40 Before 40? Nah! Just ONE Before 40

I will turn 40 years old 40 days from today.

I have planned a lot of 40 before 40 challenges, but then 2020 with its plot twists happened.

Sooo, for my 40 before 40 challenge, I challenge myself to stay healthy, survive and reach my 40th birthday next month. That would definitely be an achievement!

Oh yeah, included in the challenge is to make sure my family is safe and healthy, too.

Day 5 - Post a Screenshot of Your Desktop

Day 6 - Your views on Drugs and Alcohol

Ever since I was young, I've always had 4 things that I will never ever do in my life.

I will never take drugs.

I will never drink alcohol.

I will never smoke.

I will never wear contact lens.

I'm turning 35 in a few days, and nothing has changed.

Day 7 - Something You're Currently Worried About

I am currently worried about not being able to find a job before Christmas.

Last October 21, my boss informed me that the CEO wants to end my contract and is not interested in regularizing me.

It is very painful especially that I've sacrificed a lot for this job.

My last day of work will be on November 20, that's a week after my birthday.

Bittersweet.

I don't want to treat anyone on my birthday only because I will have to save as much money as I can since I don't have a new job that I will be starting anytime soon.

I am worried about not finding a job soon, because the world will not stop when I'm already jobless.

Day 8 - Your Fears

I have been through Hell and back in my life, that I don't scare easily anymore.

Having said that, my fears are all about my daughter.

I am afraid that my daughter will grow up not following what I've been teaching her.

I am afraid that my daughter will be taken away from me before I will be taken away from her.

I am afraid that I will not be able to protect my daughter anymore.

I am afraid that I will fail my daughter.

I am afraid that I will no longer be the hero in my daughter's eyes.

Day 9 - A Quote You Try to Live By

Day 10 - Put your iPod on shuffle and List the First Ten Songs

I haven't updated my playlist for a long time, but then again, I am not updated with the latest songs so.. yeah.


1. All of Me - Boyce Avenue

2. Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel

3. In Your Eyes - Rachelle Ann Go

4. Seasons of Love - Instrumental

5. The Lord is My Strength - Michael Lapid, SDB

6. The Way You Look Tonight - Martin Nievera

7. Basang Basa sa Ulan - Aegis

8. Music from Above - Kindred Hearts Cast

9. Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Simon and Garfunkel

10. With a Smile - Eraserheads


There you go.

A mix of everything.

Day 11 - Something That You Miss

I miss musical theatre.

It has been a while since I've been involved in a full musical, and I so miss it.

Theatre has been my life for 22 years, so it has become almost second nature to me.

I miss directing.

I miss acting.

I miss singing.

I miss doing all three at the same time.

*sigh*

Day 12 - Twelve RANDOM Facts About Yourself

I changed the word "Interesting" to "RANDOM" just because..

Anyway..

1. I love theatre.

2. 2015 is my 22nd year in theatre.

3. My greatest influence in singing is Martin Nievera.

4. My greatest influence in musical theatre is Colm Wilkinson.

5. I used to be a dancer before I became a singer.

6. I am very transparent.

7. I am 50-50 with singing contests. I only joined twice.

8. It's easier for me to perform in front of a thousand people, than to talk in front of 10 or less.

9. I am a loner.

10. I have a 12-year old daughter who is my everything.

11. My dream role is The Beast in Beauty and the Beast the Musical.

12. I have very low self-esteem.

Back Again

My last post was two years, six months and two days ago.

So many things have happened.

I don't know until when I'll be writing here again, but hey, I'm back.

For now.

This was not planned, but staring at my monitor at the office, sick and tired, made me think of doing a sort of countdown or challenge, this time for my birthday.

Everyone who knows me knows that I'm not really big with my birthday.

I still am not.

But so many things have happened.

So many unexpected deaths.

Young, healthy people.

So much younger and healthier than me.

Realizations once again that you don't really know when your time is up in this world, so I have decided to make my birthday a little special starting this year.

*cue in drum roll*

Since today is October 31, I have 12 days to go before my birthday, so I will be doing the 12 Day Challenge: Countdown to my 35th Birthday. Haha :D

Day 29. Favourite overall actor you have seen from the musical and why?

I am very much biased with Colm Wilkinson. And Quast. And Maguire. And Drew Sarich. And Ramin Karimloo. Haha. I love most of them, but Colm will always be on top of the list.

Day 28. Dream cast for the stage show?

I always thought that the 1995 10th Anniversary Dream Cast was THE Dream Cast for the musical.

Now if I were to nitpick that cast to make my own dream cast while suspending time, I think Frances Rufelle will be more appropriate than Lea. Yes, Lea is a Goddess, but I just don't really feel her Eponine. Her Eponine is way too strong for the character. I never saw her vulnerability, which was natural in Frances.

Barry James would have been fun to watch too, though Alun was still amazing.

Day 27. Dream cast for the upcoming movie?

The movie opens in the Philippines next month - January 16 to be exact - and so far, I'm loving the combination of Hollywood greats and West End immortals. I also love Tom Hooper's decision to pay homage to the old cast by giving some of them cameos in the movie. Roles that are good enough to be included in the movie, and small enough not to really be recognized so as not to take away the attention from the main actors.

Looking at the clips released so far, I'm not that sold with Sascha Baron Cohen as Thenardier yet, but I'm sure he'll do great. He's a great actor, and Tom Hooper and Cam Mack trust him.

May I also add that having the 'real' versus perfection in the singing is giving me goosebumps. That's what made our own little production of Les Mis different from the other productions, I've always wanted the portrayals to be real. Yes, a good singer is, well, good, but I want someone who can really act and sing at the same time, and I'm blessed to have had the chance to share the stage with them.

Going back to the movie, I trust Tom and Cam that they have formed the best possible cast for the movie, dream cast if you may. After all, it took them 27 years to make this epic musical into a movie.

Day 26. Favourite pairing? (I don’t mean favourite ship. Your favourite established relationship or friendship in the musical or book).

I am tempted to say Valjean and Fantine, but I think Grantaire's and Gavroche's connection is the most touching, especially when Gavroche dies. Enjolras' and Grantaire's friendship is also worth mentioning.

Day 25. Favourite members of the ensemble and swing?

I don't know if you can consider Drew Sarich a member of the ensemble or swing, but I think he's so amazing. Valjean, Javert, Enjolras, Grantaire. Playing one of those characters is a dream itself. Imagine Drew playing all those at different times in his career. And his range? Out of this world!

Day 24. Favourite cast?

The tenth anniversary cast - the Dream Cast - is my favorite cast. Sure, I prefer Barry James to Alun Armstrong, but doesn't mean I like Alun less. Though I was blown away by Michael Maguire, I wouldn't mind if it was Anthony Warlow since they're both amazing.



Day 23. Is there a character you dislike? Why?

I feel that each character in Les Mis has his/her own story to tell, and they've added to the beauty of the story so there's no character that I really dislike.

All of the characters in Les Mis are broken in a way, and that's what makes them beautiful.

Day 22. Which character can you relate to in the book or musical and why

I am able to relate to different characters of Les Mis in different phases of my life. That's the beauty of Les Mis that I've been telling so many people. It's a story where people can relate to so many characters.

In different stages of my life, I have been Fantine, Marius, Eponine, Cosette, even Javert, but for most parts of my life so far, I have been Valjean.

23. Is there a character you dislike? Why?

If there is a character I dislike in Les Mis, it has to be Marius. Aside from showing his selfish side a lot of times, I just can't explain why I dislike him. Haha. Maybe because I have to choose a character just to answer this item in the challenge.

Oh my friends, my friends forgive me

That I live and you are gone.

There's a grief that can't be spoken.

There's a pain goes on and on.

~Marius Pontmercy

22. Which character can you relate to in the book or musical and why?

I realized that it's taking me forever to finish the Les Mis challenge, so I'm going to continue it now and hopefully finish it soon. Haha!

I've played Thenardier longer than Valjean, but I can relate with Jean Valjean the most. Being forgiving after being persecuted is a great weakness for me. I would rather play the role of a martyr than a bully, and that's Valjean right there. There was a time when I called him pathetic because I really think he is, but then I'm also describing myself. Yes, I am pathetic like Valjean, but like him, I have also experienced my full humanity. I've experienced how it is to truly live.

Yet why did I allow that man,

To touch my sould and teach me love,

He treated me like any other,

He gave me his trust,

He called me brother..

~Jean Valjean