Kaleidoscope Heart

Inside is not a heart but a kaleidoscope :)

Now a days in our new generation of auto tuned music in the mainstream like Ke$ha and Lady Gaga,which I call a machine produced songs, L.A. based singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles is one of the proofs that REAL musicians with REAL voice and talent still exists.

If you ask me to write a list of who I want to see perform live, she's probably one of the top 10. I've been a fan ever since her "Love Song", "Bottle It Up", and "Gravity" in 2007. And so when I heard that she is going to release a new album, I knew from there that it's going to be worth the purchase.

When I first heard about "Kaleidoscope Heart" it already caught my attention because of the catchy album title. Thought it was just an extension of her upbeat and catchy song melodies.. To my surprise, a large portion of the new album is somewhat mellow and soulful. The little intro was just perfect! "Inside is not a heart but a kaleidoscope" :)

She definitely continues to show the world how good of a songwriter she can be.

About the appearance of the album, I'm really disappointed that labels even consider about releasing cardboard albums especially in our era that most of the people just download them free and illegal. For a second, I was even hesitant to buy the album right away to a point that I was thinking if a cardboard album is worth buying. But obviously, I still bought the album, opened it as soon as I walked out the music store to check the CD, and guess what? It has a booklet with lyrics!! So hyped about it. Cus the last time I bought a cardboard album, it was just literally the cardboard and the CD.

So anyway, my favorite tracks are Uncharted, Hold My Heart, King of Anything, Let It Rain, and Breathe Again. Something that a girl can definitely relate to. Or maybe it was just me? hehe

Please do write a comment below if you already had the chance to listen to it. I love feedbacks :)

Quest Crew

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the 10 winners of meet and greet passes to Quest Crew mall show from Newport Mall's twitter account. I know what exactly you are thinking. It's probably my 3rd or 4th time to win something this year. But this time, I won the passes effortless. The only rule is to Retweet. So, like what they said.. I just RT'd the tweet with a word from me. What word? "WUHOO". Haha no kidding. Or maybe I have an eye catching twitter name.

For those who are wondering who the hell are the Quest Crew, they won in America's Best Dance Crew in third season. Yep, like the Jabbawockeez. To be honest, I wasn't really aware about the dance group until some friends mention it to me on Twitter and from RTs. But to my surprise, Victor Kim, one of YouTube musicians that I love, is a member of Quest Crew. I just figured when someone RT'd his tweet about flying to the Philippines. So, I wasn't really super excited to meet the Quest Crew, but to meet Victor Kim in person.

Victor Kim:

So I was too excited and DM'd my email address to get the full details how to claim my prize. After maybe an hour or so, I received their email and it says that I have to claim the passes in Eastwood Cyberpark in QC between 2-5pm and the M&G is on December 5 at The Fort. I thought it was just in Newport Mall since they are going to perform there on December 3rd :(

The Agony. I'm thorn between Victor Kim, the time of my availability, and the distance. So near yet so far.

Though I still asked a favor to my co winner, Vince, to get the tickets for me but yeah I wasn't able to attend for some personal reasons. I told him to give my passes to someone in the crowd who's deserving. He gave it to a boy who's wearing a Quest Crew shirt with his dad. I hope he enjoyed watching them. I hope it's a dream come true for him to finally meet his favorite dance crew :)

Even if everything is there in front of you, it doesn't mean it's already the right thing to do. You cannot push one thing that is not really meant to happen.

Priorities first. Use time wisely.

Ironically, same thing happened months ago when I got Meet and Greet passes to see the Boyce Aveue but the email sent to me was meeting Jabawockeez that I wasn't able to attend too.

Sky Sailing

After months of waiting.. I finally bought my Sky Sailing album! The reason for the delay is that, I realized music stores usually produce a deluxe versions of some of the artists a month or two after the standard edition has been released. I usually have the habit of buying the album as soon as the moment it was released then get all disappointed and upset because after the month, they will release another album with bonus tracks and even DVDs with live acoustic sessions.. (*ehem* like John Mayer's)

But on Sky Sailing's album. Unfortunately, there's no deluxe version of the album. LOL its okay, still enjoyed the tracks anyway :)

So a little background about Sky Sailing. I assume not everyone knows the 'group' AKALA MO LANG YUN! hehe. It's an Adam Young album too. Before Adam Young named his band "Owl City" he was formerly known as the "Sky Sailing". Why different? Try listening to the tracks and compare. It's the complete opposite of Owl City's style. Sky Sailing is more of the intimate piano/guitar style of music with deep lyrics. In short, it's acoustic-ish. Basically, this album is the more serious part of Adam Young and I've read that the songs are more personal.

My favorite tracks by far are: Brielle, Blue and Red, I Live Alone, and Sailboats.

Please take a moment to listen to the tracks. Very much recommended. Then let me know what are your favorite tracks as well :)

Retreat Letters

A little a while ago.. I was digging my huge Orocan plastic container to throw some of my useless stuff.. but look what I have found! Few retreat letters from highschool! :D Took the advantage to snap a photos to some of the letters since I dont have my scanner with me

Haha good old tampuhan moments with Shandy during Highschool days. How I missed! :)

Neil's letter!! HAHA Cheesy moments.

Chilay's Letter! :))

My CL/V teacher, Sir Vincent. I decided to post this one cus Claire was mentioned. haha

Strangers to Friends

I bet most of my "readers" already heard this story but I'm pretty sure some still haven't. So I might as well share it since I'm feeling nostalgic the other day :)

Meeting people from the world wide web is not dangerous or scary all the time.

Agree? Now a days, It's not rare to pour our souls out to strangers from the internet because of the reasons that they don't know us and they won't probably get to know us at all. But what happens when we start to share our thoughts and feelings and realize the common interests and at the end a special connection is made? Friendship can occur.

For the past year I have met some really awesome people online. What I'm saying is online friends that I already met beyond the internet world. What amazes me is actually meeting people with different races, cultures, languages, and beliefs but was never an hindrance to create such great friendship. So I would like to share some few photos of the awmazing people that I have met online for the past year. :)

Of course, Jaymie Peralta (the left most girl) from USA who visited Philippines last year for a vacation. Trivia, the other three ( [Lola] Roxy, Jjoe, Jeff ) I just met them online too :)

Arman from USA like Jaymie, visited PH for a vacation.. the rest are also my friends that I've met online :)

Kelly Leung - I met her when me and my sisters were in Hong Kong for a 3 day family vacation :)

Leticia and Esme (Xuan) Hayashi - I met them April this 2010 with my niece for a 2 week vacation with my sister who's working there :)

A bunch more photos that I've met face to face already from here in PH as well.. But decided to post one photo since we get to hang out whenever we want to. :P

There are tons of other people that I haven't met personally, but even though we have never made face to face contact, I can proudly call them as my FRIENDS.

Now I wonder, who am I meeting next? :)

Date with John Mayer ♥

NOT LUCK. BUT PATIENCE AND FAITH :)

To start this blog. Funny story how I got the tickets. Days before the date, I already decided not to attend John Mayer's concert because of the unreasonable expensive tickets even if I want to. VIP was around 10,000 pesos, Gold was around 7,000 and so so. But then last Sept 26, I read from MMI's twitter page that they are having a contest to win John Mayer tickets. The conditions were invite friends to follow, ask them to tweet that you are the one who asked them to follow, and the top mentioned name will win. I was like, "Shit, I'm so going to win this thing. Gotta tell them and ask for help!" Then Sept 28, they announced that the contest is extended. First, it was okay.. more time to recruit people. Sept 29, they announced again 'due to public demand' that contest is extended til October 1 (concert day). Haha. Everyone who helped me was so pissed off. It's quite funny too. So anyway, by around 12 noon they announced the winners and I won two tickets! Thanks to Kuya Jude for texting me! :) Gave one ticket to Tere because she totally deserved it. As I remember, we were already talking about John Mayer's concert since April.

Photo credit to Vince

So, about the concert. It was a WET AND WILD experience! It was pouring rain, everybody's WET and still singing along with John Mayer! It was definitely one of the best concerts I have ever attended since my first concert experience. Okay I cant even describe the feeling because goosebumps all over me. Every person present in the concert -WILD. WILD even the boys! Haha. He knows how to win the crowd's hearts. John Mayer is a talented and solid performer. Sexy even not trying to be sexy. And of course, it's not a total concert without John Mayer's guitar solo parts and the famous "guitar face" :)

Photo credit to Vince

During the concert, I wasn't able to sing along because I was amazed, smiling, dancing in the rain the whole time. Except for "Your Body Is A Wonderland". Its mandatory to sing along in that song right?! Haha. Also, I'm so happy that JM chose "Edge of Desire" as the encore song. For the past weeks, I've been listening to that song because it speaks what my current heart says. I was teary-eyed for that moment. It was unbelievably magical.

John Mayer's Live in Manila Set List:

1. Vultures

2. No Such Thing

3. Ain't No Sunshine ( Bill Withers Cover)

4. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

5. Perfectly Lonely

6. Your Body is a Wonderland

7. Stop This Train

8. Heartbreak Warfare

9. Who Says

10. Gravity

11. Why Georgia

12. Do You Know Me

13. Half of my Heart & Don't Stop Believing ( Journey Cover)

Encore Song:

14. Edge of Desire

with my fellow winner Gael :)

(photo credit to Vince)

After concert, I was able to hang out again with the Alcoholics. Haha. Kuya Jude, Tere, Jjoe, Jackie and Jown since they also watched the show. Definitely a great night with them.

Photo credit to Kuya Jude

Finally, thanks to everyone who helped me win the tickets. i believe that its around 170 people and more. Special thanks to Yusy - for the Team Ayes account. Vince - for the cat and dog tweet. Tere - for the Owl City U peeps. Ned and Jezeil - for their followers, Adi - for the spamming and Jaymie - for being my twin sister, plus Marie Digby - for the tweet. Also Music Management International for the tickets :)

Philippine Star Supreme

photo edited by Jefford

Last September 29, I was too fortunate to be invited by Tim Yap to watch the movie screening of Wall Street 2 together with my fellow Yap4Grabs winners at Newport City in Resorts World. Definitely a first class cinema with really comfortable seats and unlimited popcorn and drinks. And just yesterday, I was informed that our picture was in the Philippine Star :) Astig? :)

Farewell My Buddy

About a week ago, I was watching "Marley and Me" in Star Movies. One of my weaknesses is watching those kind of films that would make me cry over and over again.. Movies that involve a tragic ending, not being together, or death of one of the main cast. While I was watching "Marley an Me", I was thinking.. "This is probably how my dog will die.. not exactly because of twisted stomach but old age."

Lucky. Most of my friends knows who's Lucky. She has been a family dog for 13 years. What I mean with "family" dog, she's literally the whole clan's pet. She was really my little cousin's pet.. they bought her at the Pet Shop around year 1997. No one was able to take care of her because of some personal reasons that why she was sent to Batangas for a couple of years. There, Me and my cousins will play with her no matter how smelly and dirty she was. My lolo was the one who feeds her and all. Time comes that we decided to take her back here in Paranaque to stay with us. She probably witnessed everything happened to our family. When Mikha was born, when my sisters decided to leave the country, my parents' fights, my cousins and tita's visit in Philippines, my elementary, highschool, and college graduation.

Few days ago, just when I get back from my review classes.. Mama told me that Lucky was really weak. My parents gave her the right usual medications, vitamins, and milk. From that, I remembered the story of "Marley and Me" and told Mama. I know that she's not going to be with us any longer. So as day passes by she became weaker and weaker to the point she can no longer stand or even urinate in the garden. And then she died today (June 25 '10 at 4:30pm). :'(

Lucky has been a big part of the family. We all took care of her for more or less 13 years. 13 HUMAN years. But as I blog the feeling gets little lighter and lighter. Why? Because all memories shared with her was a happy memories. She didn't die because of some serious ill but mainly because of old age. I dont think most of the dogs survive till age 13. God has given us some "bonus" years to spend time with Lucky.

I remember my professor told me before, pets do not have souls they just use their instincts. therefore, they dont go to heaven. I disagree. with Lucky, she has emotions, feelings, understands. Im happy she's in heaven now. She's more than being a dog.. but a family member. *sniff* :'(

Owl City's Concert Review

I watched Owl City's concert last Sunday night with Tere and Gerard and we definitely had a blast! So before all my crazy fan girl sentences, I must start my story/review from the beginning.

So we are seated at the VIP ticket holders at Owl City's concert around 6:30pm.

Krissy and Erika were the front act. Reminded me so much of the duo M2M before. Performed Bad Romance, Up Up Down Down, another original song, and Runaway. After their set we waited for about 1 hour or less cus Adam Young's band was still preparing the stage.

Crowd went CRAZY when instruments were heard. Instruments. HAHA. So crowd went WILD when Adam Young started playing and singing. We were singing out loud that I think the people around us thinks we are three weirdos because we know all the songs from beginning to end. Also, we are waving and clapping our hands most of the time. I feel bad for the people behind us. Probably recorded our singing and our hands. Haha! Owl City performed Umbrella Beach first, then followed by The Bird and The Worm, The Tip of the Iceberg, On the Wing, Air Traffic, Fireflies, The technicolor Phase, The Saltwater Room, Dental Care, Hot Air Balloon (my first time to hear the song. and I love it!), Cave In, and Vanilla Twilight as the encore song. As they leave the stage after their great setlist.. People were screaming "WE WANT MORE!" until they go back to the stage and performed one last song called "Hello Seattle".

Photo by: Gerard

And as expected, I was thinking about Lights while in the concert. That'd be a "two birds in one shot". But I just wore my Lights shirt instead. :)

I was just very disappointed with the distance of every ticket range. I was expecting that we are so close to the stage since we bought the VIPs worth less 4,000 pesos. But what happened was, in the covered part, it was just the VVIPs and we were super far from the stage. Like maybe for some people, its better to watch on the LCD.

Over all, it was definitely a great night! It was my first time to attend an electro pop concert. I also realized that I never watched any of his concert footages on YouTube. So everything I witnessed made me feel awe. This concert made me admire Adam Young so much more that everytime he moves to the beat, it was as if an air or soul of music comes out from his body. It was an unexplainable energy really. The way he raises his hands, way he walks around the stage, the way he plays the instruments, the way he holds the microphone. So much passion and soul! Slightly distracting lang the bigote. Hehehe :)

haggard look after concert:

Yap For Grabs!

Its been a while since the last time I updated my blogspot but I guess now I'm so back to work. Haha

So a lot of friends has been asking "Why the hell did you meet Tim Yap?" So once and for all, I will be blogging about this lunch meeting with Tim Yap.

Tim Yap is having a contest on his Twitter called Yap4Grabs. The moment I started following him, he was giving away free Nokia phones. It wasn't really my goal to win a cellphone cus i dont really text or call but it was just fun to answer his questions on his Twitter.

Last February 06, the month of Love. Tim Yap asked for a love letter and to my surprise, I was one of the three winners for that question out of thousands tweets. My winning love letter was :

LOL! Cheesy I know I know.. So after a month, March 09, I was invited for a lunch date with Nokia people, Tim Yap, and other winners as well. At 11am I was there already and I must say, first few minutes was really awkward because Im but bunch of people that I have never met before. So the lunch went well, had talks with my co-winners for Yap4Grabs, and also had a little program by Tim Yap. I was shaking while on the mini stage because I forgot my winning tweet to him. LOL! Seriously, because it was a direct type. So yeah, after that, we received our Nokia 5230. Like what I mentioned on my Twitter, the lunch meeting was full of inspirational talks, laughs, and cheesiness. Now my co-winners are my twitter friends too. Thank you Tim Yap and Nokia for the phone!

I must say, Tim Yap was right, even if you're a stranger to someone, it doesn't mean you stop to inspire people. So with that said, Lets inspire one another! :)

photo by: Lora

Photo by: Anhey

The Nokia 5230 I won: