Lifehouse in Manila, July 26, 2008

So, it was the first time in more than a year that I watched a concert where I wasn’t part of the organizing team. It was kind of a strange feeling, but it felt a bit relaxing too, as I wasn’t in any stress and all I had to do was to sit back and watch the show.

But I do miss the perks. Meeting the artists from the moment they step in the country. Making sure the place was okay. Getting really good places to stand (because we can’t sit down) during the show and then congratulating the artists personally after their performance. But…like I said, it’s kind of a welcome break.

Oh, and one more thing: it sucks that I have no camera. :| Sure, Captain Tal did okay (see blurry pictures below), but my micro sd card is still 64MB because I totally forgot to buy a bigger one (okay, maybe I was a bit too lazy to do so)…plus I could’ve taken more photos and clearer videos if I had a camera with me. Next mission: buy that pink Canon Ixus 80 IS, ASAP!

Anyway, so last night, Tue, Happy and I trooped to Araneta Coliseum (exactly two months since Hillsong United, oy!) to watch Lifehouse. I’ve been excited for this since Happy told me she bought our tickets (Upper B is all we can afford) and for the past week I’ve been listening to their songs just so I’d be ready on concert night. And because I’m on constant Lifehouse mode for the week, I’ve made a playlist of songs I wish they’d sing on concert night:

• Whatever It Takes
• First Time
• Blind
• Breathing
• Simon
• Everything
• Hanging By a Moment
• Somewhere in Between
• Undone
• You and Me

Our view from where we sat (Upper B).

So the show starts, and even if we’re in Upper B, we had a pretty good view. Lots of people screaming (including us, of course!), and because we were well prepared, we sang along with the songs that we know. :D For a moment I wish we were at Patron or LowerBox…but after some time, I realized how relaxed we were at Upper B. I even sat down at some part of the concert. :P And who knew Araneta could be so cold?

The guys were amazing, and I swear, I love Jason Wade. I love his rocker voice on mp3s and CDs, but hearing his voice live is just…to die for. Love, love, love! He has an amazing stage presence too, and I love that he makes sure to look up at us people who were at the higher part of the coliseum. :D

This is the closest I could see of him…on projected screens, which conked out by “You and Me”. :|

The show wasn’t as fluid as the ones I’ve watched before (i.e. Switchfoot), because sometime in between the songs, the stage would darken and there would only be low guitar/bass riffs and not too many friendly chit-chat with the audience, not at least until the middle? There was even a time when Jason went offstage for some reason and then ran back up. But performance wise, they were really amazing, and I am even a more fan now than I ever was before. :)

The concert ended a bit too early too, and I can’t help but feel like it’s bitin. But then again, they sang more songs than the Switchfoot show, so maybe it’s only because I’m used to being backstage before the concert proper, which makes it feel longer. Haha. Or maybe it was only because not all songs from my wishlist were played. But, regardless of all those thoughts I just typed, I had fun, they were amazing, and the show was worth it. :D

Since I didn’t have access to the actual setlist after the show, I made sure to note all the songs they sang in my phone (titles in boldface are the songs I love):

1. Make Me Over
2. Spin
3. Am I Ever Gonna Find Out
4. Simon — YES! Looove that they sang this! ♥
5. Hanging By a Moment — Reminded me so much of my prayer before I resigned.
6. Blind — ♥
7. Take Me Away — Tried calling my friend when they played this since this was one of her favorite songs but she didn’t answer. Oh well. :(
8. Somebody Else’s Song
9. From Where You Are — This is the part where we sat down, because we didn’t know the song. Who has a copy of this? :D
10. Bridges — Bryce sang this one, and it sounded a lot different from Jason’s version. I love the part where they shared one mic though.
11. Better Luck Next Time
12. Whatever It Takes - We screamed when they started playing the intro of the song :)
    
13. You and Me
14. First Time
15. (ENCORE) Disarray - After last night, I now love this song.
16. (ENCORE) Broken - I love the meaning of this song.
    

I still wish they sang Everything…but 6 out of 10 wished for songs isn’t bad. ;) I hope they’d go back (and can our team please handle them now? :D), and I will definitely be there again. :D Here’s to another bigger Lifehouse fan. *cheers*

Like being in love with you for the first time. ♥

End of Difficult Weeks, I Hope

Ah, Saturday!

It’s no news that the past days/weeks has been a bit of hectic for me, because of all the things I’ve signed myself up to do. The past weeks has been difficult — physically, mentally and emotionally. But I think I’m finally done with everything…okay, almost everything. I think I still have some leftover stuff I need to do, but most of the pending stuff are done. :)

Admittedly the past week has been better than the last few ones, probably because I’m not worrying about Australia anymore.  I guess it really is a blessing in disguise that I didn’t push through because if I was, I probably be wouldn’t blogging right now, plus I’d probably be going crazy right now with preparing. Not to mention bankrupt with all the things I need to buy for my trip. No regrets. :)

Last night was our company’s townhall¹, and I was a part of the townhall committee. It was a month-long preparation, and I’m really glad I survived it. :D I got to head the creatives team, which I chose to be a part of mostly because of what I do for the club I am a part of at work — make email announcements. Turns out there’s so much more stuff to do for the team — from the program concept to the script to the sounds! ACK! Thank God I was with a great team! It was stressful, yes, but it was all a great learning experience. In the span of two weeks, I learned how to animate in Flash² and edit sounds in Garageband (overnight!). I also made a simple Flash presentation in the span of an hour. That’s a personal record. :D

The townhall was a success, at least in my point of view. It may not be as grand as the kick-off early this year, but I know we gave all our best here. There’s still one more townhall on Monday which I have to sit out on since I really need to rest. But that’s one thing off my Big Rocks list for the next week. :) Yay.

Oh, but there was a surprising moment yesterday! On the second part of the awarding ceremony at the townhall, they were showing some videos about employees who have embodied one of the company’s values. On the fourth video, there was a news report of sorts by none other than our club president and other friends, and then all of a sudden, I saw my face (and four other friends’ faces) onscreen. Haha, turns out, we were being honored for being dedicated to the club! Surprise galore? So that’s why MM said something about everything being worth it in the end. Haha. So again, even if I said this in the email last Friday, let me say it once again: THANK YOU! :)

After last night’s second run, I met up with my successor in the project team I’ve been heading for the past two quarters, and I’m really glad that my term for being lead is over. :) I like what I do, but it’s kind of tiring being the lead. Plus, it’s time for someone else to take over. :)

I went home and slept like a log until almost noon. I watched Horton Hears a Who on DVD and then some TV and finally went to Galleria to go online. Obviously I’m still here, and I’m still deciding if I should geta pedicure later to treat myself. But maybe after I finish accounting my funds.

So it’s a relatively slow Saturday. I’ve got some little stuff I need to do, but like I said, it’s little. I want to spend some time alone for a while because I’ve been surrounded by people lately. Me time, me time.

I just realized how…novel-ish this situation is. I’m sitting at a coffee shop with my laptop, iPod plugged into my ear, cellphone beside me and a book waiting to be read. Plus I’ll be going home to the condo later, and for a few hours I’d be sitting there alone because my brother’s going home late. How…grown-up. Ha, I feel like I’m Rain.:P

Here’s to a relatively quiet weekend. :) Starting next week I’ll be going back home to our house because condo living is expensive. Sure, it feels more posh to live in a condo (even if we don’t have home theater carpet there) but it’s definitely cheaper to just go home. I guess…here’s to a relatively quiet week ahead. :D

Happy weekend everyone!

1. A company-wide meeting where the bosses give updates about the company and its initiatives [«]
2. Yes, I know Flash, but I’m more of an Action Script person than animation [«]

I’m proud to say you’re mine ♥

I remember it so well: it was the day of m first thesis proposal defense. I haven’t been home for a few days and I was so scared and nervous. Then you text me, wishing me luck for the defense. I texted back, telling you to pray because I was scared…and you called me and talked me out of my fears. We failed that afternoon, but when I called you, you gave nothing but loving and assuring words, telling me everything’s going to be alright.

There was a time when I came home from school, and I sensed tension in the air. Turns out you accidentally chanced upon my journal, and saw some of the things I’ve been hiding. I told you everything, and I was afraid you’d get angry…but we ended up bonding. :)

I was having blisters all over my body — my fever was bad and the skin problem I had was getting worse. You brought me to the dermatologist and got me medicine to drink and cream to put all over my blisters. Even if I was in college already and I can manage pretty well, you helped me put the meds just so everything’s covered. :)

I was tired with schoolwork and thesis. You accompanied me as I got our thesis ringbound, and while I was waiting for it, you disappeared into the grocery. A little while later, you were back, carrying a bag of groceries for me to take to the dorm for the week with all the stuff you know I like, and an additional bag of M&M’s chocolate. :)

We weren’t always good to each other — in fact, I think I answered back to you too many times as I was growing up. But I know that despite all that, you were, are and always will be there for me. I know that even if we don’t really like and understand the same things, I’ll always be able to count on you to storm the heavens for me. You’ve taught me to pray, to value my faith and to believe in God’s faithfulness. You don’t have to apologize for not being the perfect mom, because to me, you ARE perfect. :) Flaws and all. :D

Without you, our family wouldn’t have been the same, our home wouldn’t have been the same. I wouldn’t be who I am, I wouldn’t be where I am. Thank you. :)

Happy Mother’s Day, Mama! I love you! ♥

And before I forget…Happy Mother’s Day, Mama Mary. :) Thank you for always praying for us. :)

And finally: Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Handwriting Meme

I’m stalling. Fine, fine, I’m procrastinating. I have one more thing to finish today (well two things actually, but one can wait until tomorrow), but I haven’t done a thing. Argh. It’s 9pm, I should get moving…but after this post. :D

This meme has been done a couple of times over at LJ, but since I update this more than I do my LiveJournal, I’ll post it here. Rules are simple:

On a piece of paper, write and answer the following and then take a picture/scan it:
Name:
Age:
Location:
Current music:
Favorite movie:
Favorite book:
Describe yourself in 5 words:
Something weird about yourself:

So…here we go:

I was too lazy to scan it, so I just took a picture using Aslan’s iSight through PhotoBooth and edited it via Photoshop.

I remember taking a picture of my own handwriting a couple of years ago, when I still participated in message boards. :D My teammate told me last Friday my handwriting looked like it was computerized…but I really don’t think so. I personally think it’s still messy, with the non-uniformed size letters and whatnot. Or maybe I’m just being OC. Heh. I’m glad it’s not too chicken-scratch handwriting, though, or doctor-style penmanship, like the ones who do plastic surgery in Baltimore have. My cursive is okay, reminds me of a teacher’s handwriting. :D Oh, and I can write straight in unlined paper, so yay, because I like unlined paper for my journals.

I’m always curious about other people’s handwriting. So come on, do this! If you have did this, or have done this before I posted, do post your entry so I can check them out. :)

But first…I will work. NOW. Must finish this before 10pm. I’ve got 40 minutes.

Even the office is cooperating

Ha, even the office is cooperating with all the goal-setting I’ve started this year. On the first working day for 2008 (and my official sixth month at work, woot woot!), I was greeted by that piece of paper on my desk. This piece of paper is from the Total Wellness Program of our company, a program of our HR department which aims to develop their employees as a whole. Most of the focus of the program is the employees’ physical and financial aspects, as well as the working attitude. I find this program really cool because it makes me feel like I’m being taken care of. I remember one time before Christmas, all employees got 2 apples, 2 bananas and 2 oranges each because it was antioxidant day. :P

Anyway. So this little piece of paper greets me and it’s about — exactly what it says — my goals for 2008. And I just have to laugh because I just wrote my own goals the day before. Even if this is from the office, the instruction on this card says we must not put work-related goals (since we have that in a separate document which is required every year), but things we want to achieve within the year. It must be something that could stretch our limits, yet attainable. We were encouraged to write them down, and put them somewhere we could always see it (which reminds me, I should do this one for the previous list I made). We could even partner with another employee to check the progress. I have a feeling that sometime in the middle of the year or at the end of the year, they’d be asking for contributions on how the goals set at the start of the year were accomplished.

As you can see, my sheet’s still blank. It only has space for five goals, so I’m choosing which ones I would write there. I promise to write them and stick them on Guilo’s (my PC at work) CPU so I can always read them. :) Let’s see how this works.

And can I just say (again)? I love my company. :D