Being recognized by face made me more than happy. I have no words to describe how I feel as I write this. I will always be a fan. This is a part of my forever, I guess. :)
Ultrablessed Thank You Edition -- a new-look to the 2014-release Ultrablessed, with a brand new song, "Move On" featuring Jane Oineza. Go to the nearest music stores near you and grab a copy (or two for a friend) of Ultrablessed Thank You Edition. The MYX Philippines team also went to the launch. A first! Thanks for smiling to my camera. A dream come true. Oh, hi Trix! The first (of many) album launch was held at Odyssey Megamall. A very intimate acoustic performance was prepared. Tambay lang. I've been dreaming to watch the acoustic performance of the boys. When they played "Una," I remembered my elementary days and now, I am a college graduate. Yay! Thanks to the boys, they became one of my inspirations. I feel so thrilled every time I see them. I am so grateful to capture moments like this and met new people as well. I was flattered when I was recognized by people whom I met in the cyberspace and have read my previous writings about the band.
Being recognized by face made me more than happy. I have no words to describe how I feel as I write this. I will always be a fan. This is a part of my forever, I guess. :)
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Up Dharma Down Gracenote's Eunice Jorge and Callalily's Kean Cipriano Callalily Franco Spotted: Karylle taking photos of Yael while reaching the crowd. Sponge Cola Rico Blanco Giordano's World Without Strangers Music Festival last July 4, 2013 at the Glorietta Activity Center was a blast! Great lineup of artists and a bunch of inspirational people made the world without strangers the happiest place to live in. Thank you Giordano Philippines for the free show! I wore my most favorite Giordano basic tee and felt comfortable all throughout the show. I didn't mind standing with the crowd for hours. x
Sponge Cola released their 5th album, Ultrablessed at the Eastwood Central Plaza. Kim Marvilla hosted the show and she has given away prizes to the lucky fans. Join the Club opened the show and played their songs from their current album, "Gera ng Balarila" and my all-time favorite JTC song, "Nobela." Song line-up. Apologies for being a spoiler. :D Yael went into the middle of the venue for an acoustic performance along with Armo, while Gosh and Ted were on the stage. A throwback setting for a set of throwback songs. How nostalgic seeing them perform their songs from their previous albums. My new friends. They saw me attending the launch alone and they asked me if I would like to join them. Of course, I do. Thanks guys for adopting me for the night. Also, for making my wish come true. See you next time! <3 To Yael, Gosh, Ted, and Armo, thank you for the following reasons why I am super happy:
1. For having a photo like this. 2. For signing the three albums I bought. 3. For the appreciation of my Sponge Cola-inspired shoes. 4. For the music you have shared. 5. For the replies in Twitter. 6. For having new friends met during gigs. 7. For everything. Love, Je Ombao. Philippine Popular Music Festival 2013 is a foundation that unites Filipino songwriters and boosts the vibe of OPM. A record breaking of 3,383 entries that came from all over the world ranging in different genres like rock, hiphop, R&B, jazz, ballad and some made an attempt of making modernized kundiman. According to the foundation, their attempt of involving itself in nation building through music, they have set out to positive change through songs and are given the opportunity to shine and influence others’ lives. The Philpop 2013 artists are touring around the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. Last 9th of August, Kean Cipriano with Banda ni Kleggy, Six Part Invention, Ace Libre of Never the Strangers, Ney Dimaculangan, Sam Concepcion, Tippy Dos Santos and Quest performed five of the songs in the Philpop 2013 album. The Maestro, the Ryan Cayabyab opened the show with the introduction of what Philpop is. He formerly announced that this coming November of 2013, the submission of entries for Philpop 2014 will begin. Space - Kean Cipriano with Banda ni KleggyWritten by Raffy Calicdan, Kean Cipriano with Banda ni Kleggy interpreted the song of someone in a relationship who literally needs space. The reggae-like melody and the lyrics pumped up the whole song. Perfect! Time Machine - Six Part InventionThere are times that you want to travel back in time, and Kennard Faraon composed not a real one but a song, “Time Machine.” Interpreted by the Six Part Invention, the mix of electronic and acoustic, which was the composer’s favorite and the lyrics were of perfect combination. Sometimes That Happens - Ace LibreFinally! A "paparazzi" photo of Ace Libre!!! It took me how many attempts. An intimate and soulful performance of Never the Strangers' Ace Libre. Penned by Adrienne Sarmiento-Buenaventura and arranged by Niño Regalado, “Sometimes That Happens” is a heartbreaking song inspired by Adrienne’s experience. She just gave birth to a song, which made most people inspired and really say that some things really happen in different ways. Through the voice of the Ace Libre of Never the Strangers, you can feel the intimate vibe of the song. He is just the perfect interpreter. Kung 'Di Man - Ney DimaculanganA challenge to himself in writing a love song, Johnoy Danao didn’t include the word, “love” into the lyrics of his composition. Ney Dimaculangan’s serenading voice gave life to the song, “Kung ‘Di Man.” Dati - Sam Concepcion, Tippy Dos Santos and QuestThyro and Yumi introduced the interpreters of their song, Dati. Isn't she beautiful? Gorgeous Tippy! Caught you, Sam! Written by Thyro Alfara and Yumi Lacsamana, “Dati” is packed with a bunch of childhood memories of love and how it became different as time went on. Sam Concepcion and Quest did a wonderful interpretation of the song. It is undeniable why this song took home the crown. The artists along with the Maestro signed the album and stood for a group picture. I saw a number of photographers who came in. I felt so honored to witness this one of a kind performance even if I missed the finals night. Inspired by these artists, I'm currently planning to join the Philpop 2014 but I feel quite pressured because I haven't written a song yet. Whether I'll come up with a song or not, I'm looking forward to Philpop 2014. Great songs, great artists. Philpop brings all artists together that strongly believes that OPM is not dead. x
19 July 2013
Music Museum (Greenhills, San Juan) Director: Paolo Valenciano Since 2005, I became a listener of Sponge Cola. In 2006, I joined the mailing list and I officially declared myself as an ultimate fan of the band. I was high school back then and I can’t forget that I really catch them on MYX. For thirteen years, Sponge Cola decided to hold a major concert. They said that they have forgotten to make their anniversary concert on their 10th year. Since I’ve watched a major solo concert of a well-known OPM artist, I told myself that when it will be Sponge Cola’s turn, I should not miss it, not by any chance. Roughly one month before, Sponge Cola announced that they will be having a major concert. I only saw it in tweets, until such time that somebody told me to check Paolo Valenciano’s Instagram account to see what SC cooks for the fans. I am a July baby and I really want to celebrate my birthday in a not-so-ordinary way every year. This time, I really wanted to celebrate it with them. I wore my personalized shoes made by Tal de Guzman of Risqué Designs, which was inspired by Sponge Cola’s albums. My confusion if the concert will start at 8 or 9 PM was my first dilemma. Since I flew from my school to Makati to get my shoes and attend the concert, I really found a hard time of making things up. I don’t know if there’s a need for me to re-apply my make-up, if I should change my shoes or if I could call my friends if they should talk to the management and begin the concert a little bit later. Funny but those things came in mind. Luckily, I made it just in time. I had time to catch my breath. The band entered wearing neon outfits. Apologies for my blurred vision, I didn’t know that they already came out. I still asked, “Sino ‘yan, sino yan?” When almost everyone yelled, I knew that Yael, Armo, Ted and Gosh pumped up the stage. They first played the first track from their first album, Palabas, 22. Yael, wore a neon jacket with a large numbered-design caught my attention. They really exerted an effort in their pretty little details. Two fire-like, fans-blew props were the best line of attack for KLSP’s intro. The stage was equipped with two scaffolding-like structures where Armo and Yael went up to when they sang Tuliro. After that, they played their diamond-hit, Tambay that stayed in the MYX charts at the top spot for only two weeks because Zia Quizon’s first big hit, Ako Na Lang Sana took off the crown. But when Yael and Zia performed, I never thought that it was incredibly good! And as I looked to Armo, I said that, “oh my god, kumakanta si Armo!” Even he sang the backup vocals still, he had his voice be heard. I was happy with that. Lights off. A circle that looked like a disc with a microphone in the middle came down from the ceiling. When Yael sang Una, I remembered that it was their first video I really liked due to the effects. Yael said that in their next song, Nakapagtataka, he sat at almost 90% of the music video so he chose to sit on the stage box. Another steady and chill-out song was Di Na Mababawi. Former drummer and founding member of Sponge Cola, Chris Cantada surprised the crowd. He had sent me to tears when he appeared. He sang his song for the girl who makes his heart beat, Jillian. Just like the old times, Chris held the guitar as Yael gives the beat. Next was Gemini, where Chris played the keyboards and Ted came back to play the drums. From the audience, the Gary Valenciano hyped up the hit, Ayt! Plus the dancing skills carried out by Gary V. and Yael. Wearing the school pride, the UAAP theme song, Puso, along with the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion, went on high. A bench, lamp post and acoustic guitar, Yael shared their high school tambay story and sang the mellow to screamo song, Neon. Chill chill lang, then they sang Cry, Crazy for You, Heaven Knows and Jeepney. One guy on the stage caught my attention who was wearing hoodie and sunnies. It’s Ryan Bang! He asked Yael if he can sing for Chito Miranda in XGF but due to some technical difficulties, Ryan, as what he said, he didn’t perform well but the song went fun along with Los Magno. Funny Ryan Bang, he also performed Bitiw with Yael. Lunes, a song that never gets old was next. Grateful to everyone who came, Yael gave a short message and went down the stage. He gave flowers to Karylle and dedicated their last song, Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay to her. This song brought me to tears, thinking that they were able to stay for thirteen years strong and still, they have inspired a lot. The concert was never made possible without their supportive friends. I saw Karylle, Ace Libre, Champ Lui Pio, Angeli Valenciano, Kim Marvilla, Kiray Celis, Zsa-Zsa Padilla, Coleen Garcia, Robi Domingo, Gretchen Ho, Iza Calzado, Sidney Yap to name a few. Lights off, instruments down. I never thought that the concert will end just like that. It happened in just a snap, until some requested for another song, Pasubali. Til then I realized, how long was I as a fan and how long will I be as a fan? The answer will be forever. They have inspired me in a number of ways and they have given me this sky-scraping happiness every time I see them perform. For that, I am really grateful for the time that I have celebrated my birthday with them. x |