Achievement: Urban Elite @ GUIdANCE Benefit Concert

For the first time, the Urban Elite (Alumni Arm of the UPLB Street Jazz Dance Company) was given the chance to perform in front of a dance community. Not just a common dance community but I can say it's a competitive one because of the presence of Jay Mastah, Musiqality, UPM Indayog, Unschooled and a whole lot more.


Upon knowing this, we prepared very well for our routine. Following the Christian song requirement, we had to create a story in the routine to show in the end that what we need is God to rise up from all the hardships. We gave up our weekends and even weekdays (after work of course) for training up to 11 PM at the latest just to perfect the routine.  Our routine is composed of:


Never Ever
You Belong with Me
G is for Girl
Get Buck in Here
Bleeding Love
We Need you (Christian song)


It was a fulfilling night because we received good feedback from the organizers. Although we know that it's not our best (because we only finished the routine the night before), it was glad to know that people appreciated it and understood the story. Haha.


I'm hoping for upcoming gigs for us, since there were audiences from different dance groups. Hope they invite us next time they have concerts or events. 


Some pics from the event:

Urban Elite (minus Ate Charm and Kuya Xan)

Rehearsing inside the dressing room

With the Believe Dance Company

Ciao!

Work and Play go together well: a (super) late post

For the first time I was away from office for 5 days. Yes. 5 days. But of course, it's not a personal leave. It's still work. I was assigned to organize the activities of Caltex during the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta last Feb. 10-13 at Clark, Pampanga.


Though it was extremely hot during the event, I really enjoyed my time there. Here's why:


1. I'm with the funniest people in office. Funny meaning they are capable of making dull moments alive by just simply cracking a joke over our radio. (We had two-way radio units that time for easy monitoring of the different activities in separate areas in the field.) Sometimes their jokes are green but still it's funny and enough to wake us up when there nothing happening in the program.


2. Free slurpee and free coffee c/o 7eleven!! Nuff said. Sugar and caffeine really makes us energetic.


3. This is an event everyone badly wants to attend to. And apparently we are lucky enough to get in and out the place and enjoy the sight of flying balloons and aircrafts. Really refreshing event.


4. Meeting new friends is one big thing. Caltex team is composed of several suppliers: 7eleven, DPP, Canon, Sony, MEC, Xhabit and of course us. Not to mention the very nice clients from Caltex that we can share a laugh with. Very nice people make good combination. :)


5. BEING AWAY FROM OFFICE is the best. Haha! Srsly, yes. Though I still have to accomplish deliverables for my other projects, being out of town is very relaxing and away from stress. 




Even though staying there meant me in a darker complexion, I'd be glad to handle it next year. :)

(taken using my iPod Touch 4. sorry for the low quality)

Will be back soon.

Missed writing here. Be back soon. Promise. :)

Busy Desk. 

WORST Carbonnara ever!

I am so a Pasta person. In every restaurant I eat in, I always make sure to taste their version of my favorite pasta meal: CARBONNARA. Creamy, meaty and cheesy carbonnara is what makes my day best. But sometimes you encounter the worst taste that makes you want to kill the chef.

I had an out of town work last wednesday to sunday, I was in Pampanga for some event I was tasked to manage. We have our own accommodation but we were given the chance to stay one night at Holiday Inn, c/o our boss. So of course we ate at their restaurant and with  our very hungry tongues and minds, we ordered a lot of our favorite dishes. And of course I ordered Carbonnara for myself, along with some organic chicken dish (chicken with mashed potatoes). With so much excitement (and hunger) I immediately  plunged the carbonnara to my mouth. And to my disappointment, it really doesn't taste good.

Srsly, this is the worst carbonnara I have tasted in my whole life. It doesn't even taste like cheese! It's like cream and oil. It was really awful that I didn't finish it. Aside from that, all the other foods were just bland. Not good. Such a waste of money.

Hope next time they do it better. Hay.

Sabrina's Tell All

Last Saturday as I was able to tell this guy the feelings I had for him the past year. I told him how hurt I was, the moments that I cried, and the people I cried on to. I told him he was too nice, that's why I fell in love. I was jealous, so much jealous that I forgot our friendship.


All of these, I told him...
Laughing. With a smile.


Yes. Finally, I was able to open up to him. I told him everything and it was a good relief. It was as if nothing happened. We were both laughing at what happened the past month. I was actually laughing at myself. How could I do that? Then I was joking him that he was too nice and sweet that's why I fell. 


Oh well, I can finally say that I have moved on. This is one proof that time really heals all wounds. And I was capable of forgiving others, and letting go.

Round 2 for Slapshock, Red Horse and AMG.

This past week was very toxic for me. I got a new project which supposedly fun but really it's confusing and as of now, has no shape yet. Then you got this asshole boss on the side and the frequent moments of me waking up later than I suppose in the morning resulting to quick breakfast meals or none at all.

But as they say, there is always a light at the end of the road. So come Friday night, me and my co-AEs went out to have fun a d drink some. With Paula Tabbada's (one of the senior AEs) powers, we, the AMG team, decided to go to B-Side and watch our newest addiction: Slapshock. It was a gig for Chris Garcia, a Filipino tattoo artist who is recognized internationally, to celebrate his talent in the world of Art. There were also other performances for that night: Even, Sandwich and another one I can't remember.

So we had dinner first at Pasta Box then at 10pm, headed to B-side to get some drinks and enjoy rock music. Performances began at 11pm and since Slapshock is the biggest act, they were to perform last. It was around 2AM, I guess when they performed.

They did Mistero and Carino Brutal. Although there were few people, everyone was really banging and having fun. I really enjoyed that moment. Although I was watching from the back, hearing them was really refreshing and amazing.

Most surprising moment was when Mark, another officemate who is also a close friend of the band, brought us to Jamir Garcia (vocalist) after the performance. I thought it's just a hi-hello-congrats-it-was-a-very-good-performance greeting but I was struck when Jamir leaned and gave us a kiss in the cheek. Haha! I was really surprised that I wasn't able to say a word. I just watched other people take pictures of him and his tattoos c/o his brother by the way, Chris Garcia.

Red Horse plus Slapshock has always been a good combination. Hope to watch them again in their next gig.

Appreciating Rock Music at its finest.

I was a non-believer of how rock music can make me stand up for 9 whole hours and still enjoying. But Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban proved to me that rock music is worth the night, the sweat and painful fight against sleep.


Every year, we have the privilege of holding the Red Horse Beer (RHB) Muziklaban Rock Challenge. And just last Saturday, we serviced 28,000 attendees of the RHB Muziklaban Grand Finals one of the decade's best rock concert ever. 


At first, I was hesitant in mind to give my full attention as the coordinator of the judges for the event. But as the event comes nearer and nearer, I became more excited. Something very unusual because I don't remember enjoying rock music before that day. 


Pre-finals judging happened last Jan. 18 at B-Side Bar in Makati. It was the moment for the judges to get close with the grand finalists and know their music more. Aside from that, this was when I learned how wonderful rock music is. During the bands' sound check, I was really amazed on how they created a good rhythm and awesome music. I knew it was too loud to sit in front of them while hearing them beat their guitars and drums but I never cared coz I was enjoying.


Come the Grand Finals night, I was lucky to have been assigned at the judges' area which is located at the 2nd level of the tech booth tower, some meters away from the stage. I had a good view of the event. I enjoyed it of course! And it was sort of emotional for me because it was a tribute for Francis Magalona, one of the Filipino artists I look up to. It was a great night because I became a rock fan. To be specific: a Slapshock fan. When they performed, the audience were out of their minds slamming with each other. Viewing from the top, they looked like water flowing and circling. They enjoyed the performance of Slap even more when the guys agreed to the audience's request of "isa pa!"


Truly it was one historic event of the decade. Being able to gather up 28,000 people inside a venue and more or less 13,000 outside was really a fulfillment. In the history of Muziklaban, this is the biggest they've had in terms of crowd and guest performers. And also, it was the first time that a rock event gave tribute to a non-rock icon, resulting to weird comments of some attendees seeing Noel Cabangon, Manny Pacquiao, Duncan Ramos, Brownman Revival and other non-rock artists performing onstage. Of course, your usual rock artists were present: Slapshock, Greyhoundz, Kjwan, Wilabaliw, Even, Mayonnaise, Hatankaru, Gayuma, Ibarra, Tower of Doom bands (Sin, Cog, Arcadia, Bloodshedd, etc)
But nevertheless, it was one event I know I will never forget.


To share with you, this is my favorite rock song of the moment:


Carino Brutal
by Slapshock


Inukit mo ang dusa't pasakit
Kung ako sayo wag na wag kang lalapit...
(3x)

Lumuha ang langit umaga'y di sasapit
Umaapoy Lumiliyab ang salitang walang laman
Magulo ang isip laman ng panaginip

Ginapos mo ako sa sarili kong mundo
Sumisigaw [hoy] humihiyaw [hoy]
Yakapin mo ako

Umihip ang hanging papalapit sa akin
Umaasang magiiba ang ikot ng aking mundo
Sugat ay lumalim ako ay palayain

Ginapos mo ako sa sarili kong mundo
Sumisigaw [hoy] humihiyaw [hoy]
Yakapin mo ako
(Repeat)


Ginapos mo. Ginapos mo
Ako... ako... ako...

Inukit mo ang dusa't pasakit
Kung ako sayo wag na wag kang lalapit...
(3x)

Ginapos mo ako sa sarili kong mundo
Sumisigaw [hoy] humihiyaw [hoy]
Yakapin mo ako
(Repeat)

Hope you enjoy as much as I do

Change.

For the third time already, I changed my blogspot address and blog title. My recent address was too long and I know it's not my best, or rather better choice. So I wrote down some words that best describes what this blog is for me. Well basically, this is where I put everything I cannot just say to everyone. Of course, there are those entries that simply tell about the latest happenings but of course there are those that only I knows. Or whatever.


So here it is! Same old blog with a new name. Clamors of a Silent Dreamer. Hope you still follow. :)

"Back to December" says it all

Taylor Swift's Back to December (most especially this AMA 2010 live performance) has been in my head since yesterday. For some reason, a part of me believes that Sun's comeback (my previous blog) and me knowing this song is connected. The song tells about a girl saying sorry to a guy he dumped one December but then guy tells girl that it's too late to apologize and he doesn't wanna come back.


Part of me says that I wish Sun will be saying this to me some time in the near future. Or after he realizes what happened to us and with him lately is really epic. Whatever.


Nevertheless, I LOVE this song and Taylor Swift as well. She really did it once again.

Muziklaban preps heat up

I just wanted to share how tedious the preparations are for the 2010 Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban Grand Finals. The event is on January 22, 2011 and we are cramming everything up because of the changes in venue and ticket entrance. 


Hay. I have a presentation tomorrow and I do not have anything to present yet because of my assignment in Muzik.


Hay, full blog to follow.

Anyway, the Red Horse Beer Muziklaban is on Jan. 22, 2011 at the Philippine Reclamation Authority Concert Grounds located at Macapagal Ave. cor. EDSA-Extension, Pasay City.


See map below:

Late Post: New Year's Resolution

For the past years, I do not declare any New Year's Resolution for I believe it doesn't have to be New Year if you want to change things. However, there are some things that are only change-able during New Year and can be considered your New Year's Resolution.

For me, one big resolution that I have already started and MUST finish by the end of the year is...

be able to fill out and maximize my planner.

Yeah, right. I have had planners since way back but for some reason I stop using it by mid-year. Worst case, my planner last year was used only up to May. Ridiculous. 

This year, I will try to write something every single day. It's kinda fulfilling to see my planner filled with notes, plans, birthday reminders and other stuff. It's also motivating because my planner is something I worked hard for. Purchasing 17 cups of coffee is not easy but if it promises a very good looking planner, it's worth it in the end. Ha ha. Starting the year with my Starbucks Planner spells good vibes and I hope it goes on until the end of the year.

My Planner (is like this because I just got this from Google)

:))

So far, I know I am doing better in terms of using my planner. I managed to write small notes and birthday reminders and sometimes, my favorite song for the day. And then when I look back, it's refreshing to see it full of whatevers of my life. Ha ha. Sorry, lack of a better term.

I hope to break the record of my half-empty planners since I learned to use them. 

Ciao!

"My Amnesia Girl" hits me [SPOILERS ALERT!]

Sometimes, FIlipino movies can be boring. Let's admit it. But there are those who really break it to that level. There are several movies that are still being talked about even after years and years of their showing (say for example 'One More Chance') However as the years passed by, they become fewer and fewer. One of them is "My Amnesia Girl". A lot of people have been talking about it and just recently, I learned that it is the top grossing Filipino movie for 2010. Sadly I wasn't able to watch it on the big screen. But lately, a friend told me that it is available online and after 45 minutes, I had it. My own copy of My Amnesia Girl.

So what made this movie lovable?

The Trailer

When it's trailer was released, everyone else thought that it's a Filipino take of Adam Sandler's 50 First Dates. Guy meets and fell in love with a girl with amnesia. But then, as it hits the big screen, we were all fooled. 

The Cast

I say it was a perfect combination. Toni Gonzaga (Irene) and John Lloyd Cruz (Apollo/Pol) were perfect for their roles. Not to mention their stellar acting, their combined humor was awesome. 

Aside from them, Apollo's barkada was also very very effective for the movie. The combination of Ketchup Eusebio (plays Richard), Carlos Agassi (plays Ken ), JM De Guzman (plays Eric) and Joross Gamboa (plays Jan) made the whole story much much more hilarious and extra light.


The Plot

Everything was very realistic. With that I mean, if these are happening in the real world, the people involved will, I guess, act the way the cast did in the movie. The set-up was also real. From the very playful yet supportive barkada, the inuman session in front of a sari-sari store, the amnesia acting of a hurt woman (yes that is very possible) and the panunuyo of the guy just to win her heart back. Very very real. I guess that is why it was a big hit. Everyone can relate. To add to that, their language and delivery were very like how we do it nowadays. It was not cheesy or deep romantic tagalog. It was our normal conversation.


The heartfelt scenes
To name a few, here are my favorite scenes from the movie:



1. In a photoshoot, Irene was instructing Pol to move the reflector away from the subject of the photographs. It was a heartbreaking scene for Irene because she remembered her clincher wedding with Pol, as Irene's subject for the shoot is a couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary/

Irene: Layo pa, Pol. Layo pa. Sige pa. Layo pa.


Pol: May tama pa ba to?


Irene: Meron pa. (almost breaks her voice)




2. As part of Pol's plan of making Irene remember how they met in the past, Pol re-ran what happened in the speed dating event Irene organized in 2007, where they first saw each other. When Pol finished his lines of 'jokes' when they met, Irene suddenly continued their dialogue and everyone was surprised that she remembered everything clearly. It was her confession moment that the amnesia isn't true.


Pol: Sabi ko nun, naniniwala ka ba sa love at first sight? Tapos sabi mo hindi. Kaya umalis ako. Pero binalikan kita. Sabi ko, eh sa second sight? Tapos yan ngumiti ka na..


Irene: Tapos sabi mo, sabi ko na nga ba camera ako eh. Kasi napangiti kita. Tapos sabi ko, alam mo baka hindi ka na makakauwi. Kasi nasa isip na kita. Tapos sabi mo, para kang kuto, nasa ulo ko. Tapos sabi mo..


Pol: Naalala mo na?



Irene: Kahit kelan hindi ko nakalimutan, Apollo. Hindi ako naaksidente, wala akong amnesia. Apollo, kahit kelan hindi kita nakalimutan.


Pol walks away.




3. Pol gives Irene a huge birthday bash, from 1 year old up to her 28th. There was a kiddie party, a princess like party, a debut-ish 18 roses dance and at last, Irene blows 10 or more mini cakes to reach her 28th birthday. 

Nevertheless it is a one great film that really entertained me. Hope everyone else enjoyed this one too. 

It's different when it's real: a New Year's experience

Years and years have passed but people do not change. Despite the very horrible reports on firecracker victims and the yearly reminders on what NOT to do during New Year celebration, a lot of us still ditch it. 


I have always hated the news programs that air bloody victims of firecrackers during Christmas and New Year celebrations. They always air it during primetime while everyone is, or at the very least, I am eating dinner. It really doesn't help! Aside from that, I develop some kind of an irritation to these people that never learn from what they see on TV. It is some thing that I shouldn't feel because they wouldn't care knowing.


We have been celebrating New Year every year in my grandmother's house (the mom of my mom) in San Juan, Batangas. And though we (or my relatives) are the number 1 violators of the anti-firecracker law, we see to it that no one gets hurt. I still remember the time when my late grandfather lights the kwitis even he is old. We have tried several loud firecrackers, those that are banned by the law, but so far nothing has happened. 


But welcoming 2011 was different. For the first time, a relative of mine was wounded by a kwitis. My uncle, to be exact. He was lighting a kwitis but apparently the other kwitis-es that he was holding in his other hand was lighted as well. But not all, just one.


We were at lola's house when that happened, while he was at his own. When he went to us to celebrate, he immediately showed us his bleeding finger. Yes, bleeding. But he already applied first aid, he said.
The weird thing is, he was making fun of what happened to him. He even play with my cousins and dare to touch them with his damaged finger. And then after a while, he was sitting in a corner, trying to ease the pain by grasping the balcony hard (he was sitting in the balcony). He was crying and was trying to show us that he is okay. He was already pale and shaking and was sweating hard. After a discussion, his brother rushed him to the town clinic to have it treated. 


It was bothering for me, and hopefully a lesson to everyone that we are not exempted to things like this. We were actually lucky compared to those whose body parts get removed because of firecracker explosion, or worse, die. 


I guess we'll be more strict with this next time, especially to the kids. And I'm hoping something like this won't happen again.

That's a wrap for 2010!

2010 had me the biggest changes. I definitely feel a whole new person as 2011 comes in.
I'mma do here a quick recap of how my 2010 went:


February 2010
This month, my collegiate varsity dance group staged our 2nd concert entitled VERVE II: Livin' it U.P. And I say that this is a memorable event because I handled this project. I was the Production Manager for the event and though it brought me to a lot of stress - both physical and emotional - it was all worth it. Seeing the auditorium filled with dancing feet and hands clapping up and down and meeting more people from th dance community made us all smile despite the painful preparation. We were also able to donate to Bantay Bata 163 as  they were our beneficiaries for the concert. So it was very fulfilling being the project head. 

Concert Poster :)

One of our performances in the concert

April 2010
Freedom park's grasses came back to its greenest for the 2010 Commencement Exercises. YAY! It was THE moment that completes every student. Though secretly, I did not want to graduate that early because I wanted to be part of the competing team of our varsity dance group. But of course, I cannot just drop a subject and party so I did push through. I wouldn't also want to get everyone annoyed so.. yey!!! We are finally done with school papers and exams.

                             With fellow Street Jazz graduates        My toga graduation pic

June 2010

Done with the school papers and exams but hello to more and more job interviews. I got my first job on June 2, 2010 and as I write this down, I am already a regular employee of our company. I am now working as an Accounts Executive for a Below-the-line Advertising Agency. I was really happy that I got here because this has been one of the things I like to do - putting up events and promotional activities for brands that seek our help to promote themselves. This job is great. 

Fooling with the web cam with officemates :)

Working for one of our events: Eveready Nation for Eveready Batteries

November 2010

I also had my fair share of sadness. There were very low moments with my job, actually. But of all the tears I've cried last year, this one's the greatest. For 2 years, my heart was empty and this year, I finally found him. But unfortunately, he didn't. Or shall I say, I found the wrong person. I fell in love with this close friend and got my heart broken after knowing that he loves someone else. Haaaay. Hurt is always there, I know but having found someone after 2 years of emptiness is such a wonderful thing for me. And it's really sad to know that he is still NOT the one yet. Because of this, I cried while in the jeep, in the bus, during our General Assembly, during lunch with my officemates and hell, yeah, to sleep. I have been very emotional this month but I can tell you I'm 80% back to normal.


To finish this month, I had my shortest haircut ever in my entire life. I received a lot of comments doing this - good and bad. Many are asking 'why' because they knew I had a nice hair (of course I knew that, too) but I just wanted some change of style and outlook. And of course I'd lie if I say my broken hearted state this month doesn't have to do with this. But it's not the main reason. I wanted something new. That's it.

                           Went from this hair---                                  ---to this!

Come 2011, I know I am better and stronger. And of course, everyone else's with me and Him, I know I can get through everyday, every year. 


Welcome 2011!