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, November 28, 2005
One week to go! I can't wait. I know, I know... I've been to Manila three times since moving here (and I lived there for 28 years) but I'm still excited. I'm excited to walk through all the malls again - Greenbelt, Glorietta, SM City, Podium, Rockwell! Seeing more old friends on this trip than in my past short ones. Filipino food! Filipino faces! Blue Reppers! Coro (yes, this time, I promise)! I plan to check out Zong Alabang (No, I don't like Chinese food here), maybe even check into the Spa in ATC for old times sake. Things I always took for granted living in Manila for so long. And of course, the feeling of not having to worry about work for over a week. Okay, maybe not so much "worry" (as I know I will) but "work" on work for over a week. Seeing Bu! Seeing my family. Chloebear! Yeah!It was payday the other day and after having worked so hard this last month putting the Christmas music together, I treated myself to HMV (actually, I always treat myself to HMV at least once a month, but this time, I classified the trip as "reward expense"). I bought Wedding Date, Madagascar, Shark's Tale, and Shaun of the Dead (all VCDs, I'm not a DVD person). Last night I started watching Shaun of the Dead. Halfway through, I decided to have dinner and since the movie can get kinda gross, I switched to Wedding Date. I liked Wedding Date. Cute. Predictable. But cute. Shaun of the Dead is funny. Intelligently put together. British humor. I don't get all the jokes, but I love the subtle ones. It was 11 pm when I finished Shaun and I was still in movie watching mode so I put in Madagascar- The intro: Shot of Zebra running through jungle. Nice orchestral music with singers. Buildup. A lion in the distance is about to pounce on the Zebra... He attacks and says the first line of the movie... "Jo san!!!" I sit up. huh? Aw... DANG! The movie was dubbed in Chinese. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I quickly grab Shark's Tale and read the cover: Dubbed in English with Chinese subtitles. *whew* I look at Madagascar cover thinking maybe it says "Dubbed in Chinese with no subtitles" Nope, it's all in Chinese. Well how on earth could I have known!?!?! oh well. Anyone out there want Madagascar in Chinese? *gloom* I watched Ed a while ago. I'm finding I like the TV show Ed. And Tru Calling. I found the whole season one in HMV. With 22 episodes. AND they've just released the 2nd season too. All 5 episodes. Guess it didn't last in the States. I'm watching a gay flick tonight at IFC. There's a film fest and I was able to get a ticket to the Filipino movie "Masahista." I'm intrigued. Too bad there isn't a good gay movie from Manila which doesn't focus on the sex trade. It's hot again. Sun hot. Wind is only kinda cold. Unlike earlier in the week when I'd walk out my lobby door, get hit by cold wind and think "F*ck it's cold". Wonder what the Manila weather is like... rhapsody [
6:40 AM ]
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5 comments
 
Monday, November 21, 2005
 So I collected enough stamps from Park N Shop to finally buy this 800 dollar European griddle for only 129 dollars! Yup! One of them spend-a-lot-then spend-just-a-bit-more-to save-on-something promos. Feels good. Kinda like when i spent and spent at HMV to get like a hundred dollars off on a DVD I bought later on. In Manila, I'd collect stamps at Coffee Bean. I never did for Starbucks, though I have friends who really fill up those cards for those planners (right Chari?) So now that I got a griddle, I don't know what to do with it really. What does one griddle exactly? TWO WEEKS! Going home for a long visit in TWO WEEKS! I can't wait! Can't wait to visit Manila with more than just two days to take it all in. AYALA AVENUE! Wonder if that's set up already. Christmas in the park has started with the sale of small tree decorations (which reminds me, i gotta buy a tree). Trust me, that's just the start. Park N Shop is selling Christmas stuff already also. Nature is jumping in too, the wind is freezing. A jacket is a must. I can open my balcony door and needn't turn on the aircon at night. Can't wait till all the family gathers here for Christmas and New Year's. CHLOE! On her first plane ride. Joy's first visit to Hong Kong since we were kids. Mom and Dad chilling at the Dbay plaza. Luis and Angel maybe adding more deco to the apartment. It's gonna be a wonderful December. I can see it! Window pushed open. You can see clips from the Rent movie on Broadwayworld.com. I did. I just really hope the show translates into a movie as well as Chicago did. Phantom kinda sucked. Truthfully, some of the clips from the Rent movie I found kinda cheezy (dodging tomatoes). Maybe as a whole it'll look better. A touring group of Rent is coming here in December. Perfect. Might watch it with the siblings and Luis. We'll see. In Manila, I'm hoping to catch Regine at Aliw theater. Woohoo! Regine! Miss that woman. There's a gay and lesbian filmfest happening in IFC this next week. I was lucky enough to get a ticket to the only Filipino movie in the bunch. When I checked the other day, they were sold out. Suddenly five seats were available when I checked on line today. Five minutes later, only 3. So I called and booked mine. Had to charge it to my credit card so I could reserve it, but all's good. Right now, it's back to sold out. Because Hong Kong isn't as much a movie watching place like Manila, their theaters are small here. And the front seats are really to close to the screen. Even their 4th row is too close. Though I have a friend who loved watching from near the front... and ended up falling in love and marrying someone who liked that too (not because of that, but what a nice coincidence). I'm okay again. Missing Bu. Haven't been able to talk to him so much these past couple days. He's back in rehearsals again for a show. Sweet Charity in Feb. *sigh* So what should I griddle-fy tomorrow? Hmmm.... rhapsody [
2:18 PM ]
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16 comments
Saturday, November 19, 2005
I guess sometimes, when God opens a door, he closes a window. I think I should watch The Color Purple again and get inspired to stand up for myself, like Sophia... Hell No...Or start a gratitude journal so I stay focused on what's good, like I'm going home in two weeks. I'll feel better in the morning... *gloom* rhapsody [
1:45 AM ]
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2 comments
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
I've been keeping busy on my two days off... Yesterday, I finally watched The Color Purple. I haven't watched a costume movie in ages (and this probably wasn't the right movie to break that dry spell with) so it took a while to stop pressing pause to check out what was on Star Channel. When the story of strength and depression started rolling, I only paused to change disc (3 discs!) I've been intrigued with the movie ever since it became a musical (with no less than Oprah Winfrey producing it with an "above the title" credit). Watch clips on Oprah! Truth is, I can't imagine the translation onto the screen. It's not a movie I would've immediately thought, "hey, that'd make a great musical!" Then again, Les Miz doesn't read as a musical either at first. Oh well. I'll just wait for the Broadway recording.Then, last night, I finally did it! I tried the Mandarin Oriental Spa. I figured, I needed the treat. Plus, I've been curious forever. So, half-wishing that they'd be fully booked, I called and made a reservation for 745 pm. I was there at 7. Wow. You step in and they take your shoes, a gesture which kinda means "leave the outside world behind." This place is unbelievable! First, the locker room was gorgeous. I was shown my locker which came with a robe and a nice toiletry bag that I could take home. The experience begins with the shower. I stood there for a good minute trying to figure out what the many handles were for what shower gadget (there were 3 sets, from above you, the sides, and a handheld one). Then you move onto the wet floor. Double wow. They got a vitality pool with these metal beds you lie on which blows air from under you. They've got these "Rainforest showers" which, at a press of a button, sprays you with a cool or hot mist, cool or hot rain, cool or hot gushing water. You've got a normal steam room and sauna, and a "rainforest" steam room - every five minutes or so, it starts to literally RAIN in the steam room. Way cool. Throw in the heated beds. I was in Spa heaven. Unfortunately, the massage itself was ok. I've gotten better massages in Manila. But it was an experience. Quite a relaxing experience, which I will do maybe once a year. I'd wanted to bring Andrei there when he was here, but for the price of both of us, we could've had an overnight stay in Westin Macau with money to spare. So not for a long, long while. Today, I was reading about a certain Florence Foster Jenkins. There's a new play on broadway about her called Souvenir. She was real, really bad, and really famous. Imagine that (oh wait, I come from Manila, it's VERY possible!) Just listen to her sing the Queen Of The Night Aria It's hilarious! And she sold out Carnegie Hall! hahaha... Ooh, on the topic of Carnegie Hall, Lea did it! Wow. Hope it comes out on DVD or something. What a lineup. Lea! Throw a concert in Hong Kong! he he... And that was my two days off. I'm sleepy again. 3 more weeks to vacation leave! Woohoo! Getting ready for Ayala Avenue in all it's glory, puto bong bong, Pasko Na Sinta Ko, and everything that can only be Pinoy at Christmas. *sigh* rhapsody [
6:00 AM ]
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2 comments
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Ooh, had to add this... Just for you Bu! (thanks Des!) *snort* rhapsody [
4:00 PM ]
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*sigh*Check out Oprah's site, there are video clips from The Color Purple. LaChanze is amazing. Check out LaChanze's site, there's a video clip from her Tony performance with the Once On This Island Cast and a recording of her singing a song that was cut from the show, When Daniel Marries Me. Very nice. And if you know the musical as well as I do, it's refreshing to hear the melody underscoring "Ti Moune waited at the gate" sung with lyrics... There were promises made in the darkness Promises made in my sleep Promises my heart demands you keep I'll have a house and a garden, not grand or great A house with no guards, a house with no gate Open to the breezes overlooking the sea When Daniel marries me... Sweet. Work is getting exciting. I'm learning so much this week alone (Harp Playing 101 anyone?) Christmas is fast approaching and things backstage are turned up a notch. I'm already putting music together for New Year's too! The park is gonna be gorgeous in December. Which is perfect cause the family's flying over! Can't wait! I'll have people in the apartment again. And Chloe at that. Flying her first airplane flight. I'll be taking her all around the park. Can't wait, can't wait... I got the next two days off. What to do? What to do... I need a massage. Or a new DVD series to start. Hmmm... *ouch* I'm not in the best of health. My legs hurt. My side hurts. I feel I've injured my inner ear. The bottom of my eye hurts. I sneeze. Maybe I'm suffering from Bu withdrawal... I miss him. I miss having him in the living room when I'm watching Arrested Development (he doesn't like the show too much). I miss the smell of real food coming from the kitchen. I miss the hug I get from a half asleep Bu before I go to work. *sigh* All in good time... And at least we already got our house by the sea, when Andrei marries me... 
rhapsody [
12:40 PM ]
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Wednesday, November 09, 2005
In all the drama of Andrei leaving, I almost forgot to write about the other friends who visited me the past couple days. First there was Bea... She was first staying at The Imperial Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui with her family, a hotel which holds a lot of sentimental value for the Fortich family. Then on her second night in Hong Kong, she joined Bu and I at our place. This was after dinner, a ferry ride, a train ride, a bus ride, a side trip to a friend's place, a cab ride, a train ride, and a bus ride. So by the time we got home, I was ready to pass out (did I mention before dinner, I came from work?). So Bu and Bea stayed up late, she blogged (check out her link on my links). We spent the next day in Disneyland with her parents. SO MUCH FUN playing host. I was working so i couldn't stay with them the entire time, but 5 pm, I joined them for Lion King and the Jungle Cruise. I have to say, I love that I work in this park. I can shift from corporate attire into my Guest cap and just enjoy the rides. We caught the side profile of the Fireworks, shopped a little, and said goodbye as Bea and her family spent their 3rd night at the Hollywood Hotel. That was Friday. Saturday brought new old friends... they didn't stay with me though, that night. Only Sunday did I take them to Dbay, where I promised them, no long walks or sweating... haha...  They spent the night, the same night Bu left for Manila. Which is good. I left them at the apartment to drop him off. Don't know what I would've done if I had to go back to an empty apartment that night. *sigh* My next entry will cover our day at the park! and oh... HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIE! see you real soon!... spring is here and the sky is so very blue... I'm sleepy. I miss coming home to bu. But I already have my plane ticket home on Dec 3! Vacation leave, here I come! rhapsody [
4:40 PM ]
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6 comments
Monday, November 07, 2005
That's us on the bus to the airport. His flight was at 9 so we took the DBay Airport bus at 630 to get there at 7. Checking in, turns out PAL is delayed to 10:20. Cool, more time with Bu. We walk around looking for some more stuff for him to take to Manila. We have an ok dinner at Popeyes and coffee-fy. 845, we walk towards immigration na. We hug. We kiss goodbye. *sigh*
We had an awesome time here. A week ago I told him I was getting sad cause time was just flying by. He said, "but we're making the most of it which is what's important." And that made me feel good. We did so much the past two weeks. Which has more than made up for the time we've spent apart. I love seeing Bu happy.
I loved coming home to someone the past two weeks.
I know I have more reasons to be happy. I know we now have a million new memories together. I know that I'll see him in a couple weeks. I know we've only been getting stronger. I know... I know. But still...
Right this moment, this apartment just doesn't feel like home. The apartment feels empty. Sweet, he left me a video message on my digital camera. *tears* But it was a wonderful two weeks. The best time I've had since moving here... Happy 22nd monthniv Bu! I love you. I'll miss you so much. Thanks for all the color you've brought into my life. Cause of you, I was truly in the happiest place on earth...
rhapsody [
6:28 PM ]
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Thursday, November 03, 2005
     The days are just flying by. It's Thursday. | |||||||||||||
