Another week.

After rehearsing in the Aliw Theater's Elizalde Hall for 3 weeks, we've finally moved back to the CCP Conference Room. So from a fairly warm rehearsal venue (where we always have about 5 fans going) to a pretty cold one.

At the beginning of the week, I did something that I was planning to do about over a year ago but never got to due to certain circumstances. Never mind the reality of the cost, I just went ahead. But now, I'm thinking, is it worth it? Am I looking for something in exchange? Maybe, maybe not.

Lambert caught me yawning during one rehearsal and he had asked how I was going to survive tech week, considering I'm also juggling another part-time job during early mornings. Not really a problem, I guess. Filing for a 2-week leave won't be so bad, right? I had already filed for the first week, and will do so for tech week by the end of this week. That way, I won't look like a total zombie by the time the show opens.

I just realized that I haven't done much except go to the office and CCP ever since rehearsals began. Thank goodness the Virgin Labfest was just in the area, so I was able to catch the final 2 weekend evenings for the festival. I had already bought a ticket in advance to the final 8pm show on Sunday, because ever since my first Labfest experience, I know for a fact that the closing weekend can be quite a toughie to get into. It's actually nice to know that there were a lot more people who came to watch this year. I saw bigger audiences during sets' opening shows on the first weekend, while before, I could practically lie down on the bleachers on a set's first show.

On Saturday night, after an afternoon music rehearsal with none other than Mr. Ryan Cayabyab himself, Minay and I rushed to the Conference Room to catch the 6pm staged reading of Hermano Puli, written by Miss Lallie and directed by Tuxqs. It already began a half hour before we made it inside, but at least we got to watch most of it.

After the show, I stepped outside the south entrance to grab my umbrella and found George talking with Trixie. She had asked me earlier when she will see me act onstage, and I had shrugged, so she asked me again. Hahaha, I told George to still consider me in his next plays, as I had declined his offer to be in the thesis production of Titus Andronicus (because I had already signed up for Noli). I sure hope he's serious, hahaha.

Afterwards, I found myself killing time in the lobby while waiting for the rain to let up. There were still quite a bunch of people waiting outside the Batute even after the 1st play began, in hopes of getting in, but as for me, I knew I didn't have a fighting chance. Dingdong, on the other hand, was still waiting for some of his guests to arrive, and because some people didn't make it, a couple of my friends managed to nab the just-released tickets. Haha, I managed to nab one of the last tickets (and I still haven't paid you back, Dingdong, sorry!), so I still managed to catch the second to the last show of both Kinaumagahan (congrats, Riki!) and Kafatiran (congrats, Dingdong, JK, Marco, Acey, Abner, Ian and Tamtam!).

I got to hang out with Lara (Lara Mae), Lara (the Other Lara), and Roan after the show. A few bites and a bunch of pitchers of drinks, and a whole lot of chatter and laughs at Dencio's made up for the time I didn't get to join those ladies' nights. I love these girls to bits.

So anyway, as I mentioned earlier, we finally moved into the Conference Room on Sunday afternoon. No director that day, so with Chie as our fearless leader, we got to clean up most of the scenes that included the chorus so as to prep up for the choreography. After rehearsal and a short meeting with Chie, Wowie and Minay, I practically flew to the Batute to fall in line for the final Labfest set's closing (Set C: Streetlight Manifesto, Kawala, and Evening at the Opera). I got to watch this set's DTR a couple of weeks ago, but didn't really get to watch the first play because I had to step out and have dinner because I was practically starving after our own rehearsal. Anyway, I was glad to have bought a ticket to this set way in advance so I don't have to bother waiting outside. Jenny and Ring found that I was alone, so they invited me to sit with them (with Opa sitting in front of us). We had a perfect view of Evening at the Opera from where we were sitting, as they were advised to sit near the entrance, where we had a full view of Ana at the dresser table.

After the show's curtain call, VLF founder and festival director Rody Vera announced that Tuxqs will be the new festival director next year. Woohoo!

Congratulations to everyone involved in Virgin Labfest 7!

As I haven't talked with Opa in ages, and I was starving the whole day, we decided to catch up while I ate in KFC after the show. It was great to know she was busy with something she enjoyed.

Anyway, it's about time I hit the sack. Again. It's good enough that I had one day to hibernate and just be dead to the world, and dwelling on certain things, hahaha.

So dear blog reader, how are you?