months. If I talk, people will talk, people will spill. But even if I don't, there's still talk.

Only one had enough tact to apologize. Even if it wasn't about me, the person was gracious enough to do it. The others, I don't know what to believe. I don't know who they believe in.

It's disappointing. Que annoying. Que sad.

I know malabo itong post na ito. Why do you think I'm writing it this way?
'Nuff said.

Uploaded new userpics, hehehe... This one I'm using right now is courtesy of Ate Tere and her uber-cute stuffed puppy, "Rhobi". Hmmm... I wonder where she got the name?

My brother insisted we all go out for lunch today, because we haven't gone out as an entire family in such a long time. Heck, we haven't done this since Dad retired 5 years ago. Probably because Kuya's uber busy with his work, Dad's devoted to his service at the parish church, and we literally have to pry our mom to go out and leave the store.

We went to this Korean restaurant along Jupiter, because of Kuya's love for Asian cuisine. I wanted to go to a Japanese resto, but he said that I should be sick of it by now, because I love eating at Tokyo Tokyo (ever since I bonded with someone over Tokyo Tokyo last year) hehehe. I love their red iced tea. Anyway, so nope, my brother insisted we go to Korean Garden.

Hehehe, it was the first time I saw my dad leave rice on his plate, because he always consumes everything on the table. I guess he ate more of the viands than the rice. We all joked that it was a miracle he left something on his plate.

After lunch, we strolled around Glorietta and Greenbelt. Hehehe, as a running joke in the family, we told Mom that we can't really take her anywhere because she acts like such a probinsyana when we go out.

Whee, Kuya was generous enough to buy me a pair of shoes today. I have this thing about buying shoes. I buy leather shoes only when I'm with my mom. When it comes to sneakers and other casual shoes, I prefer buying them alone. I don't like shoe-shopping with anyone else. I do that when I'm clothes-shopping too. I like shopping alone. I got used to it last year. All the clothes and other stuff I shopped for then, I was alone.

Anyway, after getting my shoes, we all went to Powerbooks Live! and browse. Arg... I didn't bring any money today, so I figured Kuya would be still be generous enough to buy me a little rocky road javaccino. Darn. I shouldn't have gotten those shoes, hahaha. I did manage to get half of his coffee.

Sometimes I wish my family would go out often. I dunno, we have a lot more fun outside the house, judging by how much fun we had today.

I met up with thesis mate Anthony this afternoon. We were all supposed to meet and talk, but both Kathy and Rain had late excuses. So it was just the two of us who talked inside the air conditioned OSA.

Kathy texted me, saying she wasn't sure if she was going to make it, because she was still in Quezon City then, helping her mom with an errand. Rain arrived well after the scheduled meeting time. Gr...

I was thankful I brought my Gameboy to keep me from showing my annoyance. Hehehe, because I've finally finished Kirby, I returned to my favorite platform game, Yoshi's Island.

After talking with Rain to update him on what we've talked about, he noticed my Gameboy so he took something out from his bag, saying that he got it from his cousin. At first I thought it was an old Tamagotchi, but upon closer inspection, I found out it was a pocket version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. Wahahaha, he let me try it out, and in the end, Anthony, Rain and I were calling out the answers loudly.

Whee, because I got hooked on it, Rain let me bring the game home and play with it for a while.

I want my own...

Reluctantly dragged myself out of bed this morning. Jun and Ecel picked me up at Starbucks Madrigal so we could all go to St. Benedict together for their choir concert rehearsal. Jun and I first went backstage to set up the area using the blocks, a riser and chairs. Then he let me go to the tech booth to switch on the lights.

Unfortunately, the techie I met the last time we went there was on leave and wouldn't be back till Tuesday. The techie who was there today didn't know a thing how to work the lights, specially the intelligent lights. Gr...

I tried testing all the lights, but only the intelligent lights were working. What the heck happened to the others?

Went back to Jun, who gave me a copy of the sequence guide while the rest of the choir started to arrive. One of the girls who came looked so familiar. It was Sheena, who was 2 batches higher than I was in Zobel and was part of the DLSZ high school chorale (as well as The Sound of Music). We still didn't know what happened to the other lights, so we went to the office and asked. Gr... we still had to wait for the techie to arrive from leave before he could help me.

Anyway, they started rehearsing some songs already, so I went to the tech booth and tinkered with the moving lights. Forgot how to program it, so I just started experimenting what looked OK and practiced moving them.

Then we figured out why the lights won't go on. They weren't switched on from backstage! Jun took care of it while I headed back to the booth and turned on the switches. "And God said, 'Let there be light!'" Viola! Hehehe. Then I realized they had put colored gels over them. Gah... Stage right looked pink while stage left looked green, ew... Gotta get the techie to remove the gels next time.

So I spent the entire rehearsal sitting inside the tech booth, figuring out those darn intelligent lights, at the same time taking notes in my sequence guide. I swear, it's inhuman to be both stage manager and lighting designer at the same time.

The techie had better be there on Wednesday morning when we come back, or else I'm gonna get someone else to do the lights.

There's this online comic I visit everyday, called Sinfest. There are lots of storylines made, but my favorite strips are the ones where God (as a voice or a hand that sometimes uses a puppet) makes fun of the devil.

Kinda makes me wonder what God's sense of humor is like. If He could really talk to people, how would He deal with the good and the bad?





Go God. You tell them.

The walls in my room have posters of shows I've been somewhat involved in. It keeps me company and keeps me from missing the good ol' times I've had with the people from those shows as well.



The pic above is the corner of my room facing the door. Hehehe, ignore those darn cables. My room's a mess, which is why I took the pic so close to the posters.

Anyway, the posters on the left part is from Rent in Concert and Dreamgirls. I was never really part of the concert, but all of us from Dreamgirls felt connected to the concert because it was done right after the show's run, and most of the people behind it were from both shows. The poster next to that is Proof (yes, that's Lea Salonga, one of my favorites), and the other is The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Dreamgirls. I love this show. Bobby said it was the most challenging show he did so far, probably because of the crazy costume changes we did. You should've seen my script and running list of costumes. Writing the list for the first scene alone made me crazy. Every time Tex had a costume change, I felt as if Ate Cristy and I weren't allowed to breathe because of the limited time we had, specially near the end of Act 1. Now I know why Bobby never dared to go backstage when the show was going on.

I miss the fun times I had with the cast, bonding with Adjeng until I felt that she was like that sister I never had. She could always sense if I'm sad or happy or content or tired, or just plain hungry. There was also the jumpy Nyoy, one minute he's nervously trying to gather the courage to talk to Bobby about arranging his schedule of performances, the next minute I find him backstage happily sleeping underneath the costumes, and then he's telling jokes and inviting us to his gigs another minute. Tita Menchu's teen love stories from the dressing room amused me as well, because every time she's done talking, she'd look to me, her eyes saying, "Pretend you didn't hear anything." Hahahaha! The tickling sessions against Jem and Krystal naman was a real workout. Imagine running in the small backstage area trying to get out of their reach, and when they do reach and tickle you, your abs get a huge workout from laughing too much.

Hard to say goodbye, my love
Hard to see you cry, my love,
Hard to open up that door
When you're not sure what you're going for...

Proof. My first OJT experience. Tita Menchu laughed at the fact that I was so starstruck. Even Ari had to text her, telling her to look out for me, and to tell that I don't have the guts to come up to Lea and just talk to her, hahahaha. But imagine how big my eyes were when I first heard Lea call my name one morning and talked to me about this thing we found online. Then there was the funny interview by JC Gonzales, where he unexpectedly went backstage with the camera and went over to talk to me, Krissy and Krystal. Hahaha, he jokingly asked if having the name "Kris" was a requirement to getting a job there, because I was introduced as Christine. Crazy, I can't believe that a camera was shoved in our faces when we were in windang mode.

- I didn't want to talk to you.
- Stay here if you hate me so much.
- And do what?
- You're the genius, figure it out.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. One of my funnest OJTs, along with Bing and Carmen. Had so much fun with the cast, specially with Dein, Jamie, and Chevy (the SBC crowd, hahaha). When I first got to talk to Franco, the first thing he asked me was, "Do you have a boyfriend?" HAHAHAHAHA!!! Nah, it's not that; he was just backstage talking with the other OJTs about their lovelives when I came in after a scene change, so it was my turn on the hot seat. And I miss those mango floats that was being sold in the lobby for P50 (arg...) each. Hehehe, I don't get to pay for half the floats I eat because when I go out to the lobby, I tell the cast first and ask if they want anything. Then they say that they want this and that, and then tell me to buy a mango float for myself with their change. The best float I had was from Tito Bonggoy, who came walking backstage and gave it to me "just because". That was so sweet.

My heart can still remember
My mind can clearly see
My beloved Narnia
The way it used to be



The Akafellas No Strings Attached concert poster and Urinetown in another corner of my room, next to the two windows.

No Strings Attached. My first racket with the 'fellas. I got the job because of Paulo when we were in Eclectic Acoustic in Music Museum. He told me that I could work for their concert the following month, so he told it to Franco, who told it to Red. One week of rehearsals with Hawaiian style pizza and lotsa crazy antics and funny anecdotes.

When sadness finds me
Darkness blinds me
He reminds me of
The harmony of love...

Urinetown. This was my first paying job for Atlantis. Quite an experience, really, to always be on call because you're getting paid for it, hehehe. There was also the challenge of finding the right OJT you can work with. Moppet was fine at first, but during shows, she was never on time. Arnel would keep telling me that we should take her aside and talk to her, but I had my ways. What I did instead one night was to keep myself from taking in sugar or caffeine to keep on my toes, then hid my running list. Hahaha, so Moppet had to know all the costume changes we had to do. I knew every thing by heart so I had no problem, but she didn't know that. That kept her on her toes the whole night, heeheehee. But aside from that, it was all fun. The gay episodes backstage never fail to make us roll on the floor laughing our asses off. "So *****, are you gay?" "No, I'm just in touch with my feminine side." "******! Can you check if my mic is on? (lifts skirt)" "NO!!! Get away!!!" "HOGI! Can you sew my pants? The crotch is totally torn open!" Hahahaha...

We all want a world
Filled with peace and with joy
With plenty of justice
For each girl and boy
That bright shining world
Is just waiting to start
No anger or badness
Just laughter and gladness
If only you follow your heart...

Oooh, memories on my walls.

Huwaw, long post.

Someone posted this in Lea's newsgroup...

ATLANTIS PRODUCTIONS:
LEA S. IN BABY THE MUSICAL
at the MERALCO THEATRE

ATLANTIS PRODUCTIONS presents LEA SALONGA in Baby The Musical.

BABY THE MUSICAL tells the heartwarming story of three couples on a university campus as they deal with the painful, rewarding and agonizingly funny consequences of the universal experience of PARENTHOOD. There are the college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; the thirty somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and the middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night [of] unexpected passion lands them back where they started.

Starring:
Lea Salonga, David Shannon, Albert Martinez, Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, Agot Isidro,and Jet Pangan.

Ticket Prices:
Orchestra Center =>P1,654
Orchestra Sides =>P1,379
Loge Center =>P1,103
Loge Sides =>P992
Balcony Center =>P662
Balcony Sides =>P552.

---------------------------------------------

Ticketworld only has tickets for Aug. 22 matinee, Aug. 24 evening, Sept. 1 and 2 evenings.

So the other shows (because the run is Aug. 18 - Sept. 5) must've already been bought. So just contact Atlantis for the buyer info, so you can get your tickets for the other show dates. I'm not sure if this number is correct (will confirm tom., or soon), but this is what I have listed on my cellphone for Atlantis -- *******.

Ticketworld link.

Not only is Lea gonna be in it, but also Jett and Tita Menchu!
I gotta get in!!! Or at least, I have to see it!!!

Is it time to call Miss Bernice and Sally at the office?

Woke up early yesterday because the sun was shining on my bed. Grr… if only my mom didn’t have me take out my curtains sooner. Anyway, I got ready for rehearsal and got on the road to meet with Jun at Starbucks, where he was going to pick me up, as usual. But as soon as I got on the FX, I got a text that we were to meet an hour later. Nyak. So I got off at South Mall and met up with Ari first. He wanted to have his picture taken as a requirement for the Canadian Embassy, so we went to ATC from there.

Had his picture taken at Picture City, then we had lunch at KFC. Then it was almost time for Jun to pick me up at Starbucks, so we crossed the street and hung out there. Gah, I didn’t know why Jun was taking so long. Ari and I spent the time just sitting at the couches and talking, waiting for his girlfriend Marah to arrive from review classes. Marah had already arrived with friend Yaps, and still, no sign of my ride. Hahaha, talk about surreal. Ari’s ex and current girlfriend sitting next to each other on the couch, talking and laughing as if we were sisters.

Finally, Jun’s car had pulled up and rang my phone at the same time. Said goodbye to the three, then rode off. We first went inside AAV to pick up the pianist, then we were off to St. Benedict. Only half the choir was there when we arrived, so I just hung around in front of the stage with Ecel and Doods.

When we were practically complete (except for two others), it was time to rehearse. Jun gave me a walkie-talkie (which konked out after an hour of use) so we could communicate easily while he was onstage and I was at the tech booth. Yay, the techie who knows the lights was there with me, so he gave me another crash course on programming the intelligent lights. Easy enough. Right… But every time we finished programming this song number and that, it would suddenly move on its own or go out of focus! Yikes, parang may mumu, hahaha.

(Hehehe, for some reason, the word mumu reminded me of this traditional Hawaiian dress that girls wear).

The hours went by, and I was still at the lights. No offense to Jun, but he should’ve began rehearsing chronologically, because he knew I was still programming everything. But nooo… So there, the lights keep fooling around on its own. I was afraid that the pianist might think I was just playing aroung because I focused one of the intelligent on her during a few numbers, because it would stay on her for a few minutes, then it would move away, change gobos, move around, then return to its original position. Grrr…

I need more pairs of hands for the shows on Friday and Saturday. I can’t work all these lights on my own. Plus I need someone to work the follow spot. If only Dari or Karl (or both?) were available, I wouldn’t feel this panicked. The show starts this Friday! Gah…

The lousy part of it all? I was supposed to go to the Akafellas EB party at Teena house last night after rehearsal, because we were only scheduled till 5 in the afternoon. But nooo… Jun asked if we could stay overtime. Heck, I can’t just leave the booth during rehearsal. So I had no choice but to stay. And stayed late. Ayan, windang tuloy ako. Heck, I didn’t even get to have any dinner because they were a few orders short. Arg…

Well, at least I ended the night OK. Jun and I wanted to unwind after a long day, so he took me out to watch the last full show of Hellboy. Hehehe, double date with Berna and Mac. But damn, the whole time we were watching, I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened at the Akafellas party. I miss the admins, fellas, and the members. I was actually touched how they kept bugging me, calling and texting me earlier that evening while my hands were full with the controls. Hahaha, I couldn’t help but answer their calls, no matter how crazy I was getting inside the tech booth.

Just got home from St. Benedict. Man, I'm so windang.

Tonight was the first night of Singphony, the concert of the St. Benedict Choir that Jun, Ecel and Doods are in.

The other night, before Jun and I left the theater, he gave a me an assignment to do the backdrop, which was the Singphony logo. Huwaw. I had no idea how to work on it when he first gave it to me. Then he told me that I had to put it on illustration board and do the letters in cobalt blue.

I went to buy some supplies yesterday, but when I got home, I get a text from Jun, saying we could work on the backdrop that very night at his house. He picked me up at around 9, dropped off Otap at someone's house so they could work on the souvenir programs, then we went to Miggy's house to drop off the cellophane (another part of the backdrop) ask for suggestions on how to do the logo. We actually had to cut the letters on illustration board after printing out the letters (yes! Thank you, Miggy! I didn't have to paint!). Gak. There were lotsa curves, so I didn't know how to cut it.

Off to Jun's house, where Ecel helped us on the letters using the PC (though Adobe Photoshop kept hanging, grrr...), then we printed it out, and I had to glue and arrange the letters on the boards that I bought. There weren't enough boards, because the G-clef that serves as the "S" is supposed to be bigger, so we decided that I do that tomorrow when I get another illustration board. It took me a few minutes to finally get around to cutting the darn letters, because I was hesitating too much. I ended up just cutting it straight first, then I'd work on the curves the following day (today), so Jun could finally drive me home at 1 in the morning.

When I woke up this morning, I immediately started working on the curves. Gah, my hands were shaking, and it took me an hour to finish the whole thing. Then I had to shower and dress quickly because I had to buy another illustration board at SM, then go to Penaverdes where Ecel was waiting so I can do the G-clef. Yay, Dad drove me so I didn't have to commute holding the darn huge "ingphony" word.

I had finished cutting the G-clef when Jun arrived from a meeting, and said that what Ecel printed was too small, so we had to print another one, and had to buy another board. After some last-minute poster-printing and gathering the stuff we needed to bring to Bene, the three of us made a quick stop at ATC so Jun can buy a black shirt (to use under his barong for the first part of the concert), and I can buy another board and some nylon thread. Then off to Bene.

Crazy mode by the time I was in the Herrera Hall. I had to glue the new G-clef to the board, cut it, then we had to figure out how to fix the cellophane part of the backdrop. It was just a simple huge piece of cardboard wrapped in cellophane, arranged in a way that where the parts the came together formed a cross. When they first brought it to the hall, it was warped, and we didn't want to stretch the cardboard for fear of ripping the cellophane. So we had to remove the back part of the cellophane to adjust the whole thing before I finally assembled the "Singphony" logo across the cross.

We did a quick run-through, and I was so frustrated that the kids had just rehearsed today. Why the heck didn't they come the last time? Anyway, lighting them was fairly easy, because they did one dance number, "Day by Day" from Godspell, and "Tomorrow" from Annie.

Finally, after getting the walkie-talkie, it was almost showtime. A quick pitstop at the bathroom to change clothes and freshen up, a 10-minute dinner backstage, then I wished the choir good luck before I left for the tech booth. Nyak, since I was the only one at the booth aside from the techie, I had to do the voice-over before the National Anthem.

Showtime!

A little goof-ups on the lighting, but no biggie. Instead of some of the lights we programmed, we got to use the follow-spot that was finally installed. Then the kids' CD of "Come On Over" kept fooling around, suddenly playing at some part. Gr...

My notes for the night:

Make the cellphone announcement before the National Anthem.

Remember to turn the house lights off after the National Anthem. (hahaha, Oscar just had to remind me)

"Lead Me Lord": Wrong light cue! It's 1-2 instead of 1-3.

Girls green shawl/top wasn't uniform. Some wore it the way it is while the others tied it from the back. They'd better agree on one single look.

Kids' CD keeps getting "accidentally" played, even though no one was touching it. The lights are contagious.

Choir entrance: Instead of walking from the last tab of the SR wing, so behind the first one.

Choir looked kinda stiff. Needs more energy. Probably because rehearsals weren't done performance level.

Curtains were opened too early after intermission.

"Joyful Joyful": This is an upbeat song that's supposed to perk people up! Where did the energy from the 3rd part go?

Anyway, aside from those, it was pretty much a good show. We had fun. There's still another show tomorrow. Plus I can't wait to get paid. I don't care how little it is, it's still moolah, anyway. Nyak, plus I just remembered that after all we talked about during all our rides home, I owe my musical director a kiss. Hahaha, it's been a running joke for almost a year, but it seems he's been more persistent than ever.