Thank You For The Music

I was in the mall to buy some groceries when I chanced upon a backdrop on a stage, set up in the middle of the mall atrium, that says:

Avenida Musika - Brass Band Symphonic Competition
March 7, 1pm.

The competition is in connection with the annual musical festival of Tagum City which we celebrate every March, the Musikahan festival.

I finished my errands before 1pm and since I did not have other plans for the day, I decided to just stay a while and enjoy the free show.

I sat on a vacant monoblock chair provided for the audience and waited for the event to start. I waited, and waited. And waited. Until it was 245 when the event started.

How I hate tardiness.

After the introduction of the judges that lasted 30 mins (I am not exaggerating) the competition was on. And o boy how I enjoyed the show.

I can't explain the excitement I felt when the first band started playing. I was actually expecting a loud, marching band type of music. It was not like that at all. And then I remembered; oh right, this was the symphonic brass band. It was like listening to the soundtrack of a movie.

I was able to recognize the songs played by the first contestant. New York, New York transitioned to My Way. Then my heart skipped a beat when they played Obla di Obla (life goes on bra! La la la life goes on!) and I thought I hope they'll play more Beatles songs.

Billie Jean was next and then a very beautiful rendition of the Visayan song, Usahay. I was really having a good time but their next set of songs was what made my day: they played a medley of Beatles songs.

I thought; I knew it! I knew they were going to play The Beatles, it's inevitable! I'm so happy I wasn't wrong.

They started with Hey Jude. It was‎ followed by one of my favorite songs, Martha My Dear. I used to sing that to our puppy, Wolfie Rabbit. But that's another story.

Then the played The Fool On The Hill and Norwegian Wood. Norwegian Wood! By a brass band! I wouldn't have imagined it being played without the sitar but the band made it work. I liked it so very much.

The next set of songs from the next group just went by so fast. I wasn't able to recognize most of them except for the themes from Star Wars and Jaws but I remember being so thrilled!
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I can't call myself a music lover as I can only appreciate a few styles and genres. I don't know what to call this type of music as I have little to no knowledge about music. But as far as I can remember, I've appreciated this kind of musical performances.
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I can't remember the last time I had so much fun. I am deeply grateful for those who made this possible. It was such an awesome experience. I went home with a happy heart, my soul richer because of the gift of music.

Welcome 2015

Welcome 2015!

Yes. I know It's a bit late. This should have been posted a month ago. However I lost my draft so I had to recall what was in my first draft.

Anyway, this is just a list of what I want to do this year. You'll notice that they're small plans. That is intentional as I want to be able to be happy with small victories.

1. Post at least 1 article on this blog per month- This post shall be considered my entry for January. This will be challenging for me as I can't figure out what to write. If I think of something and I don't write it down immediately, I forget.

2. Read and FINISH at least 1 book per month- Emphasis on the word finish as I tend to stop reading a book when it's almost finished. In fact last year, there were around 5 books that I wasn't able to finish. This has to stop. I am sure this year I will succeed!

3. Make at least 1 artwork per month. I used to be good at drawing and painting. Since I fell in love with Alistair and Joker, I never had the time to draw and paint anymore. This year will be different.

4. Email or text my friends at least once a month. Whether or not they respond will not matter. I will make an effort to reach out.

I actually feel good about 2015. I really think I will be successful in achieving my listed goals.

Happy new

I'm Back!

And so I read a blog article that inspired me to revive my own blog. As a result, I am struggling to write something that would hopefully make up for the 6 years that I have abandoned my blog.

I checked the last entry. It's dated April 2008. Obviously a lot has happened between April 2008 and 2014. 

It's not a matter of not having anything to write about that I am having a hard time with; it's where to start and what to not include.

Ok so here we go.

Updates:

I did not finish grad school. I'm too lazy to write my thesis.

I'm still working in the same company that hired me in 2008.  I've been given different roles and I've been transferred to other branches until I requested to be assigned in the branch that I'm currently in. My  present role is that of a customer service representative and area trainer.

I bought/ assembled my first gaming PC in 2011. I was introduced to the world of RPG. And I've been stuck there for 3 years. I've been in a relationship with Alistar (Dragon Age Origins) ever since. I've also flirted with Fenris (Dragon Age 2) and have been infatuated with Joker ( Mass Effect 1, 2, 3) since I played Mass Effect. I left my PC in my parent's house so I don't have a computer now. I haven't been able to play regularly since April 2014. I'm saving up for a new computer as Dragon Age Inquisition has been released last November.

I got married in 2013 thus the request for transfer to the office where I am currently assigned. And I am now living in another city. And is having a hard time adjusting and balancing work life and family life. Nobody said this is going to be a piece of cake but nobody told me it's going to be this difficult! I'm away from my family and friends. And the chores! THE CHORES! Anyway, we're both still alive so that's probably something!

I've been traveling a bit since 2008. As I've been more financially able because of my job. I haven't been abroad yet but I will soon. 

About the happy journal, i actually forgot about it. I guess I'll just have to start again, won't I? And I know just the place that has all the space for me to fill with happy (or not) thoughts.

newly empowered

i'm so lucky i was sent to cebu for counter selling training.

our facilitators were very effective and i learned a lot. i never knew that before you become a good sales person, you have to be comfortable with yourself, you have to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses; not just as a sales person but as an individual, and if you have doubts in your abilities, clients can smell those doubts and that will affect your effectivity/productivity as a sales person.

what's good about the training was it's not only about selling. it was also about self awareness and personality development.

because of the training i was able to think about what i like and i don't like about myself. through the video exercises, i was able to see how i look when i walk and talk and interact with other people. i'll be able to improve my unlikeable habits when speaking, minimize my hand gestures if necessary, change my tone of voice, etc.

the activity was also a self- esteem booster. after the activities, we were given feedback by the facilitator. and so far, the feedbacks they gave me were good and although i did not win in the individual selling activity, our team even won a prize for the group selling activity. happy happy!

now i'm back to work. i'm very proud of myself and i feel empowered.

alive forever more

for those who are interested, i'm still alive.

i have a new job which i am very much enjoying because aside from the relatively stress free work environment, i learn new things and i get to be with one of my closest college friends.

i'm also very much outdated with what's happening in the naruto world. the last manga chapter i read was 390, i think- the one where sasuke and itachi were killing eachother.

i haven't talked with ice in ages. next pay day i am going to buy a phone card so i can call her. i haven't seen iroll since the kapatagan trip- pictures to follow.

i barely have a social life because i have to work on weekends and i hate staying up late.

i started a happy moments journal but i haven't written anything on it since april 16th- not because i don't have happy moments but because i'm too lazy to write.

i'm crazy in love with gael garcia bernal after watching el crimen el padre amaro. i searched all the video shops i know of for y tu mama tambien and succeeded. i watched the movie 6 times in 4 days. i swear i am going to name my first child after gael garcia bernal.

i finished the japanese drama entitled 1 litre of tears. it's a good watch and it's not entitled 1 litre of tears for no reason.

i'm trying to finish haibane renmei, a 13 episode anime created by yoshitoshi abe. he's the person responsible for niea under seven, a very briliant but under rated series. that reminds me, after watching haibane renmei, i should watch niea under seven again.

i have a new pair of glasses. rimless frame c/o my father. i like it because it's light but i have to put on eye make up because the lenses are so clear they makes my racoon visible.

i'm going to cebu tomorrow and i'll be back on wednesday. it's an official business trip. i haven't prepared clothes yet. just thinking about packing makes me tired. hahay.

happy new year!

although i didn't have as much money as i used to have when i was with my past 2 jobs, i had a very happy new year. i enjoyed everyday of my holiday vacation (without pay, of course). i attended 3 parties in our school, 1 xmas party/ reunion with my college classmates, 1 ukaya barkada dinner and 1 get- together dinner with my boyfriend's high school friends. i almost ran out of money but i had a blast.

i'm missing my friend ice. she's in another country. my new year could have been happier if she was around.

moonlane gardens

what is wrong with our bands today?! after rico blanco, si clem castro ng orange and lemons naman ngayon!

why? why?! WHY!

bakit iiwan ng idol ko ang banda nya?! huhuhu!

bye bye na

is rico blanco really leaving rivermaya? why now when they're doing so well?!

rivermaya is not rivermaya without him. rico blanco is rivermaya.

marinera

ako ay kasalukuyang nababaliw sa FISH TYCOON!

hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko sa pagcheck ng mga isda ko every minute. punyemas! ano ba to?! kahit sa trabaho mga isda ko parin ang iniisip ko!

waaahhh! naka apat na beses na kong tumawag sa kapatid ko sa bahay para icheck kung ano na nangyari sa mga isda ko!!

nasisiraan na ako ng baiiiiit!!!!

the OD

i went to the doctor last monday and found out that i had asthma. i've been coughing on an off for two to three weeks already. i tried taking mucosulvan (tama ba spelling?) but didn't work so i decided to go to the doctor.

when i told the doctor that my coughing occurs at night, he told me that i have allergic cough/ asthma. i didn't want to believe him so i asked if he's sure. he told me he is. so he gave me celestamine and salbutamol.

two hours after i took the medicines, nanginig ang mga kamay ko. i thought that was because of the anti allergy. na od pala ako ng salbutamol. haha. i stopped taking the meds. baka mamatay pako.hehe. i'll call my doctor this afternoon to tell him i know how it feels to be oded.haha

update:

i called my doctor and he told me that most people feel that kind of side effect- shaking and palpitations. he advised me to cut the tablet in half to lessen the side effect.

updates

i'm back from outerspace!

still suffering from vacation hang over. we had a blast in bohol!

back to the real world. i still have a thesis proposal to finish before may. waaaahhh!

******

orange and lemons is the BOMB! grabe! enjoy talaga ako last night! ang swerte ko talaga. we breathed the same air! we were in the same area! waaaahhh!


may crush pa ako! yung look alike ni john lennon. may picture pa talaga ako with him and we shook hands! hay nakoy! i need air!!


ang ganda ng boses nya. super ang energy nila na magperform! and they sang beatles' songs!
until now, i'm still high.


picture yourself in a boat on a river
with tangerine trees and marmalade skies
somebody calls you
you answer quite slowly
a girl with kaleidoscope eyes
celophane flowers of yellow and green
towering over your head
you see a girl with the sun in her eyes
and she's gone
lucy in the sky with diamonds
lucy in the sky with diamonds
ahhh
aaaahhhh

waiting

12: 28 pm

eyad's wait is over. he's in their school's chapel right now. attending mass. he's high with excitement because he's going to graduate (finally!) from law school this april.

i am so happy for him. i have witnessed what he has gone through for the past five years. i remember when he told me he wanted to go to law school. i was still on my fourth year in college then. i wasn't very happy that he was going to school. i was extremely selfish when i was younger. i wanted to spend more time with him. that time, we only saw each other once a week. and eyad going to law school meant that we'd see each other less. but i never told him what i thought. i told him to go and be what he wants to be. and law school it was.

his first year in law was the most difficult time for us. i had to adjust to his new schedule. i'm at school from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon and his classes started at 5 in the afternoon and ended at 9 in the evening. we couldn't see each other on weekdays because of our schedule and because i was in the boondocks of upmin and he was in downtown ateneo. we communicated through text messages but i could not expect fast replies from him because he was busy with his reading. although i had to give him credit for making sure that we see eachother once a week. thankfully, we made it through.

his second year wasn't any easier. i had graduated from college and was working in one of the big hotels in our area. and on my way home, i would pass by their school. i would hate that school for stealing my boyfriend from me. it was stupid but that was what i felt. kung naghanap nalang sya ng trabaho after nyang makagraduate ng college, e di sana magkasama kami after work and on weekends. pero hindi. and it hurt me a lot. i was his girlfriend at his convenience and that time, i made sure he knew what i felt.

i was finally able to adjust on his third year. and on the fourth year, i was still his girlfriend at his convenience and i almost ok with everything. waiting (and hurting), i have decided, was the price i had to pay for loving. of course there were days when i had to be with him but could not because of his schedule. or there were times when i was angry with him but i could not tell him because i know he shouldn't carry additional burden because he had a lot of more important things to be worried/ thought about. i had to stretch my patience. i had to be more considerate with his situation. we still made sure that we go out at least once a week.

he became very busy on his fifth year. and it became a problem for us. i felt that i was being taken for granted. graduating was his priority. i was a distraction. but whenever he needed me, i was just a text message away. i would cancel all my appointments because i know he needed me. when he was having a tough time, i was there to lift his spirit.

i called him immediately the moment i received his text message that he's finally graduating this april. he's one step nearer to his dream of becoming a lawyer.

****
4: 52 pm

he went out with his friends to "attend mass, offer thanks giving, visit the pink sisters". he told me three hours ago that he'd meet me somewhere after lunch. i waited and waited but he never came. unfortunately for me, he has forgotten about me.

now that he's going to graduate, he doesn't have any exams to think about. he doesn't have tons of readings to finish. i can finally tell him that i have been waiting for him for almost six years. i've stuck with him through the good and bad times. he has made me wait for a very long time and i have reached my limit. i can't wait for him anymore.

deviantart attack

i've been a deviantart member and appreciator since 2004. i can' t remember how i stumbled upon the art sharing community but i'm very happy i was able to discover it. for 3 years, i've been browsing, appreciating, and downloading anime fanarts and photographs from deviant art. it's about time that i share my favorites to you!

since i'm naruto/ bleach crazy these past few months, most of the artworks that i will be sharing are fanarts from naruto and bleach. and i'm sooo loooving macro photos of fruits and flowers, so expect fruity and floral photos.haha

i hope you enjoy them.

here's my first share:

NARUTO: hakuu by ~xDplushie on deviantART

i've never liked hakuu from naruto. can't relate with his sentiments. but this fanart is soooo good that i'm willing to forget that hakuu was such a wussy. sorry hakuu fans. hehe

try to check out xDplushie's deviantart gallery i'm sure you'll find more goodies there.

THIS. IS. SPARTAH!

i still can't get over 300. it's been two weeks since i watched it. it's eye candy and the action sequences were excellent.

i did some googling and found out that the movie was closely based on the battle of thermopylae. o diba, historical!hehe. pero bonus nalang yung historical accuracy. i watched the movie for the fight scenes and i was not disappointed. it's worth every centavo. AWOO AWOO!

GREETINGS!

HAPPY ARAW NG DABAW!

_____
like the new template or do you like the old pink one better? please tell me.

TANJOBI

it's eyad's birthday!!!

i love you!

let's get ready to rumble!

kilala nyo si pooh? for the benefit of the people who live in caves, si pooh po ay isang komedyanteng nag- iimpersonate kay manny pacquiao. sumakit ang tyan ko sa kakatawa nung napanood ko yung video clips nya sa wowowee through youtube.

para sa mga curious eto ang links:

Sept. 23, 2006
Nov. 25, 2006
Jan 13, 2007

sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi ninyo pagsisisihan ang pagdownload at panonood.

go ahead, click na. i know you want to.hehe

tanjobi!

maligayang kaarawan sa kaibigan kong si ice!

tanjobi!

it's my dad's birthday! happy birthday papi!!
I LOVE YOU!

p.s. he does not read my blog. he doesn't even know it exists.hehe.