The April 27 event went quite well. There were things that didn't exactly go the way I planned or intended, but overall I'm relieved that it's over.
Like...YOUHAVENOIDEAHOWRELIEVEDIAM relieved. XD
Up next on my pipeline is the author event on May 5. I'm more excited with this event than the one last Friday, but I have a feeling that there is more work for this one than the other.
I also have to buy myself a copy of Before Ever After to get that awesomesauce autograph. XDDD
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Guess what. I HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE. I just have to try harder at it.
I watched The Avengers last Saturday. It was PERFECTION. Everything was awesome and nothing hurt. Though I did initially feel bad that Edward Norton won't be reprising The Hulk, it didn't dampen my expectations for this movie at all. This was also the first movie I watched this year with a group.
I would like to officially induct RDJ to my list of Papas, along with Johnny Depp and Lolo Ken Watanabe. Because. He is RDJ.
Oh, and I get to watch it again tomorrow. For free. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
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About an hour ago, I bought myself a ticket to this Broadway show coming to this country on August! I got a decent Balcony 1 Center seat on September 1, and I'm not complaining. I need some opera in my system, and I should at least get my butt out to watch one opera in my lifetime.
The only letdown I see with this is that I don't have anymore money to buy a decent ticket (read: AT LEAST LOWER BOX) for the NKOTBSB concert that - read this - may have Kevin Richardsonjoining BSB again for good! Then again, I've already watched a BSB concert, and Phantom or the really good Broadway shows don't just come around here often.
Since last week, I've been spazzing on the awesomeness called The Legend of Korra. Knowing my country, it will be a while before the series reaches our shores, so I took the liberty of seeing the first two episodes for myself.
[SPANKING NEW] TOUR GUIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE
Undecided JAPANESE song
THANKSGIVING MASS (aka the last mass of the academic year), March 23
Saving Grace
EASTER CANTATA
I Knew He Was Love
+ almost all songs, in backup
The Ash Wednesday song went well, thank/praise God that people thought so/were blessed/became emotional, etc. No one reacted negatively to the song choice - it was very well received, if I may say so myself. When I saw the video I kinda-sorta thought differently about it. XD It's true what Genji says, Once you begin studying an art, no matter which one, there turns out to be no limit to what there is to learn, and you hardly ever master it well enough really to please yourself.
I was thinking of changing the song for the last mass this schoolyear since I couldn't find any sheet music for that song. But as sifted through other possible song choices, I still felt strongly about Saving Grace. If worse comes to worst I'll settle for chords na lang.
Since I'm in the bundoks till Saturday, I will not be able to attend tomorrow night's practice for Easter. Ye gads. I think I'll be playing Mary Magdalene again. Apparently, I play the part of a reformed prostitute well. *facepalmheaddesk*
But enough of these things. I have to talk about that interesting new item that's happening next Saturday.
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えええええ~~~!!!
I was told about this yesterday afternoon but I wasn't taking it seriously. Fast forward to this afternoon when this letter from which above photo came from arrived, I realized (and accepted) it was serious business. So here I am, trying to figure out what's the best J-pop song I could sing good enough within a week's time. *le sigh*
Facts: there's this delegation of Japanese high school students coming next week, and they will be here for a few days. The culminating activity will be next Saturday, which will consist of a tour of DLSU, then Intramuros, then Ayala Museum, and finally a despedida here (which is where I'll be singing in Japa-freaking-nese). Come to think of it, this reminds me of my NKK days back in college.......
The last time I sang a Japanese song for a crowd of Japanese people was in 2005. It was in Minna Utao for Japan Week. We always had Japanese judges from the IS Department for the singing contest. A year prior to 2005, I won first place in that contest (I sang Distance by Utada Hikaru), and I wasn't supposed to join that year because I wasn't in desperate need of the prize money like the last time (hahaha!), but I was asked to join because, well, I won last year. *shrug* Long story short, I won that year again - which was (I won't deny it) great, cause that meant more money for me! I sang Hikari, by Utada Hikaru again.
Six years later, I find myself in a similar situation - a fangirl who isn't even close to 4-kyuu in JLPT singing Japanese songs for Japanese people. I am against singing an Utada song...feeling ko kasi "Utada nanaman?!" and I'm not sure if high school kids will be all OMG for an Utada song (plus her new releases don't have karaoke versions). My safest bet is to go for anime OP/ED song.
I have narrowed it down to the following (Sa mga taong nag-SOS ako, salamat po sa inyong mga suggestions!):
Miho Fukuhara - LET IT OUT
Shimokawa Mikuni - Sore Ga, Ai Deshou
Ikimonogakari - Bluebird
I'm kind of partial to LET IT OUT since it came from FMA Brotherhood, which ended fairly recently. The single came out in 2009 though...but it peaked at #10 at Oricon in 2009 (plus if they're high school kids and given the hit Hagaren was they'll surely remember it). However, it's a hard song to sing in the sense na hindi ata bagay boses ko doon...I will have to wrestle with the song and make it my own.
Sore Ga, Ai Deshou on the other hand was released in 2003, which is kind of too long ago already. But vocally, I'm more comfortable singing this song than the former. So...yeah...I'm torn. XD
I'm also considering Bluebird by Ikimonogakari. This song peaked at #3 at Oricon in 2008, but I'm not sure if I can learn the song well enough in time for Saturday, which is why it's at the bottom...plus I'm kind of annoyed with the number of times "aoi aoi ano sora" was repeated in this song. Also, I find LET IT OUT more superior lyrically. But that's just me. XD
I'm thinking I make either LET IT OUT or Sore Ga, Ai Deshou the primary song I'll sing for the despedida, and reserve one in case the worst happens and I'm asked to do another one (which I hope will NOT happen).
The parental units have suggested that I do Tegami by Angela Aki, which I have sung twice already during my soirees. However, singing it without piano is impossible.
Haaaaaay...this would have been more fun if I were a student pa and doing it just for the love of singing J-pop. This, however, is serious business. Haaaaaaaaay. But at least I'll get to see the Ayala Museum and Intramuros. Now I'm wondering if I should bring Oberon along...but maybe not, cause I don't even know how the heck I'll get my butt back to Manila should the party finish at 9PM...
I tweeted and tumbled about this already, but it's good to be consistent all throughout.
That's the birthplace of Jose Rizal. It has GREEN walls. (If you go to Tumblr you can biggify above image.)
I have lived in Metro Manila for most of my life, but I have been in the province many times to know what an old Pinoy house looks like. I've seen my share of those in Malolos - before it became a city, it had kalesas and old houses nearly everywhere - there was even one beside the bungalow of my lolo and lola's house way back then.
I know that the exterior walls of these houses are usually NOT painted green.
Prior to my visit yesterday, I have been to the birthplace of the National Hero when I was in grade school. It was too long ago that I don't remember much of the details, but I do recall that the walls were not green - they were white, off-white, or beige. Hindi luntian. (OHA! ALAM KO ANG TAGALOG NG GREEN! WAZZUP KETCHUP!)
Probably they painted it green so it could match the blue and yellow banners that have been put up on the fence around the perimeter of the house (cause blue + yellow = green). Even so, it still looks weird.
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If I had to give one reason for loving the five days I spend out here in the bundoks, it would be this:
I get to see the sky more often.
Of course, I still see the sky when I'm in Manila, but not without a building or two (or fifteen) obstructing your view. Here in the bundoks (and if I may borrow a quote from Rurouni Kenshin Ishinshishi e no Requiem) the bluest sky is infinitely high and crystal clear. (gosh I love that line...)
The sky here is wonderful. Many times I'd be awestruck with the cloud formations, and at one occasion I was dumbfounded when I saw the sky transitioning from cyan to blue. It's AWESOME, and it's the kind of sky that's exclusive to land that's unadulterated and pre-building-infested.
Like here.
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I post things like these about loving the province, but by Thursday I know I'll be missing the buildings, the humidity of the city, the pollution - do not forget the pollution! - and the traffic!
I submitted my application for graduate studies to DLSU today. The exam is next Saturday morning. I don't know if I should review for the exam or not. XD But the more pressing question is if I have time to review for the exam on Saturday. *facepalm* I'll probably just read up some marketing stuff over the Internet, I guess...
I'm particularly pleased with my application documents, since the two recommendations I got were from my boss and from an assistant vice chancellor - both former bigwigs of DLSU. What I'm not happy about was giving them my first copy of my transcript of records, which came along with my diploma. It kind of has a sentimental value to me, but I had no choice but to give it to them because requesting a copy from the Registrar will take time, plus there is a race for slots available for the MA program.
So now that's done, all I have to do now is to dress up and psyche myself up for the concert tonight. Egads, pag may tiyaga...good luck. XD
