Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah all over again.

When I first found out last year through the rumor mill that Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Ze Musikal was going to replace the shelved Ganito Kami Noon, I actually started wondering whether I should watch it again. Ika nga ni Tad, "Meron pa bang hindi pa nakakapanood ng Zsa Zsa?" Pero malamang, marami pa diyan, like this person who once said, "Am I the type of person who'd watch Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah? Pffft. (Maski friend ko siya, lumabas sakin ang pagka-hypocrite niya.) Anyway, so sure, that particular musical has been one of Tanghalang Pilipino's best selling original plays, but would I want to watch it again? When Tad finally gave me the news that the cast was expanding and he was one of the new taumbayans, I gave in. Sige na nga, manonood na ako, hahahaha!

I was starving when I had arrived in CCP last Friday, as I had taken a bus from ATC that directly goes to Vito Cruz. Stopover at Jollibee for some takeout. Should I eat in the buff, at the steps of the main entrance or in the LT lobby? Too many people at the main entrance, and a line was still forming. Took the artists entrance and after peering inside the buff, I suddenly decided to eat in the lobby. Hahaha, found Jeff, Betsy and Edcel (with friend whose name I forgot, sorry!) there, who were also there to watch Zsa Zsa. I practically inhaled my burger and fries in front of them as well all stood around waiting for the house to open.

My 2nd ticket was for Opa, but she was running kind of late, so I left her ticket with Paolo before I went inside. Heck, LT had reserved seating for this show, so I wasn't really in a hurry to scramble for a seat. 2nd row nga, but all the way at the end, hahaha!

I have to say, having more ensemble members in the cast worked wonders for the bigger venue. When I last saw this musical in RCBC, they did their best to maximize the stage, but it still sort of didn't work. First thing I noticed? Mikki was really dancing! Hahaha! But like the same old Mikki, he attaches himself to the person closest to him. Regardless of what was happening onstage, makikita mo nakakapit pa rin siya sa isang tao, ahehe. Eula was spectacular as Zsa Zsa, as usual. And of course, Tuxqs and Joey as the Ada-Didi tandem was still a hit, as they do own these roles.

(With that last sentence, let me just say that Rustom Padilla and Zsa Zsa Padilla had never graced the stage for the production. It seems that there are some people who believe that the original actors of Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah were the actors in the movie. Nyahahay. Ano buh.)

Going back to the show, I got to watch Meliza as Queen Femina that night. It's refreshing to see her Queen Femina as a small but terrible villain, ahahaha. Well, she did manage to pull off looking large onstage. But it was so funny when she clambered up the steps leading to the pole on stage right. And there was Ring as the new Sharon C (Mayen is now playing Vilma S). During the Transmorphication Song when all the Amazonistas were being carried across the stage by ensemble members in black, Sharon C couldn't be carried so she just crossed the stage herself while "carrying" her boobs, ahahaha!

On the technical side, I realized that something's a bit off in the theater's acoustics. Or maybe that was just because I was sitting way way at the end of the second row? Ahahaha. But if you listen carefully, there were popping and crackling sounds coming from the speakers (from the mics, I'm not sure) at the oddest times.

Oh, by the way, during the intermission, when I looked in the direction of the AFLS group, I was surprised to see Carlo sitting in the same row, hahaha! (Was that Oliver with you?) Anyway, he had to leave after the first act, so Opa and I managed to move to the center, taking their place. I had a stiff neck just sitting in my original seat, ahahaha. Thanks again, Carlo, ahehehe. At least Opa and I got to enjoy the opening song of Act 2. Super colorful ensemble, and the big cast worked for "Magsasalpukan Na." Too bad the original intimate treatment was sort of lost when they tried to sell merchandise to the crowd, ahaha. But going back to the first act, they did manage to invade the house as the mumus as Zsa Zsa, Didi, Dodong and Father Bernie ran after them. Speaking of the big cast, there were more crazy antics among the crowd scenes. Especially near the end of the show when Lao came in again as the news reporter. Hahaha, there was an extra prop that made the chismosa crowd mouth the words then read it aloud with Lao's new character as reporter, hahahaha!

And yay, they kept the happy swing from the last run! Hahaha! Yun nga lang, when Tuxqs was already there, the seat almost hit the back wall while swinging. Or was the effort on the swing already calculated? Ahahaha.

So yeah, even though I had once said na "Wala pa bang nagsasawa sa Zsa Zsa?" I'm now eating my own words. Yes, I still enjoyed it. Congrats to the entire cast! =)

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Yesterday, as it was Valentine's Day, I dropped by CCP in between shows to see Tad, teeheeheehee. He wanted to give me a Starbucks treat, but because I was starving, he gave in to my craving for Teriyaki Boy. The poor dear was allergic to most seafood, but thank goodness for veggie tempuras. Hung around with him in the dressing room after dinner. Ahahaha, after all this time, I have never stuck around during shows while he prepped up and did his makeup, so it was fascinating just watching him do so as we talked. Promise, mas marami pa siyang alam sa makeup than I do, and stage makeup pa ang gamit niya, hahahaha!

Let me just say that for me, Valentine's Day can still be so overrated. I just appreciate simple joys like a surprise visit like this. Oo na, mababaw lang talaga kaligayahan ko, hehehe.

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I usually type random things in my phone's notepad when I don't have a real notepad handy for random thoughts. I've written this particular note sometime last year, and I have forgotten all about it.

Nakakapagod mag-effort, so I'll stop trying.

Seeing the unlimited call ad of Globe made me remembered certain memories.

Friends calling on the landline late at night. "Just because." Naghananap lang ng kausap, or some random thought popped in their minds and needed to share.

There were also the times unlimited calls using Sun Cellular was a huge trend. I ended up buying my own Sun prepaid sim card and talked to friends. Effort pa talaga na lumabas ako sa backyard para kausapin sila because dun lang malakas ang signal. Never mind the 15-minute limit. Dial na lang ulit, hahaha.

YM instant message windows popping up by friends (usually invisible) that you haven't talked in ages can also lead to some of the best conversations.

Yep, random nga. No time stamp whatsoever, but I can tell this was written quite a long time ago, hahaha!

25 things I owe for being tagged in Facebook several times.

After several times of being tagged, I think I owe over 300 random things already, ahahaha.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1) I have a huge case of acrophobia. That one time at a Ferris wheel and another time at a fun jump event (where your waist is attached to bungee cords and you jump on a trampoline) were only due to peer pressure. I freeze up just crossing those super high pedestrian bridges.

2) Every time I watch a movie, I always feel the need to look it up at IMDB after watching it.

3) As a kid, my cousin Anthony and I love to research random topics of interest using my collection of encyclopedias (yes, my brother and I were nerds). I remember researching about Leonardo da Vinci at the age of 9 and learning how to write in reverse (and in cursive) like he did for an entire summer.

4) I yawn a lot when I'm nervous.

5) I learned how to finger-spell the alphabet in 6th grade, when Rosa, Iam and I used to frequently visit Brother Ceci in the Campus Ministry office of DLSZ.

6) I once secretly dated a musician during the peak of his band's career. This caused quite a fiasco that added up to certain issues so I disappeared from their social circle. Igh.

7) I briefly took drumming lessons at the age of 16 and I never had any use for it, except during one jamming session with college friends (we attempted to form an all-girl band). And for Percussion Master, of course, hahaha.

8) I have no personal taste in music. I once owned a huge-ass music player (the one that looks like a PC's hard drive) that contained songs from Broadway musicals. When it crashed, all the songs were lost forever.

9) I used to have an intensive collection of Sweet Valley Twins and Baby-Sitters Club book series, until freshman year of college, when my mom forced to give them all away. Half went to a cousin in Cavite, while the other half went to another cousin in Zambales. Now, I'm trying to rebuild my collection by looking through every Book Sale I come across. If you have any and don't have any use for it, I'd be happy to adopt them, hahaha.

10) When my current boyfriend first came out and told me that he loved me, I gave him the silent treatment for about a month and a half while we were working together in Virgin Labfest 3.

11) I've been wearing glasses since the 4th grade. It was supposed to be temporarily for astigmatism, but because I was embarrassed to wear them in school, my vision kept going from bad to worse.

12) I can't sleep if I know my door is open. Even if my closet doors are ajar, I wouldn't be able to sleep unless everything's shut.

13) If my feet are exposed in cold place, my entire body will automatically feel cold. That's why I always wear closed shoes in certain places, and I sometimes have to wear socks when I have to sleep in a super cold room.

14) I'm trying to break the habit of automatically correcting people's grammar. Yeah, it's rude, I know.

15) I tend to make funny faces when I accidentally trip or hurt myself, risking more embarrassment to myself.

16) I've always wanted to dance ballroom, but time and money constraints are always in the way. I regret accepting the offer when the president of PDTA once approached me during one Pasinaya event and asked if I wanted to dance ballroom competitively.

17) I've been cursed with a poor memory. I think Alzheimer's disease is in our blood on the maternal side.

18) I used to have crushes on JTT and Bronson Pinchot.

19) I have endless cravings for pizza and pasta. With extra cheese.

20) I love watching movies alone. And the perfect movie food for me still has to be the Wendy's Biggie combo. Pauso nila Drei and Nicco, hahaha.

21) Friends say that I'm the National Artist for most workshops attended. Took 4 workshops under Trumpets Playshop (all musical theater) and 3 workshops under Tanghalang Pilipino (all theater courses). And I'm still not confident enough to try going pro.

22) I've had an online journal since 2001, and I started blogging online because I caught my mom reading my journal. She never learned how to use the computer, so I'm more comfortable here.

23) My all-time favorite movie still has to be Noises Off, originally a play by Michael Frayn.

24)  I hate being late, and I hate waiting up for people. To those who believe in Filipino time, I'm sorry. It doesn't make you more important to wait for.

25) I almost fell asleep during one show while I was an ASM for it. I felt too comfortable on one of the wooden set pieces and almost dozed off. Thank goodness I was wearing my headset with the volume up so I sprang back to life for my next cue. One of the tagged people in this note was part of that particular production.

At CCP's Pasinaya '09.

Attended the Pasinaya at CCP for the 3rd year in a row last Sunday. After downloading the schedule and checking what I wanted to see, I decided to play everything by ear on the day itself because I suddenly decided to tag along with Lawyn and the Atlantis crowd. I missed Atlantis, hahaha. I had also decided to watch the Atlantis excerpts, even though it was as the same time as the Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah preview. Look at it this way, practically everyone has already seen Zsa Zsa at least once, and this is the first time that Spelling Bee and Spring Awakening will be seen in front of an audience. Heck, no one has seen or totally confirmed who will be in the final Spring cast yet, ahehehe.

When I arrived at CCP, I went directly to the Main Theater lobby and found Paolo at the TP booth. Different troupes were performing folk and ethnic dances in the middle of the huge lobby, and one group caught my eye. I forgot what the dance was called, but it required the girls having palayoks balanced on their heads. In the middle of the dance, there was this one girl who entered balancing a whole stack of palayoks before setting them down on the floor. And one by one, the other girls added their own pots to the stack. Holy kamote, the stack was now twice as tall as any of the dancers, and the lone girl was attempting to balance the entire stack! With only one guy in a bahag as a sort of spotter, she managed to put the whole thing on her head and stand up and dance. And to think that while standing, the stack of pots almost reached the tip of the huge chandeliers dangling right there in the middle of the lobby, hahaha. Huwaw.

Off to Starbucks a little past 1pm, and found some of the cast of Spelling Bee and Spring Awakening already there with Chari. Whee, I missed my baby bro! And he finally remembered to bring the JATD CD without my reminding him, hahaha! Small talk galore until Claire and Lawyn arrived, then everyone waited impatiently for a couple of latecomers (Ava and Robi). Hahaha, despite Chari's annoyance with the latecomers, she was happily concent playing around with her camera.

Finally, when both casts were complete (save for Noel in Spelling Bee because he also had a show for GTF), everyone trooped to the assigned dressing room in the Little Theater. We had the whole 101 to ourselves even though it was assigned to Atlantis at a later time. Chari then rehearsed the blocking with the cast, then rehearsed at least once with the minus one ("I Believe" and "Song of Purple Summer" for Spring Awakening and "Magic Foot" for Spelling Bee). Lawyn was tasked to cue from the tech booth (gave her a teeny bit of cueing tips as well) and Claire was to stay backstage, so I got to stay in the audience area to take photos.

Hmm... why is it that when someone came from a resident company of CCP, they automatically think taga-CCP ka na rin? Hahaha. At uy, chismis yan ha. Close lang naman eh. Assuming kayo na may history agad ha, hahahaha.

By the way, while we were rehearsing, Ryc and Thea's daughters were also there, watching the cast as they sang along with the minus one. One of them managed to pick up the lyrics of the Spring Awakening songs and even attempted to sing along with them (especially in "I Believe"), hahaha! Super adorable for a 6-year-old.

Chari quickly adjusted all the actors blocking onstage a few minutes before the show, and I plopped down on a center seat with the best view to take photos. All in all, it was a pretty good preview show. Hahaha, it was cool to see Gibbs watching while he also could've squeezed in at the Zsa Zsa preview at the Main Theater (which Tad said had a full house).

Ended up with Lawyn, Claire, Mikki, Cheeno and Joaqui at the artist entrance after the show, until we decided to go to Teriyaki Boy to just hang out, talk and eat. Shared a table with Lawyn, Mikki and Joaqui, with Felix, Noel and Johann at the adjacent table. Cheeno ended up with some of the Zsa Zsa cast at the 2nd floor, and Mikki wanted to go as well, but Lawyn guilt-tripped him for a while, saying that he spends practically every day with them, but we let him go after a while anyway, for 10 minutes (ahahaha). Listened to Felix and Noel as they talked about reviews by critical bloggers and newspaper reviews. Chika galore with Lawyn and Joaqui (who I only got introduced to in the middle of conversation, hahaha!), mostly about Spring, and all the funny moments in the office. Man, I missed that darn office. Joaqui was actually amazed that for a company like Atlantis, there were only a handful of people in the office working on everything. When we finally decided to order, we got fascinated by what Felix was eating, so all 3 of us ended up ordering the same thing, which was this tuna and salmon tempura thing with wasabi. Yummy.

Over 20 minutes had passed and Mikki still hadn't gone back, so Lawyn, Joaqui and I headed upstairs. Found Mikki at a table with Eula, Tuxqs, Martha and Cheeno, and we got to join them as well. Hahaha, Tuxqs thought that Lawyn was some older person, because the name sounded old-fashioned daw. And I'm not sure if I heard this right, but did Eula actually think that Tad and I were father and daughter? Ahahahahahahahaha. Que funny. Anyway, chismis revolved around TF's, which company could be on top of this list, curtain calls (HAHAHA! Wagi ang pag walk out ni Tuxqs) and Eula's private disco in her room (complete with eye-batting motion, hahaha!). Stayed there until Lawyn and I had to go to Alabang with Mikki, but Mikki had decided to stay a little longer (hahaha, gee, I wonder why, ahahaha), so Lawyn and I went ahead.

More talk during the ride back to the south, mostly of plans we wanted to do since way back then. Then of course, the usual chika that I've already heard in a different version, but all the new ones added confirmation and new doubt in our minds, hahaha. Picked up Mae at her place then bummed at Cafe Breton in Westgate over ice cream and coffee. Hahaha, more chika, of fangirls and other stuff. And where was Mikki all this time? He did text once that he was on his way, but an hour and a half later, Lawyn called him up and we found out that he was still in Harbour Square, hahaha. Of course, Mikki raved about Eula for the nth time. Yan ang isa pang nasa fan mode, hehe.

I didn't get to attend much of the Pasinaya festivities, but the day was still a blast. Can't wait for the upcoming shows.

Hair vanity.

How do you get rid of styling wax? Hair wax has got to be the vilest product ever to be applied on hair. Hahaha. I'm overreacting. But yeah, I hate it. After a pictorial last night, I had to shampoo my hair 6 times just to take out all the product. And my hair still isn't back to normal.

I swear, if I ever see that someone plans to put styling wax on my hair again, I will hunt down the damn thing and chuck it out the nearest window.

Yes, I'm very particular about what goes in my hair, but I had no clue about using styling wax. Sorry po, wash and wear lang ang buhok ko, and it can hardly carry a curl. That's why stylists can get vicious if they really want to pull something off, and cement my hair with mousse, hair spray, and the toughest hair gels they can get their hands on. I remember having to sleep in curlers overnight before one show, and having my hair curled 4 times during another.

Speaking of hairstyling, I find it funny for most people wanting their hair to be straight. A lot have had their hair relaxed and rebonded, and purchased all those shampoos that claim to straighten hair. As for myself, I've always wanted my hair curly, but after going through 3 perms as a kid, bagsak pa rin ang buhok ko.

Another note on vanity. Why do people want to be white? Feeling ba nila, pag maputi na sila, maganda na sila? No offense ha. But does beauty have to be that shallow? There are other ways to be beautiful. I actually found that billboard of Jinky Oda for that whitening thing very disturbing. People, be proud naman of your skin color. It's part of who you are. Unless, of course, you want to be someone else. Baka sawa na rin kayo sa pagiging Pinoy niyo, nyahahay. I hope not.

Trivial pondering.

A month's challenge: To make this character distinctly different from the original two actors who had created and performed it before. Huwaw. Simple enough? I don't know. I'm still working on the character profile.


Another challenge. How do you keep this kind of secret?


Is it me, or did I just see Idina Menzel's email address in this one Yahoo group that I'm in? *shrug* Maybe it could just be someone using Idina's name in her email, but hello, isn't that impersonating a celebrity? But if it's really her... huwaw, so I guess that means I know her email address? Hahaha.

CCP weekend, sans Cinemalaya audition.

Was in CCP this weekend, but I didn't audition for Cinemalaya. Funny, I didn't feel like trying out for it this year.

Saturday was basically just to drop by and see Tad. Gerilya was running again for a two-weekend engagement, and because he only had that one scene in the second act, I could bug him in the buffeteria while he was waiting for his scene. Friends who were auditioning for the Cinemalaya dropped by every once in a while. Apparently the audition process upstairs in the MKP was faster and more organized this year, they said. But nope, I still didn't go, hahaha.

Sunday was mainly to watch I-Land. It was required for my one class, but even though it wasn't, I still really wanted to go because I've always been curious about the art of hula since I was a kid. I think my aunt mentioned before that one of my cousins used to dance the hula, while another pair of cousins danced Tahitian.

Arrived way too early in CCP because I went straight there after hearing mass with my mom. After a quick lunch, I hung out in my favorite spot in the LT lobby with Tad when he arrived. When he had to go to Batute to do his prosthetics, I still had a lot of time to kill. Dingdong, who had arrived while Tad and I were hanging out and talking at the entrance, was at the Cinemalaya auditions, so I went upstairs as well to keep him company. Hahaha, chika galore. Mostly about upcoming productions, guest lists (HAHAHA!) and fake minus ones. Still pretty early when he had finished inside the MKP, so we went down to the LT lobby.

I-Land had reserved seating (thank goodness I bought my ticket the day before), but there was already a line outside the door because of some high school students. Because I really didn't have to rush to get a good seat due to my early purchase, I dilly-dallied in the lobby with Dingdong as I waited for the chimes instead, hahaha. Surprise, I found Carlo standing nearby! Yay! It was the first time in ages since I last saw him, so I almost tackled him as I went over to give him a hug, hahaha. Dingdong quipped that I was invading personal space again, as I did to him when he went to see Hairspray. Anyway, Carlo was watching Gerilya, but because we haven't talked in ages, we decided to meet up after our respective shows. Dingdong had to go to the gym then, so off I went inside the Little Theater.

Yay, good seat. Miss Nikki did say that in this show, closer was better. I had chosen a 5th row orchestra side seat near the aisle, so it was still near the center but at a cheaper price (thank you, student discount). Apparently, this was a one-man show. Keo Woolford had also given a hula workshop for the AC last Tuesday, so I got even more curious about the show. It was a semi-autobiography with the use of monologues and dances. The stage just consisted of a circular mat in the center, and a curved set piece on stage right which also served as a projector screen. He was funny, he was charming, he was such a delight to watch. He talked about growing up trying to learn the hula and looking where he could fit in, inside and outside of Hawaii. When he did the basic steps of the hula, I was fascinated by his movements, which were very graceful and fluid. He executed moves from disco, jazz, hiphop, and some were even boyband-ish that I couldn't help but laugh out loud. But as he shifted to the hula, it was beautiful. Tad was right, the music was also pretty soothing. And yep, this is one guy who is not afraid to wear a skirt, I had said to myself, as he changed into his hula costume right there onstage.

After the show (which was about an hour and a half), I was dying to meet him but there wasn't a meet and greet. Which was just as well, as the kids I saw the show with were noisily loitering around the lobby. Oh well. Found Opa at the entrance, and we hung back in one corner of the lobby as I waited for the crowd to thin. As it turned out, she was going to the Cinemalaya audition, so when the crowd dispersed, we finally stood up and headed for the elevator. Eep, there he was. Keo Woolford was already in the lobby, talking with some friends or guests. Hahaha, I tugged on Opa's sleeve and said that I want to have a photo taken with him, so we waited until he was finished talking with the people he was with. Hahaha, gave this pathetic opening line about the AC workshop he gave, and told him that my boyfriend was part of it, then briefly raved about the show before I asked for a photo op, hahaha! Lara and Mandy, this is for you...


Anyway, I went with Opa up to the 4th floor so she can sign up and wait for her turn. More chika galore, and even with her TKM friends Kimmy and Chona. The whole thing only took about half an hour, then we went back down again so Opa can take out some food to eat. Hahaha, by the time we got back to the lobby, Gerilya had already finished, so we stayed in the LT lobby where it was less crowded than Batute. Hahaha, ended up hearing funny work and vacation anecdotes from Paolo and Miss Yvette with Carlo and Mike.

After a while, all 6 of us trooped to the conference room, where the Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah cast was prepping up for their pictorial. Hahaha, ayan, dahil Zsa Zsa na ulit, nabuhay ulit si Carlo sa CCP. Sila Zshali, Tin, Hilary, Micah and Dyown na lang. Listened to Paolo play the piano for a bit, then more chika at the south entrance (which I fondly call the lung center) before we finally called it a day.

And now it's back to life. Monday. With a little extra. Hopefully. Oh well.

One Hogi Hall bachelor gone.

PJ and Joy tied the knot yesterday at St. James the Great Parish. So there, one of the Hogi Hall guys finally got hitched. And their long-standing bet since we all graduated from high school is still on. My goodness, at this age, I know everyone already wants to lose that darn bet.

Aris had already mapped out a carpool schedule last week, as Rosa, Iam, Raffy and I are all hitching a ride with him. I was the first to be picked up, and I left the house with my hair still damp because effort talaga sa makeup. Iam was up next, but by the time we had arrived at her house, she had just stepped out of the show, hahaha! So we had to wait for her for half an hour, but we were still pretty early anyway. When Iam was done, we only had to ring the doorbell at Raffy's and he was already out the door, plus he was also equipped with coffee. Rosa, on the other hand, didn't want to rush, so it was decided that we'll just meet her at Mount McDo. We had a little breakfast while we waited for her, then off to St. James.

Huwaw, surprise! Seph had a haircut! Josh wore colorful sneakers with his suit. Paco flew all the way from Davao just for PJ's wedding. And May looked like a Turkish princess, hahaha. Once the ceremony began, our trio was giggling as Josh showed off his shoes as he walked down the aisle. The ring bearer was super adorable, and so was the flower girl. When the bride was about to walk down the aisle, holy kamote, the church doors wouldn't open, hahaha! I think they got all confused pushing and pulling the doors from both sides so it took a few moments. Of course, Joy was gorgeous as she walked with her mom to the altar. Iam just had to squeal with giddiness as we took a peek at PJ while Joy was walking, ahehehe. All througout the ceremony, there were whispered quips among our trio, so I wasn't really surprised that my bungisngis smile was immortalized yet again in the on-site AVP.

The priest seemed to be friends with the couple, or at least with PJ's family, based on how he kept putting in jokes in the homily. And the entire wedding was pretty simple and intimate. Just family and a few close friends were invited.

At this point, can I just say that this wouldn't be complete without a "Hogi moment," so here we go. I had forgotten to have my dress adjusted, so there I was, in a strapless dress that was theatening to slip, hahaha! If I was as gifted as Rosa, there would've been ample support, ahehehe. Anyway.

The traditional exit of the newlyweds required some tossing of small projectiles, so there was the usual rose petals, plus rice. They even added bubble blowers to make it more fun. Haha, Rosa wanted to both toss petals and blow bubbles, so I offered to hold her bottle of bubble solution as I was going to blow bubbles as well. Kris, on the other hand, who was one of the bubble blowers, was so excited that she almost threw her bottle of bubble solution at the couple, hahahaha!

Off the Bellevue for the reception. Shared a table with Rosa, Iam, Aris, Raffy, Seph, Mon and Den. Lamon galore. Hahaha, takaw tingin din ako. When Iam couldn't finish her food, I took it. Rosa's as well, but I still didn't get to finish everything. Ahahaha. I was still chowing down when they had already started all the AVPs. Santa banana, they even included that semi-formal high school photo of our barkada? Ahahaha.

Thank goodness PJ and Joy had "randomly" pre-selected the ones who will get the bouquet and garter. It saved the rest of us humiliation from dodging the bouquet toss, hahaha! The garter went to Paco, and the bouquet went to Clarissa (whom I vaguely knew from grade school productions).

After all the festivities, Iam was raring to go visit Zobel after the reception, while the guys just wanted to go home and just wait for an evening out. The ones who ended up going to Zobel were Iam, Rosa, Aris, Raffy and me. Because of the strict security our old alma mater had, I had managed to contact dear old Brother Ceci beforehand so we had an excuse to enter the campus aside from the mere fact that we were alumni.

There are some alumni who love coming back to their alma mater. Some hated going back. I thought I'd be one of the people who loved coming back. Now, I'm not sure. I can't really tell. Zobel's so different now. The entire campus, the faculty (save for some familiar faces), and the students. The kids are so different now. How different? Ahehehe, if you know me well, you know what I mean. But other than that, it was still great to see familiar faces from the faculty and admin, the people who knew us as little kids and were genuinely surprised to see us grown-up (wahahaha) and glad to see us visiting.

With Ms. Sabarre (3rd grade Filipino teacher), Mrs. de Vera (my first grade adviser) and Ms. Africa.
Photo courtesy of Brother Ceci.

Spent the entire visit with Brother Ceci, the school's resident storyteller. (Brother, I know you're reading this, hahaha. I really wanted to tell this part in the best way I can, pero I don't think this gives it justice.) It was amusing to see that all the kids knew him, all kept coming up to him, and he knew everyone, or at least an idea of who each of them are. He was everyone's friend. He loved talking to them, sharing stories, and in turn, he learned the story of each and every kid. Then there's another thing different from the old Zobel we grew up in. Back then, it was Brother Felix who knew everyone's name and birthday, because he called each and every one of us once a year on our birthday. Mostly small talk and whatever, and we leave his office with a stampita he gives to us as a birthday present. Rosa, Iam and I even spent every other recess and lunch periods in Brother Ceci's small office in the Campus ministry, just to talk, learn a little more from his huge book of sign language, doodle on his blackboard, and basically just hang out. These days, it's the Brothers themselves who went to the kids to talk, especially when there's something bothering them. And each of them have their own stories to tell, need a listening ear for whatever problem or obstacle they have because they don't have anyone else to share it with.

Brother Ceci told us anecdotes about certain kids he knew and watched growing up in Zobel, and even alumni he had talked to (no surprise that one of them was an actor I've sort of worked with). Hahaha, Iam and I quipped that hopefully next time we see him, we have our own story we can tell him that he can share with the kids who are dying to listen to him.

All in all, it was a good day well spent.