MUSIKAL!

The Cultural Center of the Philippines is celebrating its 45th year with "MUSIKAL" featuring box office, critically acclaimed original Filipino musicals during the last five years. It will be directed by CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Chris Millado, under the musical direction and arrangement of Jed Balsamo (Sandosena's musical director!), accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra lead by Gerard Salonga.

THIS SHOW IS GOING TO BE MAGICAL. All your favorite musicals and theater artists, the brilliance of Philharmonic Orchestra, all in one show.

And I will be part of this. SO. STOKED. Batang Rizal will also be part of this, together with Sandosenang Sapatos and Bluebird of Trumpets under the Children's Musical Theater Category.

Last night at the Tech-Dress Rehearsals, I was so amazed, so star struck to share the stage with some of my favorite theater artists and to see my favorite musicals once more!

PETA's CAREDIVAS!

I envy those who have lots of quick changes for this show because they are involved in several productions. That should be my goal. To be part of as many productions as possible in the next 5 years. Check that, Timee.

MAXIE The Musical!

 

SA WAKAS

ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH ZE MUZIKAL

We'll be playing the zombies for the Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah number, with the song "Multo ng Nakaraan", one of my faaaavorite songs from the musical!! Such an honor to be a zombie!

But the real bad asses (for me) are the guys from Ballet Philippines. They are so cool. They'll be performing excerpts from "[Rock] Supremo" serenaded by Mr. Ebe Dancel himself, and "Ramahari" with Karylle and OJ Mariano.

[ROCK] SUPREMO

RAMAHARI

I've never seen a Ballet Philippines production, but these guys are bad asses, just watching them from the backstage. *creep* I wish I was a ballerina. The ballet guys (what do you call male ballerinas anyway?) are hot too. I should go see more of their shows. I should have more ballerina friends. I should be a ballerina.

So anyway, I was telling a friend how worried I was because this was my first CCP Main Theater performance, and I was thinking of all the possible ways I could screw this up, and how I should prove that I deserve to share the stage with the other big theater artists, or to even be on the very same stage Wicked and Phantom of the Opera has performed in. He wasn't a theater person, so he put it in basketball terms, in light of Gilas' win last night "Alam mo, sa basketball, wala namang pinagkaiba kung sa araneta ka o sa madison square garden ka naglalaro" 

A reminder that we are all on the same stage because of one reason; theater. #WeLoveOurJobs

So please just shut up, call CCP and buy a ticket. Bring your family, your friends, your ka-Tinder to this once in a lifetime performance. (Well twice, Sept 5 and 6) Whatever. Just go see this.

See you!

Misplaced

I am supposed to be overjoyed and jittery by now. In a few days, we officially open. My heart should be pounding with fear of falling off my blades, of not being able to do the turns and that jump. By now I should be ecstatic; I will be performing in that theater, where many legends from this industry have before me, where many legends started out the way I did, in that small space.

I am not ungrateful, though sometimes I think I am, and I sometimes hate myself for it. But I am thankful, overjoyed, fearful and ecstatic. I am all of these things, but there's more.

I know that my friends won't be able to share this big life event with me. First, I don't expect them to actually push through because the shows are sold out. After I found out about this, and the fancy tickets sold to the audience, I no longer prodded them to watch, as I have with my other shows. I don't usually message everyone to come see my shows, go out of my way to find complimentary tickets for them just to get their asses up to watch. I know the true friends will come see it, spend time and money for it, without me asking them to. But this one is different. This is my biggest production to date, and if there's one show I want everyone to see, it's this one. But because of the circumstances, I've accepted it already. I will just let this one go, let this big life event fleet by, without any of my loved ones watching it.

But I am severely touched by the friends who have actually contacted the producers for tickets, without me telling them to. Thank you. And just by that much, I feel your love. Thank you.

Maybe, I just feel more alone this time, going through all of this, alone. There are so much more feelings that came with me in this production, the usual set; self-esteem issues, insecurities, etc. All inside of my head. I know this is just in my mind, that I am to blame for whatever I am thinking or feeling. But there is added injury to the feeling of being left behind, of being forgotten.

Hayaan niyo nalang ako magtampo, dahil may karapatan ako sa mga damdamin ko. Hindi ko na susubukang ipadama sa ibang tao dahil ako lang naman ang may pakana nito, kaya ako na lamang ang dadanas nito. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito, papakawalan ko na lamang ito sa uniberso, ibabaon sa limot, gaya ng pagkalimot niyo sa akin. 

There, glad I got that out.

Sandosenang Sapatos

Here we go!

Sandosenang Sapatos runs from August 27-31, 2014 at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, CCP. Contact Richard Nollen 09275111319 for tickets! 

Finding happiness in the wrong places

I'm just going to say it. I've been unhappy discontented for the past few months.

Maybe it's because I've taken an indefinite leave from what used to be my life goals and dreams. What do you do when your dreams don't feel like dreams anymore? When they now feel more like a chore you have to get over with just so you can have Ph.D attached to your name? When the thing you want most, does not necessarily equate to being happy? What then is the point of the dream?

Maybe it's because I've taken the road with no direction. Where am I now was never part of my life plans. In fact, I swore to myself I would never consider this path, not even for the money. But I've stuck it out for a year, behind a desk, in an 8-5 job succumbing to the "luxury" that this institution compensates me with. I am far from being a self-made woman, but I can say that I am much more financially comfortable than I was in my previous career. But what can money, something so temporary and dispensable, do for the intangible soul? It's an endless cycle, if you think money can buy happiness. Money buys you everything you want, but you'll want more, and there is always more than you cannot have. There is no finish line in this route.

Maybe it's because I AM living the dream, it just feels like I'm still working for it. The 5 years ago ME would have killed the ME now for saying this. 5 years ago, being part of this production and working for this company, was such a far-fetched dream. Today I am counting down to 6 more days before opening night, slightly less ecstatic/overwhelmed than what I expected. I am not ungrateful. I am still in disbelief that I am part of this, but right now, I'm too occupied in working on what else needs to be improved, in internalizing and getting myself in the zone, with 6 days before opening night. I am in, but I have to prove that I am good enough for this, that the producers and directors did not make a mistake with me, that my cast mates can rely on me, that I don't shame the company by being a mediocre performer, by putting on a good show for everyone. I am in, I made it; but the worth of "achieving the dream" is in how you "live the dream".

Maybe it's because, I don't know how else to say this; I am never alone, but I feel more lonely now. I know my friends are a message away, some are just 2 doors away from my desk, but lately, I haven't had time. I whatsapp them or see them, only to tell them I can't come to the sleepover or to meet up for late lunch because I have work or rehearsals. The other day we didn't have rehearsals, I had to do errands so I got off from work early. I decided to meet up with a friend, thinking I needed some social life in between, only to be drugged down by my anti-histamine over dinner and falling asleep while being driven home. I haven't even caught up with my siblings to ask them about school, ask my parents how they are, or how have lolo and lola been since I left. There's just enough time for work, rehearsals, and sleep. And I have come to point where I'd rather choose to sleep than go out to drink (I'll feel sleepy on my first drink), watch a movie (I've fallen asleep in the last 2 movies I've seen), go to sleepovers (where the actual sleeping is only 1/8 of the time), or travel (5 hour bus ride to the beach or 5 hours of sleep? You get the idea.) Sleeping, in my case, is such an "unrest". How timely and appropriate that the opening song of the production is entitled "Sa Panaginip Lang Ako Minamahal" 

But then again, these are the wrong places to look for happiness.

4 Buffets in 1 Month

That's how much I've been eating these past few weeks. Indirectly proportional to the amount of workout I've been doing.


Ding Qua Qua Dimsum
(June 24, 2014)

Yes. P288 only. 

A trip to Cebu is never, let me just reiterate that, NEVER complete without dimsum. I was born and raised in Cebu, and every Sunday we would have lunch in Harbour City in SM. I'd look forward to the steamed rice, fried shrimp balls, and quail egg siomai; those were my staples. My dad would chow down on chicken feet, and I never understood why it was appealing until just recently when I tried them at Causeway.

But Cebu dimsum is far from Causeway (sorrynotsorry). I don't understand how steamed rice could be so addictive (probably loaded with MSG but #idontcare) and magical. There is only one kind of steamed rice for me, and if you'd serve me the literal 'steamed' rice, it would be unacceptable. I never knew what this wonderful bowl of msg and carbs was made of, but it's pork, chicken and shrimp smothered in their secret, special, wonderful sauce. I've been to many dimsums in Manila and they don't serve this. Only in Cebu. (Until just recently when a branch of theirs, Dimsum Break, opened in SM North Edsa, making me the happiest dimsum girl in the metro)

My next favorite is their fried shrimp balls in sweet and sour sauce. It really sounds like a simple dish, but there's a disturbingly heavenly divine intervention in every bite. 

The photos aren't mine because I was too excited to dig in everything, I forgot to take photos. There were other dishes as well, several kinds of siomai, your usual buchi, kropek, that siopao bread, and other popular chinese dishes (noodles and stuff) to complete your dimsum experience. Ding Qua Qua is not your typical huge buffet, but trust me, load up on the steamed rice, siomai, and shrimp balls, maybe chicken feet too, and you're in dimsum heaven for just P288. 

When you're in Cebu, go visit Ding Qua Qua at JY Square in Lahug.


Mikado Japanese 
(June 28, 2014)

If there's one type of cuisine I swear I could eat everyday, it would have to be Japanese. And finding cheap Japanese restaurants/buffets aren't easy. Thank God for Mikado Japanese Restaurant in Cebu. We're loving Cebu already. Yes po. P380 for lunch and P470 for dinner. Again, these aren't my photos because I was too busy filling my plate from this pile of happiness.

Pile of happiness.

My second plate. 

The restaurant has a simple set up, not much frou frou Japanese keme, but really, who needs Japanese keme when you're there for the food. They have other dishes like your katsus and dons, etc. Didn't really bother with the meat because I was there for the sushi, sashimi, tempura and sukiyaki.

Mikado is located at Archbishop Reyes Ave., Cebu City

Sambokojin
(July 14, 2014)

I can eat Japanese food everyday. I mean it.

We all know Sambokojin, so I will not dwell on the food. It's probably the cheapest Japanese (and Korean) buffet in the metro, so if you're craving for just sushi, sashimi and tempura (nope, no sukiyaki), go for it.

Not much on their desserts bar, but this, too, is my staple at Sambokojin.
Green tea and strawberry ice cream with baby marshmallows and sprinkly winklies.
Just the right amount of #GV. 

We were there a few weeks ago for Denise's despedida dinner, who is going to the US for graduate school. Good food, good company, crazy kwentos. Please celebrate your birthday in Sambokojin. I don't know if they have that free birthday buffet for the celebrant thing like they do in Vikings and Buffet 101, but you're in for a real surprise with Sambo. Literally. The waiters screamed at the celebrant "SURPRISE!!" Screamed. Shouted. And please act like you're dying of shock para sila naman ma surprise. Haha

With former co-workers at Britesparks.

Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater
(July 25, 2014)

I can eat Japanese food everyday.

First thing's first, I'm the realesssst.

We happened to be in the area, and we decided to try out Banzai. If you're looking for legit Japanese food in the metro, this is it. You would know how seriously dedicated they are to their pagiging legit because of their Japenese keme interiors and the spectacular performance by the geishas, ninjas, and even the chefs. Please do watch the chefs. You're in for a surprise from them at the finale (hint: something exploding haha)

This place screams "we take Japanese food seriously" just like Sarah, seriously picking out from the variety of Japanese pancakes. Aside from my usual sushi, sashimi, tempura (still no sukiyaki huhu), I tried out other dishes that looked interesting, like the Chicken Teriyaki Pizza. There's also lasagna, pasta dishes, salads, katsus and dons, etc. The dessert bar was also full of interesting cakes and sweets. I just settled with vanilla ice cream and lemon squares.

My usual loot. 

Please do watch out for the performances. The costumes are really nice. Their belts are made out of colorful bubble wraps, they have big ass swords and they do their make up really well. They deserve the attention, so put your chopsticks down and instagram that shit. 

Ninja. 

Geishas. 

Banzai is located in the Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. We highly recommend it, it's the best we've had so far. Make sure you call in early for reservations because by the time we were done, there was a long line of people waiting to get in.


My next buffet will probably be in a year, when I've done all the workout I ought to do. Whatever, I'm getting cheese fries.