9.29.2008

Raptusinco! Part 12


Force Over Area...
Yes, that's the equation for pressure!
I can't believe I'm into lots of these things at this moment...

Work Pressure...
September is about to end and I have to pass my PIP (Personal Improvement Plan) for the AHT (Average Handling Time). I have to get at least ten minutes and forty seconds before the month ends. To date I'm missing seconds (as in F%^$^#g seconds!) to pass it. Last week I'm at 11:07, from 11:05 from last last week to 11:15 on the first week of the month. I'm just torn between doing great calls and fast calls. Yes, it is a battle between quality and quantity. Good thing I'm doing great on evals (four straight 100's!!!), but then the quantity of the calls I'm taking should be more. While the rest of the team have 600 - 700 calls this month, which is normal, I'm at 577!! I guess I'd better be the one-question-one-answer-no-shits-or-I'll-end-the-call agent rather than the rapport-to-get-customer's-trust representative.

Career Pressure...
It's almost one year since I passed the board exams and then here I am on a different field. Time is running out for me as I have to be on an airline sooner or the next batch of engineers will be coming in, steeping the competition even harder. Yes, I was named Mr. Underemployed by one of the teammates (but thanks for that, Kiel!) because I deserve a better job other that answering America's most irate callers and keeping them to the company's line. But then, I have the clearance to take my exit, save that I'm sure on the job I'll be taking. And here comes a singing contest and I'm the one to represent the team, I'd love to sing for them to the extent that I have to stay with them a few days more. It's all worth it, having Team Hydra as one of the world's greatest teams! (What team?? Hydra!! What team?? Hydra!!) It's a battle to chase the dreams and making my colleagues proud. Geez, I'd better the that 'Michael Buble' they say I am, for I'd like to leave the floor with a memorabilia.

Attitude Pressure...
Be the kick-ass boy or the altar good boy, peers from different parts of my life are having me on different ways of handling life's b*$%#@+s. Well, fortunate for me, I go with different peers for they see me not for what they want me to be but just as I am. But then its good to know someone watches my actions, God I'm aware at the least. One says to stand up and be strong, the other tells to do the right thing and forgive to be divine. I'm torn between my sexualitites, should the attitude be a battle as well?? Come on!!

Singlehood Pressure...
Ah, this pressure is nonsense, says who?? Having someone isn't a status symbol, right?? But then the way the last relationship ended and the things I'm hearing on the news are hindering me to get to another relationship. I have to take a step back into relationships and not to run into circles once more. Get a grip of oneself first, dude. Learn to love oneself first before another. And have a good and true guy/girl for you, will you?? (What was that?)

Truth Pressure...
Yes, I'm with a date with Zechariah Sitchin, lying on a couch, reading the first part of his seven-series book Earth Chronicles. He thrives on facts on evolution, civilization, beliefs and fiercely, faith. The acheological, biblical and historical analogies to the earth's past brings Sitchin to the most credible theories that are truly mind-blowing and astounding. I have six books left to read but the reads are unstoppable. One may think the ideologies Sitchin tries to inculcate may be overrated and purely fictional but then here goes his poise for cohere his writings to the things that we have today; news, acheological finds; biblical prophesies and even astrological discoveries that were believed are supposed to be hidden from human knowledge. These are few of the reasons why I can't bring the book down!

O, yes, the pressures are overwhelming, uncanny and vindicated. I need to survive all these before I break my body and mind to it. But then, good thing, I have Grace...

Grace under pressure, that is...

9.24.2008

Something Something...

The team went on a general assembly at Tiendesitas in Ortigas; I happen to see one for the restos in the area with a funny name; so funny I laughed so loud people came looking at me...

Here is a video a friend of mine mistakenly took for a picture. Look at the rest of the ladies and TL Errol laughing... todo pose pa kayo huh...

9.22.2008

The Videoke Alphabet


Everytime an establishment comes with a videoke, there goes the craze. Everyone will go looking for a song an toss in coins and the fun goes on and on. Natural na sa mga Pinoy yan, happy people eh.

Being a videoke addict, we'll see if I have completed the alphabet on the songs that I sang on a videoke machine, one time or another...

A
Ang Aking Awitin - Side A
[awit ng mga may crush na ayaw magsalita, i love you sa tago ba..]

Always Be My Baby - David Cook
[buti na lang may version nito si david, kase hirap gayahin ni mariah eh... hahahaha]

As Long As You Love Me - Backstreet Boys
[bata pa ako nung una kong marinig ang kantang ito, always a favorite, always a song in mind]

Awit Para Sa Iyo - Jamie Rivera
[kantang 'friends na lang tayo', mababa pa ang pitch]

B
Beauty and Madness - Fra Lippo Lippi
[all time favorite ito, and ganda ng message at madaling kantahin kase mababa]

Bakit Ba - Siakol
[sinong nagsabing puro classic ang kinakanta ko? pang emo din to bah!]

Be My Lady - Martin Nievera
[parang chauvinist lang... at pang straight lang, hahaha, pero kayang kayang kantahin]

Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang - Freestyle
[sino bang hindi nakakanta ng power duet na ito?]

Bituing Walang Ningning - Sharon Cuneta
[a classic pinoy song, kaso mas favorite ko sya nung Madz na kumanta, iba talaga ang choir sa solo..]

C
Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore - Reo Speedwagon
[a love to die for.. pero kailangan malaman mo.. sounds cool and hot, dba??]

Change The World - Eric Clapton
[change the world, i will be the sunlight in your universe... awww]

D
Dust In The Wind - Kansas
[i love the interlude of the song, the violin thing.. cool]

E
Even Now - Barry Manilow
[kantang bitter, buti si barry and kumanta kaya gusto ko]

Everytime I See You - Fra Lippo Lippi
[kantang bitter pa rin, pero cool kantahin, 'my life, turns upside down..']

Ewan - APO Hiking Society
[pangchoral, panglasingan, pamvideoke, ayos to...]
F
Father and Son - Cat Stevens
[ang kantang power octave ang laban, karirin din ito, maganda din kasi ang kanta eh, patriarchal nga lang masyado...]

Forever - Regine Velasquez
[song ito nang isa sa mga commercials ni Piolo for Maxx's with Isabel Oli]

G
Gold - Spandau Ballet
[pambading na kanta, keri lang isingaloo itech, bet ng mga bax and song, ahahahaha]

H
Haplos - Shamrock
[ever memorable song, kakakilig at kakatuwa kantahin, always a song in heart, thanks shamrock!!]

Hanggang - Wency Cornejo
[isa sa mga pangkontest ko ito, dati akala ko ndi ko ito makakanta, ngayon andali lang, ganda pa ng kanta, wai! wai! wai!]

Habang May Buhay - Wency Cornejo
[dahil hindi natuloy and solo ko nito nung magconcert kami sa PULSE, ayun , videoke na lang tinuloy, love the message of the song]

Hindi Mo Ba Alam - Siakol
[minsan ko na tong kinanta, panlasing daw... pero cool pa rin ang song]

I
I'll Be - Edwin McCain
[sinong mag-aakalang makakanta ko ito, eh ubod ng taas nito, basta nakakanta na ako ng mga sampu tsaka pwede na kantahin to]

I Lay My Love On You - Westlife
[a favorite din, kakilig kase ahahahaha]

J
Just Once - James Ingram
[OMG! Sinong lalake be hindi nakakakanta nito sa videoke?]

K
Kahit Sandali - Martin Nievera
[Never akong nakakanta nito na ako lang, kapag tumaas na ang tono, ipasa ang mic sa mataas ang boses.. hahaha. maganda rin kantahin, pero pamatay ang range]

Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando And Dawn
[o ha? akala nyo pambago lang to, pang oldies din ako no... knock three times on the ceiling if you want me]

L
Later - Fra Lippo Lippi
[another heartbroken favorite, madali kantahin

Lead Me Lord - Gary Valenciano
[you are my life, you're the lamp upon my feet...awww]

M
Melody Fair - BeeGees
[eto naman ang nakanta ko kina Matthew sa kanilang magic sing, nagtrip magconcert ng beegees, ayan ang isa sa mga kanta]

My Love Will See You Through - Marco Sison
[pangkontest na kanta ito, maganda at mataas, pero pamatay ang arrangement]

N
Nag-iisang Ikaw - Louie Heredia
[when i was young, napanaginipan ko ang kantang to, kaya memorable, ayan, kinanta din sa videoke, kaya naman, pero mataas]

Ngiti - Ronnie Liang
[favorite song ni John kaya ko kinanta, i love you sa tago ang theme, good song din]

Never Thought - Dan Hill
[song for the blooming lovers, ang ganda kantahin nito habang nageemote. ahihihihi]

O
Ocean Deep - Cliff Richard
[antaas ng pitch, nangailangan akong magfalsetto to the max, wag kasi pilitin eh... pero at least effort!!]

On The Wings of Love - Jeffrey Osborne
[akala niyo ba si Regine lang pwede magrevive nito? pumiyok ako dito huh.. hahahaha]

P
Parting Time - Rockstar 2
[i don't wanna lose you girl, i need you back to me... awww]

Part of Your World - from little Mermaid
[P&*%$*#A! kinanta ko to?! Oo naman, minsan sa isang birthday, power falsetto ako nito, tawa nang tawa lahat ng nakarinig!]

Panalangin - APO Hiking Society
[a love song to touch the soul, and ganda ng combi diba??]

Q
Queen Of My Heart - Westlife
[another westlife favorite, theme song daw ni ano... ahihihihi]

Que Sera Sera - Doris Day
[another power classic song, nakanta ko yan kala mo...]

R
Run To Me - BeeGees
[basta beegees, hit as akin, kaya dapat makanta sa magic sing!]

S
Sana - Shamrock
[I don't know why Shamrock songs are soooo goood!!! another favorite!!]

Sigaw ng Puso - Father and Sons
[ang all time favorite classic Pinoy love song, walang makatalo o makatapat, kaya lahit na super taas ng tono, dapat nang ibaba ang key, peborit ko to eh...]

Skyline Pidgeon - BeeGees
[another beegees classic, kinanta ko ito kahit napakataas, hindi ko magets and meaning ng kanta pero basta kantahin na lang...]

T
Take Me I'll Follow - Bobby Caldwell
[from the movie Mac and Me... love the songs, antaas nga lang ng tono... shet]

Torpedo - Eraserheads
[kanta ng mga hindi makaamin sa minamahal, obvious ba?]

U
Unbreakable - Westlife
[dahil kanta to ng weslife, kailangan kantahin din sa videoke!!]

Ulan - Cueshe
[ayan, sino may sabing hindi ako nakanta ng Cueshe?]

V
Vulnerable - Roxette
[pambading daw ang kantang ito.. eh hindi naman, ganda kaya kantahin, dali pa sabayan]

W
When I'm Gone - Albert Hammond
[aww, this song was so memorable]

Will Of The Wind - Jim Photoglo
[power emote song ito, mabagl nga lang pero banayad]

When You Say Nothing At All - Ronan Keating
[cute din ng kanta, madaling kantahin, a personal favorite]

X
[walang akong nakanta na may X... hirap hanapin... hehehehe, pero kung may masuggest ka, why not??]

Y
You Got A Friend - Kenny Rogers
[ultimate friend song, madali kantahin, kasabay ang mga kainuman, tagay na pre!]

You're My Everything - Santa Esmeralda
[akala ko noon mababa lang to.. lintek mataas pala... pero maganda ang kanta]

You're Still You - Josh Groban
[pangcontest piece ko ito just in case, try ko pa rin abutin ang makabasag-lalamunang linyang... I've found one LOVE (with matching kulot pa) pero diba, the worth itself is worth the effort?]

Yakap sa Dilim - APO Hiking Society
[another APO sexy rendition... weeee]

Z
Zoom - Regine Velasquez
[i don't remember who sang this song originally, pero its a good song]

9.18.2008

Minsan Ang Minahal Ay Ako...

I just heard this song performed by the Philippine Madrigal Singers from their 'More than Madrigals' concert. It was a choral performance but then I was too hooked up to the song that I have to search for the lyrics of this song. And there is it, the song indeed was striking. Reminds me of the past months. All is in the song, everything. The longing, the pain, the hope and the reminiscing.
Ano na lang 'yung 'sang sandali na makatikim ng pagmamahal
Matapos ang luhang ipinagpalit?

Ang sandali, 'di naman magtagal,
Ang yakap mo'y hahanap-hanapin

Akala ko ang mundo na ay akin,
Ngunit hindi pala ganyan

Kay bilis makalimutan na minsan ang minahal ay ako


Ano na lang 'yung kaunting pasakit kung katumbas ay pagmamahal?
Pag-ibig mo ay aking langit, kahit buhay ko ay handang isugal

Ang himig mo'y aking aawitin habang ako'y kakailanganin

At kung ako'y iyong saktan, ito'y gagawing dahilan

Pagkat minsan ang minahal ay ako


Ang lingap mo ay hahanap-hanapin sa entabladong minsan ay sa akin
At kung ako ay malimutan, kahit sa awit ko man lamang

Iyo sanang matandaan bago tuluyang lumisan na minsan ang minahal ay ako

9.08.2008

More Than Madrigals

It was 39 minutes past seven in the evening. From the cab that I took from EDSA Shrine after serving the 6 pm mass, I finally arrived at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Indeed, this edifice has become the piece of history that the Philippines will be always proud of. CCP houses the line of culture only the Philippines can behold and cherish; the art, the memorabilia of history and of course, the world class performers and artist that made the world 'whoa!'.

The night closes in as the CCP lobby was packed with the audience who are about to watch the Philippine Madrigal Singers in their concert entitled 'More Than Madrigals'. The concert title itself is too catchy to miss the show indeed.

I was at the CCP lobby and grabbed a copy of the programme repertoire and then strolled to enjoy the scenes from the pre show. Its a cute crowd,i even saw one of the choirs that we used to watch with the rest of the pulseans. On my left hand are two center balcony tickets (can't afford the lower boxes, too costly! Well, that is, if I won't have to treat someone), one for me and one for Richard, the choirmaster and trainor of the PATTS Universal League of Singing Enthusiasts. One the right hand is the pamphlet for the show. Reading the pamphlet, I see that the MADZ will be joined by their former colleagues from the University of the Philippines to grace the show. And these former colleagues have made their own mark into a number of international voice competitions, so what else could we expect?

But then, there is someone missing... Richard

Its five minutes to 8 pm, and he is still nowhere in sight. The gates are about to be closed. Like me, he also came from a mass service at Parañaque. He's asked me for the tickets to pay him for my dues to him. Now, I have to get inside so I could save the seats I reserved. I took the elevators to proceed to the topmost box.

As I entered the auditorium, the soft siren that starts the program. After the no-cellphones reminder, then the national anthem was sung. The curtains are up and...

Whoa, MADZ in scattered position! Its looks very weird and unsual for me to see my favorite choir to be in a position other than the usual semi-circle stance, but then, it only show how they can be versatile. What do we expect from a world-acclaimed choir anyway?

Richard came texting me that he arrives after the second score so I have to step out of the auditorium to fetch him, we nearly missed the third performance. Grr...

Overall, the show themes on different classical music, mostly scores from operas and musicals, ranging from Mozart to West Side Story to Momma Mia.

It was a usual thing for the classical whores to hear these music through orchestras and operas. But with this show, MADZ made another feat to perform these pieces with their vocal prowess, aided with the Sonata String Ensemble.

A few scores to catch my ears are as follows:

Der Holle Rache (from Die Zauberflote) - as the Coloratura Soprano, Ma. Cristina Viguilla-Navarro hits the break-necking high notes of this pitch, something hit me. I know this piece, I've heard it once before, I know... Ow, yes, Miss Congeniality! This is the talent of one of the contestants there, remember? I think its Miss North Carolina, I'm not sure...

I Feel Pretty (from West Side Story) - this piece scored laughter from the audience as they sung and dance to the tune of the song. Not even the choirmaster was spared from the dancing that is. Hahahaha.

Bituing Marikit (from Dakilang Punlo) - such a captivating rendition. Nakakainlove kasi eh. The vocals and the soloist marks an A+ for me here.

March of the Toreadors (from Carmen) - I could still remember this piece played during a graduation recessional. Cool...

Somewhere (from West Side Story) - a very familiar piece, I sung this once, and scored an applause, from the schoolmates of course.

ABBA Medley (from Mamma Mia) - hey, who's never familiar with the hits of ABBA anyway? You're missing a lot in your life if you do. Or else, you're just old enough. You know how to sing Dancing Queen, Winner Takes It All, Money Money, Take A Chance On Me; and with Sir Mark's Thank You for the Music, it made the audience clapped and sing to the tune in joy.

Minsan Ang Minahal Ay Ako (from Katy)- a personal favorite. Ang ganda ng arrangement. Nakakatindig balahibo. I love the song and how they perform it. There's something in the song at hinahap-hanap ko ang lyrics. Way to go MADZ!

After the show, as much as the audience shouting "More! More!", the show has to end, but is, with a standing ovation. Not surprising though, because they're good, oh, great, that is.

And of course, after the show, we took a few pictures....

Yours truly with Miss Marivic Llamas, MADZ soprano.

And of course, the shot of a lifetime...

Yours truly with the MADZ Choirmaster himself, Mr. Mark Anthony Carpio!!

9.07.2008

Avatar


I came across an avatar-making website and made a little something here...
Just the me that no one sees...
Cool huh??