Fanmode: CHRIS CENDANA

Youtube is awesome...

Because my brother is so desperate to find some guitar lesson tips videos for the song 'Apologize' (by One Republic), we came across this FilAm songwriter who's based in Morgantown, West Virginia. Man, this one really delivers... His songs say it all... ENJOY!

This one's my favorite =)



His version of 'I'm Yours' by Jason Mraz



Enjoy the rest of his songs here...

When solitude sets in... on a Friday night!

Nobody wants to talk to me. Out of probably ten (exaggeration ito!) people I randomly text messaged today, only two replied. Dang... it's really pathetic. Nobody cares... *Sniff*

Hay, ang sad. It's Friday night and I'm here in the office... still working. This is nothing new naman but I just feel extra sad (and tired today). While wallowing on self-pity and editing, I decided to play with my camera...

This is me today... *sniff*

This is what keeps me here on a Friday night... grrr...

My food... (it's the book actually.. teehee!)

How many cats do you see? =)

Which part is that?

This is the part where I go home at past 11pm, too tired and wanting to rest but just can't sleep yet.

Instead, here I am attempting to put together a decent account of what happened to me today. As much as I would like to update the world (err.. not really... i don't know if this blog's even visible...) about my life's what-nots, sometimes, the mood isn't just there. Sometimes, I open this blog and sign-out after about three seconds. In the 15 minutes of my travel from my office to my house, I am able to think about a million things to tell the internet and yet, when this blank 'post box' stares at me right in the face, all my thoughts evaporate. I would really love to have something to put here everyday but my laziness overlapping with craziness just wouldn't allow it.

Today is the part where my subconscious seems to bully my body and my mental state to lower their defenses again. I came to work with a running nose and I thought it was just a simple case of allergic-rhinitis... but NO! I used up two tissue rolls and two jumbo kleenex travel packs today and my trash bin was embarrasingly overflowing with snot-filled tissues. I looked like I was crying the whole day - eyes almost swollen and teary and a very red (and aching) nose to top it off. I am still having a slight fever as I am typing this but at least, the nose is back to normal.

My colleague said "Napapansin ko, 'pag malapit na ang deadline, nagkakasakit ka..." Exactly. Come to think of it.. that could be true. No doubt I am having a lot of pressure these days because of the next issue's impending release and probably my body is giving me a little warning or something. But heck... totoo nga... I just realized it and I find it quite amusing. Remember? Stress gave me one heck of a skin allergy - Pytiriasis something something and the marks are still here, etched on my skin.. a good 'ol reminder of how miserable I WAS because of work.

Current body temperature: 38 degree celcius - Is this normal?

And because I was not feeling well and I am desperate to stop my nose from 'crying', I munched... chewed... gnawed... In other words, I ate A LOT. I have this crazy idea that chewing can make my running nose disappear. So, I consumed something that is equivalent to what a person thrice my size consumes when he / she is on an eat-all-you-can mode. So, that was the part where I became a self-confessed glutton.

And this... this is the part where I am cutting short my blog entry to satisfy my 'Lucky Me Pancit Canton' cravings. (^_^)v

I'm... back?

I was so dreading this day but then I remembered... hey, this is the part where I am/should be going back to my normal life - me, myself and work. I am definitely not at all psyched but it somehow gives me a peace of mind. What the? Don't ask...

I open this blog and find myself staring for minutes at my previous post and thinking - what the hell was I thinking? It shouldn't be there... I never should have written it in the first place. I was fighting the urge to delete it. But I thought I shouldn't 'coz it was what I WAS feeling at that time so... yea, why not. =)

Thirty minutes ago (it's 10pm now), I was sprawled in my bed, not wanting to get up. I am dead beat from my first normal day at work. (last week was like an excursion - I only went to work for two days, feeling mighty lazy... *guilty look*). I edited dozens of articles and wrote a couple for the next issue of AQ. It was draining.

I went home early hoping to continue what I was doing at work on the comfort of my bed but as soon as I had dinner and saw my pillows, I totally forgot about what I was planning to do and just hit the sack. I slept with a full stomach and was quite worried of having an indigestion. But then, I got up instantly the moment I heard 'ate' saying that she brought home some food *eyes shining with delight* Yumm... I am such a glutton. hay.. And I am still craving for something at this point. I am blaming food network for this.

In the midst of my busy sched, I found myself thinking of some things that I still want to do beyond work that could broaden my horizon and help me grow as a person. I've been practicing my guitar skills in the last few months, I've enrolled in a basic Mandarin class and I've been quite successful in raising the bar for my spiritual growth. Now, I want to volunteer to any charitable work or activity, I want to start a project of my own, I want to enroll in a baking / culinary class (medyo I'm tired of having the 'aga-tikim' all the time), I want to go to Phuket or Saigon by next year and most of all, push through with my 'Grand Plan New Zealand' =)

I guess the clouds above my head are slowly clearing up and I am just thankful...

Re-view-well

That’s what I should be probably doing about what transpired a few nights ago on my get-away to the land up North. My mind is in total chaos that I couldn’t even tell if what happened really did happen. Or if what I think he said, he did really say. I just probably can’t get over the fact that six years ago, his gaze would’ve melted me to bits and his smile would’ve turned my cheeks to fuchsia pink and yet, when I saw him that night, the feeling was… blank… nada… a big black void. I mean, I was happy… really happy in fact to see him and be with him but there is one big thing that is lacking. Whatever that is, I couldn’t tell… or probably, I am afraid to tell. I just don’t understand how a person can shower you with praises and let you feel how special you are but still do / or not do some things that would make you think otherwise. I am so confused.

I am just probably thinking too much. I am making things complicated. I want to know if he likes me – obviously and without assuming anything, that’s what he made me feel – liked. Honestly, how would you feel if someone suddenly gives you a poem that talks about repressed emotions and that someone just happens to be the person that you like the most a few years back? How would you feel if he suddenly looks at you as if you are something worthy of his gaze and tells you how beautiful you have become? How would you feel if that someone asks of your plans in the future and if you would consider giving them up to stay? How would you feel if you’re sure right there and then that one look from you can make him really nervous and speechless? We walked in the rain; we laughed in the rain. He said I am his princess but I just couldn’t say that he’s my prince. I am just not sure… yet.

And then, the night ended. I came back to reality. I didn’t see him the following days. I know I really wanted to see him again as he was telling me over and over again that he wanted to see me too. But the circumstances just wouldn’t allow it. Heck, I am competing with his future. I guess he needs it more than just one magical feeling from a ghost of his college days.

Review well. That’s what I told him a while ago when we were text messaging. He gave up seeing me to study for his exams week. Review well… That’s what I’ll be doing too ‘coz I will definitely be thinking a lot about him these days.

Baguio after six years

And so, I spent my long weekend back in Baguio... after six long years! =) I guess I am just so happy to be back, to be seeing good old familiar places, hearing that old familiar dialect (Maysang estudyante manong!) and being in the company of my friends whom I haven't seen for such a long time.

About 11:45, Saturday night, the deluxe bus I took from Victory Liner, Pasay Terminal left for Baguio. I really wanted to travel comfortably and by that, I mean no narrow bus seat, no unwanted seatmate and no stop overs. Ang arte eh no? I just thought that since it would be my first time again in years to go back to Baguio, my trip should be a little special. Well, it turned out to be very special =) Armed only with my hooded jacket to help me battle the cold, I arrived in Baguio at 4:15am (!).. thanks to Kat and Jang, I had a place to stay =) Really, thank you guys from the bottom of my (naguguluhang) heart... you are my angels.. hihi...

Anyway, Turista Day 1 started as soon as I regained my energy around lunch time. Me and Kat went to Pizza Volante for lunch. Seems like that one's a pretty famous meeting place. Food was great. If only I haven't had my braces adjusted the night before, I swear I could've eaten all what was served like a hungry buffalo. We were really planning to eat at 50s Dinner, which was one of my most favorite restos in Baguio during my college years. Unfortunately, it got transferred and although they were saying it's still as good as the old one (especially the food), it didn't feel that way. It was also jam packed with double a dozen tourists waiting in line just to get inside. So, we ended at Session Rd to the famous Pizza place. After lunch, we went to sneak in UP Campus just to have a feel of our alma mater. Geez, I miss UP... I miss 'Oble'... I miss being just a student. As I've mentioned before, the school looks really different, with a lot of new structures and buildings. I can't even remember where the offices are... tsk.

Then, we headed off to Botanical Garden (nope, in all my Baguio years, I haven't been there!) for some serious turista business - eh ano pa, e di magpicture nang magpicture. =) We thought minsan lang naman yun so, magpapakaturista na kami. Then it rained... and we took more pictures.

Then I got 'R's message... meet daw kami ng 8pm sa Volante (na naman!). I must admit, I was a little panicky and worried. 'R' is my college crush - as in that ultimate blush-ever, can't-talk-straight-when-he's-around, 'pahiram-ng-Math-notes-para-maka-style', nenok-ng-picture-sa-bulletin-board, active-sa-Youth-Night, kind of crush. Yuck no? Haha. Anyway, we started 'talking' again after I got an unexpected message from him at... okay, buckle up... Friendster! He got my number and that was that. So I informed him that I was in Baguio and that was it. Hala. I don't actually know why I was somehow nervous at the thought of meeting him, considering that six years have passed already and I am pretty sure that I am not feeling anything special this time (fingers crossed tightly!). Kat said I have to get my beauty rest so we went back to the house to get freshened up (kamusta naman, ang dudungis na namin at nangangamoy usok pa). The meeting was moved to 9pm as he was preparin' some kind of a gift for me daw. At dun nagsimula, ladies & gentlemen, ang istorya ng pakbet. bow. (tell you some other time) So there, spent the rest of my night with 'R', re-living our college memories together (which were actually so little but nice just the same). He took me home a little before 12mn and I haven't seen him the rest of my stay in Baguio. It's his exams week daw so I'd say, forgivable? U-huh. Text lang siya ng text, ganun. Hmp...

Turista Day number 2: Tam-awan Village, some art gallery / coffee shop near Tam-awan, Red Cherries (tama ba?) cake shop, market and Kaffee Klatsch. I am really thankful that I had Kat and Jang to accompany me around. Kat and I had lunch at Tam-awan. It was my first time to eat Adobong Baboy na kamote yung halo. Ang sarap, but again, because of my teeth-throbbing episodes, hindi ko pa din makagat yung ulam. Sad. Then we had a lot of sight-seeing.Tam-awan is such a cool place (literally and figuratively speaking). They have these Igorot-inspired houses which can be rented overnight for lodging. We went up the steep and slippery path to the view deck where you can supposedly see the China Sea and witness God's magnificent creation but the fog was so thick that I only got to see the silhouette of some trees. Then again, it was the experience and the company that I am really thankful for. =) Then we saw this coffee shop / art gallery and we went inside and got awe-struck by the different art pieces inside. They don't allow taking pictures inside but since we don't acknowledge that rule, we still clicked away to our cameras' content. Nakarma tuloy ako... I have this picture where mukhang huling-huli ako sa akto at gulat na gulat. Bigla kasing nag-chime yung bells na signal yata 'pag may visitors, eh I was posing beside this art sculpture... pati si Kat nagulat kaya yung picture CLASSIC... haha. Kafee Klatsch - best place to be with your friends if you just want non-stop talking (and picture-taking in our case) with soft acoustic / piano performance in the background. I fell in love with that place instantly.

My third day was serious business. I had to go back to UP and accomplish my clearance, get my diploma (at last!) and apply for a request for my Transcript of records which I would claim in the next two months. When I was asked to sign the claim sheet, I saw that I was among the few ones left who haven't got these documents yet. Almost all my batch mates have gotten theirs years ago. Hala. I had to go back after lunch 'coz the manang who's in-charge of the releasing of diploma and whatnot took a half-day leave. I went to SM and just looked around forgetting about time. It was already past 2pm when I went back to UP.

Anyway, I had no clue that my nightmare was just about to start. After I left UP, I headed straight to Victory Liner to buy my ticket for my trip back to Manila. I got an 11:15pm schedule. The rain started pouring hard just as I was about to get out of the terminal so I decided to stay back for about 30 minutes and just surf the net in a computer shop inside the terminal. The rain looked like it would never stop. The computer shop manang said it was the onset of typhoon so there's really no use waiting. I decided to go ahead with my plan and scour the market for some pasalubong. Then I got stranded waiting for a cab that would take me 'home'. It took me about two hours, drenched and cold and well... surprisingly... happy. I was worried alright but it was something that didn't really scare me. I knew I'd get pass that safe and sound. Malakas ako kay Lord... hehe. Pero grabe, it was my first time to experience something like that in Baguio... alone.

At around 10:30pm, despite the torrential rain, Kat and Jang brought me to the terminal. As much as I hated saying goodbye, I did... knowing that in just a few months, I'll see them both again. So to you, I am still not done thanking you. Thank you for making that trip worthwhile and special and also, for making me laugh like crazy at the mere thought of 'pakbet'. Ikamusta niyo na lang ako kay Pakbet Boy. Ayus.

I'll post the pictures soon in my multiply page. =)

for you.

Fuzzy Angel just for You-- powered by quickinspirations.com

'He-Who-Must-Be-Tamed''

This is what happens when I am totally upset - I become the master word stringer; my creative juice overflows. This was written while I was sulking, eyes half-closed because I was almost asleep. I thought I just had to let it all out.

An ode to 'He-Who-Must-Be-Tamed'... the 'Dark Lord' in the most literal sense of the word... I'm sure you know who am I talking about. =)

The Puppet Master

He is the dark cloud that covers up your hopes of getting through a day of supposedly pure bliss. He is a typhoon – wreaking havoc to the melancholy of your life. He is the one who will gnaw you alive until you’re nothing but bone scrap. He will feed on your brain and lap up your sweat, tears and blood until you scream dehydration. He’ll nosh sumptuously on your dignity and self-worth as desert. You are nothing but a melting candle in his evil eyes – a disgustful sight in itself. You are a prey and will remain to be while you remain in his colony. He knows everything like a good ‘ol mountain hermit for he has a sixth sense – senselessness.

In his world there is no ‘We’; it’s always ‘I’. ‘You’ is always an ‘I’ – imbecile, idiot, irrelevant. His ‘I’ is an ‘aye, aye, aye!’ He is a one way mirror who sees nothing but himself and his terrifying reflection deserves an oil canvass paint in the museum down from 20 feet under.

In the puppet master’s world, there are no candies and rainbows and white fluffy clouds. His world is an endless train track underneath an unending tunnel of stench. He derives ecstasy from one agonizing pain to another; your cries of torment are his Bach’s Prelude in C Minor – a symphony and an art, a creation of pleasure that cannot be missed.

***

H&G

They say that when you throw a stone into the ocean, no matter how heavy or big it is, it will always find its way to the shore. What shore is that? I don't really know; it doesn't really matter. Point is, it does come back.

This thought made me reflect on how many people in my lifetime - family, friends, acquaintances, those whom I have never really met but I feel like I've known them - have come and go, have said hello, have said goodbye and then, there were those who didn't say anything; they just left. How many bridges have been burned? How many bruises have I gained and how many scars are just about to heal?

One of my life's greatest puzzles is that, why do people talk about forever when it doesn't seem to exist at all? 'Friends Forever', Forever's not enough, From now until forever... I mean, is there someone who has actually experienced it?
***
On to a lighter side but still some kind'a related story...

I've been talking about burnt bridges and all those saying goodbye stuff. But in the last few weeks I've been witnessing God's love through some old friends who have suddenly decided to hike down my path. For me, these little encounters are the biggest things in life. It is one proof of how we are created in just one huge melting pot.

And so now I ask: Did I ever lose anything? =)

You're welcome!

I totally forgot that I've been sending out donation to the UNICEF for the last four months. I was reminded when I received this postcard a day before yesterday and I must say, it warms my heart =)

I miss ChinChin =)

Weird, but I just saw her (and Tina) last Friday. We had dinner and coffee (as usual) and tons of chikahang 'umaatikabo' a-la Daily Ten


Probably, what I mean is I miss having her as an officemate whom I could see on a daily basis, have lunch with, and as an outlet whenever I feel bad about work. See, it's never been the same since all my friends left me (well, physically they did) but I'm sure they're just around there somewhere whenever I am on my 'tag-praning' days and need some ears to use up... =)

I actually miss you all =)

Just another Sunday

I think I am reverting to my old Sunday ways and I am not liking it. Sunday for me used to be a bummer's day; meaning, it was me, my bed and the TV. I could like let a whole day pass without going out of my room, except for an occasional trip to the cr and to get myself some food. I told myself while it is good to do that sometimes, I wouldn't want to waste my time anymore doing nothing. Plus, I kind of promised to devote the first half of the day with my 'date' with God. Unfortunately, I haven't been too successful with both. Well, today might be an exception 'coz I am still not feeling well. I missed Church again... tsk... Mom even did my laundry for me today and I totally adore her even more.
Anyway, I guess there isn't really much to tell 'coz I didn't do anything or at least nothing interesting happened today. I'll just share these videos of my new found fave 'earplug', Brooke Fraser.

DECIPHERING ME (this one's my favorite!=))



SHADOWFEET

So, what's up with me?

wow. a month almost passed by and i am too sick to notice it.

I don't even know if this is still normal because I've been having fever (on and off) since last week (July 10 to be exact). My temperature is so unstable that I only got to report to work for two days this week (or last?). I must admit, my brain's not been functioning well in the last couple of weeks and I wasn't all up for work (especially after I got that too-brutal-to-forget bashing from the hell spawn at work). I think the v-cay mode has something to do with this too.

See, our company had this little 'outing' last July 10 and 11 at this very nice Caylabne Bay Resort somewhere in Cavite. Damn, it was far and the road going there is like Marcos Highway and Kenon Road combined. Very very lucky me - I got fever on our first night there so I didn't get to enjoy much whatever happenings they had (card games, bonding time, etc.) 'coz I slept really early. I was still a little bit under the weather on the second day but instead of sulking, I jumped into the pool and just enjoyed what was left of the day.

The following day, me and my siblings were off to Hong Kong. We didn't even sleep 'coz our flight was at 5am and we had to be at the airport around 3am. Try looking at these pictures and see how our eyebags almost ate half our faces. (hehe!) But it was worth it 'coz I had a very great time with my ate and 'kuya'... even if i was super masungit half the time (pms... tsk... and lack of sleep...) We stayed in this very nice hotel in Northpoint (pros- it's strategically located near the subway station and the rooms are really nice; con - it is at a marketplace!) and we loved it. We got to know Xiang Gang (Chinese for HK) very well in those three days 'coz we were walking and just taking the MTR all the time to save some bucks. Our second day was spent In Disneyland which I swear, was a lot better than the last time I saw it. They have this new attraction called 'It's a Small World' where different countries of the world are represented and little dolls dressed in their national costumes are singing 'It's a small world (afterall!)' in their own languages. Of course, the Philippines is there. =) While it's actually for kids, we enjoyed it a lot!

The rest of the HK trip can be summarized into more walking and trips to Starbucks! Yup, a trip for me is not complete without my cup of (starbucks) coffee =)

So, we got home in the wee hours of Tuesday morning and guess what - I was back with a fever! Kamusta naman? I swear, this virus is clinging to me like crazy. And this time, I got the bonuses - cough and colds. So, I ended up staying home (but still working since I got my laptop with me) last Tuesday and when I felt a little better, I went to work the following day (Wednesday). But as expected, I went home like a sickly kitten, having chills the rest of the night so I was bedridden come Thursday. But since I am a self-confessed idiot, I went to work again yesterday (Friday), coughing my way through the day. It was stupid but it was okay. I also missed my Mandarin classes on purpose to meet up and have dinner with my friends - C & T. The rest didn't show up (as usual!) But again, it was okay and it was a very fun (sickly) night! =)

So, there... that's what happened.

Stormy Sunday

It's been raining non-stop for the last two days and I've been totally immobile here at home. Rainy days make me lazy... it's the best time to just bum around - stay in bed, watch a cheezy korean flick or that drama I've been wanting to finish, and munch on whatever my tastebuds are craving. So far, I've consumed four cups of coffee, a cup of hot chocolate, one tub of popcorn, three packs of chips (from mama's store) and some candies. I am still hungry though.Despite all these junk food, I haven't had a decent meal today.

I missed Church today because I was afraid to go out. I also canceled my movie date with my friends; we were supposed to watch Narnia and drool over Prince Caspian but the weather wouldn't just allow it. But to be honest, I like it sometimes when the weather's like this and was (still a little bit) praying that it would still rain as hard tomorrow so I wouldn't have to go to work. bad... bad... bad...

Oh, well, I felt a little guilty as soon as I opened a few news sites and read some updates about the typhoon Fengshen or 'Frank'. About 86 were killed and 700 plus are still missing as it ravaged Visayas and South Luzon this weekend. A passenger ferry, 'Princess of the Stars' capsized off Sibuyan island in Romblon's central province Saturday night and many (about 700 plus) are still missing. What's disturbing is that I was able to ride this boat during my shipping beat days as a reporter. It was the biggest among the domestic passenger fleet at that time and I saw how nice the interior of that boat was. Oh well... I pray they would find more survivors.

One of my most favorite guys in the world...

Tada!



Seriously...

I just thought that it's time I write something about this person.

This is Wayne - my closest (or so I think) guy pal in the office.

Wayne is a person that I DON'T understand or get at all. It's like he has his own little world, bolted with a very heavy steel door; you need a tremendous amount of effort before you could come in but once you're inside, you're in for a lot of treat. But this very character of his is what actually makes him [a] special...(child)... kiddin'

He is an insensitive little dweeb that could make my head explode because of his naive-bordering-on-'cluelessness' little ways that sometimes, you'd think he's doing it on purpose just to make you angry. He's also that person who could make me throw my guts out from too much laughing 'coz of his natural goofiness and funny little antics. He can make me laugh without even opening his mouth. And he can also make me angry because he doesn't say anything even if he needs to.

He is my constant companion on my usual trips to food-hunting (whenever I crave for anything!), to convenience stores, to the banks, and anywhere outside the confines of our office whenever I feel like seeing the bustling outside world. He's that person you can easily drag around wherever... whenever (basta office hours and he's not doing anything or is too lazy to do anything just yet!)

He's the most stingy person I know.... although I noticed, these days, the 'kakuriputan' is waning a little bit. But I bow down to his discipline and self-control and his will to do things the right way. Most importantly, I sincerely appreciate his patience to keep up with me and my crazy sometimes-hard-to-deal-with ways.

Xie xie ni wo de peng you! v(^_^)v

A fury that shouldn't have been there.

When I get mad, I really get mad - crazy, I mean. I tend to forgo all kinds of reasonings and I become deaf and blind to all possible explanations. I also become mute - I don't talk to anyone at all. Like an imbecile and an autistic person, I lock myself in my own world, repelling anyone or anything that would try to break down my doors. I get so caught up in my own thoughts, letting the 'anger poison' seep in deeper into my veins. And as if it is some kind of a potion that gives me strength and power, I feel so uninhibited and it makes me feel like I can say and do anything and just abash any poor fellow that would stand (clueless-ly) in my way.

Take for instance an incident with my boss a year or so ago. I was so mad at him that I almost forgot that he's my boss and he could kick my working ass anytime he pleases. The thing was I felt that his 'belittling thet' is way going below the belt and I was really offended. I felt that he was undermining my capability and the tactless (and heartless) guy that he is, he loved showing [it] off at my expense. So, one day while we were in a meeting, my anger silently erupted. I antagonized him by not talking and looking at him at all - even if he was addressing me - in front of his visitors. I kept mum, paralyzed there in my seat, not caring at all how he would react or anybody would for that matter. I was so angry that talking might bring out that burning fury and hatred that was sure to have made the situation more ugly. I think I got the message across because right after the meeting, he asked me what the hell my problem was and asked me to see him in his office. The hard-headed stubborn little me didn't falter - I hid from him the rest of the day, not wanting to talk, or if possible, not wanting to have to do with the jackass anymore. I guess I won that battle because he became a little nicer to me the following days, weeks even and he didn't bother bringing up that incident anymore.

While there are times that this helps me get by (and prove my point), I am not proud of this part of me because I tend to hurt a lot of people. My fury is a fire that consumes me, sometimes almost burning bridges and I regret it - truly. The problem is my mind automatically shuts down and the only thing that it retains is the fact that I am angry and I don't care. I hate and I loathe and I say hurtful things or do things that could really cut deep into someone's heart. In the end, I can only say, 'I am so truly sorry'. Thinking about it now, it makes me realize even more how this reflects my immaturity in handling the bitter bits and pieces of the realities of life - that it is not always on my side and I can't get all I want. I am such a life brat - spoiled and rotten and wanting to change.

KC!

I wasn't really a fan but when I met her, it's quite difficult not to be... =)

with KC during the Walk the World last June 01, 2008. END HUNGER!

Miyo-kun

My cat, Miyo, has a future in print ad modeling... this feline fellow knows how to pose for the camera...* candy pink knitted sweater with heart design (borrowed from Unni's stuffed toy), background, my pillows... ayysshh...

this darn thing looks so adorable!

Musings on the Hillsong United concert

I feel a little guilty.

I gushed non-stop about that surreal but very very nice close encounter with Jad Gillies of Hillsong United (still can't stop smiling just thinking about it!) but I haven't once mentioned (atleast in my blog) what Hillsong's concert brought in my spiritual being that night. No doubt about it, the concert was very uplifting and it was a real blessing. It was very overwhelming to see (probably) more than 20,000 people singing praises and worshiping God for two and a half hours!

I must admit, I didn't know anyone from Hillsong United before the concert but I know most (not all, okay?!) of their songs by heart. In a way, I could say that I was really there not to adore the band members but to praise and worship Jesus (which is great!). I wonder if most of the people were there for the same reason. Hillsong United really made the worship night all fired up within each and every person in the coliseum and the spirit soaring high . Even my friend, who's not really a fan, looked like she felt the spirit within her.

I wasn't all crazy at the beginning but when the band started playing 'Take It All', I lost all inhibitions and just sang and danced and clapped and jumped like it would be my last. It felt exhilarating and just great! I was so caught up in the music that I was almost near tears when they sang that song about healing (a song composed by Joel Houston's friend who was diagnosed with cansert and is continuously battling it)...

All in all, I wouldn't exchange that night for anything.... =)

Here are the list of songs (from what I can remember) that the band played:

Time Has Come
Take It all
What the world will never take
My Future Decided
All I Need is You
Mighty to save
Hosanna
Shout Unto God
The Stand
Break Free
Look To You
Salvation is Here
More than life
None But Jesus
From the Inside out
Came to my rescue
Savior King
Tell The world
One Way Jesus


Here are some pics (courtesy of Lisa's multiply page from Chin's cam)...
... and also here (taken using my KRZR cam phone)

Retarded Luck!

Today is awesome! Really really awesome! And I thought last night's concert of Hillsong United would be the biggest highlight of my life (atleast this week!) Actually, it is... since I've booked our tickets a month ago and I was waiting for this concert like CRAZY! And finally, last night it happened... it was a very uplifting concert indeed...very nice.

But what could be better than this?!?


U-huh.. that's me with Hillsong United's Jad Gillies! It was really a simple case of retarded luck and me, being at the right place at the right time. Actually, there's a funny story behind this.

Me and my colleague went to Edsa Shang this afternoon to attend an exhibitor's meeting. On our way to the hotel, we saw this group loading some equipment in a coaster bus (at the side entrance) and I thought I saw Joel Houston (the band's frontman) but shrugged the idea since it seemed a little off (but hey, the concert was in Araneta so it's likely that they would stay in Shang or Crowne Plaza or some hotel nearby). So we went inside the hotel and there, at the lobby was a small crowd having photo ops with i-don't-know-who and when we got closer, I saw this guy... I knew I recognize his face and the guy with the curly hair (the drummer)... we were seated at the Upper Box last night so it was kind'a difficult to recognize their faces. Without even thinking, I marched off to this guy (who was Jad apparently) and asked if I could have a photo with him. I said thanks, shook his hand and said goodbye.

And all throughout the meeting, my mind was wandering off, thinking hard if it was really Hillsong that I just saw and met at Shang's lobby. Jazz, my officemate, said it's okay if it wasn't Hillsong, at least we know the guy is famous for sure (as there were a lot wanting to have their photos taken with him). Hehe.. Good Riddance.

The moment we got back from the meeting, I immediately checked the internet to familiarize myself with the Hillsong band members' faces and lo and behold, it was really him! (ahh, my heart is still pounding!) This was just great. Thank you God!

Insane right? v(^___^)v