Back to the Morning Shift

I am bidding farewell to the shift I love most - at least for now. It has been a good month, I was able to finish the complete 8 seasons of Charmed and I was able to relax a bit. On Monday, I'll be back to the busiest shift of the month, and probably the busiest of my career since our client will be shutting down the old versions of the software we're supporting so all those who haven't upgraded their programs, which is most of the Australian and New Zealand clients, won't have a program to use and will be very pissed off.

This will be a big test of my patience and experience. I don't want this but I have to do it. August is a long month, I can't wait to go back to the swing shift in October. It's a long way off but at least I have something to look forward to.

Morning shift, I can do this!

The Lettermen Back in Cebu

Tonight, my parents are on a rare date to watch The Lettermen in Concert for the nth time. Yes, the so-called Cascades are the front acts of the concert, but it's just 2 of the original 4 members of the Cascades, so I don't think they can still capture the Cascades sound.

This is also the first time that I'm missing a Lettermen concert in Cebu, the first time was at the Old Cebu Coliseum when I was around 10 years old, and the next 2 at the Waterfront Hotel. I so love the Lettermen and I love their songs.

My hats off to Tony Butala, the genius who formed the Lettermen when he was 18 years old in 1958, and never left the group until now. He's turning 70 years old this year, but is still rocking.

Lorenzen Wright (1975 - 2010)

Lorenzen Wright was not a superstar, but he was real solid player who never backed down on anyone. He was a tough but emotional player, and a great teammate. His 13 years in the NBA is proof of that. He played his hearts out in each and every game he played for the Clippers, Grizzlies, Kings, Hawks and Cavaliers.

Last week, July 19, 2010

, Lorenzen was taken away tragically. That moment when he was shot several times, the NBA lost a good player, the world lost a good person, and his 6 children lost a good father.

I cried when I heard the news because I thought of his 6 kids. He was close to all of them, most especially his 13-year old daughter who talks with her father everyday. Now she can only talk to him by her lonesome.

May he rest in peace, and may justice be served for Lorenzen. He's now reunited with his daughter, Sierra Simone Wright, who passed away in 2003 due to SIDS.

"I cried. The emotions hit me immediately.

It's just sad because we lost a good person and a brother."

- Penny Hardaway

Smallville Season 10 Trailer

The past 9 seasons of Smallville has been recapped in a video presentation at Comic Con 2010, and the trailer for the final season has also been released. Old characters will be coming back to close the 10th chapter of Smallville.

Can't help my tears as I watch the vid. I know this season will be EPIC.

Journey Live in Manila

A million Thank you's to Sir Egay of the Bisdaks for giving me a limited copy of Journey Live in Manila Double DVD exclusively distributed by Walmart. I've been an Arnel Pineda and Journey fan for so long, but because of our tight budget, I haven't been able to buy any of Journey's albums. I was just contented with watching their vids and listening to their songs on YouTube.

Now, I don't only have my own Journey DVD, and not only do I have a special copy that's not sold here, I have the video of one of Journey's most special shows. Although they've been performing all-around the world, JLIM was the first time Journey performed in the Philippines, and the first grand homecoming of hometown hero, Arnel Pineda.

Watching the whole concert, a total of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 25 seconds, I wasn't able to control my tears. It was a very proud moment for AP performing in front of his kababayans and a prouder moment not just for the 30,000 Filipinos who watched it live, but for all the Filipinos all throughout the globe. Here's the guy who once slept on the sidewalks of Manila, who sold bottles for money to buy food, performing as a member of one of the greatest rock bands of all-time. Watching the video, you can see that the audience was not only composed of Filipinos, but also of Journey and AP fans from all over the globe. And the band didn't disappoint, especially AP who sang his hearts out and bared his soul in every song.

Mabuhay ka Arnel!

Mabuhay kayo Journey!

Mabuhay ka Sir Egay!

X⊕R Invades Manila

Congratulations X⊕R for winning 3rd Place out of 10 Finalists

in the JPop Anime Singing Contest Grand Finals

held yesterday in Manila.

The odds were against you, but you made it through.

You're not only the pride of Excielsior & CTC,

you're the PRIDE OF CEBU!

I'm sooo proud of you and I love you, guys! ♥

JPIA Idol 2010

The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and the Cebu Chapter of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) invited me to be one of the judges of the JPIA Idol Grand Finals earlier today and it was nerve-wracking. I've been judging a lot of contests before, but this was the first time I had to make a comment after the performance of each of the 10 finalist. The names and schools were not mentioned nor was it in our score sheet, so all we, the judges and audience, knew were just their numbers.

The support of the 10 schools represented in the grand finals was overwhelming. Their cheer was deafening and at times made it difficult for us to hear the last (sometimes the most important) notes of the songs. There was one who really sang well, but she just stood there without moving, clearly very nervous. There was another who clearly had a beautiful voice, but even with the microphone close to his mouth that he could almost eat it, the music still overpowered his vocals. Then there was one who sang an acapella of Tell Him but was clearly confused with the song as he started every line in Barbara's note and ends it with Celine's tune. And yes, it was a he.

Most of them were good enough to win so it was not an easy decision for us, but we had to choose the top 3. The funny thing is that until now, we still don't have any idea from what schools were the winners. All we know is that the 1st and the 3rd placers both sang Listen originally by Beyonce, and the 2nd placer sang I Believe originally by Fantasia Barino.

A Chicken Named Floyd

Floyd Gayweather has again proven to be the most expensive chicken in the world. After giving outrageous demands (as if he has the right to against Pacman), he's now saying he's in no rush to go back to the ring and face Manny Pacquiao. He's just like his father, all-talk and no action. They should both get into the ring and face Pacman so Manny can shut them at the same time.

Unlike Colonel Sanders, Floyd is not the face of delicious, crispy chicken, he's the face of the biggest, most expensive chicken in the world.

Kindred Hearts Restage

After a successful premiere run last December 8 to 13, 2009 at SM Cineme One, the Atrium Core Group, this time with our own CTC, will be restaging Kindred Hearts: A Musicale in September and October 2010.

The story revolves around Thomas Kent Galvez, a nursing student, who in one way or another discovers the worth of living and the importance of filial love and companionship; but as he begins to change, he unveils a predicament that entails him to make a decision that involves life and death.

This musical production is entirely original and proudly written by a fellow Cebuano. The music was also locally arranged and recorded by our very own cast and crew.

Kindred Hearts: The Musicale Restage will be at Ayala Cebu OnStage on the following dates and times:

September 29, 2010 4:30pm

September 29, 2010 7:00pm

September 30, 2010 12:30pm

September 30, 2010 3:00pm

September 30, 2010 5:30pm

September 30, 2010 8:00pm

October 1, 2010 12:30pm

October 1, 2010 3:00pm

October 1, 2010 5:30pm

October 1, 2010 8:00pm

October 2, 2010 12:30pm

October 2, 2010 3:00pm

October 2, 2010 5:30pm

October 2, 2010 8:00pm

Ticket prices are at Php 150.00 and proceeds will go to the Manna Ministry’s “Adopt a Student Program”, a charitable project which provides funding to well-deserving children who could not afford to go to college.

Mom turns 58

Happy 58th Birthday

to my beloved mother,

the only person who've held my hand for a short time,

but is holding my heart forever ♥