Happy 8th birthday, Up Dharma Down!

It’s amazing to know that the band who I have been following for 7 years turns 8 today. And it’s not all about being a fan since it’s also about friendship, taste, and trust.

I’ve met some of my best friends through this band. I have found and lost love through them, too. It’s just a wonderful feeling to know these people for so long and I definitely have no regrets in terms of anything.

The teenage takas-to-gigs, the sermons I got from my Mom for staying out late, all the money I’ve spent for gig entrances – these are actually nothing compared to what I’ve earned which are good music, friendship, and happiness!

Two more years to a decade! Thank you and I love you, UDD!

SG

Spent three days and two nights in Singapore for Laneway Festival and well, some leisure. It was my first international trip and it was pretty fun and worth it. Here are some photos I took using my brother’s digital camera. (I was supposed to bring the Nikon D90 but my luggage was getting too heavy that I decided to ditch it. It was cool, though, the digital camera still worked well for me.)

My first photo taken in Singapore. SG’s SMRT is a very convenient way of transport. It makes everything in Singapore twice as near! Was on my way to Tanah Merah exchange this time then on another train going to Lavender where our hostel, Drop Inn, is.

Finally, the highlight of my trip, Laneway! Here’s my left hand holding a Laneway programme under the scorching sun. Singapore’s weather is basically the same as the Philippines except that their sun sets at around 8pm. Makes you crazy to think that kinder students gets dismissed at 7pm! Haha. Here are more photos of our feet killing and energy inducing Laneway experience!

Shine and Erin, my co-Lomography girls!

Luis and Shine checking out the line-up, thinking of an artist(s) we could skip for food/rest/drinks/shade.

Shinji hamming it up for "Ate Austra" on the LCD.

Part of the crowd. There were probably hundreds of Filipinos in the fest!

Below are some photos of the Laneway artists that I saw. I don’t have photos of every artist because a.) I was too far b.) I was tired and lazy  c.) the camera was acting crappy or d.) I just wanted to watch and dance. Anyway, bands I enjoyed the most were Yuck, Girls, The Drums, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Toro Y Moi, Feist and M83!

The Drums!!! Watching them felt so surreal. Johnny's energy was infectious and they sounded really good live!

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Peggy Wang was so adorable! The crowd loves her!

Toro Y Moi. Fell in love with Chaz during that night! <3

Leslie Feist! It was a dream five years ago to see her live. Never thought it would happen!

And the show ender, M83. My only photo of them (forgiveness, it's an LCD screen cap) but that tells I really enjoyed! Their set was epic and made every single person there to stand up and dance!

Laneway ended at around 1am and man, were we tired! It was an awesome experience all in all and I would love to be a part of it again come 2013.

Got a cab (trivia: cabs charge you an additional 50% from your meter reading after midnight) with Shine and met Shinji and Erwin who were drinking outside Drop Inn. Had a few sips, some stories, several tweets, a shower and ta-da, bed! (P.S. The aircon was really cold.)

Here’s Day 2!

The morning after. Hello Sunshine, open lockers, and towels!

My Laneway strap. Too tough to remove I had to knock next door and borrow a scissor to be able to cut it.

On my to Bugis for lunch with Shine and Erwin. Look at my tired feet. Gross, I know.

Had some tofu and chicken at Bugis Junction and met a Filipina. It was pretty funny because we were looking around food in this stall and she suddenly said “Ano po?” with a very charming smile. We all just laughed and had some chit-chat. Didn’t get her name but she said that she’s from Fairview.

Until Our Blood Dries Out

You know when people say that a man and a woman’s friendship cannot last unless they’re not in love? And that for a fact is impossible? Well, I think that’s bullshit.

I’ve been best friends with the same guy for 11 years. 11 years – heck of a long time. I remember when I met this awkward boy in 5th grade… I was the cutest tomboy then and he was sorta the “crush ng bayan”. Didn’t really think we’d click until he started crushing on this classmate of ours and needed some advice. From there to daily lunch breaks and afternoon dragonfly sessions (we’d catch them from our school’s backyard and eventually let them go), to trike rides together on our way home (we live at the same village), and to sharing of secrets (we keep until today), we became the best of friends.

Our friendship grew as we grew together. It’s the best guy friendship a girl could ever have, the right amount of sweetness and bitterness all rolled to one. This guy would look after me and make me feel secured and sometimes he’d let me do the craziest things in life yet remind me of my limits. People ask me if I’ve ever developed a liking for this man and I answer a straight no because that is the truth. He’s a brother to me and he will be the god father of my children. That’s how we roll.

And to this man, I’m grateful for another year you’re celebrating in your life today. Without you, I just won’t be able to survive the toughest times of my life and won’t be having the best laughs ever.

Years back.

To King, a happy happy birthday! I know we’d celebrate more parties and more sentimental moments together! Thank you and cheers to more years of friendship!

 

Happy Birthday, Armi!

World Citizen She

I could be so horrible at birthday posts sometimes but I wouldn’t let the 2nd of January pass without this!

To the sister I never had, the one who gives me advice - either by words or by songs that she creates – as if she has gone through them,  to the one I would love to keep as a friend for lifetime, happy birthday Armi! Lots of love and hugs!

Cat people! <3

To Be Thankful 2011

Over the years, I have done year-ender blog entries like photo summaries of the year that was or an entry pointing the highlights of what has been. But hours before the change of 2011 to 2012, it dawned me – I have never published a year-end entry of thanks, an entry of being grateful and of recognizing the blessings I have received.

Looking back 2011, I’ve realized that the year that was were full of blessings and this is my way of recognizing them. I know it’s already January 2nd (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARMI!) but it’s better to be two days late than never!

So here are the 10 things (not in order) I am most grateful about 2011.

1. Finishing college not with flying colors but with personal honors. I did not graduate Cum Laude (my original plan when I entered San Beda) but I survived and conquered my four years in college. If you are a college friend, you probably know that I juggled three organizations during my college years. All of those three organizations, I held leadership posts for four consecutive years. It was all a juggle, a pain in the ass, but I was able to do my extra-curricular activities in perfect stride while being a good student. (I received awards and was a Dean’s Lister for two sems, YAY!) And most importantly, I graduated on time.

2. Being able to juggle several skills. If there’s one thing you should know, I’m the best slasher in town. “Hi, I’m Mayee! I’m a writer/photographer/video editor/Lomographer/frustrated illustrator/singer/bass player/event organizer/line producer/production designer/cinematographer/gig-goer/blogger/best friend/sister/daughter…” and the slashes go on and on and on! Yes, I do a lot and 2011 was one heck of a year to accomplish tons! All listed (or slashed) above were achieved and I am truly grateful for being able to do so.

3. Mount Analogue. My band. Being able to perform and share your music to a larger audience is undeniably something to be grateful about. And these guys, my bandmates, are truly the best bandmates around. We haven’t been friends for the longest time but we quarrel and we hug as if we’ve known each other for years. These boys are awesome and I’m really excited to share more years of music and friendship with them.

Special mention to our brother band, The Strangeness. Gigs won’t be twice as fun without them. I love you my bb’s!

4. Being able to do what you want and love to do. My family never stopped me in doing what I want. It doesn’t really mean that they let me do whatever I want without limits but they let me discover new things in life and let me pursue certain goals I have. That’s the best kind of freedom one could have in life. I am also grateful for being able to discover hell lots of amazing books, movies, art, and music in 2011! More to come, please!

5. The blessing of work. Finding a job is the toughest stress one can experience after graduation. I was penniless for a couple of weeks after receiving my diploma but work, freelance and eventually regular, came. And I’m just thankful for the opportunities. If you should know, I did freelance work for six months after March. Name it, I think I did every freelance job a Mass Communication graduate could do: wrote articles for small publications, video editing, music video shoots, photo shoots, event organizing (debuts and events for Sonic Boom and Terno Recordings).

Freelance work is fun but it only serves for one self so I had to pursue a regular one. Luckily, I did find one under Lomography and I am thankful for the job I currently have with this company. The perks and my officemates are just awesome, I could not ask for more!

6. The happiness friendship could bring: I have thousands of moments I have made with my friends in 2011. I have several groups of friends in my current life and I couldn’t be more thankful for them.

My grade school and high school barkada (King, Janlor, Karen, Diana, Sean, Jake, Miguel, Alvin, Diane, Kara etc. because you guys know who you are!), my college friends (Crystal, Von, Lorenz, Tey, Butch, Tim, Vance, Pao, RJ and all my orgmates), my Dumet Skate crew (Labayen Kids, Corpuz Brothers, Vince, Ica, Jade, Beth, Teehay, Alexa, Monique, Ayis, Jon-Jon), my Lomography officemates (Shine, Erin, Bijan, Joy, Jean, Jason, Minde, Chamie, Kat, Ella, Geli, Yani, Mich, Tara and Pauee), my Sonic Boom family (Bochang, Monica, Afianne, Julo, Greg, Chino, Hannah, Mon, Jep, Bock, Angela, Jewel, Kaloy, Alex, Lalay, and Koi), my friends I’ve met through Mount Analogue, The Strangeness and Number Line Records (You are too plenty but you know who you are!), my Terno Recordings family (ALL THE BANDS oh gosh I’m friends with you ALL! Hahaha! Plus Aie, Cha, Chigo, Bel, Ed, Kris, Red, Jon, Jason. Special mention though to the brewing crazy friendship I have with Japo of Not Another Boy Band and Jiggers, Brian and JB of The Charmes! And of course, my first love Up Dharma Down.)

Thank you for the crazy 2011 I had with you guys!

7. Keeping your friends and forgetting your enemies. I remember a college friend calling me once “popular.” It’s hilarious because I can never call myself “popular”. Yeah, I have thousand of friends on Facebook, hundreds of followers on Twitter, and I know people wherever I go but that doesn’t make me popular. I’d rather call it keeping friendship and building them through time. It’s simple, you make friends and you respect them. You put limits to your friendship only to make it stronger and you make time for these people no matter how busy you are. I think these are the best ways to keep friendship alive. I’ve been best friends for the same guy for 11 years and I have friends whom I met online for six years already. I have friends I’ve met in 2011 and I’m planning to keep them as long as I can. As for your enemies, you don’t let them bring you down. Instead, you burn them in the hole of never remember.

8. Putting love at pace. I’ve been single for a couple of years now but that doesn’t mean I’m unhappy. My heart has been hurt in 2011 but it was healed. And I’m thankful for that because it helped me grow and it made me learn the bigger lessons in life. I am not asking for a partner this 2012, but it’s something to look forward to and I’m keeping that pace. Who doesn’t want love and happiness, right?

9. Family. I do not have the perfect Father, Mother and Brothers, I can assure you that. My Mom and I always argue about the littlest things, my Kuyas just irritate me at some random times but I’m grateful about it because I’m just happy of having them in my life. Our love is not visible through actions and words but it’s love – you can’t see it nor express it the best way you could but you know it’s there. I’m thankful for 2011, simply because of them.

10. The chance to do more. I have been thinking about 2012 and I’m starting to thank the above for the things to come. They have not happened yet but I know that this year will be something worth remembering. There’s this chance to travel abroad (Hello Singapore in February!), the chance to do better at work, the chance to improve my talents (I’ve heard we’re doing more music videos this year and a possible demo for Mount Analogue!) and the chance to learn through time. It’s being thankful in advance.

So this is my list and I think I’ve written enough! How about you? Hey, it’s time to be grateful about life not only after every year but every time you experience happiness and love. With that, I wish you all a great 2012! Cheers to more years!