Your favorite song.

There are really too many beautiful songs, but if I had to pick one, it would be:


When I listen to this song, I believe it. I sang it at my very first extension program recital at the College of Music. While I didn't do as well as I'd hoped at the time, it felt damn good. I performed it again at Kaine's debut, and it felt even better.

I can never hear this and not smile. (Lyrics)

In order to (again) blow away the dust and cobwebs that have undoubtedly accumulated in this particular corner of the internet, and also to distract from the fact that I am in need of a serious layout overhaul, I have decided to answer this meme.

Day 01 → Your favorite song
Day 02 → Your favorite movie
Day 03 → Your favorite television program
Day 04 → Your favorite book
Day 05 → Your favorite quote
Day 06 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 → A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 → A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 → A photo you took
Day 10 → A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 → A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 → A fictional book
Day 14 → A non-fictional book
Day 15 → A fanfic
Day 16 → A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 → An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 → A talent of yours
Day 20 → A hobbie of yours
Day 21 → A recipe
Day 22 → A website
Day 23 → A YouTube video
Day 24 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 → Your day, in great detail
Day 26 → Your week, in great detail
Day 27 → This month, in great detail
Day 28 → This year, in great detail
Day 29 → Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 → Whatever tickles your fancy

I cannot promise 30 straight days, as there really are times when I don't have access to the internet. (Besides, I'm mostly doing this for myself since I have around 2 readers.)

I love thinking of something to perform. I love rehearsing. I love trying little random things in order to make a song my own. I love learning to use my voice, my face, my hands, everything, to tell a story. I love sharing a stage with people who love it as much as I do.

Now that voice lessons at UP as well as debut practices (and the debut itself) are over, I miss them terribly. I miss pushing myself to be better, always better. I miss hearing Ma’am Olynne’s piano, and her constant reminders of “Open your mouth! Sing with your body! Pressure!” Haha. I miss listening to Mikki play Unexpressed on Jek’s keyboard! I miss practicing with Amos! I can’t listen to Gavin Creel’s “Unexpressed” anymore, and Elephant Love Medley is even more special to me ‘coz of him! I miss practicing with my Seasons of Love-mates! I never would’ve known I could do that whistle thing if not for them! Thank you Kaine, Yono, Brian, Dana, Ton, Mikko, Vic. Someone find us some event we can perform that song at again, please? :P I love doing this so much.

To think that this is all quite new to me. To think that I’ve yet to give a performance that satisfies the standards I set for myself. To think that my practices have usually been better than the real thing. To think that I used to believe I’d stay in the background forever.

Acting is something I only remember doing... once in high school? It was never really something I thought I wanted to do. I guess I thought that ordering people around and overseeing different parts of production were more fun. What, I actually LIKE spreading myself out a bit too thin. Yes, I bitch on and on about it, but you know I’d do it anyway even if I was given a choice. But you know, there’s something about acting, something about letting go of your own self and own personality, and embracing another’s. There’s something about letting a character reside in your consciousness, that you begin to pour yourself into her, and she starts to pour herself into you, and together, you create something wonderful. You tell a story. Grab people by the heart and the brain, and twist them here and there as you, the director, the writers, and the story see fit. Make them feel something real, despite the fact that what they see may not be. I have yet to be able to do this, but I’m going to learn. Mark my words.

I wish I found this out sooner, but what the heck. All the world’s a stage, and all that jazz. I’d like to think I have time to become one of the major players.

I AM NEVER TAKING SUMMER CLASS AGAIN.

I'd rather suffer in the regular school year. I mean, seriously. At 2 AM one morning, I was working on Chem prelab and it dawned on me that if there had to be something wrong with me if I'd willingly do acads during summer when I could be sleeping, or having fun, or something. Summer vacation exists for a reason!! Also, the extreme heat / sudden rain when I don't have an umbrella isn't helping. At all.

Sigh. I wish this would all just go away so I can concentrate on my party. Seriously, it's very hard to plan a big-ish party like this without a pro coordinator and a very tight budget. But I shall survive! I hope everybody enjoys it.

I enjoy this really, but planning breaking the fourth wall comes with some serious pitfalls. I just got off the phone with an event stylist's MOTHER telling me that she can't style my party 'coz it's coming too soon already. Yes, seriously. I mean, I made the effort to go to the event stylist's shop (she wasn't there), to call her (her mother answered. this was the first time.), and to text her with nothing to show for it. No replies. If I hadn't called this afternoon, I wonder if I'd have found out that she thinks my party is too near already and that my theme is too hard for her to do. I mean, she didn't even bother to talk to me personally about it! WTF. Seriously, what if I only wanted a backdrop for my stage and a design for the entrance? Sure, I know I'm doing all this stuff pretty late, but she didn't even bother to think about what she could do with the limited timeframe, heck, she didn't even bother telling me herself that she couldn't do it! Come on, where's the professionalism? :|

Sigh. This is one of the last things I need to iron out before my planning is complete. Oh God, let me pull this off.

only to remind me to create my schoolyear-ender blog entry/picspam as soon as possible.

ACTING IN MUSICAL THEATER (17 years old and above)
April 14 – May 9, 2009
20 sessions
Tuesday – Saturday
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Venue: CCP Bulwagang Amado Hernandez
Workshop Fee: PhP 7,000.00
Singing, movement and acting classes are integrated to prepare actors for performance in musical theater productions. A musical recital caps the workshop.

I WANT THIS SO BAD. But alas, I'm taking summer classes in UP. CCP is so far...

Fulfillment of latent dreams TBA.

I saw bare at Ateneo last night. Kaine and I sat in the front row, because we are complete bare-tards.

Summary I gave to one of my friends from AME: It's a musical about 2 gay high school students and their straight friends. XD

I am no good at summaries. Go here. [Warning: If you don't want spoilers, don't read the synopsis on Wikipedia.]

I went in knowing practically the whole show by heart, yet some parts still managed to surprise me, and make me teary-eyed. I guess that's a sign of either awesomeness, or my being a fangirly lump of fluff.

Major, major props to the 2 leads: Amos Francia, who played Jason, and Alfredo "Bibo" Reyes, who played Peter. Surprisingly, Amos had me teary at different parts of the show than either James Snyder (Jason, bare Cast Recording) or John Hill (Jason, bare Off-Broadway show). That was kinda cool. His voice was amazing, and he acted so, so, well. He was every bit the "golden boy" that Jason is. Confident, talented, charming, with a hint of arrogance. Amos' little improvisations made the character somehow more like a real person, and I was just pretty much enthralled by him whenever he was onstage. His complete and utter sexiness in both looks and manner definitely helped, of course. Bibo's voice was was just amazing, kinda like a mixture of Matt Doyle (Peter, bare Cast Recording), Michael Arden (Peter, bare Off-Broadway show), and Christopher Johnson (Matt, bare Cast Recording). The way he sang Peter's songs was so heartfelt and pure, and he had me just holding back my spazzing out of total joy. His acting only ever so slightly betrayed the fact that he's quite new at this, him being a band frontman instead of an actor before (according to an article I saw online), but he managed quite well, especially for a freshman. He was still a bit hesitant with the intimate touching, as I expected, but Amos kinda made up for it in those parts. The chemistry was pretty good though, as they showed that, more than being lovers, Jason and Peter were best friends. All in all, these two made me a very, very happy person indeed. I especially loved their renditions of "Pilgrim's Hands" and "Queen Mab". [ALSO THE KISSING, GUH.]

Cassandra Manalastas, who played Nadia, Jason's sister, was good as well. She sang the shit out of "Plain Jane Fat-Ass", and that made me happy. This song wasn't in the off-Broadway production, so it was really nice to see it for the first time on stage. I ADORED the brother-sister dynamic shown between Nadia and Jason, and they reminded me that I really wish I had a twin brother, or a kuya. Though, there were some parts that she came off a bit too angry, rather than just subtly snarky and sarcastic, like Nadia is (for me, at least). I was a bit sad that they changed/didn't show the fact that she's a cellist though... I mean, give her something that Jason doesn't have! :)) But I totally understand, since a cello is hueg, heavy, very expensive and therefore hard to borrow and move onto and off their raised cross-shaped platform of a stage.

And now that I've mentioned the stage, here I segue into mild complaints about the theatre we watched the show in... While I thought the runway-ish stage was pretty cool and made for creative blocking, the area where the audience was sitting wasn't all that great. The floor was just flat, so the people who didn't get seats right up front couldn't have gotten all that nice a view, what with people's heads in the way. That being said, I move on. Oh wait, tip: if you sit at the front row, center, on monobloc chairs, then decide to follow the ushers' advice to sit on the pews in front after the first song, be prepared to have bright, extremely hot lights shining on you during some parts. You'll also have to scoot over to the left when the "Auditions" part of the show starts, since Sister Chantelle will be sitting on the right. Last thing, make sure no one sits on at least 2 of the monobloc chairs you vacated, as 2 of you will have to move there at the beginning of the second act. You can go back after. There's an upside to sitting on that very front row, though. During some scenes, the actors are practically in your face and you can really feel their emotion, which is really cool. Moving on...

The actress who played Ivy, the prettiest girl in school, was Oli del Rosario (thank you for the heads-up, anonymous blog commenter! XD) She sounded much like Jenna Leigh Green, who is pretty much THE Ivy, having played her in LA, Off-Broadway and on the Cast Recording. blueREP's Ivy's voice quality was nice, but her acting during some of her solo/duet songs left something to be desired. During "Portrait of a Girl", she was rooted to one spot, and she spent almost the whole song just clutching the folder she was holding to her chest, or sometimes flipping through it, so I had a hard time sympathizing with the character during that part. Also, in one of the second act duet with Jason, the rather lackluster direction (I think it may have been the direction, or nerves, 'coz the actress showed skillz during scenes, and in the other songs) would've killed another great song, if Amos wasn't so good during his part (fangirl. sorry.). She was great in "One Kiss" and awesome in "All Grown Up" though.

As for the minor characters, I loved Rem Zamora who played Sister Chantelle. Yes, Sister. He also played Sister Chantelle playing a singing, dancing Virgin Mary. Long (awesome) story. The "God Don't Make No Trash" song/scene with Sister Chantelle and Peter was quite moving, though I think some of the lines might have not been understandable if you didn't know them beforehand (I wouldn't know for sure though, because I DID know them. Sorry. :P) I'm sure about Lucas' rap about his new drugs not being understandable to the non-bare-tard though. The priest didn't speak/sing all too clearly either, which is sad, because a lot of what he says is a cause for strong emotion. (The clarity with which some lines were sung and said definitely need a bit of work.) The one who played Matt was good, but nothing really special.

Peter's mom (she was Jason's mom in one scene, too Joooke lang pala. All this time I thought that woman in Wedding Bells was JASON's mom. She looked and sounded veeeery different from Claire on the off-Broadway. o.o) was great, though. "See Me" + "Warning" is the song combo that really gets me crying, because I can somehow relate, even though I'm not exactly in Peter's situation. I just really think that most kids/teens go through a phase where they just really want their parents to see them, instead of an idealized version of what they're supposed to be, and most parents go through a time when they feel like they don't know their children at all... The scene between Peter and his mom in "See Me" was just... heart-wrenching, literally. Though I wasn't reduced to a teary mess like when I heard the Cast Recording version, my chest hurt while I was watching, and I never felt that before, as with "Warning".

Now, if there was one thing I learned from Ms Nanette (my third and fourth year high school English teacher) about being a director, it's that you should watch everyone onstage, instead of just the characters who are singing/talking at the time. This habit really paid off with this production, because if I wasn't looking at everybody, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate how they gave each student at St. Cecilia's their own character. They moved in different ways, had their own mannerisms, and you couldn't really say that any one student was just "part of the chorus". That really made the atmosphere feel real, and I think that this musical wouldn't work at all if it didn't feel believable, or relatable.

Life, love, secrets, decisions, taboo, heartbreak, expectations, morals, religion... These all come into play as bare's story unfolds. I guess... It's just about these teens growing up and trying to find their places in the world. They all want to be accepted, and to be loved, not in spite of, but rather because of, who they really are. They doubt, they make mistakes, some rise from them, and others realize just how hard it is to know what to do, or where to go without someone to guide them. But they know that someday, they have to learn to stand on their own feet. They learn.

Good job, blueREP. [If I'm even worthy to say such a thing. :))] You touched my soul. Thank you. :]

*~*

If you want to know what I'm talking about, and why I love it so much, go see it. Watch the off-Broadway show on YouTube, if you want. Buy/torrent, then listen to the Cast Recording! I can lend you my copies of both the off-Broadway and the cast recording if you like. Just tell me.

If you want to watch it in real life here in Manila though (aka what I just reviewed up there), go here for more details. However, I'm not affiliated with blueREP, or anything like that. I'm just sharing good art with as many people as I can.

crossposted on my multiply

edit: Last chance to see blueREP's bare this week, March 3-7, 8 PM, at the Gonzaga Exhibit Hall in Ateneo. If you guys wanna watch with me, I'm seeing it on Friday, March 6. :D

edit 2: I just got back from seeing it again. IT WAS SO GOOD. [Better than the first time, I swear.] Lots of friends, plus my sister, were with me. They all enjoyed it! So happy~ Restaging in a better theater, please? XD

What the...

Now I'm not just saying this just because I'm sympathetic to the side that everyone's bashing. (For the record, I am. Sila na lang kilala ko eh.) I can only wonder what grave unspeakable transgression they've committed that warrants them this treatment. It's just that... if you really wanted someone to change, you'd talk to them properly about it. Passive aggressive displays of faux unity never solved anything.

Well, there's also the possibility that no one really wants the problem solved... or that majority of the people participating don't even know what the problem is. I guess it just feels nice to unite against something, whatever it is, rather than to work towards reform.

MICHAEL CASTRO <3!

ADAM LAMBERT <33333333!!!!!!!!!!!!

but but but AI editors, WHY didn't you include their day 1 Hollywood auditions? WAI WAI WAI.

I can't wait for today's episode. I hope we get to hear Baby Castro [LOL] and diva!Fiyero sing this time.

But. As much as I ADORE these guys, COOK still owns me. :D

7 exams in 3 weeks (well, technically 2 weeks lang, kaso may one week gap in between), and I have survived! YAY ME!

My last exam was the Math midterm last Feb 2nd. To celebrate, I decided to jump on the Project 365 bandwagon. Take at least one photo per day of anything at all, then post it on the intarwebs. I host mine here. It's fun, and I'm pretty sure I'll become a better photog if I keep this up for a whole year, or even beyond~ Wish me luck on having enough attention span to do this for that long. :)) You guys do it too! Hahaha. Link me if you do, coz I wanna see lotsa pics!

I realized that the 7 exams thing I just experienced was just a taste of what's to come in this course of mine. Oh, MBB, why do you have to be so cool, yet so hard? Ano ba 'tong pinasok ko? Sigh. I would like some diligence and motivation as Valentine's Day gifts, please.

HUWAG NIYO PO AKONG PAYAGAN MAGSHIFT. OR HUWAG NIYO PO AKONG PAYAGANG MAGKA-GWA NA IPAPAGSHIFT AKO NG INSTI KO. Thank you.

I mean, much as I love the arts and all, I really don't think I'm good enough to be useful to the world in that field. -_- I'll stick to appreciating and creating art for pure pleasure. Pagsulat lang nga ng review hirap ako eh. I really suck at telling people what's so great about a film/musical/book/anime/game/comic that I recently devoured. XD "It's just great, see it for yourself. HAHAHA."

So, yeah. I know (modesty aside,) I have the potential to be good at this science thing. Once upon a time, when I was but a wee child, I really loved this stuff. I know I still do love it, somewhere in my heart (yuck corny XD). After all, it really IS my big dream to learn cool stuff in MBB and my even bigger dream to become a neurosurgeon. I just have to remember how to work hard for my studies. XD

Obligatory post-to-check-if-I-still-know-how-to-write!

So, updates, updates.

I'm now in my second semester as a Molecular Biology and Biotechnology student at UP Diliman. Acads-wise, things haven't been all that good, but they're nothing I can't fix with a little motivation. ...which I seem to be lacking a lot of, but I'm working on it, really. I don't want to be forced "shifted out". -_- If I DO shift out, it has to be for a better reason than being a lazy bum.

I passed the UP AME application process, got through the induction, and am now a full-fledged new member! woo~

My holiday was pretty fun, and I received a fair bit of swag from my family. Some of my favorites are these:





along with the brand spankin' new Nikon D40 which was used to take photos of the other stuff. I've named him (yes, the camera) Morpheus, though I didn't tell my dad that 'coz we share him, and I think he'd think me strange for giving a name to a camera. XD

My Ninang Bing and Ninong Rodney from the US visited, and we had fun with them :] They gave me The Absolute Sandman IV (last pic) :DDDDD

-end Updates-

My January's pretty much swamped with exams and shiz. As I type, I'm taking a break from studying for my Chem 26 exam on Saturday. My attention span can only take too much. XD

This month also seems to be a month full of parties and other fun stuff, but I can't go to some of them because, well, academics come first. I got to attend one of my blockmate's debuts, thankfully. It was awesome. Buuuut, the next day, I missed a cosplay shoot where a friend invited me to be one of the photographers. TT-TT And I wanted to break Morpheus in, too. Damn. There's another one coming though, with a cooler location, so hopefully I can go to that one.

It's been really really cold around here lately, especially at night. I really like it. Feels a lot like spring.

I've marked January 24 the ZdN Les Mis anniversary, which I will probably celebrate by missing high school terribly. And yes, guys, after a whole year, I'm still supremely grateful that you made me a big part of that production. I wish we could've done other shows.

~*

Or may be cool to be a little summer wind.
Like once through everything
And then away again.
With the taste of dust in your mouth all day
But no need to know.
Like sadness, you just sail away

- Don't Do Sadness / Blue Wind from Spring Awakening

The University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts turns eight this year! Once more, the Philippines' top collegiate anime organization rocks the scene with another sensational anime fair!


AME 8th Avenue
Taking the Streets of Harajuku!
COSPLAY COMPETITION! J-ROCK CONCERT! AME CAFE!
FANART CONTEST! NOVELTY BOOTHS! KARAOKE SING-OFF!

NOVEMBER 8, 2008
Ang Bahay ng Alumni
University of the Philippines - Diliman

For more information, contest mechanics and event updates, please check the official website of the University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts at UP-AME.ORG, or the UP AME Forums.

The UP Anime Manga Enthusiasts (UP AME) is the first ever recognized collegiate anime organization in the Philippines. They are also the same group behind previous successful events such as the Una kAME!, kAME Ulit!, AME Matsuri and AME Gakuensai.

So, after 10 million years of not posting real entries, here I am, not posting a real entry. But please amuse me by answering/doing this meme.

Reply with an anonymous comment telling me....
❶ One secret.
❷ One compliment.
❸ One non-compliment.
❹ One love note, but it does not have to be for me.
❺ Lyrics to a song.
❻ How old you are.
❼ How long we've been friends.
❽ And a hint to who you are.

This is my attempt at doing a meme like this outside LJ. Stolen from Ate Kyoy.

The University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts turns eight this year! Once more, the Philippines' top collegiate anime organization rocks the scene with another sensational anime fair!



AME 8th Avenue
Taking the Streets of Harajuku!
COSPLAY COMPETITION! J-ROCK CONCERT! AME CAFE!
FANART CONTEST! NOVELTY BOOTHS! KARAOKE SING-OFF!

NOVEMBER 8, 2008
Ang Bahay ng Alumni
University of the Philippines - Diliman

For more information, contest mechanics and event updates, please check the official website of the University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts at UP-AME.ORG, or the UP AME Forums.

The UP Anime Manga Enthusiasts (UP AME) is the first ever recognized collegiate anime organization in the Philippines. They are also the same group behind previous successful events such as the Una kAME!, kAME Ulit!, AME Matsuri and AME Gakuensai.

The University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts turns eight this year! Once more, the Philippines' top collegiate anime organization rocks the scene with another sensational anime fair!


AME 8th Avenue
Taking the Streets of Harajuku!
COSPLAY COMPETITION! J-ROCK CONCERT! AME CAFE!
FANART CONTEST! NOVELTY BOOTHS! KARAOKE SING-OFF!

NOVEMBER 8, 2008
Ang Bahay ng Alumni
University of the Philippines - Diliman

For more updates, please check the official website of the University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts HERE, or the forums HERE.


The UP Anime Manga Enthusiasts (UP AME) is the first ever recognized collegiate anime organization in the Philippines. They are also the same group behind previous successful events such as the Una kAME!, kAME Ulit!, AME Matsuri and AME Gakuensai.