EXO's 2nd Anniversary!!!

Today (April 8) is EXO’s 2nd anniversary, so I decided to make a (sort of) tribute post to the current group that’s taking over most of my free time (whether this is an ideal situation given that I’m almost 30 years old as of this writing, I cannot tell lol).

Last year, I planned to make this infographic of my obsession timeline in my first wholly EXO blogpost. But yeah…became too busy with a lot of things that I’ll just do that when I have free time (which can be never). So I’ll just make a long-winded outline about it, and it might bore you to death (or shatter whatever respect remaining you have for me) so sorry in advance *peace*

EXO, who you? (Pre-mid2013): Ignorance is (apparently not) bliss

• Discussion with a friend:

         Friend1: “Hey, check this video. It has dancers from SM’s new group.”

         Me: “Uh, sorry which ones are we talking about?”
         Friend1: “*points to Kai and Lay* There!”
         Me: “hmmm...okay...anyway I can’t take another boy group. Even shine is too young for me”

• January 2013 – DKFC 2013 in Manila

         Me (messages EXO-obsessed Friend2): Hey! Isn’t EXO in DKFC today?

         Friend2: “What! Why didn’t you tell me?”

         Me: I thought you already knew about it!
         Friend2: “!!!!”
         Me: “oh well, hihihi…”

We have to go through a denial phase right? (Mid-2013 to August 2013): My kpop heart doesn’t have room for 12 more boys

• Me (listening to kpop radio): “oohhh, nice song….(looks at phone display)…oh, EXO sang it? okay... :|" That song is EXO’s “What is Love”… it enjoyed heavy play in that kpop radio that I finally caved in and downloaded that single song. At least I know one EXO song…that’s fine. Just one song.
• Me: Hey, I downloaded EXO’s What is Love, I like it.

        Friend2: Oh yeah, Chen kind of owned that song
        Me: *nods* (though I don’t know who Chen is, never looked up the members)

• Me (listening to kpop radio): “what is this weird Gregorian chant song? *looks at phone display* haha it’s EXO *snicker* see, I can’t get on board this thing (the song is MAMA)
• *sees a lot of twitter spam of Friend1 and Friend2 about EXO’s Wolf and Growl*

         Me: The heck! What’s with this twitter flood!
         Friend1: Just watch this video! Just try it!
         Me: “Who is this again?”
         Friend1: “EXO”
         Me: “Oh, I only have What is Love in my player. Fine fine I’ll watch it. Hmmmm…catchy.”

         Friend1: “Yay!”

         Me: “But there’s too many of them! I cannot!”

• the next day

        Me (messages Friend1): “Dammit! I keep on replaying that video!”

        Friend1: Give in! Give in! Who do you like?

        Me: “the heck, how would I know? I can barely see their faces!”

        Friend1: “Cmon!”

        Me: “errr hmmmm…the one with the NY cap? He looks like the best dancer…”

        Friend1: “That’s Kai! The one in the old SM the Performance video! He and Taemin are close friends by the way.”

        Me: “errrr, okay…”

• in Thailand for the Seunggi fanmeet

        Friend1: “dude! I sent you a video! Watch it while you’re abroad!”

        Me: “Is this exo again? I can’t I have to focus on Seunggi!”

• back at home

         Friend1: “did you watch the video?”

         Me: “wait…”

         Me: “OMG! This is Kai right? Oh shit, and this happened in DKFC?!?!”

         Friend1: “see!”

         Me: *sighs*

No going back (August 2013-Present): It’s the gift that keeps on giving

• It’s a Wednesday and it’s a holiday and for some reason I’m already awake at 8am

         Me: “Dammit, I’m still hung up on that song!”

         Friend1: “Bwahahaha see! Who else do you like?”

         Me: “Didn’t I just pick Kai?”

         Friend1: “Another one!”

         Me: “Hmmmm…that guy with the revolving thing with light hair…”

         Friend1: “I think that’s Sehun *goes off to confirm with Friend2* Yeah that’s Sehun! Dude, you always have a thing for maknaes!”

         Me: “The heck, how would I know he was the youngest?”

         Friend1: “Another one!!!”

         Me: “Errr, the one with the pink hair?”

         Friend1: “Luhan!”

         Me: “Yeah, he looks cute sans pink hair. in the world of kpop hair always changes so I don’t take that into account (little did I know Sehun’s hair history at this point) Fine fine! Send me their names!"

         Friend1: "Yipee!!!"

• Start of EXO discussion in Line and we roped in Friend2 to make a group chatroom and invited Friend4 over (another friend influenced by Friend2)
• The memorable names-in-post-its day…to help me remember (and Friend1 and Friend2 squeeing that I’m officially in the fold):

• Obsession officially started….barrage of past videos from Friend 1&2…not being able to tell Sehun and Luhan apart at first. Deciding that Sehun will be my no.1 bias…then wavering a bit when I saw the radio guestings (hehehe)…but in the end decided to stick with my choice.
• Started to devote a portion of my hard drive to EXO videos and other related content. Listened to their other songs (and *gasp* had a I’m-starting-to-like MAMA phase)
• EXO-K arrives in Manila…made major bargaining powers and finally secured a ticket to watch their concert performance…wherein I went batshit crazy
• Told myself that I wouldn’t read fanfics, especially yaoi ones…but lo and behold I caved in to reading the good ones (filtered via friends, I don’t search them on purpose hehe)
• Told myself I wouldn’t write fanfics, but lo and behold my friends started churning out fics until I’m the one left…so…..hello fanfic writing! *peer pressure* (note: only 5 of my friends have read my stories (let’s not count the cyber readers hehe))
• Merch merch and merch galore! This is the late bloomer in me talking. Honestly when I was growing up I did like boybands and such but never got this irrational in buying merch (or maybe because I’m already working so it’s my money anyway? Hehehe). I’m sure my stuff pales in comparison to others, but yeah…here you go!

Made a mad scramble and these are the stuff I have near my bed, hehe. Didn't include the posters anymore:

Oh and I ordered this snapback online because Sehun has one hehe:

And how can I forget my moment of insanity in buying this:

That’s it! I can expound the obsession section further but it would be too long lol. I don’t know how long I’ll keep up with this, I just pray that I’ll be alive until the end hehehe

So congrats EXO for making it to two years! We are one!

2013—so daebak I want to cry!

I lost my six-year streak of publishing a year-end post every December 31, but oh well. Better late than never, right? I still need to post one because holy hell, I love 2013!

I have fewer trips than usual in 2013 but they were freaking highlights by themselves I get giddy everytime I reminisce. The plan to go to Sri Lanka didn’t push through but it was replaced by this epic trip to Myanmar in April I’ll just let the travel video show you how offbeat and cool the trip was. This was shortly followed by the highly-anticipated trip to El Nido in June which was so beautiful that it brought tears to my (and my friends’) eyes. Honestly, all of us were so stressed weeks prior that this was a welcome break. And frankly, it’s been a long time since I went on a trip just to play in the water. Then lo and behold, there was a fanmeet with Lee Seung Gi in Bangkok scheduled for August so hello Thailand again for another bout of fangirling! I can’t believe that I got to speak to him and hold his hand (fine, I just woke up this morning to the news of him dating Yoona *sigh*). It's also my first solo trip abroad ever and  it was amazing! And to cap the year right, I can’t resist going to Korea again! We had a way too short trip to Busan and Seoul (I swear, I can spend a month in Korea and not run out of things to do) in October. I’m still not finished doing the travel video yet (so sorry Rissee I’ll get right to it!) but hopefully I’ll have it up within two months, heh.

And then I’m devoting an entirely separate paragraph for this crazy new bout of fangirling over EXO. Ugh, I know, I feel like a cougar ogling at these boys. Believe me, I resisted for more than a year (my fangirl heart can’t memorize another dozen of boys. But well yeah, this music video happened and I was hooked. August 21, 2013. The day I got sucked into the abyss of EXO fangirling. I’ll make a separate post about this one (I can’t believe it’s only barely five months since then. I’m scared TT) but yeah…talk about downloading pictures and videos, talking about them with your fellow friends who care, talking about them with your fellow friends who DON’T care, and writing fanfics about them. Yep, the deep end. It’s a sweet dream AND a beautiful nightmare, lmao.

the music video that started it all

Of course, I can’t close the year without watching some concerts! I got to watch CN Blue! Hell yeah, they were great! And only a few days before my birthday at that. Also got to see Taylor Lautner in the flesh for the Bench promotions. THAT was crazy and tiring hahahaha. It’s a shame that the Matchbox Twenty concert didn’t push through because of the Yolanda tragedy. Hoping that I still can catch them on their next tour in Asia. AND let’s not forget KPOP Republic! The day when I discovered that I can bargain with a poker face just to see EXO! I swear, I turn in to Mr. Hyde in concerts but I really went crazy. I can’t help it. It’s EXO. Well, it’s just EXO-K in that one but still. It’s EXO. Enough said. 

Okay enough of the fangirling, this year is also the year that my niece was born! First baby in the third generation line of our family so we were all crazy excited. She’s so cute, and I’m an aunt! HAHAHAHA. Wishing more children for my sister and brother-in-law so that my relatives would get more distracted and not look at me hehehe. A lot of friends also got married this year (‘tis the season), so it’s definitely a year full of celebration. We also moved out of our home of 17 years TT. It was time to move on though, with my siblings already settling in respectively and my mom entering retirement. I’m now boarding at my relatives’ until I get to move in—get this—my own condo unit! Hopefully I get to move in this first quarter (and survive).

Apart from the highlights, I’m really happy at how the year panned out in general. Everyone in my family is healthy, I get to see my friends regularly (sometimes way too many times than I can count. Not complaining, just saying.), and work is still tolerable! Who would’ve thought! Hahahaha. But seriously, I love that this year gave me new friendships and opportunities to build on current ones. Not to mention taking random beach trips, trying out new food haunts, and just plain hanging around. I love you, guys *tears*

So there! 2014 is a HUGE year for me, since I get to turn into the big 3-0! It’s a bit daunting, I’m scared. But I’m using the “mabenta sa trenta” mantra to tide me over. Got to be fabulous this year, there’s no turning back. And I hope YOU guys continue to be fabulous! Here’s to a new year! Yehet!

lee seung gi in bangkok fan account

So, FINALLY, I got to meet/touch/talk to/scream at/adore Lee Seung Gi during his fanmeet in Bangkok! It was a surreal experience, and honestly I’m so WAAAYYY over my head throughout the whole event that I cannot give a lot of details (like, how’s his skin? Lol), as much as I wanted to. But here I am, posting a fan account for my own documentation purposes (can I just say that I haven’t even got around to making a fanpost of Laruku’s concert in Bangkok last year, pffftt).

Ticket! Yay!

Thankfully Aug 9 is a holiday, so I did not feel guilty about skipping work to go abroad and attend a fanmeet (well, it’s not just any fanmeet, but still). I got in touch with the awesome girls of Airen PH so that I can meet fellow Filipino fans, and they met me at the venue. This was the first time I attended any event abroad for a Korean artist, so I was overwhelmed seeing all the flowers sent by Airen groups around the world!

With the Airen PH girls

Of course I have to take my requisite picture beside our representative flower arrangement!

Just hanging out with Seunggi-ya!

Also happy that I got some free stuff (fan and magnet) from Worldren! (My mom, instantly claimed the Seunggi fan them moment I took it out of my luggage) They also distributed posters at the entrance which great.

Then it’s time for the fanmeet! I swear my hands were clammy the whole time. Also got to sit between friends from Thailand (to whom I’m grateful for since she translated the key parts of the interview for us non-Thai speaking fans) and Japan.

Sorry I don’t have a lot of pictures even though I’m crazy close to the stage. This is one of two of the non-blurry ones (my hands were shaking!). My SLR was also not allowed and for once I REALLY wished that I have a nice camera phone TT

I also tried to take a video using my wifi5 but the audio is whacked. I have a couple in my gopro but the image quality is not stellar (and there are a lot of embarrassing selfies in those clips). I also preferred to bask in the moment than worry about the right framing, etc. so I just let it go and enjoy.


Posting this video might haunt me in the future, but what the heck lol
I’m so happy that Seunggi looks like he’s well rested despite coming off from his Gu Family Book schedule. He is as easy-going as he is on his variety shows (go back to variety Seunggi! Variety Jeongshin!), and not fussy at all. He did a mini-concert at the end (Losing my Mind, Return, Slave (I kind of went nuts on this one), Love Time, Let's Go on Vacation (oh, the 1n2d feels!), Smile Boy, Will You Marry Me, (kyaaa~~~) Because You're My Woman), and thankfully I know all of the songs haha.

Then it’s time for THE MOMENT! I get to shake Seunggi’s hand! My body was literally numb when the usher told us to stand and move towards the stage. Too bad we’re not allowed to bring our cameras as we go near Seunggi, so yeah, no documentation AT ALL. (note to self: install hidden camera ala private investigator)

My mind was literally blank when my turn came. I was worried that he won’t understand what I’ll say (dang it, should’ve practiced some Korean, I didn’t know that we had a chance to TALK to him WHILE we shake hands). So I just said, “Hi Seunggi! Much love from the Philippines” (pronounced as Piripins in their tongue). I should’ve used Manila instead like the Airen PH girls (his Asia tour for the past two years don’t have a Philippine stop :S ) since he usually says Manila during his 1n2d days. He said “ah, Piripin! Ne~~~!!!” 

So there you have it, my close encounter with Seunggi! Frankly I don’t remember much during that few seconds other than that he is tall and his hands were big and soft! It was a bit of an out-of-body experience for me and there’s zero processing time. It was crazy though, my hands were numb afterwards (must be adrenalin draining off) and I was sad the moment I had to wash my hands in the Bangkok hostel. I’m glad I got to do this at least once in my fangirling life, hopefully I get the time and funds to do it again.

cn to the blue!!!

Thank ye kpop gods that I got to see CN Blue and bask in all that talent even for just one night! I can't believe I almost passed up from watching this since I wasn't able to drag anyone (thanks Pam for being CN Blue and Jonghyun obsessed as I am!). The energy was a brand of feel-good high that I wasn't expecting, and that crowd was one of the best I've experienced out of all the kpop concerts I've been to. This is the first time that I can clearly hear the entire crowd sing so clearly in Korean, which is amazing! I mean, I'm sure we fans at the Big Bang concert also know the lyrics but there was A LOT of screaming which drowned most of the fan participation lol.

One of the best features of this concert is those two huge LED screens flanking the stage! The crisp detail is awesome! Too bad I didn't bring a camera (pffft, I didn't know professional-looking cameras are allowed until I saw this girl whip up a huge dslr with a long lens *sigh*) and I barely charged my tab. So my only sort of decent footage is their performance of Love Light (with commendable singing participation from the audience). One guess to find out which one of the boys is my bias:



So yeah, pardon my screaming and clumsy singing hahaha, I can't help it. Even I surprised myself with my reactions. Also glad that I am surrounded by Jonghyun fangirls! Even the girl at my left chatted me up because we were both wearing Big Bang light bracelets haha, sorry tipid mode at saka blue naman eh hehe. So happy that Jonghyun went back to dark hair hihihihi. And he did the best Tagalog out of all of them (therefore you can just stay here!) And omg Minhyuk those biceps and your bangs! I felt like a HS girl hahaha. Jungshin has all the cool rap stuff, his "no no no" to the audience during the interaction part was hilarious. Yonghwa was the ultimate entertainer, with his dance moves and swag (damn HOT!) especially when they performed Intuition. The other boys surprised him by talking to us in Tagalog to sing Happy Birthday together with them. And AHEM, we share the same birthday! :D They even played the "Congratulations" song hahaha I felt like Lee Sugeun flailing around and singing to it.

Obviously it was an awesome night, and I had more fun that I was initially expecting. I have the hoarse voice right now to prove it. And I now have tremendous appreciation on the steel bar/rod in front of the first row (wc is where we are seated in our section), since I somehow have longer stamina from jumping up and down since I'm holding on to it lol. I think I also did the same thing during the Laruku concert in Thailand where I promptly behaved like a woman possessed.

Here's to more cool kpop acts hitting our shores!

...and it's vday!

I haven't posted anything regarding valentine's for the past few years, so might as well make one! This year's vday was eventful, first time in quite a while that I got gifts from officemates, had a (rare) girls night out with them, and also spend the weekend chillaxin' with my default girls.

So in cyber-celebration, here's a fanvid I saw online using one of my favorite MBLAQ songs, "You and I" (it's one of those cute, serenade songs). The fanvid features the JoonSeo (Lee Joon x Oh Yeon Seo) aka Obsessed Couple from the Korean variety show, We Got Married. Too bad that couple didn't end their stint as expected *sigh* I was banking a lot on them and made me forget (for a while) the cuteness that is the Joongbo Couple.

Credit: Anon3002

urban zakapa - i hate you

I'm getting used to playing seoul fm as my office background music, flipping open my tab once in a while to take note of the song title and artist whenever I hear something I fancy. This is one of those finds, been playing it for the past week, just to get the melancholic mood going, heh.

Love the simple arrangement and the gut-wrenching harmony. I listened to a live version and while it is still good, I (sadly?) preferred the recorded version more. Perfect background music for rainy days :)


I also just realized that this was used in the first season of Romantic and Idol (TVN's reality dating show) as sort of the running theme in the disappointing JB-Seungah tandem. *sigh* JB, I give you props for singing this song and introducing this to a broader audience. But while this song fits both of you perfectly, why sing it during your date? Oh well, chalk it up to being young and so fixated on Jei that you can't see anyone else. *must look the other way and concentrate on the Hyungsik-Jihyun cuteness*

me and Laruku part 2!!!

I was so elated when I found out a few months ago that L'arc~en~Ciel will go on a world tour again!

Now we have the actual concert dates, seems like I'm going to the Hong Kong leg again because it's slated for March (where I'm planning to go to Korea w/ friends). I was planning to go to the Bangkok concert before in order to squeeze in some sightseeing (never been there), but it's on a March weekday.

So Hong Kong again it seems! Will be flying just for the weekend for the concert (hopefully the tickets are still not expensive and I chance upon a seat sale) and do some shopping and sightseeing with the rest of the time. Had to prepare again for some praying and sweating while booking concert seats online. Can't wait!

Can't I Love You? (Dream High OST)

Just finished watching Dream High, technically the first drama I've started and finished in 2011 (since I started Secret Garden last year). Can't believe I managed to finish this series first than My Princess, heehee.

This is my favorite song from the OST...hmmm can't say I can relate but in my alternate universe, I'll just say I can LOL. This first video is the acapella version sung by Sam Dong (Kim Soo Hyun, gawd I love him!) and Pil Sook (IU), which I think is better than the original (how I wish they also made a studio version with them!) Jason's (Wooyoung) reactions are HILARIOUS.



This is the studio version with 2AM's Changmin and Jinwoon, with a lot of cute scenes of the main love triangle.

Younha - I Like You

I love Younha and I LOVE this song! If ever I would make a short screenplay (or one-act play), I want to make one based on this song :)


Credit: subbedalbums (YouTube)

"i have dreamed"

I was browsing in the record bar this afternoon and I happened to come across a copy of The American President. I remembered loving this movie n years ago because, well, it's a romantic and classy movie (how can you go wrong with Annette Bening?). Given that, I suddenly remembered that iconic scene of the state dinner wherein Michael Douglas and Annette Bening danced and LOVING whatever song that is being played in the background. N months (or years?) later, I watched The King and I in HBO and I heard that song again! Since this was in the '90s, I can't remember using the internet to find out what the song is (I remembered having sucky search engines then).

So, thank you Google, YouTube, and that serendipitous trip in Music One (which jogged my memory), I finally found that song after a decade...it's entitled "I Have Dreamed" from the musical King and I. Too bad I can't find the exact cut of the animated version for the song, but here is part of the animated feature which has the song starting at 5:31...


And here's the score played in The American President (I think this could also be a fitting music for a wedding, hehe)

2010 shaping up to be GREAT to my korean heart

Most, if not all, know that I've been a Korean entertainment addict since the end of High School (hallyu wave and all...) and I must say, this year is forming itself to be an AMAZING year for my korean fangirl heart...

There are two korean dramas (one already running, another to be shown in April) that I'm very excited about. The typical way that I determine if a show is worth watching to my taste is that it's a romantic comedy, has an interesting premise, can at the very least tolerate the leads, and feedback from my fellow kdrama friends and javabeans. And here are the two (so far) that I have to watch:

Still, Marry Me (The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry) - I wasn't a fan of noona-dongsaeng pairings before (though My Name Is Kim Sam Soon made me a semi-fan gosh, how can I forget? Dal Ja's Spring MADE me a fan, it was so convincing, the age hardly mattered), but heck, the fact that Kim Bum is the male lead and 90% of my Korean crushes (including him) are younger than I will make this series a must-watch. The change in the hairstyle of Kim Bum also works, in the sense that he looks older.

Personal Taste - I just realized that the two dramas I'm excited for both feature F4 members, LOL. Anyway, this stars my same-birthday-guy Lee Min Ho and OMG *drumroll* Sohn Ye Jin! I mean, I was already excited for the Lee Min Ho part but throw in Sohn Ye Jin (lead of The Classic, which is still my favorite Korean romantic movie to date) to the mix, this is ACTING HEAVEN for me! And c'mon who would pass up Lee Min Ho acting as a gay guy? This is another noona-dongsaeng pairing, and was initially planned for the return of Goong's Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon (too bad that didn't work out, but oh well).

Now, for Korean celebrities going here, I'm most excited over the news that Jang Geun Seok is coming to promote his series, You're Beautiful (which is my favorite drama of 2009...note to self: must revise top 5 kdramas asap). Must brush up on my stalking skills, was successful when Kwon Sang Woo and Kim Bum came so third time's the charm!

And then, also the fact that Super Junior is having a concert here in April is another cause to celebrate (although I'm sure SOMEONE is WAY more excited than I am). I wasn't planning to watch this concert, since I only have a crush on one (out of the 13) guys, but heck, peer pressure and seeing Hee Chul go crazy got me caving in...

So that's just the news for January 2010, I'm excited how the rest of the year will pan out...

Merry Christmas 2009!!!

Wow, it's another Christmas! I feel kind of weird that I haven't gone to any company Christmas party for two years straight now. Oh well, here's to hoping that on my next job, I can at least show up for the company Christmas party, LOL.

Different Christmas plans this time around since we'll be spending it outside the house on the day itself (before, we usually go to relatives at Christmas Eve or after Christmas day). So I guess, my usual Christmas movie/series marathons will be put on hold for now.

My ultimate Christmas movie (uncontested as of now) is still While You Were Sleeping. I'm a sucker for bouquets of poinsettias, snow globes of your dream country (Scotland's IT for me --- for my future boyfriend's reference), and of course, Bill Pullman's lopsided smile... *sigh*

So here's part of the score in the movie's OST entitled Riverside Walk, this instrumental instantly puts me into a melancholic Christmas mood... just imagine the Christmas lights along Ayala, pwede na yun hehe.

Merry Christmas everyone!

resurfacing (yet again)

I swear, if my blog was a person, he/she would've condemned me by now. I'm a bit surprised that I let go of my blog for so long to think that I'm still unemployed (big surprise there). But since my current freelance job is on hiatus and will resume in a few weeks, I have no excuse not to write more here.

My last post was October 1, today is December 15. And some people know this about me: October-November are Twilight months. So yes, that's what I'll blame my lack of blog posts at.

In retrospect, preparations for the promotions of The Twilight Saga: New Moon is less hectic than last year's, mainly because we've learned our lesson last year to not overexert and just focus on things that will be of most use to us (TCP). Since I rarely talk (nor post) about my TCP exploits outside of those involved in it, I'll just gloss over what happened related to this in the past two months.

Sam Bradley in Manila

Sam Bradley (co-author of 'Never Think' in the Twilight OST) could possibly be the closest celebrity connected to Twilight that will land in our shores, so we got a rare opportunity to interview him in an episode of Danag Podcast. It was a fun interview (and the succeeding days watching his mall shows), and my English skills were REALLY stretched to the limit LOL. We also gave him a barrel man which was quite cheeky of us but was greatly appreciated, hehe.

TCP Events

October and November were also filled with meetings with various partners for the promotion of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. For TCP, we hosted a screening at the first day of regular screening. Also conducted several discussions on behalf of Powerbooks and a launch party for Warner Music Philippines.

It was fun to have to be in the less busy mode when it came to the fandom, and yet able to meet again old and new Twilighters for these events. Minami and I are almost joined to the hip for these two months since we both have the most flexible schedules among the admins (not to mention, a guesting in Unang Hirit, which I won't post here haha).

So that's the Twilight-related "work" I've been doing for the past two months. Hopefully I get to post within this month on the other stuff that's on my mind. Won't make promises though, I think ever since I resigned my previous job, I've been lazy like crazy.

come undone...

i've been an avid fan of Matchbox Twenty ever since...well, ever since they've first appeared in MTV, hahaha. just realized lately that i've been playing their songs a lot on my iPod and they have unofficially become my playlist about work. i'm hung up on "Mad Season" again, and despite it being a love song, i've come to twist the lyrics to my current situation (mad season talaga):

Mad Season

I feel stupid - but I know it won't last for long

I've been guessing - and I coulda been guessin' wrong

You don't know me now

I kinda thought that you should somehow

Does that whole mad season got ya down?

Well I feel stupid, but it's something that comes and goes

I've been changin' - I think it's funny how no one knows

We don't talk about the little things that we do without

When that whole mad season comes around

So why you gotta stand there

Looking like the answer now?

It seems to me you'd come around

I need you now

Do you think you can cope?

You figured me out - that I'm lost and I'm hopeless

I'm bleeding and broken, though I've never spoken

I come undone in this mad season

I feel stupid, but I think I been catchin' on

I feel ugly, but I know I still turn you on

You've grown colder now, torn apart, angry, turned around

Will that whole mad season knock you down?

So are you gonna stand there

Are you gonna help me out?

We need to be together now

I need you now

Do you think you can cope?

You figured me out - that I'm lost and I'm hopeless

I'm bleeding and broken, though I've never spoken

I come undone in this mad season

And now I'm cryin'

Isn't that what you want?

And I'm tryin' to live my life on my own

But I won't, no,

At times I do believe I am strong

So someone tell me why, why, why

Do I, I, I feel stupid

And I come undone

And I come undone

I need you now

Do you think you can cope?

You figured me out - that I'm lost and I'm hopeless

I'm bleeding and broken though I've never spoken

Well I need you now

Do you think you can cope?

You figured me out - I'm a child and I'm hopeless

I'm bleeding and broken though I've never spoken

I come undone

I come undone in this mad season

In this mad season

It's been a mad season

Been a mad season

please don't stop the music...

added an i-pod listing at the sidebar... ang cool kasi nung kay Daene at Eds, hahaha

grade school: full-circle moments

a lot has happened and sadly i don't have much time to blog about every single thing, hehehe. i had two sort of full-circle moments, deemed them as such because they are memorable experiences in grade school and just got reminded on them recently...

Aoshi Shinomori: not fangirling again...i think...
Minami and I were chatting a few weeks ago and we suddenly got into Rurouni Kenshin mode...this anime in particular has a special place in my anime obsession, since it's probably the first one that i really got into and it paved the way to my Laruku obsession (which i won't go through at length here hehe). I mentioned to her that I've read this fanfic before (haven't read one in a while) on my favorite RK character, Aoshi Shinomori, and his supposed love interest, Misao, and how I really loved it but sadly I didn't get to finish it. And surprises of surpises, Minami knew that fanfic! Imagine, I don't even remember the title of the fanfic, and this was almost 10 years ago! Kinda surreal, I remembered reading it (we're still living in Makati then) and really got emotional over it. And I'm going to go through the same experience again since Minami managed to find it online!

So now, I can't get over Tin Mandigma's Of Love and Honor, and I was surprised that it was written by a Filipino (well I was in grade school then, didn't even bother to research the author, shucks). Sadly, memory served me right and she wasn't able to finish it :( hay oh well, still loving the fact that I get to get back to it again (and just imagine how it would've ended, hehe)

Third Eye Blind: i think i played it once in my Walkman...
Got to watch 3eb at Oktoberfest last Saturday and it was a blast!!! I won't start ranting on how the event was slightly (well, not slightly) mismanaged and how I imagined a dozen of bad things happening to me and my friends that night. This is the most that I've toiled just to watch that band, I was willing to give up and sue San Miguel in case they don't give me my refund, but thank god someone let us go through gate and we even managed to secure a good spot...which we wouldn't probably have gotten if we managed to enter the usual way, hahah

I liked 3EB but I wasn't that much of a fan compared to the company I'm with that night...and now consider me a convert. I still had a hard time juxtaposing the present Stephan Jenkins on stage and that version of him in their Semi-Charmed Life music video, and I don't get his concert choreo but hell, he can do what he wants. They played A LOT of songs, I really got my money's worth (although I wasn't thinking the same thing 30 minutes before they played). And I really get a kick out of reminiscing how young we were when they hit it big, and those old music videos that we got to watch the first time before because cable was the "wave of the future" back then, hahaha. They played some new songs for their upcoming 4th album and they were great!

my Hyde draws a dream...

okay, the title is my flimsy attempt to connect my dream of Hyde (frontman of L'arc~en~Ciel) to one of the band's beautiful songs (My Heart Draws a Dream). anyway, had this very weird dream about Hyde (it's actually the first time i've dreamt of anything related to Laruku...hmmm...)

somehow i was in a Laruku concert being held in daytime, but i was backstage (i don't know what i was doing backstage, but at that moment is still feel like a fan, so i doubt i was part of the concert production...maybe i won a meet and greet thing.) anyway, it was an open-air concert, but the stage was shaded. suddenly, while they were playing, sprinklers overhead the stage suddenly came on to put a faint rain/misty feel while performing (which is weird, god forbid they don't do that, and their instruments will be damaged). and then i was surprised that the audience were all wet, i just then realized that it was actually raining hard and people were all scrambling (which is not realistic, if im in a laruku concert, i'll be willing to get pneumonia just to hear them, okay stop with the obsession) to grab cover.

next thing i knew someone told me to go through this narrow railing, and i just agreed to go...and then hyde just showed up alongside me, walking very fast (i assumed he wants to go backstage and dry up), and then i just called him, and he looks at me, and then my brain went *shit* since i don't know what to say next with my barely recognizable nihonggo ability.... i said "sumimasen" which means im sorry in a formal manner, maybe i'm saying sorry coz im delaying him from drying up. i told him (in nihonggo, mind you) that i really liked the band...and then he said thank you (in nihonggo again), and then i proceeded on asking if the concert was postponed or delayed due to the rain (although i can't remember how i said this, since i only know the japanese word for concert and rain), and then he answered in a stream of nihonggo that i can't understand hehe (by this time we were both soaked), and i told him to stop, then apologize again, and explained to him that im not Japanese, and that im Filipino so i can't understand fully (delivered this in passable nihonggo), and suggested to him if we can converse in English instead.

and this is when the weirdness begins...

so he spoke in English, and i didn't get what he was saying, but the gist of it was the concert is over due to the rain, and then he spoke again of other things in a serious tone (forgot what it is) and then i stopped him again, since i can't understand his english (damn, im a demanding fan, i surely wont act like this if it was real) and asked him if he can write what he's saying down on paper (since it sounded important). he then wrote (magical paper and pen appear) but i can see that he's having a hard time writing in English (in reality, hyde took some english training, and he also went to London, so i don't know the extent of his english ability) so i stopped him again and explained to him (in nihonggo) that why won't he write in hiragana and katakana since i can read it and just have it translated.

so he then wrote in japanese and suddenly he went by my side (heart palpitation overload na to) and then SANG what he wrote, pointing the characters as he sang it. and what makes it weird is that what he wrote meant something like there is war happening, but it's okay since there is a swimming pool.

HUH?

so there, it ended that way, with a note of confusion, remember this is a weird, and a highly unrealistic dream, since there's no way Hyde would write something as ridiculous as that.

although i kind of relish the fact that i may have inspired him suddenly to write a song (albeit a weird one), maybe i read the paper wrongly since we're still under the rain...the characters might be blotted by then

L’arc~en~Ciel – my HK experience (L’7~Trans ASIA via PARIS~)

Finally, the day I’ve waited for two months has passed – May 24, 2008 – Laruku’s first concert in HK, which was relatively cheap and therefore a big yay! for me. Finally went to Asia World Expo to watch my favorite band perform live onstage. Now, on fangirl mode:

The concert was a BLAST (insert all other possible superlatives J )!!! It’s a good thing that I’m as prepared as I could be…mastered the reported set list (although it was not fully followed but that’s okay) and watched (and re-watched) as many of the past Laruku concerts, even observing the choreo of the audience (don’t want to be left out). It was a surreal experience, there are times during the concert that I can’t believe that I’m really watching them, and then I’ll shift my focus on the screen on the side and see Hyde’s face and then it’ll hit me. It was pure adrenaline for two hours, I spouted of lyrics which I hoped were right but don’t care eitherway.

Thank God I didn’t cry, or else I’ll be a wreck…although I really thought I would cry before I even left for HK. When I heard the opening notes for Get Out from the Shell and THEN saw their silhouettes, my eyes suddenly filled up…shet, silhouette pa lang yun…and then I just covered my face for a brief moment to stop them from spilling out. Then I realized that I would really succumb to tears if I suddenly get emo while they’re playing, so I consciously tried not to get all melancholy while watching them.

Also got to meet a friend from the Twilight group (sa HK pa nagkita! Haha) and other Filipinos who love the band. It was so great! I spent a lot from the merchandise but I don’t care…too bad they ran out of the free fan from the Kiss album…Hyde was hot there.

General highlights:

Now I realize that the right arm movement choreography was no fake, people really do it in their concerts…then I discovered that their fingers move when making the forward motion instead of being tight-fisted…crap I can’t explain it well here. Where did they get that much energy? I mean I’m pumped up during the concert but I can’t make my right arm do that motion for a whole song…nangalay talaga ako, hehe

I love the impromptu audience wave during the intermission, hehe. And I think we all did it more than 10 times from opposite directions, with the whole arena clapping after each successful wave is done…I don’t think that’s possible in a concert in the Philippines, hehe

I really lost my dignity for two hours, well it was slightly dark and no one knew me so I guess it was a clear enough chance for me to go crazy.

HYDE is HOT!!!

Song highlights:

Get Out from the Shell – this is a great opening for the whole concert, and I remembered this song since I saw it used in a commercial for a car years ago. I wasn’t a fan then, but I already recognized the name of the band due to Rurouni Kenshin. Kind of a full circle moment right from the start.

Driver’s High – second song and will always be a staple in any Laruku concert…one of my favorite songs…and I was really on a high and so happy when all the fans jumped and screamed during Crash! And Flash! parts, hehehe. Of course I jumped (and screamed) with them and was a bit happy that those in the arena are familiar with the concert choreo (that’s what I use to term them)

My Heart Draws a Dream – this is my latest LSS from the Kiss album and I always get goosebumps from this one. I said to myself when I first heard this song (knowing that they will perform it) that this is the other song that will potentially reduce me to tears (aside from their last song in the list, Anata). True enough, my eyes filled up again when they sang this, especially when they let the audience sing the line: yume wo egaku yo…of course I sang with them, waving my right hand to the beat, got all emo but still did not cry. My favorite was the ending part because it reminded me of the ending part of Fourth Avenue Café.

Revelation – I love this song because of the slightly metal rock slant to it, and I love the audience participation again, especially when Hyde made us jump a couple of times. I was pretending I was Yukihiro the whole time although I knew that I sucked at playing the drums when I tried it before.

Stay Away – one of my favorite songs…I would have to say that when I heard this song I really confirmed that I’m a Laruku fan. And they did it in Formation A (I think) wherein each member gets to sing a part of the song so it was so cool…I almost hoped Hyde would dance like he did in the music video.

Honey – My bro’s favorite song…this song was memorable during the concert because the dude who was standing at my back was just steady throughout the concert but got really hyper and sang a lot during this song…so I guess that’s his favorite, hehe.

Link – another recent LSS from Kiss album…I expected that there’s going to be a clapping sequence like in their music video but I guess it’s not that widespread since a few people did the clapping part (including me, hehe)

Anata – wow I love this song, this is on of my favorite ballads of Laruku (next to White Feathers which is still my favorite Laruku song, and Hitomi no Juunin) and I’m glad they sang it instead of Pieces (which I thought they would sing) since I’m more familiar with the former and therefore I easily sang the song. Again, when they let the audience sing the chorus my face crumpled again, letting myself be in emo mode (coz then I just suddenly realized that this could be the ONLY time I’ll get to see them live), but thankfully did not cry. But my hands were shaking so much…

Band highlights:

Crap I really love this band! I don’t know what their image is in Japan, but I really love their work. And these guys are almost in their 40’s! I love it!

Hyde – where do I start? The moment I saw him I was so stoked (rarely used that word) that he’s sporting my most favorite hairstyle of his…and the bangs! He was so cute when he was really struggling with his Cantonese MC, and what’s really great is that he really tried to perfect it. Hay, he really has charisma, there’s no way to say it fully, he definitely has this pull (over my heart? Haha) And his movements! I won’t elaborate or else you’ll think I’m sick…but he’s…wow…(is it obvious that I love him?)…and his voice…grabe, yun lang! You could really feel his emotion on every song, with every gesture that he does. I was planning to write longer about him in this, but then again, it’s really hard to express it in paper. Did I mention that he was hot?

Ken – he’s my second fave member of the band since he made the music for White Feathers hehehe. I love it when he threw his paper (containing his MC script) out of frustration since he cannot pronounce the words correctly. He’s such a rebel, hehe

Tetsu – and his trademark banana! The moment he emerged from the side stage for his MC, bringing a banana, I suddenly shouted, “Tetsu! BANANA!” which actually sounds weird if taken out of context. Asa pa ko na umabot sa kin yung saging di ba? And he was really moving a lot on stage, really glad that I get to see his concert moves recreated live (as opposed to watching them on tv)

Yukihiro – I also love this guy and his reserved manner, man he kicks ass on the drums!

So there, that is my first (and hopefully not last) Laruku experience…I do hope I will have another chance to watch them, but I was already glad with this one since I already eliminated all hope before that I will get to watch them live. I’m really happy that the organizers priced the tickets the way it was, it is of great help for people like me. I was still shocked after the concert, I kept kicking (even two days after the concert and I was already in Manila) and asking myself, “did I really get watch them live?”. I laid down all of my merchandise and watched their 15th anniversary dvd the moment I got home and suddenly got all emo again.

Note: I have a travel log which I immediately filled out 30 minutes after the concert (I was still in the arena)…I can’t believe the stuff I put in there, hehe

My Life Soundtrack...and Personality from my MP3s....

LIFE SOUNDTRACK:Got this from Tricia's blog...very interesting (and I'm bored, hehe).
PERSONALITY: Got this from Daene's blog...interesting din!!!

Both have the same concept but different questions...as some would know, my iPod list of songs are very diverse (dami from soundtracks), so wag na kayong magulat na walang single genre (or single language) from the list.

Do this first: 

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc.). 
2. Put it on shuffle. 
3. Press play. 
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing. 
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button. 
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool.

Here are MY results (along w/ my comments), hahaha:

LIFE SOUNDTRACK

Opening Credits
Spoiled by Joss Stone
Uhm...okay...a life of yearning ba ito? hehehehhe

Waking Up
Lose My Breath by Destiny's Child
Hahaha, pwede na rin, since upbeat sha enough to make me wake up...and it's a good workout song!

First Day at School
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) by the Isley Brothers
Hmmm....bakit kaya? This is my favorite motown song pa naman...sorry, i went through the lyrics la akong maisip...

Falling in Love
Breaking Free (OST- High School Musical)
Hahhaha, now that I think about it, baka this and the previous item implies na ang love story ko ay nasa skul (well, dammit, i already graduated so ano na un?)

Fight Song
Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5
Well, the whole song parang walang connect, although may part dun na "I have the tendency of getting very physical/So watch your step cause if I do you'll need a miracle"...so baka pwede...

Breaking Up
Glaring Dream by Kotani Kinya (OST-Gravitation)
Okay, before those who know Gravitation get any ideas (it's an anime na yaoi, i.e. boy to boy relationship), I accidentally watched it sa Wowow and debated a lot if the person w/ pink hair is a guy or a girl...

anyway, i'll break up talaga w/ the person if he's gay! bwahahahha (although i don't know if i have the gaydar to detect in the first place), as to the lyrics, pwede din, kinda nostalgic ung song so pwede cguro...

Prom
I Don't Want to Know by Chen Wei (OST- Dolphin Bay)
Eh? Sorry, i actually don't know what the song means (ganda lang pakinggan), and i can't find it sa web...pero madaming pwedeng interpretation to in a prom!

Life is Good
Super Duper Love by Joss Stone
okay 'to...nice groove

Mental Breakdown
Beer by Itchyworms
crap! ahahahahahaha bagay, shet.....need i say more?

Driving
Love Won't Wait by Gary Barlow
ummm, parang ayokong driving song to....

Flashback
War by Edwin Starr
bwahahahaha...pwede....madami nga namang wars in the past....

Getting Back Together
Nae-ane Byolchorom by Jungwoo and EZ-Life (OST-Fireworks)
aaahhhh! love this song, pwede nga 'to, to get back together, hahaha, especially if gagawin nung guy yung mismong scene kung saan nagplay itong song na to sa background...

Wedding
Uh Jjuh Myun by Suh Jin Young (OST-Summer Scent)
wow! i like this song! ok yung lyrics niya for a wedding, although since korean siya and super heart-wrenching ng melody, i wud rather it not be played sa wedding, baka maiyak lang ako

Birth of Child
King Creole by the bloomfields
bwahahahah, my child will come out with a bang....magiging future king of rock n roll pa sha

Final Battle
Sailing Day by Bump of Chicken
bagay super...the beat pa lang, pang final battle talaga

Death Scene
Hopelessly Addicted by The Corrs
ummm...ewan....

Funeral Song
Let's Get it On by Marvin Gaye
omg, di ko rin to alam...wat does this mean?

End Credits
Don't Cha by the Pussycat Dolls
bwahahahah, my child will come out with a bang....magiging future king of rock n roll pa sha

PERSONALITY

How does the world see me?

Cool by Gwen Stefani
yes, cool ako, hahahaha

Will I have a happy life?
Dreamgirls (OST-Dreamgirls)
well, it's a happy song, so i guess yes? "all you got to do is dream..."

What do my friends really think of me?
Wherever would I Be by Dusty Springfield and Daryl Hannah (OST-While You Were Sleeping)
oh, so does that mean they depend on me a lot? hehehe

Do people secretly lust after me?
Boogie Wonderland (OST-Happy Feet)
hahahaha, ewan, i don't wanna interpret this

How can I make myself happy?
White Feathers by L'arc en Ciel
okay, i'll make myself happy by getting all deep and think about my loved one....pwede din that i can make myself happy by watching L'arc en Ciel live!!! huhuhu, kelan kaya un?

What should I do with my life?
Stickwitu by the Pussycat Dolls
okay....

Will I ever have children?
Who Knew by Pink
hahahaha, who knew? no one knows abt my childbearing future

What is some good advice for me?
Buwan by Itchyworms
ayan na, mashado daw akong madrama sa utak ko, tama na ang mga illusyon, hahahha

How will I be remembered?
Hug by TVXQ!
hmmm, love song ito so i don't know...although the lyrics say the author longs for the girl....hehehe

What is my signature dancing song?
Come by Se7en
owww, hmmmm, slow song ito, pero okay na din, se7en's a good dancer at suave ang moves niya wen he interpreted this song, hehehe

What do I think my current theme song is?
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness
bwahahahaha, shet....talaga ha?

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Nae Son Eul Jabah Jwul by K-Jun (OST- Dalja's Spring)
weeee!!!! actually this is the song na i think my current theme song is! love this drama! love this song! feeling ko magiging si Dalja ako pagtanda ko, hahahaha

What song will play at my funeral?
Separate Lives by Phil Collins
pwede...im already "separated" from them...hehehe

What type of men/women do I like?
Sexyback
BWHAHAHHAHHAHAH!!! yeahuh!

What is my day going to be like?
Do You Love Me by The Contours
uy pwede, i love this song because of Nonstop (korean sitcom), so if my days are gonna be like those in Nonstop, okay un!


will upload songs soon...i hope

Disjointed stuff...

Yeah, it's nearing the end of January...thesis work...hopefully finishing my rrl by monday next week (i cannot count the times that i've postponed this)...pressure-o-meter: 30% (pa lang? Hehe)...i need a boost of diligence so bad...

At least the past few weeks weren't such a waste. I even manage to get fit, my classmates (who apparently also have extra time away from thesis) always round up to do some badminton (even ice-skating!) once a week. I also got to play table tennis with Ice (just realized that the last time i played with her was in high school!), bitin sobra, I really need to bond again with my favorite sport, haha.

Also went out last Saturday (I know, I still go out eh?), had dinner with Carm, Eds, Daene, and Dozi, major chika mostly due to Carm's Myx win for the John Legend concert at Singapore (btw Carm, Dale was so jealous! Hehe). Then we all (except Carm, sayang) went to Embassy to meet up with IEP peeps...super fun! Thanks to AA and Donna for getting VIP access for all of us! Although di ko man lang nasilayan ung VIP area, haha. Malaking katipiran un! The drinks were majorly expensive, but the crowd (and partly the music, although im not a big fan of house music) was worth it. As i always said about that night, ang daming beautiful people (us included of course) and they are the type of people one would want in a club---those who don't need encouragement to dance! There was this kinda old guy foreigner who was dancing all-out, a bit creepy, but what the hell. Going there is a unique experience but one that i can't possibly do regularly (i would go bankrupt in no time).

I desperately want to go clubbing with my HS friends (watcha think guys? Can u even read this? Hehe), para new experience naman! My bro doesn't want to go clubbing coz he can't "think" daw amidst the noise (duh, who goes out to think anyway? Hehe), which is actually good since he can't dance, even passably (is that a word?)

Totally hung up with this song by The Isley Brothers (from my motown cd): This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)...no reference to me of course nyehehe. Expect the usual Temptations-like vibe, but it's great background song to just chillin' out...

Ok im blabbing na, sori im just waiting for my classmates to arrive for our ice skating day, haha...

Next blog entry: Burning out...