The Mighty Dacs

STP Manila Concert Setlist

2011-03-11T00:18:00.000+08:00

Edit this setlist | More Stone Temple Pilots setlists

I think it was a great setlist. 5 from Core, 5 from Purple, 1, from Tiny Music, 2 from No. 4, 3 from Stone Temple Pilots, and their cover on Encomium (LedZep tribute). Pretty much a good sampling, though I wish they included Big Bang Baby. I went wild the most when they started their encore with Dead & Bloated \m/

I feel another blog post over the weekend...this time with a few pics :)

Huling Gabi...Unang Araw - Paalam at Salamat, Sugarfree!

2011-03-02T09:12:00.000+08:00

Sugarfree's Farewell Concert @ Eastwood, 03.01.2011

2011-02-26T23:23:00.000+08:00

FHM.com - Quote Unquote: Sugarfree

2011-02-23T08:21:00.000+08:00

Check out the scenes at Sugarfree's final gig at Route 196 and bid farewell to the band that gave us "Mariposa" and "Burnout". (Click on the pic to visit the link.)

The Sugarfree Farewell Tour

2011-02-06T22:38:00.001+08:00

SAMAPI's Kwentuhan Sessions featuring PERYODIKO

2011-02-03T01:22:00.000+08:00

SAMAPI's Kwentuhan Sessions
featuring PERYODIKO
Pisay 01.18.2011

Lihim
Agawan Base
Tayo
Pikit
Kumapit Ka Tuwing Lunes
Bakasyon

Kwentuhan Sessions is an event of SAMAPI - Ang Samahan ng mga Manunugtog ng Pisay - a student club at the Philippine Science High School. Kwentuhan features indie artists with a story to tell; it serves as a venue for our young students to learn more about the local music scene, especially about the hardworking and talented independent artists.

Peryodiko this February 2011

2011-02-03T01:10:00.000+08:00

04 - UPIS
10 - Saguijo (for Sugarfree's last Admit1 gig)
15 - 70s Bistro
18 - UP Fair
19 - Cultural Center of the Phils.
23 - B-Side Bar

Sugarfree bids FAREWELL this February

2011-01-24T17:44:00.002+08:00

Message from the band:

     After a lot of contemplation, we have decided that it's time to say farewell to all of you. Sugarfree will always be grateful for the twelve years of love and support we received from you. Hinding hindi namin ito masusuklian. We'd like to invite all of you to our farewell tour this February. We'd love to see you to properly bid you goodbye.

     This may be farewell, but the memories, the music will live on.Mula sa Sugarfree, ang aming taus-pusong pasasalamat.

     Paalam Pilipinas!

01 (tue) - 70'S BISTRO - with ITCHYWORMS
10 (thu) - SAGUIJO - with PERYODIKO
12 (sat) - CHECKPOINT
15 (tue) - ROUTE 196 - with CIUDAD
24 (thu) - 19 EAST - with SANDWICH.

Sugarfree this January 2011

2011-01-10T20:39:00.002+08:00

Catch the last few gigs of Ebe with Sugarfree!

5 - MIDSAYAP COTABATO
19-ADMIT ONE, SAGUIJO, MAKATI
23-ILOILO CITY

Ebe

2011-01-09T01:42:00.000+08:00

I heard it on the radio this evening. Already a hothead because of Manila's horrible Saturday evening traffic, I turned into a tearful mess when I found this out:

"Dear friends, im leaving Sugarfree at the end of February. Please come to my final shows with them. Im grateful for your love and support." - Ebe Dancel

Just like the Eheads were the soundtrack of my high school days, Sugarfree has been the soundtrack of my life since my college thesis days. There were days that I'd sleep and wake up to the sound of Sa Wakas (2003) on loop on my laptop. Ang mga huling araw ko sa UP ay dumaan sa piling ng mga kantang Telepono, Mariposa, at Burnout.

Nung lumabas ang Dramachine (2004), halos kakasimula pa lang akong mag-gig nun, and I just landed my second (and current) job. The album made such an impression on me that I took to Friendster (yes, Friendster) and boldly messaged Jal and Ebe to let them know how much I appreciated the new songs. Di ko pa sila kilala nun - I was being the shameless fangirl. And the guys, being the nice people that they are, responded with appreciation, too.

Even after being blown away by their first two albums, Tala-arawan (2006) still came as a very pleasant surprise for me. Clearly, the guys were still at the top of their game. The album was so awesome for me, I was inspired to write a track by track review of it - something I don't think I ever did again for any other album.

Sugarfree's two 'orchestrated' major concerts are surrounded by some happy moments in my life. Sugarfree Live! (September 29, 2007) served as an anniversary/birthday date for Andrew and me; we had just celebrated 9 years of being together the day before, and I just celebrated my 27th birthday some two weeks prior. Dekada (August 28, 2009) was the same - an awesome anniversary/birthday date again for us (this time, it was Andrew who had just celebrated his birthday some two weeks before).

If Ebe's first album with Sugarfree served as my thesis soundtrack, his last album with them, Mornings and Airports (2009) served as my wedding planning soundtrack. I even considered using "Feels Like" during our reception entrance or AVP, but ended up using "Prom" (the live one with MSO) instead.

When NU signed off for the very last time last November, I braced myself for the next musical heartache I'd have to go through, and I worried that if it were Sugarfree that was next to go, it would hurt like hell all over again.

Knowing that the voice and heart behind most of their songs is leaving the band was heartbreaking. It makes it just a little less sad to know that the guys will still go on - Ebe as Ebe, and Sugarfree (Jal, Kaka, and ?) as Sugarfree. Mamimiss ko lang marining ang boses ni Ebe kasama ang bass ni Jal at drums ni Kaka/Mitch; mamimiss ko lang makita silang tatlo on the same stage sa gigs. Mitch left the band years back, and now Ebe is also moving on. Whatever it is Jal has in mind about the band, I wish him and Kaka the best.

And so, their music will live on. And yeah, these guys are sticking around. We'll just have to get used to not seeing them together anymore.

Sa Sugarfree, salamat sa patuloy niyong pagbigay ng kulay sa buhay sa mga nagmamahal sa inyo. Whatever else it is in store for the band, I'm sure to still be there to support you.

Kay Ebe, alam mo siguro kung gaano ko kamahal ang iyong musika. Alam kong hindi ka titigil sa paglikha ng mga kwento at kanta. At alam kong hindi rin ako titigil sa paghanga sa iyong talento. Ganun din sa iyo, whatever else is in store for you, I'll always be a supportive friend and fan :)

Sugarfree's Christmas Party!

2010-12-08T21:48:00.003+08:00

Follow Sugarfree on Twitter, like them on Facebook!
http://twitter.com/WeAreSugarfree
http://twitter.com/ebedancel
http://www.facebook.com/wearesugarfree
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ebe-Dancel/193570561635
http://www.facebook.com/jalski

Rock the Riles 2010

2010-12-08T21:11:00.001+08:00

Rock the Riles 2010: Complete Line-Up (updated daily)!

3 Headed Dog 2011 Tour ng Pilipinas!

2010-12-01T23:40:00.000+08:00

Check it out on Facebook.

Life After NU

2010-11-09T01:27:00.006+08:00

The vigil to NU's final sign-off was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Never have I heard of a radio station closing to the sound of its fans, listeners, friends cheering it on as if their cheers could bring it back to life. When the final notes of Lupang Hinirang were done, people just stood around, as if waiting for an encore.

Right now, there's a pretty big void in all of us that cannot - maybe might not ever - be filled :( A big NOW WHAT hovers above us, as a lot of us even tuned in to the 107.5 frequency just to hear the static after that midnight sign off.

NOW WHAT. Sino na magtutugtog ng mga kantang sa NU mo lang talaga maririnig? Sino na ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga independent at up-and-coming rock artists na marinig ang kanta nila sa radyo? Kanya-kanyang kayod na tayo sa pag-alam ng mga bagong kanta sa mundo ng rock n' roll.

Sure, some radio stations have shows that feature rock, as well as fresh OPM rock artists. But no other station before NU featured rock 24/7. Some folks are putting their hopes on UR 105.9...I guess we'll just have to see from here.

But losing NU is not just about losing the music. It's also as if we've lost some friends - the DJs who we pester for our requests, or to whom we just listen to having their interesting conversations on air. I'll admit I hardly know half the current DJs of NU, but I was totally in love with the DJs of the 90's. Though I've long said goodbye to them, it's still sad to know that you'll NEVER EVER hear them again playing your favorite rock n' roll songs.

Like I said in previous posts, matagal na akong hindi nakikinig sa NU, excpet for Remote Control Weekend. So maybe some would say, what's the difference between that and just picking the songs you listen to on your music player? Iba pa rin kasi yung alam mong hindi lang ikaw yung gustong makarinig nung kantang iyon. Kaya kapag Remote Control Weekend, it's all the more special when a favorite song of mine gets played, and it wasn't me who requested it.

So yeah, I will definitely miss the Home of NU Rock. The frequency's back on, by the way. This evening, I caught it playing some 80's hits, which I found were ok to listen to. But then Jose Mari Chan's "Perfect Christmas" came on, and I groaned and I groaned and I groaned. And then I felt sad.

- - - - -

It was a minute before midnight when the first chords of "Ang Huling El Bimbo" sounded off from NU. Standing outside the station in an Eheads t-shirt, I froze in place, hearing a song from a band that I love that isn't around anymore - just like the radio station I love that isn't around anymore. And it made me happy and proud that the jocks chose a very fitting Eheads song for their goodbye. I really felt like crying, but I held back the tears and chose to be happy instead that I was there to share the moment with all the people who loved NU107.

To NU107, I will be eternally grateful for your being a part of my teenage years. Thank you for the great music, and for keeping me company during the most memorable years of my life. To the DJs and staff of the Station That Rocked the Nation, thank you so much for giving us the music we loved. And to the listeners of NU, may we never lose our love for rock n' roll \m/

http://mightydacs98.multiply.com/photos/album/92/11.07.2010_Paalam_NU_107

P.S. Para medyo kwela naman yung ending...

Like I said, after the sign-off, people hovered about the station still. Right outside the station windows, people were standing to have a look at the slowly emptying station one last time. Sabi ng kasama kong si Jerome, kulang na lang punasan nila yung glass ng mga panyo nila, para bang santo :P And others were also saying na parang may lamay, as in viewing ng patay, kasi people were trickling into the station itself to stalk whichever DJs they wanted to see, or to take pictures of the booth while the NU staff were fixing up the stuff there.

This was how I came to know of NU107 and rock music

2010-11-05T02:00:00.001+08:00

I was in 7th grade, waiting in my school bus after dismissal time. One of the oldest students in the bus was a high school girl (junior or senior), so she always sat in the passenger's seat as well as had control of the bus radio.

I noticed she liked to listen to the station 107.5, which played noisy music. After this initial exposure to NU, I realized I liked this noisy music. I believe one of the first (if not THE first) songs I heard on NU was Dig's "Believe", a song which I still love to pieces up to this day.

I think my love for rock n' roll was born of my desire to impress my grade school crush, who was into this noisy music. At that time, all I listened to was 96.3 Lite Rock :D So I asked my seatmate then what radio station he listens to. I think he mentioned 97.1 LS, so I tried listening to that. And since I was being adventurous, I decided to check out that 107.5 station I heard in the school bus.

As I entered high school, I left behind my grade school crush, but my love for rock n' roll was here to stay. NU107 was my life. It was there that I learned more about rock; it was there that I got to know all the great alternative acts of the 90's (with a lot of help from MTV, too, which I discovered around the same time I discovered NU - by the way, MTV, for me, has died a long time ago). It was just so awesome that the rise of the Eheads, Wolfgang, Yano, Datu's Tribe, Color It Red, Teeth, and all those great acts from the 90's coincided with my high school years - arguably the most memorable years in a person's life. To have these bands' songs as the soundtrack to my teenage years was the best thing ever. And to have NU107 feed me this rock n' roll, especially from the local scene, was just sweet.

Now, it's just BITTERSWEET that NU, like all good things, has to end.

I've outgrown NU for quite a while now. I've lost the patience to listen to new songs; I'm not as receptive as I was back in high school. But I still tune in during Remote Control Weekends when they play the songs I love from the 90's. So when I initially heard of NU's demise, I was saddened, but not heartbroken. But listening to NU now that it's on it's last week and all the shows are saying goodbye one by one and they play the radio ads from my high school days, it's just too much to bear. Every 90's song they play lifts my spirit and breaks my heart at the same time. Even though I've been over NU for years now, it still feels as if a part of me is dying.

If NU107 has touched your life the way it has touched mine, be there on November 7 for 107 Candles for NU107 (see the Facebook event page). One last hurrah for the station that rocked the nation.

P.S. To that high school girl who unknowingly introduced me to the Home of NU Rock, thank you. You actually changed my life :)

Memories of NU107

2010-10-26T01:54:00.003+08:00

Just some random NU memories of mine...

Listening to the New Music Challenge on the way to school. I still remember it was there that I first heard and loved Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy". There she was, like disco superfly.

Listening to the Gang Bang on Friday(?) mornings with my friend, Sam. I think we had a first period break that was why we could catch the show even if it was a school day. It was during these times that we set our dreams of being at least part of the station's cleaning crew, just so we could hang out/see the cool rock stars there. Turns out our other friend, Christi, would have a short stint as an NU jock. Taob ang cleaning crew dreams namin :))

I miss the Z-Rock 50, Zach and Joey in the Morning, Mr. SLaH (Sex, Love, and Happiness) - who I believe eventually became a DJ too, for a while)...

My first NU Rock Awards was in '98. I tagged along with my sis-in-law and her friends. It was still by-invite-only, and it was held at the Limits Disco in Ortigas. I was sooooo starstruck by all the rockers. Being inches away from Joey Pepe Smith was surreal. But my moment that night was seeing Basti Artadi for the first time - I still remember how I was rendered speechless and motionless by the sight :P When he won Vocalist of the Year, I think I was able to touch his hand as he made his way through the crowd with a high-five. I also loved Zach's Mulan get-up, and his hosting stint with Joey was the best.

I also clearly remember Rock Awards X. I was so happy and proud to see Sugarfree bag the Best New Artist award, and to watch Urbandub, Cynthia Alexander, The Mongols, and Razorback take the stage.

I miss the commercials back when Zach was still there. I love Christmas time when they play Cheech and Chong.

It was on NU that I first heard Hanson's "Mmm Bop" :)) And Kid Rock and Eminem, too.

I listened religiously to the year-end countdown. Amidst the festivities at home, my ear was plugged into the countdown, as I diligently wrote down each song at each rank. Anti-social, it made me :P

And the best part was Remote Control Weekend. That's the only reason I'd listen to NU now. Somehow, I've lost my love for the station. I hardly have the patience to listen to new songs. But I'd always have Remote Control Weekend on.

Growing up in the 90's was awesome. It was made all the more sweet having the Eraserheads, Wolfgang, and all that 90's rock n roll on NU107.

Too bad it has to go away soon.

Pisay-vivor: The 2010 PSHS Homecoming

2010-08-30T22:39:00.004+08:00

Photobooth...lechon...free-flowing SanMig...GSM open bar...The Dawn!

Sounds hella good to me ;) Sino pupunta?!

From the event page - Philippine Science High School 2010 Annual Homecoming: Pisay-vivor!

On Saturday, September 4, the gates will officially open at 5:30pm for registration.

On site, there will be a funcam and photo booth where everyone can have souvenir photos taken with their favorite Pisay people, using survivor-themed props and backdrop.

A buffet of native barbecue, lechon, local delicacies, free-flowing San Miguel Beer, and a GSM open bar await everyone.

The party will be hosted by Batch 85 El Presidente, Farley Aguila, Batch 2000 Representative David Sta. Maria and guest host Nina Jose. Official PSHS business, i.e. annual teacher awards, National Alumni Association elections will be the first order of the evening. Afterwards, Batch ‘85 promises party-all-night with live bands and DJs. The highlight of the party will be music from the ‘80s, performed by The Dawn with lead singer Jet Pangan.

Click the link above and register online! You don't want to waste precious time in the long queue for that ;)

Twisted Halo's "Public Service Announcement"

2010-05-28T02:05:00.000+08:00

Will forever love these guys.

Twisted Halo's last single and video, directed by RA Rivera. Grabbed from RA's YouTube.

Catch Twisted Halo at the Sunday Grabe Sunday reunion at saGuijo on June 1!

Wolfgang's PLUG & PLAY @ White Space, Makati City 05/15/10

2010-05-10T17:51:00.001+08:00

Tears for Fears ROCKED Manila!!!

2010-05-04T17:52:00.006+08:00

Tagged along as a newbie fan, came out as a believer :) Awesome experience! Could've been tons better, too, if we had good seats, haha!

I've NEVER seen Araneta THIS PACKED! @_@

Pictures - http://mightydacs98.multiply.com/photos/album/88/05.02.2010_Tears_for_Fears_Araneta

Videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/dacs98#grid/user/87D702FAEC0C854A (or you can search the Videos tab of my Multiply, too)

Kurt

2010-04-06T02:48:00.003+08:00

Sixteen years ago, this was on the news...

Kurt, you were a pretty messed up guy (understatement, yeah), but you were a genius, and even if I hardly knew you then, I love you, and I'll never ever get over your loss. I guess I just choose not to move on.

We miss you, Layne

2010-04-06T02:47:00.002+08:00

Layne Staley (August 22, 1967 - April 5, 2002)

Do check out the whole set of Alice In Chains' MTV Unplugged; it's one of the most awesome live shows ever.

Fave Movie: "Forrest Gump" (1994)

2010-03-27T21:26:00.001+08:00

Some reasons I love Forrest Gump, my most favorite movie of ALL time.

The age of innocence. I was in transition from grade school to high school when this came out. I was as innocent as Forrest :P Watching the movie now as an adult, there were quite a couple of oh- and ah-moments, like when Forrest attacked Jenny's boyfriend in college, I really thought they (Jenny and her guy) were fighting :))

The Feather Theme I considered using this track during my wedding.

Jenny's hippie phase. Dun ako namulat sa existence ng mga hippie, at ang astig nilang porma. I think this is where I first fell in love with Volkswagen kombi. Actually I love Jenny's fashion sense throughout the whole movie.

The soundtrack. Free Bird, Break on Through (to the Other Side), Mrs. Robinson, Turn, Turn, Turn, Sweet Home Alabama, and other songs through the decades na recently ko rin lang nakilala at narealize na nandun pala sa movie.

Gary Sinise. I will forever love Lt. Dan.

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History meets Forrest. Love how Forrest's story was integrated into so many historical moments. Especially loved that interview Forrest had where John Lennon was also a guest, and supposedly that was how the lyrics to "Imagine" came up. Or how Elvis picked up his moves from young Forrest. Or how the bumper sticker guy and the t-shirt guy got their ideas from running Forrest. Panalo.

Little Haley Joel Osment. So cute!

The lines...

Lt. Dan: Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?
Forrest: I didn't know we were supposed to be looking for him, sir.

Forrest: "Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks."

And that's all I have to say about that :)

Di masyadong perpektong tatsulok :D

2010-03-12T18:48:00.000+08:00

I'd like to thank Sir Martin, Joker, and AKSIS for inviting us (me, Sir Gerson, and Sir Guce) to be judges as well as performers at Sigaw 2. We had fun.

Nerves got to me, as usual, but I enjoyed our gig :D

First, we did dongabay's "Perpekto", from their album "Flipino" - a definite OPM gem.

PERPEKTO (lyrics)

Then, we did Buklod's "Tatsulok". Actually the song came into my consciousness via Bamboo; I believe it was a good cover - updated, for the youth. I prefer Buklod's version, though. This video here is just Noel Cabangon (1/2 of Buklod), performing the song in Europe.

TATSULOK (lyrics)

If any of the kids got a video of our performance, give me a heads up please :)

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Handsome Men's Club

2010-03-10T00:07:00.002+08:00

RDJ's missing but this is still so awesome :P

Music Video: "This Too Shall Pass" by OK Go (2010)

2010-03-10T00:05:00.000+08:00

From the guys on treadmills that brought you this, comes another genius music vid!

Fave Song: "Estranged" by Guns N' Roses (1993)

2010-03-03T00:35:00.001+08:00

This song made me love GnR; one of my most favorite songs ever! 7th grade...life was so much simpler back then :P 90's rock was the best music to grow up to...

Jason Castro Live at the Ayala Malls this March!

2010-03-02T08:19:00.000+08:00

From Warner Music Philippines:

JASON CASTRO LIVE AT THE AYALA MALLS THIS MARCH!

“Let’s Just Fall In Love Again” A Sweet-Summer-Lovin’ Tune Off His ‘Love Uncompromised’ EP

Those who watched Jason Castro on the seventh season of American Idol are by now familiar with his likeably down-to-earth personality and aw-shucks demeanor. When he opens his mouth to sing, it’s like watching a totally different person. Any off-beat quirkiness seems to fall away when his authentic maturity and spell-binding voice melts the hearts of every listener.

This March get mesmerized while Jason Castro belts out colorful summer lovin’ tunes in Manila! You’re in for a sweet summer and post-Valentine treat from Warner Music Philippines and the The Ayala Malls as Jason Castro is looking forward to serenading his Manila & Cebu fans.

Catch him live at these series of shows:

March 18 – Trinoma
March 19 – Glorietta 5
March 20 – Ayala Center Cebu
March 21 – Market! Market!

Castro—A multi-talented singer and guitarist, was among the most popular and talented artists in American Idol history, entering the record books as the first contestant to play an instrument on the show. His performance of the Leonard Cohen-penned classic “Hallelujah” proved such an audience favorite that the late, great Jeff Buckley’s rendition of the song hit #1 on the iTunes chart the following week, selling an astonishing 178,000 digital singles. Jason scored a chart-topping single of his own a few weeks later with his interpretation of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” which also hit #1 on iTunes after a show-stopping performance of the song on American Idol. Upon the season’s conclusion, Castro was among the stars of the hugely successful “American Idols LIVE! 2008 Tour 2008”

The 22-year-old Texan earned himself a devoted fan base eager to hear what he would do once freed to perform his own songs. Those folks will get their chance with the release of Castro’s self-titled debut album on Atlantic Records. His season’s winner, David Cook, and runner-up, David Archuleta, both released debut albums about six months after the season finale. But no one rushed Jason Castro to pin down his style, and he certainly didn’t rush himself. It’s among the most sure-footed records, debut or otherwise, by an “Idol” contestant from any season. Partly that’s because Mr. Castro has had time to marinate, and to woodshed.

The heydays of the two David’s are over, it’s time to make way for Jason Castro’s music to fill the days of your summer and forward. Coming soon the Philippines is his The Love Uncompromised EP, a prelude to a full album this set to be released at a later date under Warner Music Philippines. For now you can enjoy “Let’s Just Fall In Love Again” on you cell phone and get the heart-on-sleeve and toe-tapping pop ringtune when you text JC to 5677!

Jason Castro Live at the Ayala Malls is brought to you by Warner Music Philippines & The Ayala Malls!

Earthquake in Chile and my Elliott is there... :(

2010-02-27T18:38:00.000+08:00

It's all over the news now. 8.8 magnitude quake hit Chile early Saturday morning there. I found out about it while reading Elliott Yamin's Twitter. He's been there for a couple of days now for some huge festival. Excited pa naman siya na nandun siya. But he's safe though. CNN has broadcasted his tweets, and NBC and ABC are putting him on and making him world correspondent. Nakuha pa niyang itweet, "If singing doesn't work out..." Hehehe. That's why we love him so :)

Keep safe, Elliott! My prayers, too, for the people of Chile.

Al Gore in Manila! April 30,2010, SMX Convention Center, MOA Complex

2010-02-26T18:07:00.002+08:00

"Man Like Me" by Robert Downey, Jr.

2010-02-22T16:21:00.000+08:00

I love RDJ, the actor.

I love RDJ, the singer.

I love RDJ. Period.

Jason Castro's coming to the Philippines!

2010-02-09T08:02:00.001+08:00

My current LSS :)

Jason tweeted that he'll be coming to the Philippines mid-March! I didn't get to watch Kris :( But I hope I'll get to see Jason.

Trivia: Jason just got married! (A day before I did :P)

Peryodiko Shirts!

2010-02-02T17:56:00.002+08:00

P250 (black shirt)

P200 (white shirt)

For inquiries and orders, please visit JEEPNEY ROCK STOP.

Cebu Dancing Inmates MTV Version Michael Jackson They Don't Care About Us

2010-02-02T17:39:00.000+08:00

Grabbed from loopzero1 on YouTube:

I love it!

Great advice for staying in love (Happy one month to us tomorrow!)

2010-02-02T17:28:00.001+08:00

Reposted from my Facebook:

On this day of your life, we believe God wants you to know...that a successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Always with the same person, but deeper and deeper every time. Each time on a whole new level you together open in love and discover the truth of your beloved anew. There is no limit to the beauty of your beloved. If you think you've reached the end, stop generalizing.

- - - - -

Andrew and I will be celebrating our first month as husband and wife tomorrow :) It's just the very beginning of our married life, what they call the honeymoon stage. But I guess if you want that stage to last, or to at least happen more often than once, the advice above is perfect :)

House chores over school work...?

2010-02-02T17:12:00.000+08:00

I never thought I'd ever pick house chores over school work. Hehehe.

One of the big changes in my life from being single to double is that I have to do a big share of household chores now

Now that I am starting to manage my own household, I am totally missing Annie, our family's superwoman helper, around. Annie has been with us since I was in Grade 4 (so that's as early as 1990...). She does everything sooo well - clean the house, cook our meals, do our laundry, take care of our pets. We'd be totally crippled when she'd go on a vacation (which was rare) - though those were the times we'd get to learn some housekeeping skills, hehe.

Now, I have my own place to keep spic and span for my husband. One piece of advice that my mom would tell me and my sisters over and over again was to keep the house nice and comfy so that our hubbies would always love to come home after a crazy day at work.

I'm trying my best, but it's still quite a challenge for me, especially since I'm the best time manager in the universe Just like with school work, there's always a lot to do, and you tend to do first the things you'd like to do, not necessarily the things that need doing. And speaking of school work, I seem to be favoring lately fixing up at home rather than doing work-related stuff, hehehe.

My latest adventure in household chores? Watching YouTube videos of how to iron clothes I found this one pretty useful, maybe you'd like to check it out, hahaha - How to Iron Pants.

Prayers for Papa

2010-01-25T23:04:00.000+08:00

On our third week as husband and wife, our first challenge has arrived...

Andrew's Papa suffered a stroke last Saturday morning. He is now confined at the IMCU (intermediate medical care unit) of Capitol Medical Center. He's conscious but cannot speak nor move his right limbs.

Doctors have been optimistic, saying that Papa can regain his motor and speech skills through therapy. But, of course, the road will be long and bumpy. We're gonna need all the strength and blessings that God will provide us; our faith in the Lord and in each other will help us get through this somehow.

Wedding Pics & Vids So Far...

2010-01-25T22:51:00.005+08:00

Mrs. Pinlac for 3 weeks now :)

More wedding pics from friends and family

Wedding photo booth shots

Wedding reception AVP - his, hers, our moments

Our wedsite: dacsanddrew.multiply.com

Isa na akong ganap na QC girl...

2010-01-16T02:22:00.001+08:00

I've been living in and out of Quezon City for half of my life. Now, I finally call it home.

My days as a student and now as a teacher have mostly been spent in Quezon City. Pisay freshman in 1994; dormer from 1994-1996. UP freshman in 1998; Katipunan dormer from 2001-2003. Pisay teacher since 2004. So basically, I spend most of my waking hours during weekdays in QC, then go home to the south (first it was Pasay, then Paranaque) at the end of the day (or week).

But last January 4, 2010, a day after I married my QC boy of 11 years, I officially called QC "HOME".

Andrew and I are now settling into our home in Kamuning. Things are topsy-turvy because of all the construction and cleaning up going on, but it's still HOME.

For the longest time during my engagement to Andrew, I was so excited about the prospect of finally living in QC because a lot of the things that matter to me are here - my friends, my work, the gigs that I love to go to. Even my girl friends were excited for me because I could finally go out with them for late night drinks without having to worry that Andrew would still bring me home to faraway Paranaque.

But, of course, I miss the South. I've lived in Pasay and Paranaque since I was 5 years old; prior to that I was a little Baguio girl. Since 2000, BF Homes Paranaque has been my home. No matter how far it is from my friends and my work, BF was a sanctuary for me. Things are just starting to develop over there, so a lot of the sights and sounds are fresh. It's not as populated as QC, so it's relatively peaceful and homey. And the home that my parents built is definitely a place that I will miss going home to.

No worries, though, because Saturdays are usually family day, so I'll still get to see my sibs and parents, our longtime helper Annie, our cute Pomeranian Bubba, my messy blue room with the assorted CDs, posters, books, papers, and clothes lying around, and my Michael Jackson shirt hanging behind the door...(actually by now medyo inayos na yun ng nanay ko hahaha).

I'll definitely miss my home in the South, but QC is where I belong now :)

Sucker for Sap: "Don't Cry Joni", "Honey", "Mr. Lonely"

2009-12-27T12:50:00.002+08:00

These are some of the songs I remember hearing as a child, when Amma (my grandma) would listen to the radio.

They're sappy as hell, but I love them :P

Suddenly remembered them today because I heard "Don't Cry Joni" on the radio playing outside hehe.

"Don't Cry Joni" by Conway Twitty & Joni Twitty (1975)

Saw a pretty interesting sequel to this song, check it out.

"Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro (1968)

"Mr. Lonely" by Bobby Vinton (1964)

This song kinda became popular again in the early 90's when Bush Sr. launched the Gulf War. As I searched for it on YouTube today, just found out that Akon sampled it in one of his recent songs (haven't heard that yet though; not interested either.)

Tik Tok Rok (Rock for Climate Action!) @ Marikina Riverbanks Amphitheater on 12/12/09

2009-12-08T23:28:00.002+08:00

12.dec.2009 – 3pm-3am
Marikina Riverbanks, Ampitheatre

Join us to make this global day of action. The world wants a real climate deal!

For more info, call 4330359, text 09326779319
Or visit http://tiktokpilipinas.com/tok/

Wolfgang's Hit and Run: The awesome night that was

2009-12-03T11:37:00.004+08:00

3 A's to describe last night: Anlupit. Ambangis. Ang AWESOME.

Front acts were great: Playphonics, Salamin, Loquy. Got to appreciate Playphonics and Salamin this second time I got to see them, while it was my first Loquy gig. As usual, Kevin Roy had the best in-between-song hirits, hehe. Sancho is a guitar genius!

In terms of setlist, this was probably the best gig since they kinda-broke-up-and-got-back-together. Check it out (thanks to Benj for posting the setlist):

1. The Beast
2. What Grows In Your Garden Now
3. As Oceans
4. Very Free
5. A Revolution Now
6. Man 98
7. Bassarab's Walk
8. Mata Ng Diyos
9. NO FALTER!
10. Halik Ni Hudas
11. Trenta
12. Arise
13. Left Alone
14. Atomica
15. Love And Despair
16. Molds
17. Aching Tree
18. Darkness Fell
19. Shoulders Of Cain
20. Weightless
21. Diaspora
22. Ilang Alon Ang Dala
23. Natutulog Kong Mundo
*Manuel's guitar string breaks*

24. Roadworthy Man
25. Tulisan

Encore:
Sanctified

I was totally psyched when they played Very Free, Sanctified, Roadworthy Man, Weightless, and MAN98!

Maybe the only other post-hiatus gig that tops this one was Alive 2007 - that one had it over Hit and Run in terms of crowd response, the excitement of anticipation (this gig sorta ended their hiatus), and the fact that Razorback shared the stage with them.

Nobody - NOBODY - comes close to Wolfgang when it comes to rocking out. (Razorback doesn't count - it's just wrong to compare those two bands, it's like pitting twin brothers against each other, hehe.)

I usually thrive on taking gig pics, but for Hit and Run, it was an exercise in futility from where we stood - at the bar, corner of the room, far far away from the stage. But I didn't fret about that at all - to experience Wolfgang with your own two eyes and not through the camera lens was waaay better.

It was a pretty physical gig for me. Since we were far and everybody else stood in front of us, I had to stand on the footrest at the bar to see the band. Doing that required me to keep my balance on the aircon beside me and the bar behind me, thus limiting my fist-pumping and foot-stomping, though I could still headbang. 19East is still a small venue, though, so "far from the band" isn't really THAT far. I so love small, intimate bar gigs.

Speaking of physical, my ordeal was nothing compared to what the guys had to endure - especially Francis Aquino. With his arms flying across the drumkit for 25+1 songs, I totally marvelled at his stamina the whole night. Manuel's guitar licks were a treat to watch (as long as I could see them above all the heads in the crowd, hehe). Mon was farther form me than any other band member, so I was simply contented to hear his basslines and see him smile once in a while. And, of course, I will forever love Sebastian Artadi - Pinoy rock god in his own right.

Wolfgang is one of the primary reasons I am very thankful for being a kid of the 90s (guess what other band would be another reason). I was in first year high school when I first heard their music. Got to love them more in college because my guy Andrew is a big fan. And now, I am old enough - curfew free and salaried - to watch their breathtaking, heartstopping live performances :)

Lemme take this opportunity to thank my fiance, Andrew, for wanting to watch this gig. I initially decided to let it pass because of financial and schedule constraints, but Andrew's answer to my question, "Manonood ba tayo?" - "Oo, Wolfgang yan eh!" - sealed the deal :P And, of course, he's my perpetual gigging partner and driver (hehe), so without him, I wouldn't have witnessed the gig in its entirety.

Finally, let me thank WOLFGANG for filling our lives with awesome Pinoy rock. Thank you for coming back to us when we thought we had lost you. Thank you for putting up such a spectacular show last night. Though the chances to see you are few and far between, gigs like Hit and Run are enough to fill my cup :)

Ok, tama na, super haba na nito, emo pa sa dulo :D

P.S. Lines of the night by Basti:
"T******* Twilight yan, I just don't get it." (as a segue to Bassarab's Walk)
"I feel whiter and gay each day." (referring to the Glutamax ad - SLEX people, you know what I'm talking about)

Wolfgang's HIT & RUN @ 19 East Sucat 12/01/09

2009-11-29T00:14:00.001+08:00

Info from Facebook:

WOLFGANG
One night only. Live in Manila
with special performances from Loquy, Playphonics & Salamin
Gates Open 8 pm
Show Starts at 10 pm
Strictly S.R.O.

Limited tickets available!
First come, first served

Pls contact the Wolfgang Hotlines now at
0915 621 2189
0906 103 5333
or jeepneyrockstop.multiply.com for tickets and other queries

Tickets are also on sale at E Music Studio (formerly known as Pipeline Studios) at the basement of Oppen Building, 349 Gil Puyat Ave, Makati City. For queries, call 8848747

Tickets are now on sale at 19 East Bar!

Ticket Price : P 909 each

Mon's invite:

Manuel's invite:

Echoes of Dreams: A concert to help the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng

2009-11-29T00:11:00.002+08:00

(Grabbed from dcloud on YouTube)

Greetings of Peace!

Thank you for taking time to read this letter.Through this letter, we wish to inform you that we are staging a benefit concert entitled “Echoes of Dreams” on November 30, 7 to 9p.m, at the Araneta Coliseum. This concert will help us raise the much-needed funds and enable us to continue our projects to benefit underprivileged children and those who were heavily devastated by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

“Echoes of Dreams” will be participated by our very own world-class performer—Ms. Lea Salonga together with world-class musicians—the Manila Symphony Orchestra, to be conducted by Maestro Arturo Molina. But the main highlight of the show will be the performances of the talented artists from our partner organizations. We’ll have Tum Tum Mendoza—a world-renowned Marimba player who has Autism, together with the ILLC Kids, the Black Theater Group of the SELF Therapeutic Community, the Payatas Kids of the Interact Club of Rotary Makati-Rockwell and the Center for Arts Ensemble. We will also set a Guinness World Record for the largest children’s choir performing in a live concert to be performed by Fusion Excel International’s Hope for Children Choir as coordinated by the Friends of the Divine Mercy.

Special celebrity guests will join like,Classical Artists—Pinky Marquez and Allan Dale, Pop Belter--Frenchy Dy, New Pop Sensation—Myrus, Vocal Groups--The Tux andAngelos, songwriter and hit-maker—Top Suzara, Pop-Rock Artist—Mike Chan, Alternative Band—Peryodiko, International Jazz Artist—Stella Ignacio, Blind Child Singer—Fatima Soriano, Matinee Idols—Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera and a lot more surprise guests. Hosting the event is Ms. Cory Quirino. (Please check the poster above for more information)

“Echoes of Dreams” is the most suitable title for our benefit concert because the marginalized sectors we represent are those whose voices have been shut by their disabilities, whose thoughts cannot be articulated, and whose dreams were stolen by poverty, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The show is being organized by the Center for Arts Foundation, Inc. (CAFI), in cooperation with the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), the Self Enhancement for Life Foundation (SELF), the Immaculate Heart in Memoriam (IHM), the Independent Living Learning Center (ILLC), the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND), Yes Pinoy Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Makati-Rockwell. These organizations have joined forces to make a strong impact in the society by advocating equality and support for the disabled, the reformed, the abused, and the helpless children.

In this regard, we would like to request for your invaluable support by watching the event.Tickets are very very affordable. Please help us promote the show as well and make November 30 your "Official Charity Day".Please log on to our website for more information, just click http://echoesofdreams.org/

Please email back for ticket reservations. Or buy your tickets at all Ticketnet Outlets in all SM Department Stores or at the Araneta Coliseum Box Office, or call 911-5555.

Remember, you are not only going to be entertained by our country's best artists but you will also be helping so many underprivileged children.

Thank you in advance for your overwhelming support to this worthwhile and noble endeavor.

Sincerely,

Jerome Vinarao
President & Artistic Director
Center for Arts Foundation

Efren Penaflorida: CNN Hero of 2009

2009-11-28T22:22:00.001+08:00

Watching the special right now on CNN, an all-star tribute to the top ten CNN Heroes of 2009.

It's very touching to hear these inspiring stories of everyday people having an extraordinary impact on the world around them.

I admit that I didn't participate in the online voting for Efren (sorry about that :( ), but I really am proud of what he has achieved. The AVP shown before his initial speech was very touching. A lot of us city kids take for granted our right and privilege to go to school. Heck, a lot of school kids actually hate the place and all it stands for. Which is a sad reality, really, because a lot of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the country do not have this golden opportunity to better themselves and their future.

Thank God for good souls like Efren. We really should be proud of him, of his faith in these kids, and of his motivation to build better Filipino futures.

Mabuhay si Efren Penaflorida! Mabuhay ang pusong Pinoy :)

Orianthi

2009-11-10T23:18:00.002+08:00

To the general public (myself included), she's probably known as Michael Jackson's "This Is It" pretty guitarist.

Get to know more about this awesome guitar-slugging gal:
Official Site | YouTube | MySpace

Her debut single sounds Kelly Clarkson, but knowing that those are her fingers shredding out the guitar parts gives it a whole lot more oomph @_@

Here's some stuff about her from her MySpace:
"At 24 years old, Orianthi has already experienced what most aspiring musicians only dream of. She's opened for her hero (Steve Vai), backed an Idol (Carrie Underwood), traded solos with a legend (Carlos Santana) and shared the stage with the King of Pop (Michael Jackson). What's left to conquer? The world stage, for one, and this guitar wunderkind has her sights clearly set on the road ahead."

From CNN.com: Jackson guitarist Orianthi taking spotlight

"That one last shot's a permanent vacation..." :( Steven Tyler 'quits' Aerosmith?

2009-11-10T23:16:00.001+08:00

Aerosmith turmoil amid Tyler 'quit' reports

My 3 favorite songs/vids of the band - the Alicia Silverstone series - mostly because this was when I got to know their music. Watching them now brings me back to 7th grade and the 90's - babydoll dresses paired with Doc Martens! Ah...life was SOOO much simpler back then :P

Crazy (1994) (In the director's cut, Jason London - from the Amazing video - makes a cameo at the end of this video)

Cryin' (1993) (Si Stephen Dorff pala yung boyfriend niya dun, at si Josh Holloway yung nagnakaw ng bag niya...ngayon ko lang nalaman hehe)

Amazing (1993) (It was only a few years ago that I discovered that Jason is the same cute guy who plays John Leguizamo's love interest in To Wong Foo)

Fave MJ moves

2009-11-10T23:15:00.001+08:00

I'm not a fan of dance, but I do love MJ's moves.

Here are my top 7 favorite Michael Jackson moves. Most of them are from the Dangerous era, because that's when I really got to know and love MJ's music.

7. Will You Be There (Music Video, 1993)
This is one of my top 5 MJ songs. I love the sign-language moves of the backup singers in the video, as well as MJ's dance during the instrumental part.

6. Black or White (Music Video, 1991)
I'm not actually fond of the song, but I love the video because of how MJ infused his own style into different cultural dances.

5. Remember the Time (Music Video, 1992)
Iman is so beautiful! And the dance scene with all the Egyptian moves was cool.

4. Blood on the Dance Floor (Music Video, 1997)
There are so many things I love about this video: the red suit, the braided ponytail, Susie and the lamp, Mike and the maracas, Susie and Mike doing the salsa.

3. Billie Jean (Live - 30th Anniversary, 2001)
The moonwalk is MJ's trademark move. It may not be an original, but he certainly made it HIS. This, for me, is his best performance of Billie Jean.

2. Smooth Criminal (Live - Dangerous Tour, 1992-1993)
This one's from his Dangerous tour. Love the song. Love the suit. Love the intro. Love the theatrics. Love the moves.

1. Dangerous (Live)
I have no idea where this performance is from. I just discovered it on YouTube after Mike died. In the weeks after his death, I probably watched that video 50 times. It's the hottest dance of MJ ever.

Peryodiko November 2009 gigsked + "Agawan Base" music video

2009-11-10T23:11:00.003+08:00

From the mailing list:

Here's Peryodiko's gig sked for November:

Nov. 7: Guerilla radio, Pasig
Nov. 18: Admit One anniversary @ saGuijo (Cambio, Sugarfree, Peryodiko, Duster, Pedicab, Sandwich, Imago, Zach&theActionPact, Chicosci, and Teeth!)
Nov. 20: QC Circle for NOVAWLUTION (an anti-violence against women gig featuring a LOT of artists!)
Nov. 21: Route 196
Nov. 23: radio guesting @ 99.5 RT (11am)
Nov. 23: UP balaw kalinaw
Nov. 24: 70s Bistro
Nov. 27: RepubLikha fundraising @ magnet high street (check out www.republikha. org)
Nov. 30: Araneta Coliseum: Echoes of Dreams (a benefit concert featuring Lea Salonga, Peryodiko, MSO, and other artists!)

Check out their video for "Agawan Base"!

Grabbed from Warhamsterxxx on YouTube:

This video was directed by Rember Gelera. It features Peryodiko's first single which was written by Vin Dancel, and produced by Robin Rivera.

Producers: The Thirdline, Inc., and Peryodiko
Director: Rember Gelera
Asst. Director: Jepoi Mejir
Lighting Director: Ryan Guilas
Editing and Graphics: Rico Salvan

Check out some behind-the-scenes stuff at FHM.com.

Ako ang Simula: "Himig ng Pagbabago"

2009-11-04T22:23:00.002+08:00

Featuring my favorite musician brothers - Ebe and Vin Dancel - along with other local musical greats. A call for awareness and vigilance for next year's elections.

Video grabbed from YouTube, c/o xtingraphix.

Info below also from YouTube, c/o janmeynard, who posted "AKO ANG SIMULA: The Making of a Revolution", a behind-the-scenes look at this music video.

Director: Paolo Villaluna
Executive Producer: Patricia Evangelista
Lyrics: Ira Zabat
Music: Mike Villegas
Performed by: Bayang Barrios, Barbie Almalbis, Bituin Escalante, Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree, Kat Agarrado of Sinosikat?, Pochoy Labog, Teddy Corpuz of Rocksteddy and Vin Dancel of Peryodiko

Note: In "The Making of a Revolution", there's a bit of a preview of the "Agawan Base" video, for those (like me) who weren't at the launch and haven't seen the vid yet :P

NU107 Rock Awards 2009: And the winners are...

2009-11-01T23:53:00.002+08:00

Listening to the RA2009 on the radio. I miss the feeling of excitement attending the event itself, especially the first time I went back in 1998 at some disco...Limits nga ba yun? Basta yung nasa Ortigas. 11 years ago na pala yun, grabe :P

Anyway, tonight started out great - one of my favorite bands won the award I wanted them to win most:

Congratulations to PERYODIKO for being this year's Best New Artist! Yey :)

Props to KAKOI LEGASPI for winning the Guitarist of the Year award! Yey ulit :)

Woohoo to EBE DANCEL for bagging the Vocalist of the Year award! Congrats din kay ARMI MILLARE who tied with him for this award :)

Yey for INKSURGE for the Best Album Packaging award for their work on Sugarfree's Mornings and Airports!

Much respect to Sir ROBIN RIVERA for his Producer of the Year award for his work on Peryodiko's self-titled debut album!

Peryodiko got 3 out of their 6 nominations! They missed out on Best Album Packaging, but that went to Inksurge for their work with Sugarfree so all's good.

Congratulations to all of this year's winners :)

Drummer of the Year - Allan Burdeos of Kamikazee
Bassist of the Year - Ivan Garcia of Hilera
Guitarist of the Year - Kakoi Legaspi of Peryodiko
Vocalists of the Year - Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree, Armi Millare of Up dharma Down
Album Packaging of the Year - Inksurge for Sugarfree's "Mornings and Airports"
Producer of the Year - Robin Rivera for Peryodiko's "Peryodiko"
Video of the Year - Last Days on a Cruise Ship by Pancho Esguerra for Bamboo
Listener's Choice Award - Chicosci (Did I get that right? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.)
Best Live Act - Hilera
Hall of Fame Awardee - Francis M

Performing now: Rommel dela Cruz on bass, Wendell Garcia on drums, Francis Brew and Mike Elgar on guitars, and Ely Buendia and Elmo Magalona on vocals! It's a Sickos song, I think...Now THAT I would've loved to witness live.

Song of the Year - "Antukin" by Rico Blanco
In the Raw Award - Dimmerswitch

At this point, I fell asleep. Hehehe. So, 2 days after the awards show, I finally found out through Google who won Album and Artist of the Year. I'm still missing one award, though I'm not really familiar with the nominees so it's ok with me I guess.

Smart / U Rock College Band of the Year - ???
Album of the Year - Bipolar by Up dharma Down
Artist of the Year - Up dharma Down

- - - - -

Post-show commentary:

It was a great night for Peryodiko. Initially, I never realized they got quite a number of nominations (6); other bands with the same or more nominations were Kamikazee (6), UdD and Kjwan (7), and Hilera (9).
Bands that I think should've had more nominations: Sugarfree and Wolfgang.
Bands that I think should've won more of their nominations: UdD, Kjwan
I don't understand why Hilera has so many nominations...though I admit maybe it's just that I'm not too familiar with their new material. I do believe I didn't like one of their songs from the latest album, the one with the Western style video.
Peryodiko and Up dharma Down were the big winners of the night, winning 3 of their 6/7 nominations. Followed by Sugarfree and Hilera with 2 awards each. I guess the awards were pretty much spread out this year, which is good, because remember how folks reacted when the 2007 awards show seemingly favored just one particular band?

Peryodiko's AGAWAN BASE Video Party @ Pablo Gallery, Cubao X

2009-10-21T22:06:00.001+08:00

Catch the launching of the video for "Agawan Base"!

with guests

Playphonics
Gasulina
Sugarfree
Cambio

NO ENTRANCE FEE!

Please bring relief goods for survivors of Ondoy+Pepeng; the band will deliver these to relief centers for you! :)

http://tugtugangperyodiko.multiply.com

WWF's "Don't Wait Until It's Gone"

2009-10-16T23:49:00.001+08:00

I like that they used Counting Crows' version of "Big Yellow Taxi". Would've been better if they used the version without Vanessa Carlton :P

- - - - -

From WorldWildlife.org:

Don’t Wait Until It’s Gone

We have reached a moment in the history of Earth where the actions we take will determine whether or not our children will live in a world with magnificent animals such as the polar bear, swim in an ocean filled with iridescent corals and marine life, or stroll through a dense forest.

While issues such as climate change, scarcity of freshwater, overfishing, and deforestation are covered in the news, many people don’t understand how it can affect their lives. In response, WWF has launched a new Public Service Announcement campaign to make these connections and show what is at risk if we wait to, or worse do not, take action.

At WWF, we’re working harder than ever before to save threatened and endangered species and the habitats that sustain them. Learn more about our work to protect the future of nature.

Read more and watch the video here.

Peryodiko Album Recording FINALLY! - a behind-the-scenes blog by Robin Rivera

2009-10-14T01:46:00.001+08:00

I know ZILCH about the technical aspect of music. I'm just a music fan who likes listening to the stories musicians tell so well. But tonight, as I went through all the entries of Robin Rivera's blog about his work as producer of Peryodiko's debut album, it made me appreciate all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making an album (as well as refreshed my memory of why music piracy SUCKS!).

If I remember correctly, I was aiming for a Robin Rivera Hum class back in my UP days, all for the simple reason that he produced the Eheads :P But now, more than just knowing him as the one who gave us the Heads, I have a more profound respect for the man.

Like the musicians he coaches, Sir Robin (sige, makiki-"sir" ako, hehe) is a wonderful storyteller. He isn't shy about the thoughts that roam inside his head, and he lets them out so eloquently. Reading about what he believed and hoped about the local music industry made me want to clone him and put more Robin Riveras in studios and record label offices. Also, reading about how he shaped Peryodiko - the album and the band - made me respect and appreciate the band and their music so much more than I already did.

This blog is a must read. In Mel Gibson's words in "The Patriot", "I've just been through the mind of a genius."

- - - - -

"Vin said it is a very easy album to listen to, and I agree. It never hits you over the head with a sledgehammer to get attention. Its like the ocean which ebbs and flows with some kind of rhythm, each wave having a unique way of advancing and receding. It unfolds with the logic of a mathematical equation, the creativity of a chord progression, and the organic timelessness as ocean waves."

- Robin Rivera, Producer

- - - - -

You may also want to check out his blog while producing Sugarfree's "Tala-Arawan"

Kala mo turistang namamasyal...

2009-10-08T21:59:00.000+08:00

...at nagssight-seeing si Pepeng.

Talagang tumambay siya sa northern Luzon eh no. I stopped keeping track of Pepeng once I was assured we weren't going to be a direct hit. Then tonight, as I watched news on QTV, I was surprised to see that Pepeng was still hanging around, and that various places Pangasinan are now in deep floodwaters. My mom also mentioned landslides and flooding in Baguio. Now on the news are the scheduled brownouts Meralco has been implementing as they fix their transformers.

Haaay. When will it all end...? Ang dami nang malulungkot na pangyayari sa taon na ito.

The power of prayer...?

2009-10-03T12:56:00.001+08:00

I'd like to think so :)

(For Ondoy's victioms, at least. I hope those in northern Luzon weren't severely affected by Parma...)

Nakakakaba...

2009-10-02T19:56:00.004+08:00

Storm gone, storm coming...

2009-10-01T02:04:00.001+08:00

Let's hope this one doesn't change course to affect the same areas devastated by Ondoy...Watch out for it at PAGASA's website...

From Inquirer.net: 'Pepeng' gains strength as it moves towards northern Luzon

In other news:

World pours aid into the Philippines - WFTW!
No debate: Deluge due to climate change - they're playing the climate change/global warming card now
One toilet for 3,000 survivors at Cainta evacuation center - hindi pa tapos ang paghihirap nila :(
Cops deployed to stop looters - did you know that someone actually fished out Andrew's spare tire when he fled to higher ground and left his FX stalled and submerged in the SLEX river last Saturday? >_< Ketsana death toll exceeds 300 - reports from all over SE Asia; 246 niyan sa atin :(

Red Cross: Indonesia quake death toll reaches 75 - I initially thought this was the same quake that affected Samoa...
American Samoans pull together after quake, tsunami - sa atin baha, sa kanila tsunami; I therefore conclude - water is deadly! That's why I fear it so....

CNN's caption: A damaged boat washed up inside a building in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

"Mag-Facebook ka na kasi..."

2009-10-01T01:00:00.000+08:00

Just a while ago, my co-teacher Menggai pointed me to this link - Can Facebook Be Your Friend?. Couldn't help but nod to most of the points made in that article.

Earlier tonight, Andrew told me, "Mag-Facebook ka na kasi, " when he told me about a recent earthquake of which I had no idea. I later on checked CNN and was promptly kept up-to-date with current events.

Over the weekend, Pisay98 has been trying to pinpoint which of our batchmates were badly affected by Ondoy, and Facebook was the platform for discussion (aside from our Yahoo!Group).

For the past months, my co-teacher Nino, who is now studying in Japan, has been teasing me about my absence from Facebook. It so happens that most of the other bio unit peeps get their updates about Nino's Tokyo adventures from FB.

It's been quite a while that the decision to open a Facebook account has been floating around. The verdict - somewhat undecided.

I'm trying to weigh the PROS and CONS.

- - - - -

CON:
All the other sites I bother with (aside from email) are already big - HUGE! - time-wasters. Here's why I put up with all of them:

Multiply. I originally joined this as a repository of pics. I loved how it was so organized - blog here, photos and vids there, calendar over here, etc. I now have two accounts - one for my personal stuff, and the other for music-related stuff. I keep them apart because I value the connections I have with the music world; but they are still strangers to me, so I still want a more private account for just me and my life. Besides, I don't wanna bug my friends with Sugarfree gig pics and Peryodiko gig skeds every now and then (unless they signed up for it), or share with other music online buddies my teaching adventures for the day. I know Multiply lets you pick who you want to share your posts with, but it's complicated with the way I wanna keep things. Basta, ganun.

I also own (came to own, rather) pisaydiliman.multiply.com, which I try my best to update whenever there are important Pisay announcements. I also manage several Multiply accounts for my Biology 1 and Field Biology classes.

MySpace. I'm only on MySpace for the music. I love how you can listen to songs (even whole discographies!) of artists who are generous enough to upload their music. I also liked how it's the real artists who are there. I originally joined it because of Elliott Yamin and the Yaminoys.

Friendster. I believe the reason I originally joined this was also music-related - Rock Radio Cafe was one of my first (if not THE first of my) friends, if I remember correctly. I don't update it anymore, but I still keep it active for the birthday reminders and for the friends I have there. Besided my personal account, I own 4(!) Pisay profiles on Friendster - Pisay98, Pisay Connect (a collection of Pisay group - campus, batch, class, club, etc. - Friendster accounts), and the 2 accounts for Pisay Diliman. Not to mention the UP MBB Friendster account. I don't update those anymore :P

Blogspot. Again, the reason I joined the blogging world in the first place was to share my gig photos. I used to store my photos in Yahoo, photos.ph, and flickr. Now Multiply is doing that job very well for me. mightydacs98.blogspot.com was my very first blog. And now I can't let it go because it seems to do quite well in Google searches for stuff about the local music scene :D

- - - - -

PRO:
Facebook has all those features that I like in Friendster, Blogspot, Multiply, MySpace. So why don't I just ditch them all and join Facebook?

Actually, why do I need to ditch them all and join Facebook...? ;)

- - - - -

CON:
I've seen the interface, and it's too cluttered for me. Friendster eventually copied Facebook, and when it did that, I started not liking it (I didn't know then that it was Facebook that it copied). I'm pretty sure though I'd get used to it if I do join.

- - - - -

CON:
I don't like how Facebook's URL's appear - again, cluttered. Multiply's is pretty much straightforward and easy to recall and share.

- - - - -

PRO:
Everyone's on FB, meaning, it's nice to re/establish connections with family, friends, acquaintances, business contacts

- - - - -

CON:
Even my family's on Facebook. I'll admit that I'm pretty much a different person at home compared to me as a Pisay scholar/teacher or me as a rabid music fan. I don't share most of the interests of my family and vice versa. So even if I don't mind them stumbling upon my Blogspot or Multiply (I do direct them there when I've posted family pics), I don't want to shove my other persona in their faces either.

- - - - -

So, as you can see, it's mostly a NO or maybe a NOT YET for now.

But maybe when I do join, I'd probably just join to keep tabs on other people, but I'd still be keeping my Multiply and Blogspot updated the most.

Mind you, though, the tragedy that was Ondoy almost made me join Facebook. Prior to that, it was my need to know about Nino's Japanese adventures that convinced me the most :P

Goodbye Astro...hello Iggi

2009-09-30T21:57:00.001+08:00

I know this is nothing compared to the tragedy that is Ondoy that fills the Net and TV and radio these days. But I hope no one minds if I blog about something un-Ondoy for a change...

Nakakainis na 'tong blogging year na 'to ha. Wala na kong sinabi kundi goodbye. Kung hindi tao, kagamitan naman yung namamaalam :(

Friday, the screen of Astrophone, my Motorola V3i, gave up on me. Its fliptop top has been loose for quite some time, and I was sort of expecting its demise already.

Saturday, I was still able to operate Astro using Motorola Phone Tools on a laptop. I was even able to backup my phonebook and calendar. But come Sunday, Astro wasn't cooperating anymore. It couldn't be detected by Phone Tools.

Tuesday, I finally went out of the house and I was able to buy a replacement phone. At first, I toured the open shops (it was only 10am then, lotsa shops were still closed or just opening) looking for a Motorola phone. The idea was that I could simply transfer my backed up phonebook from Astro into my new phone using Phone Tools. Alas, I was surprised to find out that Motorola phones have been phased out already. Ngek. I guess I've been out of the mobile phone market for so long.

Finally, I reentered one of the decent-looking shops in Parksquare 1 and asked for any model of phone that they had for under P2,000. I was offered some Torque phone for P999 - I've never heard of that brand so I asked for any Nokia phones. I was shown the Nokia 1661.

My requirements for a phone are pretty simple. It has to be able to hold a good number of messages and contact numbers, and it has to have a calendar where I could set alarms - I'm a very forgetful person, you see. The Nokia 1661 had those features - plus other features I didn't mind having too!

I haven't fully explored Iggi yet - yes, I find the need to name my devices when I blog about them - but so far I'm pretty much satisfied with its features, given its affordable price of P1,850 (cash; it's P2,000 if you use your credit card).

Some feaures that are new to me (never had these in my phones before) were the flashlight, the radio, and a spreadsheet - this cool app that lets you log your daily and monthly expenses (I'm actually excited to use it hehe; I wonder if it'll help cut down my spending though :P ). And games include Nature Park (no idea what that is; haven't tried it out yet), Bounce, and SUDOKU! Hehehe. So yeah, I'm quite happy with Iggi, considering that I didn't do any research prior to buying it, as I would usually do when scouting out electronics.

So there...goodbye Astro, the most pogi phone I've ever had. You were great while you lasted. I will miss your 80's TV show ringtones (Astroboy for Andrew, Bioman for the bio unit peeps, Shaider for other Pisay peeps, Perfect Strangers for my family, McGyver for my girls, Thundercats for everyone else). I will miss taking impromptu pics and vids with your camera. I will miss playing FrancisM hits on your iTunes.

But I'm sure Iggi will be a good phone to me. Wag lang siyang...never mind. Ayokong magdilang anghel ;)

Ehehe, ang haba ng blog, para lang sa isang telepono.

P.S. If you think I snubbed your texts/calls over the weekend, that's because I was nursing a dying phone ;) If I snub your texts/calls from now on, that's because I'm rebuilding my phonebook :D

SAGIP PISAY: Relief goods ops for Pisay victims of Ondoy

2009-09-30T18:00:00.003+08:00

Related links:
Donation Drive & Campus Clean-up by the Student Alliance & CARE
Suspension of classes / rescheduled 1st periodic exams

- - - - -

From http://www.pshs.edu.ph:

SAGIP PISAY

Written by Gene Andres
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
PSHS launches Sagip Pisay To the PSHS Community, We are once again faced with the challenge of coming together to overcome the difficulties brought about by this new calamity. Typhoon Ondoy has affected not only the school but the different families of the PSHS Community. Updates from everyone The advisers together with the PTA are now trying to account for everyone in the school. The typhoon has devastated several homes including that of some teachers, staff and students. Some were left on the roof and were only rescued after two days. The worst probably is the death of the sister of senior student Camille Tobillo. If you know of anyone who needs help please call your adviser or the school at 9240661. The school also got hit by the flood. 20-30 meters of the fence between the school and the Ombudsman collapsed, allowing flood water to enter the dorms, cafeteria and the SHB. We thank the janitors, staff, teachers and CARE students who took time off from their own personal misery to help clean up the mess. Official Announcement from PSHS As of Tuesday morning, the school has decided to suspend classes for the entire week. Classes will resume on October 5. Second Quarter periodic exams will be moved to October 13-15. Teachers are advised to help students who lost their notes and books by providing handouts or helping photocopy other students’ notes. Lost books cannot be replaced by the school. However, there will be books that may be used in the library. Sagip Pisay The Student Alliance quickly responded by launching Sagip Pisay. They are collecting donations for typhoon victims in the PSHS community and if possible other victims as well. As part of Sagip Pisay, the school has opened its dormitories to temporarily accommodate students, teachers and staff and their families who have no place to stay while their homes are being cleaned. Each batch has volunteered to man the collection, repacking and even cleanup in PSHS for a half day. The fourth year will start it off today followed by the juniors in the afternoon. The sophomores will be in-charge tomorrow morning and the freshmen tomorrow afternoon. Should a student wish to be a volunteer, he/she should bring the school ID (if he still has it) and a parent’s permit. Donations may be dropped off anytime at the ASTB Hall. An SA representative will also be present to receive cash donations on hand. Cash donations may also be deposited to the following account: Philippine Science High School Student Alliance Savings Account # 0273094121 BPI Timog Circle Branch Swiftcode BOPIPHMM However, donations for particular students such as the Topaz student who met an accident last Thursday, the senior student who also met an accident last Friday, and the senior student who lost a sister to the flood should be given directly to the batch advisers or the PTA treasurer. What to give Those who were flooded have various needs. We ask for your help in identifying those needs so that they may be matched with the donations. The following may be brought to PSHS for distribution Food - no cook or easy-to-cook meals such as canned goods(can openers will also be appreciated), fruits, bread, noodles, rice Supplies – toiletries, powdered soap, cleaning materials, spoon and fork, blankets, mats Clothes – undergarments, towels, uniforms, shoes, raincoat or umbrella Medical supplies – alcohol, vitamins, bandages, anti-diarrhea, paracetamol, hydrite, decolgen, neozep, diatabs We would also appreciate if you can lend your vehicles (preferable jeepney, utility vans, or pick up trucks) to help bring the goods to the victimson Friday. If the place cannot be reached then we will ask the victims to meet us in the nearest possible place. We will give whatever is extra to other victims. SAGIP PISAY Hotline You may call 929-1603, 924-0661, 924-0614 or text 0919-9670426 for questions. Let us once again work together to face this challenge God has given us. PSHS Management ================================================================
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 September 2009 )

Ondoy's aftermath: Pisay donation drive / No classes Mon & Tue

2009-09-27T19:00:00.001+08:00

SA is undertaking donation drive for typhoon victims. Clothes, mats, foodstuffs & other forms of assistance wld be most appreciated. We will prioritize pisay people affected by typhoon, floods. We will put drop boxes for donations. Thank u very much in behalf of SA. - CristyCristobal

- - - - -

(Posted prior to NDCC/DEPED/CHED announcement of suspension of classes) There will be NO CLASSES tomorrow, September 28 (Monday), to make way for cleaning operations around our campus. The SHB, cafeteria, and dorms were submerged yesterday in waist-deep water.

Employees of the PSHS Main Campus are enjoined to help clean up today or tomorrow; please time-in for service credits.

Info from the CISD; please forward through whatever means possible. Facebook people, please repost. Thanks.

- - - - -

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173262/monday-classes-suspended-in-all-levels-in-metro-manila-rizal

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20090927-227129/No-Tuesday-classes-in-Metro-south-Tagalog

Songs for Andrew: "Mornings and Airports" by Sugarfree

2009-09-26T18:32:00.003+08:00

It's been said that once you promise to spend forever with someone, you can't seem to wait for forever to start.

Andrew and I only see each other on weekends. He teaches in Xavier School (HS Department) in San Juan and lives in Kamuning, QC, while I teach in Philippine Science High School in QC and live in Las Pinas/Paranaque (medyo nasa border kami hehe). So during the school week, there really aren't much chances to meet up.

Which makes me look forward very much to weekends because that's when we get to spend time with each other.

This song was written by Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree (who recently also just got hitched :) ), no doubt to describe how his work as a performing and touring musician takes him away from his lady. But even though Ebe and I are in different lines of work, I can't help but feel what he's singing about in this song.

Mornings and Airports
from the album Mornings and Airports (2009)

Oh honey, I know you're still asleep
It's 7:30, you won't even hear your phone ring
Mornings and airports drive me crazy
And hungry, sleepy, oh so lonely to wake up to

By the time you get up, I'm far away
As the plane warms up

I wish that I could stay
Because I belong with you
Oh a day away is just too far
And this shirt I have on is too big for me
But your arms they fit me perfectly

The TV's on but no one's really watching
This hotel room is the last place I wanna be in
I wanna sleep and wake up next to you
And drown in how you make me feel like love is something new

Home is where you are
It's just too far away right now

I wanna stay
Because I belong with you
Oh a day away is just too far
And this shirt I have on is too big for me
But your arms they fit me perfectly

Take me home because I belong with you
Oh a day away is just too far
And this shirt I have on is too big for me
But your arms they fit me perfectly

Take me home
Take me home
Take me home

(Sorry for any error in the lyrics; kinapa ko lang kasi)

If you're on Multiply, you can listen to the song HERE.

Our story is about 12 years in the making...

2009-09-21T19:22:00.000+08:00

...and we're very much looking forward to the new chapter that we will be beginning on January 3, 2010.

Check out our wedsite - dacsanddrew.multiply.com - which I decided to launch after celebrating a year of being engaged to the guy I will be spending the rest of my life with :)

I just posted some of the moments we've had so far, those that mark some of the milestones of our couplehood.

The rest of the site is bare yet, but Andrew and I hope to fill it up eventually as we gear up for the biggest gig of our lives :)

Flash mobs are so cool - feat. flash mobs for Oprah and MJ, and by Improv Everywhere

2009-09-13T17:16:00.001+08:00

Andrew sent me a YouTube link of 21,000 fans at the kickoff episode in Chicago of Oprah's 24th season. The Black Eyed Peas were performing...and the crowd stunned the world. It was sooo cool. Naluha ako sa huli sa sobrang mangha :P

I first looked up the definition of a flash mob when I saw the Stockholm dance tribute for Michael Jackson last July. Though it wasn't as massive as that at Oprah's, it was still awesome to watch.

But I think the first flash mob that I was made aware of was Frozen Grand Central. This was way cute, too :)

You might also wanna check out the rest of ImprovEverywhere's flash mobs, like No Pants Subway and Surprise Wedding Reception.

My pride and joy - Sugarfree Opening Video in Dekada Concert

2009-09-13T17:12:00.001+08:00

Thank you to josephpchan for posting this :)

This is my pride and joy!

A couple of days before Sugarfree had its Dekada concert at the Music Museum to celebrate their tenth anniversary, their manager Karin posted on the Yahoo!Group that she needed pics of the band through the years.

I really got excited because I had a wealth of Sugarfree pics to share! So share I did. And it was so cool that a lot of them made it to the AVP they played at the start of the show :)

What made me happy, in particular, was that they included the shot of Sugarfree onstage at the Pisay gym. If you were Pisay, you'd recognize the DNA-like design on the flaps that lead to the backstage portion. I really wanted that shot to be picked because having Sugarfree play at Pisay is one of the highlights of my stint as SAMAPI adviser :)

At dahil OC ako at proud, here's the list of pics of mine that you'd see in the presentation below (with some kwento added):

1:03 - Accepting their Best New Artist award at the 2003 NU107 Rock Awards; I was so proud of them!

1:07 - Performing at the 2003 NU107 Rock Awards; at one point in the performance, Ebe took out his digicam and photographed the audience so he could show his mom daw :)

1:11 - PISAY! :)

1:14 - Performing at the very first Admit One gig in the south, at the awesome but now defunct Rock Radio Cafe (I ♥ you, RRC!). This was a life-changing night for me - dito ko sinimulang mahalin ulit ang tugtugang lokal. This was also the first gig covered by my first digicam, a humble Canon Powershot A70.

1:33 to 1:40 - Performing at an acoustic Admit One gig at Conspiracy. This one was a celebration of Ebe's mom's birthday. Ebe started to describe their lineup as 1/2 Sugarfreee, 1/2...and then he trails off...then someone from the audience finishes it up with "Eraserheads!" :P Because, indeed, onstage were Ebe, Jal, Buddy, and Raimund. Ebe didn't really plan to finish the sentence, I guess, because this was still the time when the Heads hadn't settled their differences yet ;)

2:05 to 2:15 - Signing autographs after a performance at SM North. This was the debut of my 2nd digicam, another Canon Powershot (A95 I think...haha nakalimutan ko na).

2:19 to 2:33 - Performing at the Alabang Town Center. Shot 2:22 is my favorite Jal pic.

2:35 to 2:49 - Another Admit One gig, this time at saGuijo, when the band setup was still in its original spot close to the bar. This was one helluva party; I can still remember it clearly as if it happened last night. I love that they included my shot of Mitch (2:43), as well as a shot of Ebe with Wolfmann in the background (2:39) :)

3:11 to 3:18 - In-store performance and autograph signing at the now non-existent Tower Records in Alabang Town Center. I think this was my first time to watch Kaka.

After sending all those pics to Karin, I realized that I hadn't photographed Sugarfree since 2006, though I did get to watch maybe 2 or 3 gigs since then.

Nagkabunga din ang pagiging rocker stalker ko, hehehe. Naging bahagi ako ng isang napakagandang gig ng isa sa pinakamamahal kong banda sa mundo ngayon :) (Nevermind that it was just a small part, but it was still there, for everyone to see!)

- - - - -

Do check out this link for more photos and videos of Dekada performances:
All things Dekada

Sugarfree this September

2009-09-13T16:58:00.003+08:00

A SUGARFREE SEPTEMBER

First of all, happy birthday Jal! :) (September 12)

You can catch Sugarfree at any of these September gigs:
16 (Wed) MYX Mag @ Admit One, SaGuijo, Makati
18 (Fri) Tuguegarao (pending)
25 (Fri) Sessionistas @ Greenhills Shopping Center
26 (Sat) 5pm MTV Exit @ SM Pampanga
26 (Sat) 8pm Robinson's @ BF Paranaque

- - - - -

SUGARFREE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Dear friends,

Chu Santos will be returning to Team SUGARFREE as the band's Road Manager. She may be contacted through the SUGARFREE Hotline 09088878427 (090888SUGAR). I will continue working alongside Chu to honor existing commitments I've booked for the band.

However, effective immediately, Kerwin Rosete, a respected colleague (who manages itchyworms, Silent Sanctuary, Delara, etc.) will be the new manager of the band. Join me and SUGARFREE in welcoming him to the Team.

Please continue visiting www.WeAreSugarfree.com for anything and everything SUGARFREE.

Thank you,

Karin Araneta

- - - - -

VOTE FOR SUGARFREE AT THE NU ROCK AWARDS 2009

SUGARFREE is nominated in this year's NU Rock Awards under the following categories:

1. Artist of the Year: SUGARFREE
2. Album of the Year: Mornings and Airports (SUGARFREE)
3. Vocalist of the Year: Ebe Dancel
4. Guitarist of the Year: Ebe Dancel
5. Bassist of the Year: Jal Taguibao
6. Drummer of the Year: Kaka Quisumbing
7. Song of the Year: Hay Buhay
9. Best Album Packaging: Mornings and Airports (Ink Surge, SUGARFREE)
10. Best Music Video: Hay Buhay (SUGARFREE)
11. Producer of the Year: Buddy Zabala and Romel "Sancho" Sanchez

Register and vote now!

A message from Ebe:

guys, you have the power to bring us back there this year. we haven't had an album out in years, so it would be nice to be part of the fun again. we are praying for your support. long live pinoy rock n roll!

ebe dancel

- - - - -

SUGARFREE ON MYX MAGAZINE'S AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2009 COVER

Grab a copy now!

DEKADA: Sugarfree + MSO

2009-09-07T17:39:00.008+08:00

THE DATE
August 28, 2009. Couldn't have been any better date, as it was just two weeks after Andrew's birthday (so the watching the gig was my gift to him), and it was also our 129th month as a couple :) And, of course, it was Sugarfree's 10th year together! It was a celebration of great relationships and awesome music :P

THE PLACE
Music Museum, my personal favorite gig venue. It isn't too big nor too small, so anywhere you sit will still give you a great view of the performers. The sounds and lights are always top quality. And you can dine and drink while enjoying the best performances in the land :)

THE BAND
Sugarfree. Definitely one of my most favorite local bands, and one of the bands I hold close to my heart. I remember falling in love with Telepono once it hit the airwaves of NU107 in the early 2000s. I was in college then, and once Sa Wakas came out, it instantly became the soundtrack of my thesis days. I love Ebe, Jal, Mitch, and Kaka to pieces. Pati na rin si Bodjie :)

But this isn't just any Sugarfree gig. It's Sugarfree with the Manila Symphony Orchestra! And Sugarfree+MSO is a winning formula, no doubt about it. In 2007, they proved how already wonderful Sugarfree tunes could be turned into even more heartwrenching songs. Chino David is a genius, and the MSO is a cool and talented bunch of folks.

THE SHOW

The setlist (c/o Orange Oasis from the Sugarfree Yahoo!Group):
Reunion
Hay Buhay
Telepono
Unang Araw
Taguan
Feels Like
Kwarto
Wala Nang Hihilingin
Insomya
Mariposa
Fade Away
Medley: Makita Kang Muli, Dear Kuya, Hari ng Sablay
Tulog Na
Kwentuhan
Burnout
Wag Ka Nang Umiyak
Hangover
Prom

My favorite moments:

A History of Sugarfree. The show began with a slideshow of pictures from 1999 to the present. Most of the pictures from 2002 to 2006 were my pics ;) When I emailed those pics to Karin, their manager, it was only then that I realized that I've only watched two or three Sugarfree gigs in the past 3 years - the MSO gig in 2007, and their Pisay fair performances.

The old songs, especially Wag Ka Na Umiyak. That song has this uncanny ability to make you do what it doesn't want you to do. Hearing the MSO version of Sa Wakas songs was pretty sweet, too. It was cool how they made them sound different from when they performed some of the same songs two years ago.

The new songs, especially Feels Like and Hangover. It was exactly those songs that I wished to hear that night, played with the MSO.

Ebe moments. Starting out the gig amongst the audience, then slowly making his way to the stage. Asking the lights people to shine some on the audience and taking a few seconds to "soak in the moment". Acknowledging and thanking his wife for being his best friend and his anchor.

Jal moments. Taguan! I love Jal's songs. I was hoping to hear Patawad or Form Factor.

Mitch moments. Seeing Mitch play again with Jal and Ebe was just wonderful. Like Ebe said, it was just like 2003 again :) It was also such an Awww moment when Ebe revealed the reason behind Mitch's separation from the band - he simply wanted to be there when his son grew up :)

Kaka moments. The guy is awesome behind the drums as well as with a guitar in his hands. We already saw his guitar prowess two years ago when they went acoustic on Tulog Na. But his solos on Fade Away this year were a different kind of awesome, too.

Bodjie moment. Yep, even if Bodjie didn't play guitar this year, he still had his moment when Ebe made him sing part of Prom from his seat.

Kwentuhan. Aside from the performances, the tidbits we get to know about the band (from their spiels between songs, and from the AVP) endeared the band even more to the audience.

Ebe says this will be their last major show in a long while, that they'll be sticking to touring and bar gigs in the meantime. I'm glad I got to witness this amazing show, and that, after 10 years, Sugarfree is still around to make our hearts chuckle and our souls sigh with their beautiful songs about life and love :)

- - - - -

Sorry if I couldn't mention the name of Sugarfree's guitarist for the night; I'm not familiar with his name.

My photos of the event can be viewed here.

You can also check out this post that links the other photos and videos from Dekada. Lotsa great photographs there!

"...the real adventure of life is the relationship we have with other people..."

2009-08-31T21:15:00.000+08:00

This seems to be a year of losing people who mean much to me or to society...

Anabel Bosch (musician), January 2009
Mike Francis (musician), February 2009
Francis M (musician), March 2009
Bea Arthur (actress), April 2009
Auntie Lalen (my mom's sister), June 2009
Michael Jackson (musician), June 2009
Tara Santelices (musician), July 2009
Cory Aquino (former president and icon of democracy), August 2009
Shella Paz (co-teacher and friend), August 2009

Here's something I recently posted on my other music-related Multiply:

One too many icons have passed away in recent months. With each passing comes the end of an era. And yet, life must go on for the living.

And here's a beautiful quote from the director of Disney/Pixar's animated film, "Up" (emphasis mine):

"Basically, the message of ["Up"] is that the real adventure of life is the relationship we have with other people, and it's so easy to lose sight of the things we have and the people that are around us until they're gone. More often than not I don't really realize how lucky I was to have known someone until they're either moved or passed away. So if you can kind of wake up a little bit and go, Wow, I've got some really cool stuff around me every day, then that's what the movie's about." - Pete Docter, in an interview about his movie "Up"

Rest in Peace, Shella (1984-2009)

2009-08-31T03:37:00.001+08:00

Baguio, May 2009

Every time someone is gone too soon, there are nothing but questions in my mind. But it seems that the answers to those questions aren't meant to be understood. How do you even begin to comprehend such things?

Shella, your students are mourning your loss, but their blogs and tweets and status messages also celebrate the life you have lived, the life you have so generously shared with them even for just a short while.

I only got to know you last May in Baguio, and for that I am both sad and glad.

Rest now, Shella. Someday, we'll get to hang out again.

He would've been 51

2009-08-29T17:32:00.000+08:00

Happy birthday, MJ.

Woodstock couple still together after 40 years

2009-08-28T17:35:00.000+08:00

Couple in iconic Woodstock photo still happy together
August 15, 2009

For many Americans of a certain age, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair is a hazy memory.

Not for Bobbi and Nick Ercoline -- the "hugging couple" whose photo ended up on the cover of the Woodstock soundtrack album.

Forty years ago, they were girlfriend and boyfriend. She lived in Pine Bush, N.Y., and worked at a bank.

He lived in Middletown, N.Y., and worked two jobs while going to college.

When they heard about the huge musical festival, "We just had to go," Bobbi Ercoline told the Albany Times Union.

They stayed only one night, and never saw the stage.

"Woodstock was a sign of the times," Bobbi told the paper.

"So many things were churning around in our world at that time: civil rights, the Vietnam War, women's rights. It was our generation," she said.

They married two years after Woodstock and have children ages 28 and 30. They live in Pine Bush.

Bobbi Ercoline is a school nurse who started a food pantry. Her husband is a house inspector.

"I think the further we get from the original event the more meaningful it becomes, the more we realize how phenomenal it was: all those people coming together with no violence, just peace, love and sharing," Bobbi Ercoline said. "Forty years later, it's just remarkable that it could have occurred."

- - - - -

Woodstock 40th anniversary – iconic couple is still together
August 15, 9:15 AM / Atlanta Northside Family & Parenting Examiner / Jackie Kass

The country faced tremendous turmoil forty years ago today, but Woodstock brought together 500,000 young people on August 15-18, 1969, including one couple that was photographed among the masses. Today, Bobby and Nick Ercoline, the two hippies hugging each other under a soggy, dirty blanket in a sea of people, are still together, and the proud parents of two grown children, aged 28 and 30. The couple, now aged 60, live in the same town as they did then, Pine Bush.

Woodstock took place at a private dairy farm in a largely rural township of Bethel, near New York, and the music concert defined an era of protest and fragmentation. According to those in attendance, it was a phenominal event that marked the turbulent times. “There was no violence, just peace, love and sharing,” Bobbi told local media on the eve of Woodstock’s 40th anniversary.

The picture of Bobbi and Nick, clicked by Newsweek photographer Burk Uzzle, captured what it was like to be there — the slush and rain, the fatigue and the feeling of revolution, amid a haze of drugs. The picture made it to the cover of the `Woodstock' album, thus immortalizing the couple for generations to come.

Bobbi now works as a school nurse and Nick inspects houses of the poor earmarked for renovation by the government. They have been married for 38 years, and have raised two children. They are a testament to dedication, fidelity and endearing love.

Nick recently explained to the media about why their picture was chosen for the cover of the Woodstock album. “It’s peaceful, which was what the event was all about. It’s an honest representation of a generation. When we look at that photo, I don’t see Bobbi and me. I see our generation.”

In today’s world of excessively high divorce rates, isn’t it refreshing to see a couple that decided to stick together through thick and thin, better or worse?

Source: Daily News

Up: Hindi nakakatawa...nakakaiyak! But in a good way :)

2009-08-24T01:05:00.002+08:00

That's me, quoting Razel/Ivy, a former student of mine (Hi!) :)

- - - - -

I love Pixar Shorts :)

Here's "Partly Cloudy", the short film shown before "Up".

Cloud - The top video clips of the week are here

Other Pixar shorts I love are "Geri's Game" (the one shown before "A Bug's Life") and "For the Birds" (the one shown before "Monsters, Inc."; though I remember the big bird's voice being a bit higher and cuter...).

- - - - -

CARL ♥ ELLIE!

Never fails to bring on the waterworks for me...

...the soundtrack is lovely, too.

For those who haven't seen it, the beginning would also be nice to see, when Carl and Ellie met as children.

"Basically, the message of ["Up"] is that the real adventure of life is the relationship we have with other people, and it's so easy to lose sight of the things we have and the people that are around us until they're gone. More often than not I don't really realize how lucky I was to have known someone until they're either moved or passed away. So if you can kind of wake up a little bit and go, Wow, I've got some really cool stuff around me every day, then that's what the movie's about." - Pete Docter, in an interview about his movie "Up"

DINIG SANA KITA & Sugarfree by Mike Sandejas

2009-08-13T00:40:00.003+08:00

From the Sugarfree Yahoo!Group:

Hello everyone,

Im a lister too. This is a long one. Bear with me.

I first met Ebe during Rockestra 2 soon after he saw my first film Tulad ng Dati in cinemalaya. He went up to me and told me that TND was the best Filipino film he had ever seen (at that time)and told me he was a fan. I was speechless because I was HIS fan. Ebe and I became friends soon after. I took my family to see the band every so often. My wife and I were always at the Bistro 70's gigs. He was also a firm believer of my daughter 13 year old Zoe's capability as a
musician (at that time.) Zoe held on to that belief and continued to dabble in music. Ebe always gave her advice and encouragement.

Karin asked me why I chose Wag Ka Nang Umiyak.

I remember when I was in the early stages of writing the film, I texted Ebe to ask him for a song. I said I needed a sad love song. He reminded me of WKNU. I started listening to it everyday during the reconceptualization stage of the film (the story's first incarnation didnt work so well)

WKNU set the mood and emotion for me. I ended up writing a story of two people who are completely polar opposites, both looking for something to believe and finding that belief in each other. DINIG SANA KITA is like a Sugarfee song made visual.

The day that I formally asked for the song, I went to visit the band and Karin in Bistro 70's. As I watched I sent a song request note like the rest of the audience and I signed it with my name. Ebe got the note and immediately they played the song for me. That performance was magical to me because the band played it so emotionally, that scene burned itself into my mind - and that was exactly how I shot it for the film.

Id like to thank SUGARFREE again for allowing me to use the song. .

I texted Ebe and told him my film was about ironies. How a Deaf person wanted to dance, how a musician and a Deaf person fell in love, how one yearns to be heard and the one who understands her is one who cannot hear.

WKNU is an irony as well. The songs asks you not to cry anymore yet you end up weeping buckets. Love tempered by pain makes it stronger. Sugarfree knows this so well. Even the Deaf now know about Sugarfree.

I think people know about how pained I was recently to have lost my relationship with The Dawn. They are still my friends but I can no longer really listen to their music. Sugarfree provided me with music that I could hold on to during that time. Kahit sa jogging ko, Sugarfree pinapakinggan ko but I try not to listen to WKNU kasi baka magtaka mga tao bakit umiiyak ako habang nagjojogging. I am going to the music store today to buy the new CD.

To add to the Sugarfree Month. DINIG SANA KITA will be shown from Aug 26 - Sept 1 at Robinsons Galleria IndieSine theater. The main actors are Romalito Mallari, The first Filipino Deaf actor in a Main Actor role in a feature film and...

...Ebe's alaga - my daughter Zoe Sandejas playing a troubled rocker girl.

Now you all see how involved directly and indirectly Ebe and Sugarfee have been in my life and recent work.

Zoe will be playing at Route 196 on Sept 1 10pm. She asked Ebe permission to sing WKNU. Ebe agreed. Thank you again Ebe.

Mabuhay ang SUGARFREE!!!

Sincerely,

Mike Sandejas

- - - - -

Mike Sandejas is the director of the indie film "Tulad ng Dati", which starred The Dawn and was awarded Best Film during Cinemalaya 2006. "Dinig Sana Kita" is Sandejas' entry to Cinemalaya 2009. The film was awarded Best Original Music Score for the work of Francis Brew Reyes.

"Dinig Sana Kita" will be shown at the Robinson’s Galleria “IndieSine” theater from August 26 to September 1.

A Mighty SUGARFREE Update!

2009-08-11T22:24:00.003+08:00

Visit www.WeAreSugarfree.com!

One of my favorite bands in the land has lots of reasons to celebrate August 2009:

"Hay Buhay" - new single
Video | Lyrics | Request for it!

"Mornings and Airports"
- new album
Excellent album packaging by Inksurge: behind-the-scenes, finished product | Tracklist

"Dekada" - new concert

With the Manila Symphony Orchestra, to celebrate 10 YEARS OF SUGARFREE!
Tickets available now!

Where to get your Sugarfree fix:

Official website (for now)
Yahoo!Groups (includes updated monthly gig sked)
Multiply
Twitter
Facebook
Plurk
Album available at local record bars and at TitikPilipino.com
Gigs (as of August 11, 2009):

AUGUST 2009
11 (Tue) 10pm Elbow Room @ Metrowalk
12 (Wed) 930pm Dencio's @ TriNoma, QC
15 (Sat) CamSur
19 (Wed) 9pm Mornings and Airports album launch @ Admit One, SaGuijo
21 (Fri) DLSU (pending)
25 (Tue) RJ Bar @ Jupiter, Makati
28 (Fri) DEKADA @ Music Museum
29 (Sat) DEKADA @ Music Museum

Features:

Sugarfree on MYX Live
Mike Sandejas' "Dinig Sana Kita" on Cinemalaya (feat. "Wag Ka Nang Umiyak"); read Mike's account of how the film came to be about WKNU
Sugarfree marks 10th year with "Dekada" concert (from pep.ph)
Sugarfree new album and concert (from OdysseyLive.net)
Sugarfree: A Dekada of Rock n' Roll (from Globe's Go! Mag)
Quick Q&A with Ebe Dancel (from FHM.com.ph)

Visit www.WeAreSugarfree.com!

Rest in peace, Cory (1933-2009)

2009-08-05T22:38:00.001+08:00

I was too young to understand nor appreciate the importance of the Aquinos to Philippine history. But because of all the tributes for President Aquino before and after her death, I came to realize how much she and her husband have done for and how much they mean to our country's democracy.

Today's farewell to President Aquino was very moving, instilling both a sadness for her passing, as well as pride in being Filipino.

Once again, it crosses my mind how painful it is for the immediate family to lose their matriarch. After all the news cameras are packed away, after the crowds have gone home, they are now left to mourn by themselves, and that is when the real sadness usually sets in. For us, we have lost an icon of democracy. For them, they lost their mother.

But at least now Cory is at peace already and free from pain. Her daughter Kris revealed in interviews over the weekend that Cory was looking forward to being with Ninoy again. It was only tonight that I found out (through my mom) that it was Ninoy who penned the words to "I Have Fallen In Love With the Same Woman Three Times". I first heard the song when Christian Bautista sang it during ASAP's tribute to Cory. I heard it played again as I watched Cory's burial on TV; it was the original version by Jose Mari Chan (edit: Just learned that the song is on Chan's Constant Change album, which I had as a kid; I guess I never took notice of the song until now.)

Here are the lyrics to the song. You can view the full poem on YouTube, where a montage of pictures have been uploaded as a tribute to President Cory. According to the YouTube description, the poem was written by Ninoy for their 19th wedding anniversary, while he was imprisoned in Fort Bonifacio. This is an excerpt from the poem, which was not included in the song:

My only escape is to cling to the woman of my dreams
Who gave me a life full of love, a love full of life,
She is my urge to live, my sole motivation to survive,
She taught me not only to dream, but to make dreams alive.

I heard on TV earlier today that one of Cory's grandsons tweeted that his Lola Cory and Lolo Ninoy are having a contest in heaven whose funeral would have more attendees. (Just heard a few minutes ago on The World Tonight that an estimated 300,000 turned out for Cory's funeral today, while around 2M people were there at Ninoy's funeral procession in 1983.) The image of them together again is the one thing that makes all this less sad and painful, I guess.

Rest in peace, Tara.

2009-07-28T21:28:00.000+08:00

I don't know her personally, but I truly feel saddened by her passing. It's always like that for me when someone dies, especially one so young, and one taken away by such tragic circumstances.

News articles have described her as the girl who resisted a jeepney holdup. A musician who was passionate about the arts. An Atenean graduate who was just about to fulfill her biggest dreams.

All those are true. But, first and foremost, Tara Santelices was a daughter and a dear friend.

I just pray that her family and friends would have the strength to let Tara go. They probably know in their hearts that she now truly is at peace. But it's never easy to let go of a loved one.

- - - - -

GMANews.TV - Tara Santelices, jeepney robbery victim, passes away
abs-cbnNEWS.com - Atenean holdup victim dies
Inquirer.net - Rob victim dies days before 24th birthday

Updates from the PSHS-MC Director regarding AH1N1

2009-07-18T20:53:00.003+08:00

To the entire PSHS community –

We are making the following documents available online for dissemination. Please be advised.

Click on the titles to download the PDF.

LETTER FROM THE CAMPUS DIRECTOR, 17 JULY 2009

REVISED RULES OF ENTRY TO THE PSHS

PRESENTATION ON THE HISTORY OF AH1N1 IN THE PSHS

Also monitor the PSHS website for updates.

Thank you!

- repost from Martin Perez' blog (Thanks, Martin.)

Mourning "Michaels"

2009-07-18T20:10:00.000+08:00

I just realized that I mourned for three consecutive "Michael musicians" in the past months.

Mike Francis, born Francesco Puccioni, died last January.

Francis M, born Francis Michael Magalona, died last March.

Michael Jackson, born Michael Joseph Jackson, died last June.

So ok, Mike Francis was a stage name, and Francis M never really used the Michael in his name, pero wala lang. Napansin ko lang.

In each case, a part of my childhood died along with their passing. But that's the beauty of music - it lives forever.

July Gigs: Peryodiko

2009-07-17T22:21:00.001+08:00

July 18: Art Manila '09, 8pm, NBC tent, The Fort Global City (with Loquy)

July 20: 19 East, Sucat, 9pm (w/ Nicole & Carlo, and Kalayo)

July 21: 70s Bistro, Anonas QC, 9pm (w/ Session Road)

July 27: RX Concert Series, live over RX 93.1fm, 7pm

July 28: Fast Forward productions, Saguijo (w/ Pedicab, Chubibo, Tiny Cactus, 10 Storey Fall, Action Pact, Top Junk)

Billie Jean, Man in the Mirror, and other MJ songs on acoustic guitar

2009-07-16T16:38:00.001+08:00

Here's Sungha Jung, one of my favorite guitarists, playing Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", as arranged by fingerstyle guitarist Adam Rafferty.

Here's Rafferty's fingerstyle take on MJ/Jackson 5 songs (Billie Jean, I Want You Back, Rock With You, I'll Be There):

I just love how fingerstyle guitarists play different parts of the song (vocals, lead, bass, etc.) simultaneously on one guitar. Nakakabaliw panoorin.

Here's Tuck Andress (of Tuck and Patti) and his wonderful jazzy version of Man in the Mirror, my favorite MJ song.

Fave Band: Moonpools and Caterpillars

2009-07-11T23:57:00.002+08:00

It's been a while since I thought about this band.

I had their cassette Lucky Dumpling back in high school (actually it was my sis's), but it somehow got lost. Nireresurrect ko pa naman mga cassette ko lately because of the deaths of Mike Francis, Francis M, and Michael Jackson. Just lucky that a cassette recorder that Andrew lent me a couple of years ago still works. Now I really wish Lucky Dumpling didn't get lost...I'll try looking for it again...

My favorite tracks are Soon and Hear, which were both on my iPod (yet another thing I inherited from my sis), but sadly my iPod has died on me, too.

And just tonight, I rediscovered another single that was released from that album - Ren. I never even realized that that was the title of the song, I just remember the lyrics: "Used to walk slowly, now I'm running. Catchin' up's gettin' hard to do. Tell me now, tell me now, what's got into you?"

I tried hard to find it on YouTube, but only came up with a pretty nice cover (well, at least, the best of the very few search results).

I checked out their MySpace, which is where I've been streaming albums from the 90's lately, but they didn't upload the whole album, and only one of the four tracks in their playlist works. Sad.

They're so hard to find, even on the Net.

There are a lot of Hear and Soon, though on YouTube. There is even footage of their visit here to the Philippines in the mid 90's. It's so cute how their vocalist Kimi is so hyper onstage, and how she's the only Am in the Fil-Am group (she's married to the band's guitarist, Jay Jay). Here's some more information about them that I found through Google.

~~If I had a band,~~ I'd love to cover their songs. Ehem ehem, Soupagetti :D

It doesn't matter if he isn't their biological father...

2009-07-10T22:52:00.000+08:00

...he was their DADDY.

Saw this on YouTube, some home videos of Michael with his kids - Prince thanking Michael for giving him ice cream, and Paris wanting to be a dancer and singer like MJ when she grew up (with Prince saying "Me too!" in the background - gaya-gaya hehe).

Never Can Say Goodbye, Michael...

2009-07-09T00:17:00.002+08:00

I didn't even know this was a Jackson 5 song. I think I'm more familiar with the Gloria Gaynor version. Anyways...

- - - - -

This morning's public memorial for Michael Jackson was one of the most touching events I've ever witnessed. Truly something befitting the King of Pop.

There were all these superstars paying tribute to who Berry Gordy of Motown called "the greatest entertainer that ever lived". There were all these common folks who simply wanted to pay their last respects to the King of Pop. But what really mattered was that there was this family grieving over the loss of their father, brother, and son - and they had the whole world to not only grieve with them, but, more importantly, to celebrate his short life with them.

Usher's "Gone Too Soon" was the most touching performance. You could feel his sorrow as he approached the casket of his idol and ended his song with a heartfelt sigh.

Brooke Shields' tribute was the most sincere, and the most candid. In that short span of time, we got to know Michael as very few people did. You could see by the way she shook and held back her tears that she was very distressed about the passing of a dear friend.

I love this shot. It's like Michael was showing the world his dear Brooke.

But it was Paris Jackson who had the most heartbreaking moment. There's nothing as painful as losing a parent. She was very brave to come forward and give her little tribute to dad. Too bad though because they keep playing it over and over now on TV; it takes away the solemnity of the moment.

It was all so bittersweet. Where was all this love when Michael needed it the most?

Rest in peace now, Michael. Like Marlon said, maybe they'll leave you alone now.

- - - -

P.S. Brooke Shields is still so beautiful. And Blanket Jackson is such a cute 7-year-old, what with the long black ponytail and the gum-chewing.

U2 pays tribute to Michael Jackson as they kick off world tour

2009-07-05T14:11:00.002+08:00

U2 does a bit of "Man in the Mirror" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" towards the end of their performance of "Angel of Harlem" in Barcelona last June 30, 2009. Bono said the song was written for Billie Holiday, but for that night they were playing it for MJ.

http://www.nme.com/news/nme/45792 (Scroll down for an embedded YouTube video of the performance)

Image credit

It's another of those WHATWEEKENDS...

2009-07-04T13:05:00.000+08:00

Di pa natatapos araw ko, nagsimula na ulit siya.

Yesterday was a FULL day. It was one activity after another, plus a number of STDs (stuff-to-do) in between. Thank God Andrew came to pick me up, so we had some (but not enough) quality time over dinner.

Worked Friday late night into Saturday early morning, finishing test items for the UPCAT review. By 3:00 a.m., Friday clothes changed into Saturday clothes, as I had to accompany my sis to the airport for the 4:00 a.m. arrival of her fiance. After breakfast with them, I headed off to Pisay. At 6:30 a.m., I was back where I was just around 12 hours ago.

Since 5:15 a.m. Friday, the sleep that I've had til now, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, are the naps I sneak in during MRT and car rides, and power naps here at the Bio Unit, before and after the UPCAT review.

I'll be heading home to Las Pinas in a while. Though I really need to get some shut-eye, there's still a lot of work waiting for me...checking, prepping, raket for wedding fund...

It's another of those WHATWEEKENDS...

...Gusto ko manood ng Ice Age 3, 3D! I'm pretty sure it won't be as disappointing as Transformers...but that's another blog entry...

From CNN - Jeff Buckley: 15 Years of Grace

2009-07-04T00:30:00.001+08:00

I only knew of Jeff Buckley because of Last Goodbye. Then during one trip to Tower Records in the early 2000's, I spotted the album Grace on the shelves, on sale. I immediately grabbed it.

Now there's Grace Around the World, featuring live performances of Jeff Buckely from '94 to '95. I think I've seen that on the shelves, too. But buying CDs, a favorite pastime of mine, is on hold as I focus on my wedding fund :D

CNN explores the enduring legacy of Jeff Buckley, 12 years after his death. Quinn Brown reports.

Michael's still an awesome dancer at 50

2009-07-03T23:45:00.000+08:00

Damn, Michael. At 50, you're smokin'

Too bad we never got to see that awesome show you were putting together.

Click to see video on CNN: Jackson rehearses with dancers

Brace yourself...

2009-07-01T00:48:00.001+08:00

...they're digging up dirt now.

On my end, I chose to remember the music.

HIStory will never be forgotten

2009-06-28T22:33:00.003+08:00

December 8, 1996.

I fell in line at the Asia World City at Paranaque (no idea where that place is now) to watch Michael Jackson’s HIStory World Tour with my classmate Shaty, her mom, and our physics teacher, Sir Dickerson Moreno. Somewhere in the queue was our classmate, Ivan, the biggest MJ fan I know.

I dunno if it was my first gig ever, but it was definitely my first time to watch a gig that big (55,000 according to Wikipedia). The only other gig I’ve attended that’s bigger than that was The Final Set of the Eraserheads, in nearby Manila.

It was my first time to watch an international artist. It was my first time to watch a gig with a teacher It was actually the night before our physics third periodic exam. So while we were in line, I was actually consulting with Sir Dickerson regarding some physics problem (sorry na).

My best friend Dyan was supposed to be with us instead of Sir Dickerson. But at the last minute, she wasn’t allowed to watch the concert, so she decided to give her ticket to Sir.

Photo op of Dyan giving her ticket to Sir Dickerson. Beryllium had just won the Paskorus then, so most of us Be people decided to treat ourselves to a pint each of Selecta ice cream

Without Sir, I would never have seen the actual MJ. Originally, the venue was at the Araneta (I think; hala, di ko na maalala). So when Dyan and I bought tickets, we bought the nearest seats we could afford, which turned out to be somewhere in the middle, I guess. But the concert producers changed the venue to the bigger grounds of Asia World City to accommodate more fans. So when I got to the actual gig, I was sooo far away from the stage, such that I couldn’t see MJ at all, and I had to watch most of the gig via the video wall

The two big Michaels are the video walls that I relied on to see MJ. The real MJ is somewhere in the middle, the brightest spot onstage. Took this pic by raising my cam waaay above my head.

It didn’t help that aside from the thousands of heads and shoulders between me and Michael, there was a bulky 6-footer situated right in front of me.

Sucks. But MJ’s show is like no other, so even in that situation, I was simply happy to be there. Still, Sir Dickerson offered several times to lift me up so I can see Michael. I finally and embarrassingly agreed (anything to see Jacko!), so for a second or two, I actually saw Michael Jackson. Nevermind that he was prolly just as big as my thumb’s nail. It was Michael, in the flesh.

As we made our way out after the concert, MJ’s convoy passed right next to us. I didn’t see MJ himself, but just the knowledge that I was that close to him was awesome (sucks though if that was just a decoy, hehe). I think I did wave at the line of cars quickly passing by, hoping that in one of those cars MJ would see us fans bidding him goodbye.

That gig will always be one of my most treasured memories. Have you ever seen how fans just simply lose it at MJ’s concerts? They cry and wail and pass out. I wasn’t like that, but I felt the euphoria that causes a number of fans to eventually lose it.

I still have my concert merchandise to remind me of that awesome gig. I was going through it earlier today – a nice, big (15” x 12”) souvenir program of sorts, especially made for the HIStory tour. I think it was official concert merchandise – it’s of great quality so I assume it’s not a bootleg. Seeing all those bright and colorful pictures of MJ dancing, posing, smiling lifted my spirits a bit. Still, knowing that this awesome artist has left us too soon is just too much to bear.

12-8-1996 and 6-25-2009, two of the most unforgettable dates I will ever know.

- - - - -

Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day, gone one night

Like a sunset,
dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon

Rest in peace, our gloved one.

- - - - -
http://www.myspace.com/michaeljackson (Full album streaming)
http://mjtkop.ning.com/
http://www.michaeljackson.com/ (Memorial Wall)
http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/michael.jackson/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/michael.jackson.remembered/

Pagpupugay ng mga Cebu inmates sa King of Pop (GMA News, CNN)

2009-06-28T21:29:00.001+08:00

From GMANews.tv:

CEBU, Philippines – The Filipino inmates who shot to global fame with a YouTube video of their "Thriller" dance swayed and stomped again Saturday in a behind-bars tribute to their idol, Michael Jackson.

Watch the video

After being told of Jackson's death Thursday in Los Angeles, the 1,500 inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center hit the exercise yard, practicing for nine hours Friday night – and into the wee hours of Saturday morning – for the show.

They took breaks only to eat or when it rained, said professional choreographer Gwendolyn Lador, hired by the prison to teach the inmates the dance.

"I felt sad because we lost our idol," said inmate Wenjiel Resane, who plays the role of Jackson's girlfriend in the video.

Crisanto Nieri, 38, was feeling a little extra stress. He danced Jackson's part in "Thriller."

"Even as a kid, he was already my idol," said Nieri, who is serving seven years on drug charges. "I am happy that our video became famous, but I feel some pressure to perform well."

A crowd of 700 Cebuanos and foreign tourists watched the performance from a second-floor corridor, swaying to the music and applauding as the inmates, dressed in orange prison T-shirts and sweat pants, stomped and clapped in unison in the hilltop prison, behind thick stone walls topped by electrified razor wire.

Other numbers included "Ben," ''I'll Be There." and "We Are the World." The inmates then held up a 5-by-10 foot (1.5-by-3 meter) tarpaulin showing Michael Jackson holding a sword with his name written below it.

Others waved the flags of the Philippines and other nations.

Before the show, the performers dedicated a prayer to Jackson's family.

"I was sad because one of the songs of Michael Jackson, 'Thriller,' made us famous around the world," said Francis Mercader, 36, who has spent a year in detention while on trial for drug charges.

Byron Garcia, the Cebu provincial security consultant who came up with the idea of adding synchronized dancing to poorly attended exercise sessions, said he was surprised by the popularity of the 2007 video – one of more than a dozen inmatedance numbers he has posted on YouTube.

"Thriller" has attracted 24.3 million hits since it was posted two years ago, with nearly a million of them in the 24 hours since news of Jackson's death spread.

The inmates "consider Michael Jackson as a god here," Garcia said. "If not for Michael Jackson, they would not have this international recognition."

"The fame brought them back their self-esteem," he told reporters. "So that's why we have these public performances."

Inmate Alfredo Gaballo, 52, says Jackson "inspired us, so we are all sad about his death."

"The performance today has been amazing," said Karen Benrad, 29, from London. She and about two dozen foreign and local tourists later joined the inmates at the prison quadrangle, dancing to the tune of "Macarena" and "I just can't get enough."

Kim Hua-sung, a 23-year-old South Korean student in Cebu who watched the inmates' performance, said he is also a Jackson fan. "I'm sad that I can't listen to more songs from him."

In Taiwan, two top Michael Jackson impersonators donned fedora hats and sequined outfits Saturday, moonwalking to "Billie Jean" in their own tribute to the pop star.

Thirty-year-old Wang Chih-wei told The Associated Press he secured a photo op with his idol during Jackson's whirlwind tour in 1993 after winning an impersonation contest.

"I didn't know much English so I could only tell him, 'I love you,'" Wang said. "He was very friendly. I melted when he put his hand on my shoulder for the photo." - AP

- - - - -

From CNN:

CEBU, Philippines (CNN) -- Amid the tropical heat of a Philippine prison, convicted murderers, rapists and drug dealers on Saturday paid tribute to Michael Jackson with a reprise of their YouTube dance hit, "Thriller."

Watch the video

A rendition of Jackson's 1980s smash hit by prisoners at the Cebu Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the central Philippines garnered more than 24 million views since 2007, when prison supervisor Byron Garcia first uploaded it to the video-sharing Web site.

The prison has since posted other dance videos, including performances to Van Halen's "Jump," Queen's "Radio Ga Ga," and Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder's "Together in Electric Dreams."

Jackson, known as the "King of Pop," died Thursday in Los Angeles, less than two weeks shy of the first in a series of comeback concerts in London, England.

When he heard the news, Garcia, himself a fan of the 50-year-old pop icon, organized a free tribute performance by inmates for local people in the prison courtyard.

Dancing was introduced at the prison in 2007, as a means of rehabilitating prisoners at a facility once notorious for its gang problem.

Every able-bodied prisoner must dance. If they refuse, they lose privileges, mostly conjugal visits. According to Garcia, the dancing occupies up to five hours a day. However he rejected claims he's abusing the prisoners' rights by forcing them to dance so many hours a day.

He said it gives them a renewed sense of worth and confidence, breaking them of their violent ways. He is convinced his prison is a model for prison authorities everywhere, an example of how to crack the plague of violent prison gangs.

"It brought back their self esteem. We have happy inmates now -- we don't want to go back to the old jail where we had mad, sad inmates," he said.

In searing temperatures, 1,400 men in bright orange tracksuits performed the 15-minute "Thriller" routine perfectly. They rehearsed for 10 hours the previous day, finally stopping at 3 a.m. to rest ahead of the show.

The superbly-choreographed moves, energy and obvious enthusiasm of the prisoners had the audience -- swelled by journalists from around the world -- captivated the audience. Several inmates even invited people from the crowd to dance with them.

"I never thought I would ever find myself dancing with a prisoner," one excited local said.

A local journalist even described the performance as Asia's best way of paying tribute to Jackson.

Garcia, who says the prison has witnessed no violence in three years, paid tribute to the performers. "I'm so proud of them," he said. "They got the dance exactly right."

Although it was "probably wishful thinking," he added that he had actually wanted Michael Jackson to come to Cebu to dance and play the role himself. "Now it's not going to happen," he said mournfully.

Convicted robber Mavin Cabido, 23, said: "I feel so sad as we idolize him really. The moonwalk is my favorite -- I like that."

Long live the King of Pop!

2009-06-28T03:35:00.001+08:00

I'd rather we were celebrating his music while he was still amongst us. But I'm pretty sure that wherever he is, he now knows just how much people the world over loved and adored him and his craft.

Michael, your music will live forever. Thank you.

I'll never let you part, for you are always in my heart.

Image credit

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Tributes from other musicians and celebs (personal picks):

...He was amazingly talented and largely misunderstood. I hope that the media will be kind and celebrate the genius instead of cashing in on the tabloid angles that made him a prisoner. I think he deserves that. - Chris Cornell (who did an awesome cover of Billie Jean)

Michael Jackson will always be remembered as one of the greatest performers in the history of popular music...the powerful thing about great music is that it will always live on. He was and always will be an icon. - John Legend

Dazed in the studio. A major strand of our cultural DNA has left us...I truly hope he is memorialized as the '83 moonwalking, MTV owning, mesmerizing, unstoppable, invincible Michael Jackson. - John Mayer

The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music...For anyone who has ever seen, felt, or heard his art, we are all honored to have been alive in this generation to experience the magic of Michael Jackson. - Beyonce

For every Memory in your life that His music gave You may we all offer him dignity and respect as a token ? Respect The Dancer...RIP MJ - M.C. Hammer

...I also saw what a beautiful father he was. He was a beautiful human being. I am deeply saddened this evening...May you rest in peace sweet Michael. You gave us all you had to give. - Lenny Kravitz

Sending love and light to family and friend but especially his kids. I plea to the press to respect his wishes of maintaining the anonymity of his children. I plea to the public to refuse to consume media that does not respect the anonymity of Michaels children. - Ashton Kutcher

Michael you left such a legacy on this earth, have touched SO MANY!!! We thank you for such a driving inspiration in music & our lives!! This has got to be one of the saddest days in music history!! - Kelly Rowland

My heart... my mind... are broken...I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him...My life feels so empty. I don't think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I've known...I keep looking at the photo he gave me which says, 'To my true love Elizabeth, I love you for ever'. And, I will love him for ever. - Elizabeth Taylor

Oh, Michael :'(

2009-06-26T08:46:00.001+08:00

Goodbye Ken :(

2009-06-25T00:02:00.000+08:00

My iPod Ken, short for BROKEN, is now just more than broken. It's retired.

I was charging it earlier tonight and then I heard a violent pop then I saw smoke coming out of it. I rushed to it and quickly unplugged it then lay a slightly moist face towel over it (my mom always has a lot of those face towels around). I was really saddened by the sight of it; the back cover was blown off to reveal the battery which got swollen and eventually exploded. Good thing it didn't become a full blown fire (it was just a little explosion anyway).

Ken was so-named because it was the iPod Nano I inherited from my sis when she got a new one. She gave it to me since I lost Rabii, my first iPod, last Field Bio 2008. It was broken because her puppy Bubba chewed on it when they were both new (the iPod and the puppy), so the LCD was destroyed but everything else worked fine - thus the birth of an oversize iPod Shuffle, hehe. I was able to have it fixed last year so all was well and I was happy that Ken wasn't broken anymore.

Alas, it was not meant to last. Yes, ang drama, but only because I'm such an iPod addict - I've gotta have my music everywhere I go, especially when I commute.

Oh well, I guess I'm just gonna add that on my things to save up for in 2010. A good but very very sad and untimely excuse to upgrade from a 1st generation (2gb without video) to a 4th generation (minimum 8gb with video).

Fave Band: Mr. Big

2009-06-12T03:55:00.001+08:00

Lately, I've been listening to my Mr. Big cassette tapes - Lean Into It (1991), Bump Ahead (1993), and Hey Man (1995), quite sad that I would never hear these songs live again, as the band had broken up years ago and were pretty much not friends with each other.

Much to my surprise and delight, I stumbled upon news at Peyups.com that they are currently having a reunion tour in Japan. I promptly head over to Wikipedia, YouTube, and MrBigSite.com to confirm the news. I was overjoyed to see that it was indeed true. And of course, I was very happy that they were all friends again :)

Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert are considered gods in their respective roles as bassist and guitarist. Pat Torpey's got some cool beats. And Eric Martin's voice is gold. Nothing compares to Mr. Big. I really really really really really wish their reunion tour extends to the Philippines, pero sana kasal na ako nun para may funds ako pambili ng ticket sa concert nila, hehehe.

To the Big fans out there, what are your favorite songs? It's darn hard to pick just a few...but I guess Just Take My Heart would be one of my most favorite songs of all time (love the intro!). I also love Nothing But Love, Goin' Where the Wind Blows, Green Tinted Sixties Mind, and Take Cover.

Photo credit: http://www.ampeg.com/roundsound/The%20Boys%20of%20Mr.%20Big.jpg

The weeks of doing what I've never done before or in a long time

2009-06-06T22:29:00.002+08:00

Longish post. Go ahead if you wanna read about my first soccer game in a decade, or my first bar jam, or my trip back to the land of my birth.

- - - - -

For the past couple of weeks, I found myself doing stuff I've never done before or I've never done in a LONG time.

For my last week of summer vacation, I shook off enough of my tamaditis to go to the gym. Last time I went to the gym was back in college, maybe 7-8 years ago (yes, ganun ako katamad). On the day of the AI finale, I had to hitch with my sis so early in the morning, so I had to watch the finale at the gym. Thank God for exercise machines with TVs I watched the first and last 30 minutes of the show on the treadmill, hehehe. I stopped the treadmill and made an audible OMG when Kris Allen was declared the winner, which was embarrassing because I was by myself, surrounded by strangers at the gym.

Last week, I joined the majority of the Pisay faculty for a seminar-workshop in Baguio. Last time I was in Baguio was just 2-3 years ago, but I've never stayed in Baguio for more than 3 days; this time I got to stay for 5. Baguio has a special place in my heart - it was where I was born, where I grew up for the first 5 years of my life, where my destiny was formed.

I'm always with family when I go to Baguio, so being with friends and colleagues was new for me. It was also the first time I went out and about Baguio at night. For some of the people I was with, it was my first time to bond with them, even if we've been coworkers for a couple of years already. That was the fun part, because I don't really get to interact that much with my coteachers other than those from the Bio unit.

I guess the highlight of it all was getting to do something I've NEVER done though it's something I've always wanted to do - I got to perform in a bar On our first Baguio night out, we hit this nice laid back bar called Ayuyang, where there were two performers who'd let audience members jam with them every so often. A couple of my coteachers jammed ahead of me, and when I had mustered enough courage, I stepped up to play Lisa Loeb's "Stay" and "Do You Sleep?", songs that are perpetually on my setlist when I play in my room almost every night. I was so confident about those songs, but because of certain circumstances, I totally fumbled in Ayuyang I couldn't get the plucking part of "Stay", and I mixed up the lyrics of "Do You Sleep?" Haysus. It was a really funny performance, but the audience was so cool and appreciative, steady lang kumbaga, so I actually enjoyed it. Anyways, I got to redeem myself at the end of the night when the performer allowed me to try once more, so I asked my co-teacher Justin to sing while I played "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots.

Actually, there were only about 25 people there, 15 of which were Pisay teachers. Hehehe. But it still was an achievement for me. And as we left, some of the strangers there said my attempt at Lisa Loeb was cool Ang sarap lang ng pakiramdam na bonding kayo lahat dun sa bar kahit di kayo magkakakilala. The playlist of the jammers that night was great, too - "Honestly" by Harem Scarem, "Your Love" by Alamid, "Patience" by Guns N' Roses, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison, "Your Song" by Elton John, and a whole lot more songs that I sang to at the top of my lungs. Ang saya; gusto ko ulit ng ganung jamming.

This week, the thing that I did that I hadn't done in a LONG time was to play soccer. Justin set up a soccer date with our field bio kids so we played under the drizzle last Thursday. I believe the last time I played soccer was in HIGH SCHOOL - that's like 10+ years ago Unless you can count one of my PE classes in college - speedball (kinda like soccer, football, and basketball combined - I hardly remember the rules!). Still, that's a good 5+ years ago. I'm totally not a soccer player - basketball is my game, and maybe softball, though I last played that in college - but I kinda enjoyed last Thursday.

And the last on this list of things-I-haven't-done-before-or-in-a-long-while would be - - - to watch a full set of Nina, the soul siren My friend Sandy is in a showband so she asked us girls to watch her gig at Taboo Bar in Ortigas last night. I hardly get to see my girls so I grabbed the opportunity, nevermind that Nina is so way off my genre of choice. It was great to be with my barkada after almost half a year of not seeing most of them. We weren't complete but it was the best attendance record for a non-wedding gimik in a long while.

I'm quite amused with myself lately because I guess I'm trying harder each day to get out of my comfort zone. These things I've written aren't really off-the-charts with their awesomeness or novelty or uniqueness, but for me I'm happy that I'm getting to do a lot more new things lately.

I hope this 'adventurousness' spills onto the rest of the school year. I so want to make this school year a whole lot better than the last. Last year was nice and fun, but I totally did not make use of my full potential as a teacher. It was my most stressful year EVER - I had so many tasks on my shoulders, and because I'm such an awesome time manager, I believe I did a mediocre job on all of them. This year, I must not let that happen. Wish me luck.

Pisay opening of classes moved to June 15

2009-06-06T18:33:00.001+08:00

Opening of classes postponed to June 15.

As stated in the health bulletin issued by the School Physician, students who went for a vacation abroad are requested to go on a 10-day self-quarantine.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Enjoy your 1-week summer break extension. See you all on June 15!

Kevin Jer David & Orven Jules Dumaoang (Pisay09) win at Intel ISEF competition :)

2009-06-06T18:26:00.001+08:00

Way to go, Jer & OJ!!!

O ayan OJ, ha, may greeting din kayo :P

Go libaaag :D

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4 Pinoy studes win awards in US science fair

By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:04:00 06/06/2009

Filed Under: Good news, Awards and Prizes, Science (general), Education, Animals

MANILA, Philippines—Four Filipino high school students have won prizes in an international science competition proving that science education is alive and well and thriving in the Philippines.

Sixteen-year-old Jovani Tomale’s passion for numbers is helping save the Philippine Eagle and has earned for him second prize in the Animal Sciences category during the International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held in the United States last month.

Two other high school science projects won in the Intel ISEF competition: One by Kevin Jer David, 16, and Orven Jules Dumaoang, 16, and another by Angela Joyce Yap-Dy, 14.

The annual contest, sponsored by Intel Corp., brought together some 1,600 students from 50 countries. Nine students from the Philippines competed by presenting six science projects.

Tomale came up with a mathematical formula to help identify the sex of an eagle, proving that tinkering with numbers and equations is both fun and relevant.

“This is my share to save the Philippine Eagle,” Tomale told the Inquirer.

His project started with a simple field trip more than a year ago when he was still a senior high school student at the Davao City National High School in Davao del Sur.

Listening to talks by officials of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), a Davao City organization that aims to save Philippine Eagles from extinction, Tomale was struck by a simple problem that hampers the breeding of eagles in captivity.

“It was hard for them to determine the gender of an eagle,” he said.

Visual sexing

The foundation usually resorted to what it called “visual sexing” or determining gender by observing the eagle for several days, a method that is very susceptible to error.

“This problem led me to think of something to help the foundation,” Tomale said.

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a huge, broad-winged forest raptor endemic to Luzon, Leyte, Samar and Mindanao. It is one of the world’s largest and rarest eagles. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources lists the Philippine Eagle as “critically endangered.”

It was difficult to identify the sex of the Philippine Eagle because male and female have the same physical features, Tomale explained.

If there was an easier and faster way to tell an eagle’s sex, this could help increase its threatened population.

Formula

Tomale worked with his uncle Vladimir Kobayashi, an applied mathematics graduate of the University of the Philippines, who taught him the basic principles of statistics.

Several months later, he came up with a formula that included information like the length of an eagle’s bill and leg. His formula correctly identified the sex of at least 17 eagles.

Tomale has given his formula to the PEF. He said he would pursue his love for numbers by taking up accountancy at the Ateneo de Davao University.

Other winners

Winning the grand prize in the Plant Sciences category were David and Dumaoang, both graduates of the Philippine Science High School. The two, who are incoming medical students at the University of the Philippines, studied how disease-causing bacteria can “communicate.” By being able to disrupt the communication, they can prevent the disease-causing bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Meanwhile, Dy won a special second prize award from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. She discovered that milkfish bile, which is usually discarded when cooking, could be converted into an anti-cancer drug. It works especially against lung and colon cancers, which are among the top killers in the world.

Intel presented the winners in a press conference yesterday.

Real science

Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador said the four students represented that 20 million public school students who “are doing their best.”

Labrador noted: “Is the quality of education falling down? ... This is a proof [that it is not].”

David, one of the grand prize winners, said his experience in the international contest showed him that science “is not just memorizing concepts, real science is when you get to answer your own questions.”

He said the country “needs more scientists” and while he acknowledged that support for science research in the country has been increasing, “there is still room for improvement.”

Intel’s higher education manager for corporate affairs Joselito Tulao said the contest aimed to “develop science and technology in the country.”

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Proudly Pisay.
Proudly Field Bio ;)

AI8: Finale Moments

2009-05-22T13:38:00.000+08:00

The Adam Show
It is common opinion that the show's producers and judges pimped Adam Lambert to no end throughout the entire season. Some would say it isn't unmerited, but some would also agree it went overboard. The finale results show was no exception.

The coronation song "No Boundaries" was written for Adam's range, and even he suffered from the high pitch. Though I think they lowered the pitch for the results show because Kris didn't struggle much with the high notes then.
Adam got to perform with Kiss, and Kris got to perform with Keith Urban. Isang malaking NGEK.
The final two got to sing with Queen, which is right up Adam's alley, what with online opinion calling him the next Freddy Mercury.

Nitpicking much? :P

I read in an online forum that Adam was offered to fill in Freddie Mercury's spot in Queen. If it's true, then way to go Lambert! Take the gig!

Favorite Moments
Anyway, here are my favorite moments from the final results show:

Norman Gentle/Nick Mitchell rocks AI once again!
Kara DioGuardi's nice tummy trumps Bikini Girl's new boobs!
Kris's winning moment. Kris fumbled with words and blurted out that he himself was expecting Adam to win. And I swear, I heard him say to Ryan, "Are you freakin' serious?!"
Kris's moment with his wifey. Prior to that he was channeling shock and disbelief, but I guess the happiness only sunk in when he could share it with his wife.

One thing to like about Kris
I liked this commentary on Kris's victory: Kris Allen gives American Idol back its heart
(Note: this is not an anti-Adam article, as the excerpt may seem; read the whole thing)

Excerpt:

But while the public gaped in awe at Lambert’s virtuosity, one quiet young man, week after week kept delivering performances that were a quiet way solid at worst, and often intensely beautiful. We never saw his audition video. We never saw his Green Mile sing-off. Nothing cued us to expect anything of Kris Allen. Indeed, every week he seemed almost to expect to be eliminated. But he stayed and little by little, while others' virtuosity flowered, Kris Allen slowly came to embody the "American Idol" dream – the idea that a kid from the outskirts of nowhere could line up to sing a song, a few months later, if he stays true to who he is and where he came from – a world beyond his wildest dreams could be his.

That was never Adam’s story. One always had the slight sense that Adam understood that Idol was just a step in his career. That while others thought they had reached the pinnacle of the known universe, Adam understood there were in fact, higher peaks waiting ahead for him. An understandable sentiment from anyone with a bit of exposure to the entertainment business, but not one that brought tears to people’s eyes when they thought of his journey.

I first talked to Kris at the party after the Top 13 announcement. I found him standing alone while other contestants were being mobbed, and I asked him if he was prepared for his life to change completely. He seemed taken aback by the question, focused on how thrilled he was just to be there that week, and it seemed, with little expectation of anything more being handed to him – let alone his “life being changed.”

AI8: All this Kris vs Adam brouhaha

2009-05-22T13:28:00.000+08:00

Just like last year, I stand corrected.

Last year, I said TCO David Archuleta would win over David Cook. Last week, I said TCO Adam Lambert would no doubt win this over Kris Allen.

On both instances, I was proven wrong.

I've gone through pages and pages of post-AI8 opinions and I have so much going on in my mind right now about this season. So ~~to prevent myself from rambling on about it all,~~ I'll confine my post to bullet points (actually it's just an excuse because I can't make a coherent blog post about this hehe).

I am truly, genuinely happy that Kris Allen won this year. I'm happy for Adam Lambert, too, because he showed how much of a friend and sport he is - he seemed really happy for Kris, too (whether it was a just a front doesn't matter - he appeared every bit of a gentleman when results were announced).
I think Kris is this season's Elliott Yamin - just some kid from nowhere, no prior experience, no prior exposure, whose humility is so heartwarming and admirable. Maybe that's why the voters could relate to him - he's just like us, they'd say. Did I hear it right, he actually asked Ryan Seacrest, "Are you freakin' serious?!" Ewan, parang narinig ko yun when I watched the replay last night. Love how he was SPEECHLESS about the whole thing, much like how David Archuleta was amazed with all the attention he was getting last season.
It's quite sad that a good lot of online opinion tends toward Kris winning not because of his own merit but because of anti-Adam sentiments. Kris won because Adam was gay. Kris won because Danny Gokey's fans voted for him. Kris won because people thought he could use the title more than Adam needed it. Di ba pwedeng Kris won because a good part of the voters had the same taste in music as Kris and actually liked his performances over Adam's?
Also, we can't condemn people because they prefer pop rock over glam rock, could we? Minsan kasi sa forum na binabasa ko, some people think their musical taste is so much superior than others, and get so riled up at Kris fans because Kris's music is laid back and simple and background music at best (according to them). Of course everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but hopefully not at the expense of demeaning others. I admit I've felt the same before, and voiced out my opinion, too. But now I realize: too each his own. So now I say down with the holier-than-thou attitude!
MY opinion is this: I'm a big rock fan - I'm open to all kinds of rock (and most kinds of music, actually), though I prefer the noisier ones, the more angsty ones. But somehow, I choose Kris's pop over Adam's glam. And it's not the subgenre that affects my decision, but the singers' delivery. Kris keeps it cool, changes things up a bit, and I love the way he moves with his guitar (the facial expressions don't bother me much). Adam's always exciting, but for me it's mostly over-the-top. I like screaming in rock songs, a la Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), but Adam's high notes for me are just like Regine Velasquez's or Celine Dion's or Charice Pempengco's birit. And there's too much of it. If you string together his performances, it's just like one long song; I can't imagine myself sitting through a concert full of those high notes (though I admit an Adam Lambert show would be interesting to watch).
On a personal level, I (and maybe Kris's voters) can relate more to Kris Allen's humility. What I mean is that I've never had Adam's FTW ambition. I'd rather stay low-key, and if people appreciate what I do, then good. I hate that in competitions, there has to be a loser. I guess I was never trained to be competitive, hehe. I also understand that others would prize Adam's ambition, and I recognize that that is actually Adam's best asset. He believes in himself, he knows what he wants, and he knows how to get it. I just hope that each of these singers' strengths would serve them well as they build up their careers hereafter.
Speaking of their careers, predictions abound that Adam will outsell Kris, like Chris Daughtry did Taylor Hicks, or Jennifer Hudson compared to Fantasia. And maybe I'm saying this because I prefer Kris's performances than Adam's, but I hope people would stop wishing ill on Kris just to say I-told-you-so. Maybe for some, it's just an honest, no-malice prediction, but for other posts I've seen, the comment reeks with bitterness, hehe.

Well, so much for NOT rambling :D But anyway, I, like most bloggers, just wanted to say my piece.

Bottomline is, I just hope people would be happy for Kris and Adam. Heck, they themselves and their families seem happy for each other! I think the fans need to move on :P