Once again, like I do every year, I look back on what had happened this past year. Oooh, reminiscing on Christmas. Interesting.



January

I heard from school mates that a new organization in school called Greenstage was going to produce an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. A bunch of us had tried out and got in, and even though we didn't really like the director, we joined because of the love for the craft, ahehehe.

February

Rehearsals for Beauty and the Beast still went on during this month. A bunch had tried out and dropped out, and so other people joined in.



Oooh, while sitting in Starbucks one lazy evening, we actually managed to think of a brand new concept for a play. We kept developing it and evolved into a film. The title? Kopihaus # 8. Ey, Drei and Nicco, I guess it's pretty appropriate for your screening to be held in February, ahehehe.

In the middle of the month, I got an unexpected phone call, which turned out to be a huge job opportunity. If it weren't for Miss Bernice, I wouldn't be with Atlantis today.

March

Greenstage's Beauty and the Beast was staged at the CSB theater this month. Santa banana, as much as I enjoyed the people involved in the cast and crew (sans one person, hahaha), I couldn't grasp a lot. A bit of pressure and a surprise switch of roles had even put me in a bad modd once, to the shock of a few people, ahehehe. Plus this is also when I realized that hindsight really is 20/20. I ended up doing stuff I didn't mean to do on purpose.

There was also a mini-reunion of the MagaGANGda in Yellow Cab, to celebrate Jill's birthday. Man, I really miss this crowd. I don't get to see you guys as a group anymore, aw...



I capped the entire month with a bang, celebrating Cris' 20th birthday, and even though I came home the morning after, I still managed to make the interview with Mrs. Garcia at the Atlantis office and bagged a job for its own production of Beauty and the Beast. And when I was done with the interview and found some quiet time, I realized everything was changing so fast.

April

So I started work at Atlantis this month. I was totally hesitant to do much then, and I was afraid to even answer the phones because I might say the wrong thing or won't know what to answer. Though when I got the hang of it, things got easier, and I learned how to talk to sponsors and people with ticket inquiries. Sometimes it gets amusing, but on some days, it can get pretty irritating when people ask about which artist will be performing for what particular show day.



Then I re-met with some friends that I drew apart from (by choice). On that first night, they still haven't changed a bit, specially the one I grew particularly closest to.

May

Got even busier this month, because rehearsals for Beauty and the Beast had started. We had to come in for work on Saturdays, and I became more confident. I wasn't afraid of the phone anymore, and I learned how to think faster and use my instincts. I learned my way around by going on errands to places I didn't know.

June

When Beauty and the Beast had opened at the Meralco Theater, I was working 7 days a week. My golly, my weekends were the most hectic. I had to be at the office in the morning, then off to the theater in the afternoon, and back in the office before midnight. Not that I'm complaining. It was actually fun while the entire run was going on. I got to see different people just by sitting in the lobby selling souvenirs, and during the shows, I was allowed to peek in and watch whenever I wanted.

This month, I suddenly felt that I was being left out. It seemed that everything was fine without me. Everything went on without me. Some drama, hahaha.

July

Beauty and the Beast finally closed this month, so we went to work with the post-production stuff. Suddenly we became less busier, and laughed off the calls from people who thought that the play was still running.

Pretty uneventful month once the run was over, except when I got to watch a couple of thesis productions by some friends from the lower prod and tech batches.

August

This month, I got to see some friends that I haven't seen in ages. First there was Ed, who had come to visit from Canada. It's always a good opportunity for a Hogi Hall reunion whenever he's around.



Then I also got to see my friends from UST. Hahaha, they haven't changed a bit. Though talking with Clarz about what they had done in college made me think about what would've happened to me. No regrets, I made a good choice by switching schools.



September

Another uneventful month, but it was punctuated by a Mojofly gig, a friend's gig with a brand new band, and Footloose, courtesy of Chari. Because there was a lot of free time in the office and we finally got the other computer fixed, we spent afternoons watching videos we rented, mostly suspense-thrillers that we randomly pick from the shelves.

October

The best part of this month was when Ate Sally, Rich and I went to Laguna for the Lanzones festival for one whole weekend. It was a blast, because we spent most of our time together at the office, so it was fun to be with them for something besides work. We visited the Underground Cemetery, the Church of Nagcarlan (where they shoot Kampanerang Kuba), and explored San Pablo, before going back home with 50 kilos of lanzones, hahaha.







November

The brainchild from February began shooting this month. I went with Nicco and Drei to their shoot of Kopihaus # 8 just because I wanted to watch. I ended up doing a lot more than expected, and it was actually fun helping them out. The cast and crew were so easy to be around with.







Aside from that production, I also got to watch Peachy as title role in LSGH Cue Drama Club's production of Aida. Woohoo! Go Peach, hahaha!

December

Shooting Kopihaus # 8 continued this month. After two weekends (one which included an overnight stay at the venue), we finally finished it, woohoo! We finished the shoot with the finale scene on the street, and just being there, we found out how chismoso the typical Filipino can be.

I also celebrated my birthday this month. Santa banana, my 24th? Huwaw. Anyway, unlike last year, I didn't really want to make a big deal out of my birthday, so I had an intimate gathering over pizza then just chilled at a friend's place.

One more thing, we got a new addition in the family, thanks to Rosa, Iam, Snowie and Debbie. An adorable puppy named Terie is now roaming around our house.




I can't believe the year flew by so fast. Despite the emotional roller coaster moments I've encountered all throughout the year, once again, once again, I have no regrets. I'm truly grateful for everything that had happened, and more so for all the people I've met and have been with.

You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

And I can't wait for what 2006 has in store for me.

Ay, que drama.

It's gonna be a happy new year...