Loser and Loner Mode

Today, the streets of Cebu are alive because of Sinulog 2011! As for me, I'm in my Loser and Loner mode as I'm just at home resting, and will continue my Leverage marathon after this short blog. Just finished editing my songs for a wedding gig tomorrow. Kinda disappointed with 2 friends I invited to sing with me. The first one declined because she had a lot of requirements for school she had to make, which was fine. The second one, she said yes and sounded excited. I was wrong. 5 days had passed, and I have yet to receive a response from her through text or Facebook on when are we going to run through the songs. Yes, they're both famous songs (especially requested by the bride and groom), but I rearranged them to make them more romantic and made both songs a duet. Since I haven't heard from her, I edited the songs which I'll be singing solo tomorrow.

Some people are just so insensitive or just too confident? Why, even the best singers in the world still rehearse, and rehearse songs they've performed thousands of times. There's no excuse for not getting back to me. Yes, I'm disappointed with her, to think that I invited her to expose her as she's going to have a very difficult role in our next production. Now, I'm afraid she won't be able to take on that character.

*sigh*

Sinulog 2011 Schedule of Activities

Dec 01 – Jan 31, 2011 - Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.

January 2, 2011 (Sunday) - Sinulog Fun Run

January 06, 2011 (Thursday) - Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus

4:00 AM - Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña

4:30 AM - Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño

5:30 AM - Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2011

January 07, 2011 (Friday) - Sinulog 2011 Kick Off

Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA

2:00PM Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)

3:00 PM Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)

7:00 PM Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir,Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities

7:30 PM Ms. Cebu 2011 Presentation, Fuente Osmeña

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Streen Party Bands

January 8, 2011 (Saturday) - Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan

1:00 PM Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center

2:00 PM Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center

4:30 PM Awarding of Winners

6:30 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu Province

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:30 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 9, 2011 (Sunday) - Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan

4:00 AM Cebu City 2011 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com

1:00 PM Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center

2:00 PM Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center

4:30 PM Awarding of Winners

6:30 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)University of San Carlos

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 10, 2011 (Monday)

6:30 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)University of Cebu

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 11, 2011 (Tuesday)

7:30 PM Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña)University of San Jose-Recoletos and Cebu Institute of Technology

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 12, 2011 (Wednesday)

9:00 AM Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)

6:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)University of Southern Philippines-Foundation and Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology

7:00 PM Ms. Cebu 2011 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 13, 2011 (Thursday)

9:00 AM Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)

10 AM – 3:00 PM Photo Shoot Sinulog Festival Queen , SM City Entertainment Plaza

7:00 PM Sinulog Festival Queen Parade of Costumes @ SM Northwing Lobby

6:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)Cebu City Division

6:00 PM Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

8:00 PM Handumanan @ Ayala Terraces

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 14, 2011 (Friday) - Visual Merchandising Contest(Dept. Stores and Malls)

4:00 AM Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño

7:00 AM Misa de Translacion (Motorcade)

9:00 AM Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent /Floats / Higante / Puppteers) @ Cebu City Sports Center Gym

6:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)(Cebu Normal University, Abellana National High School and Asian College of Technology

7:30 P.M Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum

7:30 P.M Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, Cebu City Sports Center

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 15, 2011 (Saturday)

6:00 AM Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño

8:00 AM Vibration and Big Bike Rally by Vmax Owners Group

9:00 AM Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Sto. Niño

2:00 PM Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño

7:00 PM Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu

7:00 PM Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia

8:00 PM Gala – Passionata a Cultural Heritage Celebration in Honor of Sto. Niño de Cebu @ SM Cinema I

8:00 PM Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu

8:00 PM Handumanan Concert, USP-F Theater for the Performing Arts

January 16, 2011 (Sunday) - SINULOG GRAND PARADE

4:00 AM Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño

6:00 AM Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal

9:00 AM Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off

7:00 PM Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center

7:30 PM Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña

January 17, 2011 (Monday)

1:00 PM Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center

January 21, 2011 (Friday) “HUBO”

4:00 AM “HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño

January 29, 2011 (Saturday)

1:00 P.M Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest / Sinulog Short Film Festival

January 31 – Feb. 10, 2011 Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ‘10 @SM City Cebu

Thanksgiving

We had our little Thanksgiving earlier, for all the blessings we've received in 2009, as well as to celebrate my daughter's 7th birthday. And since she already had her birthday party at her school yesterday, today's affair was not a party but what we hoped would be a little get-together, as well as sort of reunion for friends we haven't seen for a long time.

We invited around 50 chosen people, and prepared food and drinks good for 30 to 40 people, anticipating that some will not be able to come.

A LOT did not come.

Yes, it was drizzling a bit and there was a procession going on in the afternoon. I anticipated that some people will join the procession that's why we told everyone that they can drop by our place anytime, even after the procession. No one did.

Still, our family is thankful for the 13 brave souls who joined our Thanksgiving celebration.

Sa mga gusto, may maraming paraan.
Sa ayaw, may maraming dahilan.

Traffic

Whoa! The festive atmosphere has really hit the streets of Cebu! On a normal day, I get off from work at 10:30 PM, then my regular motorcycle-for-hire suki takes me home. It's a good 10 to 15 minute ride from the office to our place up in the mountains. Tonight, which is not a normal night, I got out from the office 10:30 PM, and I just arrived here at home like 10 minutes ago, so it took us a little more than an hour. Traffic has never been this worst in Cebu, just now that it's our fiesta weekend.

Good thing I'm done with my shift. Good luck to those who are still on their way to work, may they be VERY early in leaving their houses, or may their transportation have wings so they won't be late. I already posted the "announcement" at Facebook, hoping they can read it so they'll have a heads up.

Viva Pit Señor

This coming weekend is the feast of Cebu City and our Patron, Señor Sto. Niño. All eyes will be on our little island as tourists from all over the country and the world have flown in, and is still flowing in to witness the grand celebration. On Saturday, there will be the fluvial procession of Miraculous image of the Sto. Niño in the morning, then the Solemn Procession will be in the afternoon. On Sunday will be the grand mardi gras, the famous Sinulog.

We have A LOT of hotels, condominiums, motels, pension houses and Inn's in the city, but as early as last month, everything has been either occupied or reserved. There are parties and concerts everywhere in the city, the festive mood is definitely in the air. I just hope that in all of these, everyone will remember the reason why we're celebrating in the first place.

Viva Pit Señor! ♥

Which Concert?

The month of January is Fiesta month in Cebu because of the Sinulog. It will be the time of the year where the tourists, both local and foreign, will be flocking to Cebu to join the festivities. It's also this month where a LOT of artists will be having their concerts here, and as much as I would love to watch them all, I can't afford it, so I narrowed them down to the ones I love most. I got three.

Martin has always been my greatest musical influence. I learned a lot about music and about life because of him, and there have been instances that people would compare our voices which is both flattering and kinda absurd since he IS the Concert King, while I'm just someone who loves music. While I personally don't like Pops, she complements Martin vocally, and their rapport on-stage is perfect.

I've always loved Lea ever since I started in theatre, and her concerts are always elegant and somewhat enchanted. She didn't voice two Disney heroines for nothing. It's always a treat hearing her sing.


Now this may come as a surprise to those who know me, but yes, my wife and I love the Kanto Boys. Vhong Navarro has always been my idol in dancing and local comedy. He's just a natural. Billy, Luis and John Lloyd are not only good in their respective fields, they've already proven their worth with the awards that they have. And as a group, they're just hilariously talented.


I would really love to watch all three shows, but I can't. Okay, I won't. I have to choose only one. It's the start of the year so I have to save, and save a lot since I'm not earning as much as before, and my daughter is turning 7 years old on January 6.

So, which one would I choose? It's a difficult choice but since I've never missed Martin's shows in Cebu, I will have to choose his and Pop's concert. It's hard to let Lea's and the Kanto Boys' shows pass, but I have to.

There's always a next time.