Crazy weekend. Talo pa ang kape sa puyatan.

The past week had some ups and downs, and Kapeng Malamig closed in quite an interesting manner.

We were told that the set pieces were to arrive on Tuesday, but it was moved to Wednesday. I had to come in after lunch because we were told that the props and costumes were coming in from the Kapeng Malamig HQ that afternoon. Due to certain complications that Ren never fully explained to us, we never saw any of those props and costumes. Resorted what we could find when we had to run the show and never finished. Another problem was that none of us hadn't received our rehearsal fees, which were promised that day after being delayed the day before. "My bad," that was all we've got, even though Gino and Apple had voiced out that it wasn't fine with some of us, plus it was already agreed upon in our individual contracts.

No rehearsals on Thursday and Friday, due to a recital in the venue during those two days. I didn't mind, really, as a personal issue arose the entire Thursday, where I spent the entire day holed up in my room, not even bothering to come out to eat. Stupid move, as after I had tried to eat a late dinner, I threw up not once, but three times, because of the food intake and dehydration. Then I got the bad news that Ren and Arvin canceled all 3 shows of Kapeng Malamig, giving a stupid reason that there were technical problems and the audience wasn't enough. They called a meeting for the following evening to voice everything out. Didn't get to go, as I still wasn't feeling well that day. But I did hear that everyone did voice out what Ren needed to hear. Because of that, the shows were back on.

7am call time. When I arrived 5 minutes before call time, the venue was still locked. Oh well. By the time it was opened, we all did some, uhm, minor adjustments to the stage. And because there still weren't stuff from the HQ, we all provided our own costumes and props. Everyone gave the Friday absentees a full description as to what happened the night before. Everyone was totally pissed off at Ren and Arvin. They pulled off the stupidest stunts I couldn't even imagine.

No particular break whatsoever, so after an Italian run, we all rushed to get ready, and our first show was already pretty delayed. During last Wednesday's runthrough, I was contracted by Arianne and Vanie as a dresser for their quick changes, and I managed to plot everything in my head, including my own costume changes. Fortunately on Saturday, Vanie found an easier way to change, so I ticked that off my mental list. But Noah also needed a dresser as well for his 2 costume changes in one scene alone. Easy as pie. Arianne's changes were the trickiest, but we managed to pull everything off smoothly.

After the first show, we were an hour late, so we immediately prepped up for the second show. Was already starving because of hardly any food intake, though I did have a couple of packages of crackers and a bottle of Gatorade, plus there's the ensaymada that Chieboy had brought along with some boxes of Zest-O juice. Everyone was more revved up during the 2nd show; it was such a blast. People said that the 2nd show was our best run. Bwahaha, during the scene between Shanna and Lester in the 2nd act, Geli somehow got trapped in the coffee shop set because she had to get the props that Arianne had needed.

Final show. Still starving. Mikko and I had indulged in one of the unopened ensaymadas during the 2nd show, and we still hadn't finished it. It was still a good show, but it didn't really top the 2nd run. Well, we still gave it our all, though. Congrats to everyone!

Company call after the 3rd show to discuss the talent fees. Ren and Arvin's audacity to fool everyone with their stupidity still amazed us. Everyone was still raving mad at them, and I even surprised myself by also speaking up, especially because I didn't get to have my say during the Friday meeting. No one wanted to leave until all accounts were settled. In the first place, they were so stupid enough to give a lame reason to cancel the show. Technical glitches? Dapat may contingency plan that you have to deliver. No audience? What the hell are walk-ins for? And even if the show was cancelled, those were guaranteed shows. To quote, "Lahat ng shows ay sure na." So no matter what happens, we still have to get paid. What can a check for 200 thousand pesos do for us TODAY when it was issued to Arvin AND it was dated for the 23rd? What if the check bounced? We were counting on all fees to be paid AFTER THE SHOW. Breach of contact, people. There were so many people banking on that money. Yung iba umaasa sa pamasahe and ito lang ang racket nila. Gino even broke down upon finding out that Ren and Arvin said that that was the only solution. And hello, hindi lang pera ang pinag-uusapan dito. Maraming na-invest din dito, especially ang tiwala namin sa mga tao. Binuhos namin ang lahat dahil mahal namin ang teatro. Tapos sisirain lang ninyo ang lahat? Ang masasagot niyo lang ay "We'll find a way" at "We're waiting for (insert whatever lame excuse they could come up with that moment)."

We all moved the party to Ministop, as we had to vacate the campus. Everyone was still mad, and we caused quite a scene, especially when Geli's mom and brother turned up as well. And Ren and Arvin's faces never changed. It pissed all of us off that they still had the gall to lie in our faces even though they were already in deep sh*t.

To finally settle things, we all decided to take them to the nearest precinct, along Mabini in Malate. To make a long story short, we couldn't sue them yet until after the check would be encashed on the 23rd. If the check bounced, that's when we could file a case against them. And when we were all ready to finally settle with that, more and more issues came up, just with the simple action of checking what was inside the message inbox of Ren's phone. Voices rose for the nth time that night until morning when the sun was about to rise. Sa personalan pa dinala, at dun lang umiba ang mukha when Geli's mom finally told her to talk to her mother.

So to everyone who will come across this blog and had the patience to read all the way through, please watch out for KAREN CAPUNIHAN, former general manager and production manager of Creative Impact Productions. She owes about half a million pesos to several people (and companies) and seems to have no intention of paying them back.

Panalo ang weekend na ito. Daig pa ang isang cast party ang nangyari. Cast parties have drinking, eating, laughing and puyatan until after the sun rose. Puyatan din kami sa nangyari. At least we still managed to laugh at some points from Friday until yesterday morning.

Quotable quotes:

Chieboy: I'm not shouting, but I'M SHOUTING RIGHT NOW!

Chieboy: Good thing I don't even remember your name, because your name will live in infamy! X ka na sakin.

Chieboy: I wanted to say the same thing, but I'm glad that this time it didn't come from me. Salamat, Baks.

Geli: You know what I could do to you when I'm this near to you? ("Spank" ba naman ang i-reply imbis na "slap"? Siguro mukha nga kasing pwet, hahaha.)

Tita Norma: Gusto mo ipakulong kita katulad ng ginawa ko sa mga katulong ko?

Geli: (With her face ascloseasthis to Ren) You know what? I can punch you right now. (Repeat)

Repeated lines:
"Teka, sino ngang walang talent?"
"Kaya nga ganun eh, kasi may talent sila."

Geli: Pano ka nakapasok sa call center? Sefftember? personalan na to.

Ren: Please wag mommy ko. I'm begging you.

Arvin: Eto na yung check, bahala na kayo dito. (eh tanga ka pala -Jojo)

Tita Norma: Does your boyfriend know about the 86k?
Ren: Yes po.
(after 20 minutes the boyfriend goes out)
Tita: Do you know about the 86k?
Arvin aka X : Hindi po.

Geli: Bitiwan niyo ako! I'm okay! Please... (to Ren) If something happens to my mom, ha... If something happens to my mom...

Geli: Pigilan niyo ako!

Teka, wala na akong ma-recall. Maybe I'll edit and add to that when I remember, hahahaha.