Notebook Moments #3: The Cebu Edition

Today’s high (and low) lights:

(1) I hit my head really hard while I was in the bathroom. I think I blacked out for a few seconds, enough for me to think I might have had a concussion. I have a lump on my head and it hurts if I touch it or comb my hair at that part.

(2) Breakfast c/o Jean Mae Oryza (Maan Beltran). She brought mushroom omelet to ransom JC from us.

(3) Went to NBI’s firing range with Edith Joaquin, JM and Ivy! And I learned how to shoot a .45 caliber pistol! I wasn’t very good at it, but I think I ten of fourteen of my shots made it within the human-shaped target. And I was able to deliver a neck shot, several chest shots, stomach shots and one I’m very proud of, a shot (well, two) to the groin area *evil grin* You will have to read Mac’s story to get why. Anyway, I might write a separate entry for the shooting day. When I’m coherent.

(4) Met two new friends, Ivy, who is in a very interesting line of work, and Celine, who is one of the cutest people ever!

(5) Had a small argument with my parents over the phone :(

(6) Terriyaki Boy’s Cream Dory Tempura, Pancake House’s Roast Beef Special Set, and American Chocolate Ice Cream from Gelatissimo.

(7) I had my copy of “The Perfect Maid of Honor” signed by Maan Beltran. Wheeee! And I also finally bought a copy of the Twilight Graphic Novel Vol.1. and another book by Camilla. Really, I am a fan of hers. I haven’t read all of her books but I love her Task Force Kapayapaan series. I haven’t read Oca and Tibbs yet, but I’ll get to that as soon as I get back to Manila (where I left my copy).

I had a great day :) Thank you, Lord.

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East West Dance: Sayaw, Sabel

This entry has been so late in coming since (1) I had the worst sleeping habits last week (asleep for two days straight, then awake for 24 hours straight), and (2) I had to prepare for my trip to Dumaguete. Anyway, I’m settled now and working, so I figured I should already finish my Sayaw, Sabel entry.

I watched the 2 p.m. show when Ms. Maribel Legarda, PETA’s artistic director, played the title role of Sabel. I would have wanted to see the second show and Melvin Lee’s performance, but I had prior plans. Anyway…

I’ve been saying that watching dancers is like watching art in motion. And watching Sayaw, Sabel is literally just that in more ways than one. The performance is choreographed by artistic director and chief choreographer of Ballet Philippines, Agnes Locsin. It is also based on the work of National Artist, Benedicto Cabrera, or more popularly known as BenCab, called Sabel, which is a series of paintings about a “taong grasa”.

The whole performance digs deep into different situations and emotions which are a little deep, a little funny, a little dark but a whole lot true. It showed how Filipinos go through the hardships and troubles of life.

There was a huge black cloth hanging from the beams above the stage where two figures were painted on, and paper and plastic trash littered the stage. The performance opened with a dance sequence involving all the performers, seven dance artists and the featured theater performer, in this case, Ms. Maribel, before the dance solos.

Judell de Guzman-Sicam performed a solo entitled “Kayod” where she danced with a swivel chair for a prop. I prefer not to look at the program before the performances so I’m free to give my own interpretations. So when this performance came on, my impression was of stress in the workplace. If you have ever been a call center agent, you have several companions: the phone, the headset, the computer and your swivel chair. I think the swivel chair gave away the performance away. The performer also started singing a lullaby to an imaginary baby which Sabel tries to take away near the end of the performance.

Dwight Rodrigazo dances in “Batak”. He used a long cloth, like a scarf, for a prop. I’m going to have to apologize because I didn’t really understand the performance until I read a surface explanation that it was about drugs. Then I understood Mr. Rodrigazo meant addiction when he threw the cloth away only to frantically look for it again. The performance ended with Sabel calling him “adik”.

“Abandonada” was performed by Christine Crame. She had a huge sheet of paper which was wrapped around herself, and she danced to a Visayan song. We laughed out loud when the second part came up, and Aegis’ “Halik” blasted from the speakers. Being the romance writer that I am, I decided that she had been jilted by a boyfriend or fiance, and the paper was her wedding gown. It is, by far, my favorite performance of the day.

Annette Cruz-Mariano used a fishing net to dance in “Sugat” which is a haunting piece as it portrays the fear and pain of abuse, especially with the sinister voice over. According to one write-up, it’s about being in Mindanao.

“Bagong Bayani” is Monique Uy’s performance with a balikbayan box, but it’s not a solo number. It’s a dance about OFWs, their jobs, their responsibilities, the hardships they have to face, the hard work and the loneliness. It also showed that our kababayans depend on each other for support.

Then came this heart-breaking performance by Perry Sevidal. She danced with a newspaper for a prop at first, then she danced while Sabel sang “Hindi Kita Malimot”. It shows the pain of mental illness, not just for the person who’s suffering it but also of the people who love that person. Pam, who was sitting beside me, and I were crying our eyes out before we broke into applause and laughter because Miss Maribel started to rap the song.

The last solo performance, “Ako Una” shows Camille Ordinario-Joson as an over-achiever who was bullied for being competitive and obsessive. This performance was actually funny if you watch it, but if you look beneath the surface, it’s very sad and disturbing. People who are different and who do not conform, whether by choice or by circumstance, are sometimes shunned.

Then, there’s Sabel’s performance. As far as I understood, her background is that she has a child who works as an OFW somewhere in the Middle East. At first I thought “Hindi Kita Malimot” was for her child. Partly, maybe it also is, as much as it’s for the person performing. Sabel holds the whole performance together with her performance and appearance. Miss Maribel gave an amazing performance as Sabel. I’m counting myself lucky for seeing her performance because I’ve been told that it had been a while she had last been on stage, so it was definitely a treat (and an honor) to be able to see her sing and dance.

And that concludes PETA’s very successful East West Danse month. And I’d like to thank PETA and Slenda for the priviledge of watching and blogging about the event. I enjoyed it immensely and I’m looking forward to watching other performances at the theater.

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Dumaguete Diaries… Again.

Laptop Station, NAIA Centennial Terminal 2, July 29, 2010, 1229 hours

I just started my three month long vacation to Dumaguete today. And as far as starts to a vacation goes, this one started pretty well.

I called for a cab at around 10. I called Basic Taxi (643 7777) because they knew our area, and I didn’t need to worry about the cabbie getting lost. It”s a flat rate P400 from our subdivision to NAIA Centennial Terminal 2. Plugging ba ito? Anyway, I love the manong cabbie. We passed by C5 to The Fort, and my head was swiveling left and right because I was wondering where I could put my Sentinels Base (fondly called Camp General Joseph Herrera by the boys), then manong proceeded to drive through all the general headquarters of all the branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I squealed in my head when I saw the gate… just the gate… of the headquarters of the Philippine Army. So while the cab passed by the compound, I think I developed a crick in the neck. I was squeeing and texting Edith Joaquin the whole time. We also passed by the HQ of the Philippine Marine Corps. GO NAVY! And before I could recover, I saw the familiar walls and gates of the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force *flutter lashes, happy sigh*

At the airport, I saw this guy who looks really cute. We put out bags on the conveyor belt at the same time, then pulled them off the belt at the same time, too, then we laughed. But I think he was with his wife/girlfriend/significant other, though *sigh*

Then, while checking in, the manong at the check-in counter for Cotabato called to me and waved me forward. He checked my eticket, ID and credit card and asked me where I wanted to sit. “Window seat, kuya!” *G* So I now have a window seat (11A) on the 2:10 p.m flight for Dumaguete.

Also, I just wanted to share. I think I definitely look trust-worthy (or gullible, depending on the situation). I sat at one of the benches, and the guy beside me asked if I could watch his box of Krispy Kreme while he went to the toilet. Then while I was writing this draft, a lady asked me if I could watch her Jollibee take-out while she went to the toilets, too. She was definitely my favorite because she was smiling so hugely when she got out of the toilets, thanked me profusely, and said “God bless you”. How can you not feel light and happy about that? Then, another lady asked me if she could use the power outlets at the laptop stations to charge her phone. I said maybe she could, because there were a lot of outlets anyway. So she put her phone on the table, started charging it, then left her phone and her handbag right there while she went to the other end of the waiting area to get her luggage. Actually… of the three, I would have stolen the Jollibee take-out :p Also, if by any chance any of them were terrorists, I would have died first because I let them leave a bomb with me.

Anyway, since I can’t connect to any of the free public WiFis and I don’t want to edit my manuscript here or play Plants vs Zombies, I’m ending this draft right here, and posting it with the rest of the day’s entry as soon as I get settled at Jette’s house.

Later!

P.S. I took a look outside to the runway and saw a plane taxiing… I know i’ve already said so, but a taxiing (landing/taking off) airplane is one of the sexiest thing I have ever seen in my life. It’s ranked up there, just below the sight of a fighter plane landing/taking off an air craft carrier.

Hmm… I should list down the strange things I find sexy, no?

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VIDEO: Bellyfest 2010 Performance

I’m going to be writing about Sayaw, Sabel later today, but I was looking for vids from Bellyest 2010 on YouTube (one of those rare times I can actually watch vids with my connection) and found Doc Fred’s videos. We hung out with each other during the event, but we watched the next two performances at different schedules so I didn’t get to see him again. Anyway, this is one of my favorite performances from that night. This is the Peak Performance kids with Miss Jill Ngo. Just wanted to share :D

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Mac and Bryce’s Music

I don’t really have soundtracks for the novels. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. The first book that I actually have a soundtrack for is Cedric and Daphne’s, then Sa Kanya Pa Rin. But since I love Mac and Bryce, I just have to have a soundtrack for them. I love the Sentinels, so I *might* (if I have time) to list down songs for all of them… or at least the first 5. Anyway, here’s (working title) Love Always Dreams’ soundtrack.

I’m probably going to add more songs if and when I come across songs that fit.

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