My Instrument in Escaping Reality

I really love playing the piano, though I'm not very good at it. I am what other would call an "amateur" since I can't even read piano notes and play at the same time. I can barely read notes at all! I'd either ask my dad to teach me a song or learn from Youtube. Or I'd try to ouido or play a song by ear. And yet, my lack of skill doesn't stop me from playing some pieces over and over again. I have been play the chorus of Right Here Waiting day and night, hoping to perfect it. I have to admit though, I still can't play an entire song, but when I do, it'll be an achievement for me. I had received my piano as a graduation gift from my dad, after years of begging and persuading. I promised I would learn to play the basics first, but I got excited and started to learn from Youtube some short pieces already. I ouido-ed some memorable instrumentals as much as I could. But I guess it's not enough. I have to learn the whole thing so that's why I promise to take piano lessons this summer. I told my mom I would the last, but my laziness got hold of me, I mean come on, it's SUMMER. Last summer, all I did with the piano was playing the same pieces over and over again, learn and ouido-ed a few, and replayed all of it again and again. When school started this year, I continued to play it every time I come home after school and even early in the morning before I leave for school too. But there came a time when there were a lot to do when I get home, so I never played for about a month. I decided to start playing again, and swore to myself that I should play at least once a day. That, I did. And whenever there were tests the next day, playing the piano came to me as a distraction. I wouldn't really play anything else other than the few short pieces I know, I just like the sound of it. So, I've been wasting probably 30 minutes of study time just sitting there and playing the same old songs. Once, I even fell asleep on the piano, only God knows what had happened. Playing the piano would cause me to forget what time it is. I would be in some dream world or something every time I do. That is why it officially became my instrument in escaping reality :)

Nostalgic Sundays.

There's this undescribable feeling that I would always feel every time I enter my room on a Sunday afternoon where the sun is near its setting. I would remember all the good times in my childhood. All those wonderful memories would come rushing at me every time I enter that kind of atmosphere. And then, realizing that those wonderful memories could only stay as memories and could never really happen again, I would suddenly feel sad. There's also a comforting feeling in that certain atmosphere. I would feel safe and secure. There's no explanation as to why I'd feel those things. I don't know why I'm so attached to my past and I don't know why I can't accept changes in the future. Well, someday I will know, but for now, I'll await for another nostalgic Sunday afternoon at home... -_-

Fact: Pretending to eat food can reduce your cravings for it

This idea is based on a common phenomenon called “habituation”. This is when food becomes less desirable the more you eat it. For example,the first bite of something is always better than, say, the tenth. Researchers found out that this process happens in your mind. So if you trick your mind into thinking that you are already eating, you will feel less of a desire to eat!

What I learned from a Taxi Driver

My mom and I were outside Robinsons, hoping to get a taxi as soon as possible when, a Sher-lyn unit came into view. We tried to go ahead of the college students waiting for a tazi too, and we were successful. The moment we went out of the Robinsons Driveway, the taxi driver started to talk about how insensitive people are nowadays to the traffic rules. He saw a bunch of people right in front of the mall, trying to get a taxi. You see, taxi drivers are not allowed to load or unload there, it would just cause more traffic jam. And if a taxi driver was caught, as the taxi driver said, they would be asked to pay a fee AND take a seminar regarding traffic rule-following or something like that. What's more is that if a taxi driver was not accepted in the first batch of 50 in the seminar, he'd have to take the next one, the next day. Until then, he could not drive the taxi. Anyway, the taxi driver was old, probably 60 or so, and he obviously had a lot of experience. He and my mom continued to talk about how people here in the City could not maintain a little discipline. He soon revealed to us that he is from Davao. He then continued to tell us of the differences Davao and Iloilo have. Here in Iloilo City, people would just cross the streets even though they know they're not supposed to. We would just throw our trash anywhere we like, even though there's already a law against it. Here, we would try to catch up in riding a jeep in the middle of the road. We would have drunkards party all night, even acting all drunk and hazy during the day.
But in Davao, everything's different. According to the taxi driver, there are only but a few traffic enforcers there, yet they all manage to follow the law. Why is that so? It turns out that if the person next to you would just litter, you can turn that person in to the police and receive money in exchange. That seems cool. Why can't we do that here too? There, everyone follows the rules. Nobody would dare to stray from the laws. There, they have a separate place for jeepneys to unload and another place for them to load. There, nightlife is only until 10:00, and so is the selling of beer. There, you're not allowed to drink beer in public, instead, you should bring it to your home and drink there. The mayor there is loved by the people. He would also go around the city on his motorcycle without any guards or police following him. If there would be a traffic jam, he would be the one to do the traffic enforcing himself. He imposes laws, especially traffic laws, is because his mother was once arrested for crossing the street! Imagine! The officials here, he said, are not standing up and making a change that well. They should strive harder in keeping our laws, because without it, there would be chaos.

I really couldn't believe how different these two places are. I realized that the place I call 'home' is full of undisciplined people compared to Davao. Well, all I could say is that in time, Iloilo City will prosper and though we couldn't be as disciplined as those in Davao, we'll still survive.

So these are the things I learned from the taxi driver. It's sad that we never got to know his name. I do hope I'll run in to him again. I just wanna know more!

PLAYFEST '10

One of the most challenging events this year, probably for my whole high school life here. This year, we staged Esther for our CAE play and we did the 3rd part of Florante at Laura . I was supposed to appear once in the first scene for Esther, but I was told by our directress to ad-lib twice, both in the scenes before a feast. It took them a long time to change the props and stuff, plus the villagers backstage did not appear downstage to ad-lib themselves. Since Lisa and I had a villager costume already, we went up the stage, totally unprepared. Gosh, was I shaking uncontrollably up there! I had to begin the ad-libbing, not sure of what to say or where it would lead to. At one point, my head went blank. I couldn't think of anything else to say anymore. And then, the unexpected happened. Claire and Nicholai,both from Anastasia,came up the stage with their Russian-style costume and ad-libbed with us! What a surprise that was. I tried to hide my amusement as I, a Persian villager, chatted with the Dowager Empress of Russia and her granddaughter, the young Anastasia. Well, the center curtains opened, much to my relief, and so Lisa, Claire, Nicholai and I went down back to the audience. I thought that was the last time I had to ad-lib. I thought . The last scene took a long time to be prepared. I don't know what had happened backstage. But all I know is that I had to ad-lib once again. The same rush of nervousness came over me again. But eventually, the center curtains opened once again. Those were not the only unforgettable things that took place. About, two days or the day before the final play, the files on the USB that contained the final arrangement of our music got corrupted. Meaning, all our files were gone. I had no explanation as to why that happened but I know that it was my fault. So, Marion and I painstakingly looked for a way to retrieve the files on the day before the play. Since no computer expert helped us, we decided on a Plan B, which was to make a new playlist. Marion had back-up files at home, but it lacked an important song. Well, the night before the play, Marion everything she could and the next day, the moment of truth, I had the job of rearranging the songs according to the script. It was tough. Some songs were hard to find, the script lacked songs that are needed and I still had to change put make-up on. Well, I managed to finish the whole playlist and prayed not to have it all mixed up for the nth time. The music during the play had some minor mistakes. but it was alright.

A lot of unexpected things happened during our CAE play, but all those things happened for a reason. We just have to find those out.

Well, CAE was tough but CAF was a totally different adventure. I was the Stage Manager and a soldier to Adolfo. Actually, I never wanted to be Stage Manager, because first of all, I would have to replace anyone who would be absent. And I know what kind of stress that would put me into, pacing around, hoping that nobody would get sick or something, since I was also the Stage Manager last year. The dance partner of Don Juan called in sick on the day of the play of Ibong Adarna. I had no other choice but to replace her, though I was faced with two problems: One, I didn't know the steps nor the formations, and two, I didn't have shoes. We were already at the backstage when I was told of this. The dress was delivered and eventually, Ms. Bena got hold of someone's heels. So I had to practice the entire dance routine in less than 5 minutes since we were scheduled to start then. During the dance, I swore I tripped as I attempted to twirl in those heels. I'm not used to dancing in heels because first of all: I don't wear high-heeled sandals and second: why the HELL would I dance around in those torture chambers they call shoes?

So,back to the present, I never really wanted that to happen again. So that's why I wanted to be the Production Manager for the 2nd year CAF play. Well, the intended Stage Manager didn't want to so I was convinced to be the Stage Manager since I already have 'experience'. Well, I clearly regretted the moment I said 'yes' to the part. So there I was, spending those days worrying about the health of my classmates. I didn't want them to get sick on the day of the play. Nooo. During the midst of our practices, we had some problems and then I was told to replace the soldier of the villain, Adolfo. I never had a guy role before. This was entirely new to me, having someone draw a mustache and a beard on my face. That tickled, seriously. During the TDR, there was a problem with the blindfold Adolfo was trying to tie around Laura's head. I was in that scene too. So, our Adolfo, Jessica, ad-libbed some stuff about me as her kawal, ordering me to tie it properly. I didn't say anything. I don't know how to ad-lib in Filipino and you bet I don't dare to, for I fear that it would sound horrible. During the final play, nobody was absent, Thank God for that, and I was dead-scared of committing a mistake while I'm on stage. Well, there was a mistake that was not planned well. You see, I was supposed to bring the blindfolded Laura to the woods, which meant I had to bring her from the stage, down to the audience, and back up on the stage. Problem was, our Laura, Louise, had a long gown, wore heels and was blindfolded. There was no way I could lead her down the steps without her tripping. I had to quickly change route on the day of the play. I think it turned out well, nobody thought of it as a mistake other than those who know the real choreography. Well, I also had a great time during the CAF play because we had a great impact on the audience. From the Introduction down to the Ending, we've heard claps,howls,gasps,screams,oohs,ahhs, and a lot more in response to the scenes, much to our surprise. It was truly successful for us.

Both plays were successful in its own right. It was truly another great experience for me that I'm sure I'll never forget. :)