Profile
Name: Rony Location: Hong Kong My life is a musical and I love applause... if even just from the both of you. Current Posts
Nowadays
street singersuccess out of reach... chasing pavements... Impossible We can be kind Jamming with the NOAH cast... the climb... All things just keep getting better... Letting things just happen
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Some People's Lives
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Monday, January 31, 2005
So today, I had a wedding gig. The plan was to rehearse from 1-2, split ways, meet up in makati at 6, get to Sheraton by 7 for the wedding reception. SO, between 2 to 6, I had four hours to kill in makati. I brought gym clothes to work out... Long story short, I find myself entering a nail salon in greenbelt one, thinking I wanna get a pedicure. No, I'm not that gay really. Haven't gotten a pedicure in years. But with an hour to kill ( to backtrack, so I did go to the gym, but worked out for only half an hour before realizing I wanted... ahem... needed a hand spa/foot spa/pedicure/manicure... ok, so maybe I am that gay) I opted for just a pedicure. I had changed at the gym so I was looking a bit formal. Perhaps too formal to be taking my shoes and socks off. But I figured, no one I know could POSSIBLY walk into this nail salon and see little ol' me lounging shoeless with my toe nails getting pampered as I read an old issue of Cosmo (insert thunder FX here). Need I continue this story?
Wedding was fun. I sang two lines in the song "They're Playing Our Song..." and I giggled during my solo cause the song was too high. I tried watching "One Missed Call" the other day. For those of you who don't know the premise, it's about a ghost that uses the cell phone to target its prey. The victim-to-be gets a missed call on his cell phone. When he check it, it's his own number. When he calls the number, he hears his own voice right before a loud scream (for example, "Oh no, it's raining... AHHHH!). A couple days later, the person dies exactly the way it sounds in the message (the girl died right after she said, "Oh no, it's raining...AHHHH! She was run over by a train). I said it once and I'll said it again, I can't take ghost stories that use modern technology to spook. Does anyone still remember "Ghost"? Now THAT was an amazing movie. Whoopi, Demi, and Patrick... Enough of these ghosts who have cell phones.
I missed Bubu this weekend. Sigh. Been feeling really down because of these dentist trips. Even asked Andrei if he'd still love me with no teeth (i'm a bit dramatic aren't I?) He said the sweetest thing. Sigh. I'm too sleepy right now to write anymore... so here's the last note...
Happy Birthday  !
rhapsody [
7:00 PM ]
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3 comments
 
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Spent the morning at the gym... ok, not so much "spent at" the gym as "planned to go to" the gym. Alarmed my clock at 7 and woke up at 9:30. I WILL USE MY GYM MEMBERSHIP! Anyway, so I was out of bed by 10:00 to get ready to go to Atlantis to play for special auditions they were having for Beauty and the Beast. Got to meet Karel Marquez. Such a sweet girl. I was kinda starstruck, but kinda so at ease too. She's got such a sweet voice and I can't wait to see her do Belle alternating with KC Concepcion. It's gonna be a great show...
After a short snack with Chari and Bobby, I went off to the dentist! Yup, working on getting my physical health in shape this year (I WILL USE MY GYM MEMBERSHIP!) which starts with my dental health. I had my teeth cleaned and a tooth needed to be extracted. Half my mouth went numb with the anesthesia so I had to cancel my evening voice lesson. I have to go back for a root canal... (children, take care of your teeth!) Other than that, I'm all good. Next week, I get my eyes checked... maybe a complete physical the week after. Throw in the gym and a healthy diet, I'm all good.
Princess and Princess Charming are at the Farm in San Benito, a world class spa... Got a text, "Apparently there are no cows or chickens on this fucking farm... I saw a duck earlier, I just might kill it." Ha ha... And in spite of the buffet of chloroform they're enjoying right now, I'm still green with envy. Then my younger sister in the States was treated by a guy to a tour around Universal city (where Universal Studios are) where they ate at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. How sweet. I'm green with envy again... Gotta plan an out of town trip with the Bu... His birthday's next month, two days after Valentine. I can combine the gift, ha ha... love you Bubu.
Had dinner with my sister tonight for a change. Just she and I, treated her to a dinner at the Old Spaghetti House nearby. Great food, great conversation, relaxing evening... I ate pasta since I didn't feel like chewing anything hard. hay...
FAST FORWARD SLOW EVENING... Acadamy award nominations, called up Bubu, cleaned up my room, Bubu called, fixed CD collection, called up Bubu, brushed my teeth, Bubu called... Just your normal evening. Tomorrow I got a voice lesson in the morning and at 6 pm and a meeting in between to write the pre-school musical for Playshop... Fun. Wonder if I can get up before my 10:30 voice lesson to go to the gym... Hmmm... (I WILL USE MY GYM MEMBERSHIP! So help me God...) Check out my new phone wallpaper...  rhapsody [
5:53 PM ]
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Monday, January 24, 2005
BUBU AND I GOT WEDD-ED OVER THE WEEKEND!
 Just kidding, not so much wedd-ed as it was attending a wedding. We attended the wedding of a close college friend. I've never seen a wedding quite like it! San Antonio Forbes, The San Miguel Chorale, confetti guns, Shangrila Hotel, Bernie Pasamba strings, the list goes on... To cap of the glamour? A GORGEOUS souvenier program! Ha ha... or something like that which had all the details of the wedding including the misalette, schedule of events of the evening, wedding gown designer, etc. I brought Andrei, we got all dressed up and attended the wedding with my sister and her husband. We sat with other LaSallians (as in the former staffers of the newspaper of DLSU, where i used to be a photographer.) It was a reunion and wedding... with amazing catering! Ah the food! Ate so much and topped it off with ice cream. Hay, a lovely evening... Pictures...  The Bride and Groom, Kristine and Jerry...  Everyone at table 11...  The four of us taking a picture in the lobby...  Funny picture. In an attempt to make a picture that we could send to our younger sister in the States that would read the caption "Missing you" or "Wish you were here," we took this picture. Looking at it though is kinda freaky! Instead of "Missing you Joy," now it could read "Angel, Rony, and our friend Vlad from Translyvania!" That was my Saturday night... To rewind a bit, my Saturday morning was spent at the Beauty and the Beast auditions. I had turned down playing for the entire audition because of the wedding, but I was asked to drop by in the morning if I was free. So I did. It was cool, I got to see the entire morning audition and play for the Blue Reppers who came. (GOOD JOB GUYS!! I'm so proud of you!) Funny moment was when Macky, the first Blue Repper to audition, was asked by Bobby Garcia "So, you're in Blue Rep... Do you know Andrei?" Ha ha ha! In the funny department, compared to the American Idol auditions last week, these auditions were relatively tame. I left at one, missing the audition of a really DUMB auditionee. Really, some people bring the word "stupidity" to new levels. I get the last laugh though... (cue thunder and lightning... ) To those of you who have no idea, I think the word is... ANYWAY. Today were the Once On This Island auditions... FAST FORWARD (I'm sleepy na...) After a scrumptious dinner, I headed home. The Ai Ai/Erik Santos concert I helped out last month is on TV right now. Just when Erik's guest Sandara Park was singing, I called up Andrei. He was watching the horror flick "One Missed Call" at home and said it was scary. If he wanted really scary, I told him he should watch channel two! Sandara singing! She has the stage presence of paper and a voice like scratching nails on glass. I LOVE Ai Ai! Ha ha... Hi Teenee gorgeousness! Thanks for reading my blog sweetie! So we didn't get married over the weekend, but maybe one day we will...  rhapsody [
5:44 PM ]
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Saturday, January 22, 2005
What a week... So much music. (thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing...) Monday, with the auditions coming up, I started offering voice lessons to anyone interested in signing up with me. I figure after five years in the biz, I was ready to CHARGE! Ha ha! A pretty good number signed up. A lot of Blue Reppers and old Playshop students. Fun...
Today, I woke up extra early for a meeting. Ya see, for the first time, I'M auditioning. But not to star in a musical, to write one. My friend Jaime Del Mundo, my co-writer for Mr. Noah's Big Boat, wrote the lyrics and script for a particular project and suggested I try writing a couple songs for it cause they still had no composer. If the client likes my work, it could very well bag me the whole musical! Jaime liked the songs, now my problem lies in getting a demo made... I'm sure I can ask some Blue Reppers (ahem..) all I need is an arrangement and a recording studio, which will be pricey, but worth the investment if I get the job. Hay... if they don't like it, I'll at least know who my friends are... he he. Fingers crossed.
Got a haircut, which neither Bubu or I really like, then got home at 1 pm just in time for a session with the fascinating theater actress Cathy Azanza (Hi Cathy!). She's auditioning tomorrow and wanted to run through her song. But as is with many a singer who come over, it doesn't end there. Music turns to chat turns to music and by the time my 2 o'clock student comes in, we are jamming to Defying Gravity from Wicked. (somethingh as changed within me...) Ha ha, fun. My 2 o'clock are Blue Reppers here for the auditions also or this Campus Idol contest happening in Ateneo. Then the love of my life arrives with a box full of donuts just for me... (Somalia boy eating sweets, not good) Once again, music turns to chat, and five hours later, I'm shoving them out cause I got dinner plans. An enlightening afternoon. Bubu heads home as I hit the shower. Topper said 8, so I'm ready by 830... (i am not always on time, please don't expect that from me...)
So Princess is back in town and we have our catch up dinner. I give him his belated Christmas gift (so no one told you life was gonna be this way...) and we have our catch up session at Cafe Breton. We haven't really spoken in almost a month so lots to talk about... Actually, if I really think about it, we spoke more about what was coming up this year than how our vacations were. Lots of theater stuff happening this 2005: Beauty and the Beast, Once On This Island, Last Five Years, Little Shop of Horrors, Man of La Mancha, Aida... It's gonna be a good year! We are then joined by his love of his life then later on, by another couple, straight couple. So I'm suddenly the fifth wheel! BUBU WHERE ARE YOU?!!?!?! Just kidding, it's all healthy fun theater chat... really. (cue halo)
We close shop at one. On my way home, Bubu sends his "goodnight" text. I ask him to stay up for ten more minutes (would you spend your life with me, for the next ten minutes...) cause I was almost home and the only thing better than a "goodnight" text is a "goodnight" phone call, which in turn, can only be trumped by the "goodnight" text which comes AFTER the "goodnight" phone call. (quezo de bola anyone?) Am I making sense? Anyhoo, his reply,
"HaAay ok. Even tho i'm comfy in bed already. Kung hindi lang kita mahal..." Sigh. Kristine and Jeremy's wedding tomorrow. Formal formality at the Shangrila Makati. Bubu's invited and he'll have his (drumroll) brand new phone. Another opportunity to whip out my (drumroll) brand new digicam. Congratulations Tin and Jerry!
(cue Chariots of Fire music...) Good luck this weekend folks! rhapsody [
6:37 PM ]
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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
AUDITIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Atlantis Productions' BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Jan 22, 10-5 pm, Oppen Building, Jupiter street, (in front of IO videoke) Show is in June. AAI's ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. Jan 23, 1-4 pm at Bulwagang Aquino, CCP rehearsal hall. Show is in May. BRING SHEET MUSIC AND RESUME FOR BOTH. rhapsody [
5:22 AM ]
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Monday, January 17, 2005
Julia Roberts has a best friend. Bubu and I attempted to watch Master And Commander tonight on pirated DVD. He knows I'm not into costume movies but I figure I'll give it a shot. Five minutes into it, I'm bored. (so sue me) Ten minutes later, he gives up on me caring and we watch Oprah where Julia is giving her best friend of 20 years a makeover. Can you imagine knowing someone like Julia Roberts before the incredible fame? I mean, really? Wow, to be that close to someone whose name is known in every country around the world. They spoke about attending their high school reunion and still being dorks... If Julia's a dork, sign me up for dorkhood then!
This year is my high school batch's 10th anniversary since graduating. Yup, I graduated high school 10 long years ago. There's a big reunion in California somewhere since most of my batch now live in the States. No one from my batch has hit Julia Roberts famehood just yet. Lots of them though are out there changing the world in their own ways. If I had the money, I would love to fly over and attend it. To be able to tell people "I invented Post-its!"
The other day I tried something I learned on Starting Over. "Presuming Innocence" Life teaches us to be streetwise. To save ourselves from getting hurt, we put meaning into another person's actions or what they say. We judge. Judging people keeps us safe. I enter a cab and immediately think the driver is out to cheat me. There are certain people I think don't like me simply because of small things they do, and so when I see them, I try not to talk so much. There is no real evidence really, it's just so automatic to jump to safety mode. I could be missing out on a lot of great friendships by presuming guilt. Like the other day, I got introduced to someone's boyfriend, the guy just smiled. Didn't even shake hands. I immediately thought that because that was ALL he did, I thought of him as a snob. Only to be laughing with him an hour later. So I'm trying this "presuming innocence" thing. "... when you smile first; when you give them a break; when you take their comments at face value; when you assume they are doing their best; when you explain it twice without sighing; when you stop taking things so personally; when you accept a compliment without wondering about ulterior motives, you are seeing people as innocent. And seeing people as innocent is the greatest gift you can give another human being: the gift of acceptance." The mother and daughter trying to fix their broken relationship on the show. Rhonda asked them to do something. To be each other's defense attorneys. To try to presume that the other person was doing their best. That they were innocent of the other's accusations. The daughter could not defend her mom's actions. Would not allow herself to understand her mom, let alone defend her. I had to think. If I had to be the defense attorney to the people I've cut off ties with, like my parents and a handful of former friends. It's tough. Baby steps. To not presume Bubu hates me just because he didn't sleep over tonight... (he he)
My new years resolutions aren't going so well... Am hoping to make it to the gym tomorrow. I should start my vitamins again. Correct my sleeping habits... rhapsody [
5:30 PM ]
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Saturday, January 15, 2005
For those of you who didn't get to see my baby's poster at Dunkin Donuts...
I didn't get to see the TV ad, oh well. So the other day, my sister left for the States. No tears like the last time, I've sort of gotten used to her not being around. Not that I don't and won't miss her, but "leaving for good" doesn't mean she won't visit or we can't chat, so it's cool. Hi Joy! She even reads my blog. Her flight was at midnight, so we had time to have dinner as a family (which really hasn't happened since she left and happened several times only cause she was here and chances are won't happen again till she's here in December 2005) Andrei joined us once again, so I love that he's part of my family now. Chloe, my almost two year old niece who don't really like me too much, even says his name now... "Angey!" Awww.... Then less than an hour after we drop her off, I love airports at night by the way, Andrei and I headed to the ICON magazine launch at Government. Met up with a bunch of gay friends. Ya see, though I have gay friends, I don't see them so often so I delight in socializing events like these where I get to reconnect with the gay universe... and what better way to do it than with Bubu beside me! Don't you just love the cover? It's their best issue EVER! (he he, FYI, this is only their second issue...) I must say, it's GORGEOUS inside. The first issue was great, but they jumped straight to fourth gear with this one and I can only imagine it getting better. Images of Love, there are some great photos inside. The layout is beautiful. The colors are rich. Articles are entertaining. I'm so proud of them. And more proud that I got a fun page on this one: Coming Out Tips for the New Year. PICK UP A COPY NOW... Funny, there are suggested facial products in the magazine for that whole "cleanse, tone, moisturize" routine. Ya see, I wanted to start that as one of my new year's resolutions. I really only cleanse. And I always wondered what products I should try. Of course the products they recommended are quite expensive. Hmmm... maybe that'll be my article for the next issue: Facial Care for the Cheap. I'll be voted out of gayhood! Anyhoo, Bubu and I headed home around 1 am. He took my complimentary copy with him! But it's cute, he's showing it off to his friends. Aw... I love him. Then yesterday and today, I played the role of vocal coach and therapist to a couple friends. I must say that has got to be the most interesting part of my job as a pianist. There is a tendency for singers to open up, kinda like a tipsy guy opening up to the wise bartender behind the bar. I've had the opportunity to bond with singers who like to open up between songs. All I can say is "Ah, love." Love can get really complicated can't it? And it's funny how something that is supposed to make you happy, when it's wrong, can make you go in the complete opposite direction. I need to finish Fearless Loving so I get more insight on this love thing. "Ya gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime. There's a fine fine line between love and a waste of time..." Tonight, while finishing a choral arrangement for a friend who owes me an expensive dinner(!), I got distracted by Lord of the Flies on Star Movies. I remember having to read that book in high school and here I was watching the movie many years later. I remember analyzing the story in class. The author's use of symbolism, imagery, diction, characterization, etc. What he was trying to say about society, government, human nature, etc. It was very interesting to see how the director showed these kids go from well bred to barbarians. These kids form their own world on this deserted island. And with no one but themselves to blame, they end up burning their world to the ground... And it really got me thinking... Gee, I wanna be smart again. Not just creative, which is what my work allows me to do so now... but smart. As in know intellectual junk. Though I never totally liked reading, I loved analyzing literature I was forced to read. 1984. A Doll's House. One Hundred Years of Solitude. State of War. I used to love memorizing math stuff. Knowing current events. Mastering the world of accounting. Since I entered theater, I sort of focused on just theater. I wanna get out there and learn again... I wanna know how it feels to get an "A" again. To write a paper. To research. To solve problems for the sake of a grade. To be well rounded again. The nerd in me is dying to come out again. I was watching Simpsons a while ago too (I'm so out of work right now) and Bart and Lisa were at the first school assembly for the year. When Principal Skinner announces a Spelling Bee. Lisa cheers out a loud "Yahoo!" and there is dead silence around her... She then follows it up with "Guess I won't be popular this year either." I used to be Lisa! On the topic of Simpsons, I saw this thick book in Power Books analyzing the Simpsons. Analyzing the philosophies cleverly discussed in the show. The social commentary the show makes. That is one smart show, cleverly written with a lot of small things which could go well over someone's head. Like the number on Sideshow Bob's jail outfit is 24601 which is the same prisoner number of Jean Valjean from Les Miserables. It was like a huge thesis with evidence straight from the show. Fascinating. Existentialism and the episode where Bart sells his soul to Milhouse. I love this show... Cartoons are fun. Forget it, I'll save "smart" for next year. Off to watch Buffy now before I sleep... Goodnight folks.
rhapsody [
7:00 PM ]
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Wednesday, January 12, 2005
It's been a fun past couple of days... Saturday night, checked into Discovery with the family for a reunion with some cousins as a despedida for Joy, who leaves in less than 24 hours. We got a great deal on a two bedroom suite (thank you so much Mrs. Borromeo) and invited some cousins and friends. My sister cooked and did a spledid job, in spite of all my jokes about having Yellow Cab on speed dial. Couldn't have done it better if I had ordered the food myself! Even Andrei came. I always love it when he spends time with my family, though I know he gets uncomfortable at times. The food...  Then Monday, I spent the afternoon with Tricia, one of my oldest and dearest friends. She is the FIRST person I ever came out to back in 1999. You see, though I accepted my gayhood at a very early age, I only decided to come out only towards my last year of college. Now I've known her since the 8th grade and was my first piano student (taught her On My Own on the piano when I had just learned it slowly myself! Yup, Rony pre-music). But she had gone to the States to study for college and would only visit Manila Christmas breaks. And cause she was gonna graduate in 1999, Christmas break of 1998 would be her last time in Manila for a while. So I knew, I HAD to tell her before she left. And I did. THE DAY before she left. Funny, I finally have someone to talk to about being gay and she leaves "for good" hours later. I remember I couldn't even say "I'm gay". I said, "I'm not sexually attracted to women." It was a memorable evening. And I got to crack my first ever "first person gay joke." Turning point in my life. So she was in town. She has visited Manila a couple times since then. We had made plans to just hang out in her house in Alabang, the same house she's lived in forever. We had lunch on the patio, ice cream, then spent the afternoon watching musical DVDs. She is just one of the most wonderful people I will ever know. Love you Tricia! Today, Joy's last day in town. We took a trip to Market Market at the Fort. What a gorgeous mall. Huge. Now I need to go there when I have money! It felt like I wasn't in Manila. Took a picture on the bus...  Yup, Joy leaves again. I'm stronger for it now though. I've adjusted and she'll be back Christmas, so hopefully no waterworks at the airport... Especially since I'm going to the ICON launch in the evening. Ooh, sealed a deal today to hold vocal theater workshops for corporate folk. YAY! And of course... to the bestest friend a gay guy could ask for... Happy Birthday Topper! Here's to us, who's like us? Damn few... 
B.Rubble, Princess, Mrs, and the Bubblebathboi... Bon Voyage Joy! Enjoy the french dog...  rhapsody [
6:15 PM ]
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Saturday, January 08, 2005
To answer the multitude of texts that are coming in right now, this is all I know:
Atlantis Productions' BEAUTY AND THE BEAST auditions, Jan 22. AAI's ONCE ON THIS ISLAND auditions, Jan 23. I haven't been informed yet on the location or exact time of either audition. I was asked to play for the Beauty auditions but I'll be attending a wedding that day, so I can't. I'll be there for the Once auditions. It's around this time that I get a truckload of texts (flashback to horrible Lion King auditions) so to those out there interested in signing up for vocal coaching sessions with me, I'm available for half hour or hour long sessions starting Thursday the 13th next week. Just tag me if you're interested. I have NO voice right now cause of this damn cough - I speak like Kris Aquino now, it's not even funny. Just please don't ask me "what" song to sing. Present me with choices and I'll tell you what works best...
Audition tips:
And I just got an invite to be musical director of another big musical this year. No announcement until it's absolutely for sure. AM SO EXCITED. Yahoo! Moving on. A lesbian has entered the Starting Over House. Thanks to Mic, who texted while I am writing this, I'm not missing it. Pretty lesbian. Always dated guys till she met the right girl. Lovely. The gay magazine ICON is having its official launch next week. I wrote an article for this quarter's issue. Pick one up and let me know what you think! Hi Jennie! Thanks for always reading in! Nothing much happening. Lots of work slowly coming in. Flying to Cebu for a day next next week for a show. Working on plans for corporate theater workshops. Corporate shows. A Christian benefit concert. Pre prod for musicals. Life is merrily coughing along... I want to be well again! *cough*cough* Bubu? where are you? sigh... rhapsody [
5:30 PM ]
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Tuesday, January 04, 2005
If you've just joined us, Andrei and Rony have just admitted to liking each other over text. For details, read Amour I and II.
So it's out in the open. What followed were texts asking the usual questions like "since when did you like me?", "who have you told?" "what's my best feature?" "boxers or briefs?" "shoe size?" Normal everyday stuff. He was still in the province so it was just cheezy texting. Relatively tame texting actually. But as soon our texts began ending with "mwah!," we knew we had hit the point of no return.
He was to arrive January 3, I couldn't wait. I got a haircut. His bus arrived. I had dinner. He texted. "Let's meet at the starbucks on West Avenue" "Sure! It's right next to my house!" So at 9 pm, I went to Starbucks. Nervous. It was weird. We only started texting when I was in iloilo and when I had gotten back he had left for Pangasinan. So here I was to meet him for the first time as "someone who likes me" and not just "someone in Footloose." And to think, he liked me since day one too. I wasn’t the only one sitting next to my crush during Urinetown. Back to starbucks. He wasn't around. So I rang his phone. He said he was here. I asked him to step outside. He said he was outside. I asked if he could see Saisaki. He said no. He asked if I could see Mcdonalds. I said no. (cue light bulb) We were at TWO different Starbucks. Being the gentleman, I told him to wait there since I thought I remembered seeing another one but wasn't sure. I was right. I get to his Starbucks. He's in a yellow shirt. He hadn't shaved and his hair was a mess. Charming. We chat for a while and he invites me over to his place. We get there and after meeting his sister Faye and best friend Ynna, we talk in his living room. As he's showing me pictures, I get a phone call. No number. It's Topper calling from Malaysia to check on how my first date went (it was eleven pm and he knew I'd be meeting Andrei). When I tell him I'm at his apartment, in one breath, he ever so quickly and gracefully apologizes, says he'll call me back tomorrow, and hangs up. I get a text later from him saying to give him a call if I should have a "make out emergency"... Zeesh. What kind of a girl does he think I am?... I placed him on speed dial. Back to Andrei. We transfer to his room, and to his balcony for more privacy. The girls moved to the living room. It is after midnight, January 4. We talk. He gives me a paper rose and he reads me poetry. We decide. We're a couple. The big moment arrives. The first kiss. We can't decide though who should move in on who. We laugh and both move in for the ki… KNOCK KNOCK! "hey guys!" It's Pom, his college best friend. PAUSE. FAST FORWARD. Eventually, we get to the kiss. We play Norah Jones. We slow dance on his stairwell, which has a beauitful view of the evening sky. We talk. We fall in love. We say goodnight… 365 goodnights later… HappY AnniversAry HoneyLiPs… So it's out in the open. What follows are texts asking the usual things like "since when did you like me?", "who have you told?" "what's my best feature?" "boxers or briefs?" "shoe size?" Normal everyday stuff. He was still in the province so it was just cheezy texting. Relatively tame texting actually. But as soon our texts began ending with "mwah!," we knew we had hit the point of no return.
He was to arrive January 3, I couldn't wait. I got a haircut. His bus arrived. I had dinner. He texted. "Let's meet at the starbucks on West Avenue" "Sure! It's right next to my house!" So at 9 pm, I went to Starbucks. Nervous. It was weird. We only started texting when I was in iloilo and when I had gotten back he had left for Pangasinan. So here I was to meet him for the first time as "someone who likes me" and not just "someone in Footloose." And to think, he liked me since day one too. I wasn’t the only one sitting next to my crush during Urinetown. Back to starbucks. He wasn't around. So I rang his phone. He said he was here. I asked him to step outside. He said he was outside. I asked if he could see Saisaki. He said no. He asked if I could see Mcdonalds. I said no. (cue light bulb) We were at TWO different Starbucks. Being the gentleman, I told him to wait there since I thought I remembered seeing another one but wasn't sure. I was right. I get to his Starbucks. He's in a yellow shirt. He hadn't shaved and his hair was a mess. Charming. We chat for a while and he invites me over to his place. We get there and after meeting his sister Faye and best friend Ynna, we talk in his living room. As he's showing me pictures, I get a phone call. No number. It's Topper calling from Malaysia to check on how my first date went (it was eleven pm and he knew I'd be meeting Andrei). When I tell him I'm at his apartment, in one breathe, he ever so quickly and gracefully apologizes, says he'll call me back tomorrow, and hangs up. I get a text later from him saying to give him a call if I should have a "make out emergency"... Zeesh. What kind of a girl does he think I am?... I placed him on speed dial. Back to Andrei. We transfer to his room, and to his balcony for more privacy. The girls moved to the living room. It is after midnight, January 4. We talk. He gives me a paper rose and he reads me poetry. We decide. We're a couple. The big moment arrives. The first kiss. We can't decide though who should move in on who. We laugh and both move in for the ki… KNOCK KNOCK! "hey guys!" It's Pom, his college best friend. PAUSE. FAST FORWARD. Eventually, we get to the kiss. We play Norah Jones. We slow dance on his stairwell, which has a beauitful view of the evening sky. We talk. We fall in love. We say goodnight… 365 goodnights later… HappY Anniversary HoneyLiPs… rhapsody [
5:00 PM ]
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Monday, January 03, 2005
Interesting. Just saw Cherie Gil on TV recounting her tsunamis experience. She was in Phuket Thailand when it hit. Her family woke up to the devastating view from their hotel room. She was thanking God cause she was requesting a ground floor room but they were all booked. Thanking God cause the family, having flown in late the night before, had slept in instead of going down to the beach that morning. Then imagine this, as they left their room to find safer ground when things had calmed, there was blood all over the walls. AAAAH! I would've freaked out way too much. She then said that the experience made her really rethink about her life. Moreover, it strengthened her faith in God, cause it really seemed like He was watching over her and her family. I had to think. Her faith in God was strengthened cause she and her family didn't perish along with the 150,000 people who weren't so lucky to have a seventh floor hotel room. This event will forever scar millions of people. Millions are questioning their faith now, having survived but having lost family, properties, futures... Then there are those who survived whose faith is strengthened. Look how the world is coming together - 2 billion dollars of aid! Folks of different races, religions, social status, all helping to relieve the situation. You have to believe God knows what He's doing. Somehow. To find the strength to be thankful. Somehow. Asia will get through this. Someday. I still remember the morning of the 27th, seeing the newspaper headlines read "Tsunamis hits, 7000 people dead". As I am writing this entry, I'm listening to a CD called Grateful (i mentioned it in an earlier blog). A song called "You Know Better Than I" is playing. I'm discovering it right now, just had to quote it... You know better than I You know the way I've let go the need to know "why" For you know better than I... If this has been a test I cannot see the reason But maybe knowing I don't know Is part of getting through Attended mass this morning. And went to the gym. One of my new years resolutions is to start attending mass again. Not that I stopped believing in God, I just found myself working on Sundays or working all week long and having Sunday as my only free day, so was too tamad to go out. I need to find my spiritual ground again. It went haywire back in 2003 and years before. But with so much to be thankful for now, figured I should clean up my act. And the gym just totally stopped in December. Andrei says I should really just quit paying two thou a month for something I don't use. This year is the year I really get into shape. Lose the tummy! (grrrr...) I gained two pounds over December though... Good. Two pounds of fat. Not good. New Years Eve was cool. Dinner with Angel, Luis, Chloe, Mom, Dad, and Joy. It's been quite a while since all the Fortiches were complete. Then as midnight approached, I cooked rice. I broke a rule of rony logic. I took pictures of fireworks. I've always thought of fireworks as something you have to experience live or there's no point. But I was so into my new camera, I just had to. January 2... wow, this time last year I was eagerly waiting for Andrei to come back from the province. In just over a day, it'll be our one year anniversary. 525,600 minutes ago was the last time I knew what loneliness was.... Meeting him in a bit to watch our third filmfest movie. Sigaw. So glad he didn't leave for the province this break. Shingalingiluunga! Coming right up, part three of the Amour Trilogy. | |||||||||||||