This is War: 30 Seconds to Mars in Manila

29th of July, 2011

second day of a twohelluvanight event in Philippines

"We were the kings and queens of promise. We were the victims of ourselves. Maybe the children of a lesser God between heaven and hell. Heaven and hell."

After watching Incubus, I wondered how 30STM will perform. No doubt, they wouldn't suck. But at some point I thought, "Would they top Incubus' performance?"

The concert hadn't started yet when it rained. Vinch, Jolo and I managed to fit ourselves under an umbrella yet we knew that sooner or later, even if the rain will not stop, we have to close our umbrella. We bought plastic coats being sold from a booth inside the venue. The rain just got harder that we have to open the umbrella again. We started to get annoyed because it was uncomfortable and our poor little shoes were really wet. As in squishy wet as if we walked through flood. I'm sorry Marc Abaya but we (my friends and I) really did wish you wouldn't have to do your front act and have Jared get on the stage as soon as possible so we could all go home and dry up. We said to ourselves that this better be one freakin, worth it, good show or else... We'll unfollow Jared and 30STM on Twitter. HAHAHA!

Kjwan opened the show that night. People still have umbrellas opened and wished the rain would stop once 30STM is on stage.

Then lo and behold, the 30STM went out and everyone just got wet and wild! For the first few minutes, there were funny yet mean bashing thrown by people who couldn't watch properly (due to the umbrellas opened) to the people who have their umbrellas opened. The former won! Hahaha! It was crazy that the organizers moved the barricade a few steps forward so we, on the Silver side, could see better (We were near the barricade so it really is better for us). we were literally soaking wet amidst the plastic coats (that was slowly torn towards the end of the show) we have on. We were a bunch of crazy, loud audience. Jared and the rest of the band made us go crazy! We were jumping as high as we could and singing and screaming with him, with our handfists thrown in the air. Maaaaannnnnn! Such a scene! Never in my 22 years of life did I imagine myself in and among a crowd like that! And I don't jump on concerts but Jared made me! Yes, I did jump under the rain. Oh, I, we, actually forgot that it was raining and we have squishy shoes! We just didn't care.

When Jared actually pointed to some people to come up on stage and sing with him (very MTV World Stage moment), I really begged my friends to throw me towards the stage but they couldn't since they were aching all over. I never wished to be thrown towards the stage UNTIL. THAT. NIGHT. UNTIL. THAT. MOMENT. I think the rain made it better and dramatic. I never enjoyed rainy outdoors until that night. Another thing that Jared did differently and only him was when he said, "IKAW NA!" instead of "Maraming Salamat" or "Mahal ko kayo" or "Kumusta." He loved our food and our noodles. He said he had noodles for breakfast yesterday.

These were some of the lucky people who got invited to come up on stage.
Jared asked a girl what next song to sing and she said, 'The Kill.'
The next moment Jared invited more people to come up on stage was for the finale song.

To answer my own question and I hate to say this (and I can't believe I am saying this since I love Incubus more and I can be biased) but I think 30 Seconds to Mars did it better. Production/'attack'-wise. Incubus and 30STM both had awesome performances but different 'attacks' to the audience, to their respective songs and on how they perform. Both are down right good bands. Jared's just crazier and more in touch, more interactive with the audience. I already stated the evidence above. I saw that scene on MTV already but I didn't expect that to happen that night and to be among the crowd of that same scene.

Few hours before 30STM's show, I swore that after that night, I will lose it. There is only enough rock gods and hotness I can take. I will already have too much by that night. And I did. We did. Twohelluvanights, man! Crazy!

THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU 30STM AND JARED LETO!!!!! You let me out of my comfort zone and it's good! Next time, our target spot would be that stage with you! :)

Anyway, here's a setlist of the songs they played:

Escape

A Beautful Lie

Attack

Search and Destory

This is War

100 Suns

A Call To Arms

L490

Hurricane

Alibi

The Kill

Night of the Hunter

Closer to the Edge

Kings and Queens

Anyway, my pictures were even poorer this time. I used a different camera since we will be standing near the bouncers and the usual camera that I use is always mistaken as DSLR. I don't want to be called and to be told to put my camera down and turn it off like what happened in Maroon 5.

After that two consecutive nights, Vinch, Jolo and I need painkillers and anti-pyretics and a good fan sleep. Akala mo nakipag-body slam. It was tiring as hell. My whole body never ached like this since cheer squad days back in high school! But boy, it was worth it!

Aftermath. Me (with my lame pose) and my concert buddies. 

"No, I'm not saying I'm sorry. One day maybe we'll meet again. NO NO NO NO! I WILL NEVER FORGET! NO NO! I will never regret. NO NO! I WILL LIVE MY LIFE!"

If Not Now, When?: Incubus in Manila

28th of July, 2011

first day of a twohelluvanight event in Philippines

"You do something to me that I can't explain."

Shots by my friend, Liz.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Yeah, I have to scream first before I start my entry. Haha!

This is the third time Incubus went to Manila and finally I was able to watch them!!! I was with my brother and two good friends, Vinch and Jolo. Unfortunately for us though, the only tickets we got were the cheapest ones since we bought them few days before the show. BUT WE DON'T CARE. Haha!

Aftermath. My concert buddies for the night (my brother took the picture)

Watching Brandon Boyd even from a far, listening to his songs (especially the good old ones) and singing together with him and my brother and friends is already enough. At least for me. I didn't expect they were gonna sing 'I Miss You'!!! Oh goodness, I almost died. HAHAHA! Superrrrr kiliiiiiig! And just when they were in the middle of their fitting finale song, 'Nice to know You,' and he was seconds away from lifting his shirt, another moment I was waiting for, MY. BATTERY. DIED. OH. MY. GOSH. I panicked! But whatever. I was more engrossed at the moment anyway.

Above: Singing Megalomaniac or Wish You Were Here, I think.
Below: The lift-his-shirt moment that I missed to catch on my cam.
Shots by my friend, Liz.

Next concert or someday and wherever in the future, I hope I could have a chance to actually stand close to Brandon and/or with his bandmates, say "Hi, can we have a picture together?" then I'll hug him/them and say "Thank you and I love you." :)

Franco. The front act that night.

Drive was the very first song that I heard from Incubus and loved. If it weren't actually for a former loved one and my ultimate celebrity crush who are fans of this band and whose interests put me into curiosity, I wouldn't have actually dared to listen more of their songs so I owe it to them for introducing me to this band. So yeah, Incubus is the first rock band that I loved and still love. They were the ones who really introduced me to rock and made me realize there is more to 'just rock music.' Incubus opened me to a genre I never thought I would love and appreciate.

More concert photos courtesy of my friend, Liz.

THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU INCUBUS AND BRANDON BOYD!!! It was an awesome show. Wonderful performance by the band. Very good night for me, my brother and my friends. Good times, eh? :D

More Brandon Boyd shots by Liz.

Anyway, here is a setlist of the songs they played:

Megalomaniac

Wish You Were Here

Consequence

Pardon Me

Anna Molly

Love Hurts

Circles

Look Alive

Promises, Promises

The Warmth

Drive

Sick Sad, Little World

Isadore

Glass

Talk shows on Mute

Adolescents

Crow

___________

I Miss You

Wolves

Nice To Know You

We were expecting for them to play Dig, Are You In and Warning but they didn't. Sayang! 


Anyway, forgive the quality of my pictures (those with watermarks). It's tough to take pictures at a concert, especially a rock concert. I grabbed (with permission) some better shots from my friend Liz though, since she was seated on VIP (I used Photoscape to put together the pictures so the original shots can't be copied.) Thanks Liz! :)

"Whatever tomorrow brings I'll be there, with open arms and open eyes, yeah."

"Goooooooodbye, nice to know yoooooooou!"

Harry Potter: Series ends, Legacy lives on

We had a Friday family night and watched the final Harry Potter movie on IMAX. I was only able read the book a month and a half before this last film. I kept postponing reading it (too late actually) because I don't want to forget details from the book when I watch the film. I actually have less than 30 pages left because I was too tired to read the night before. Haha. Anyway, the film met 95% of my expectations I suppose. I was expecting for the conversation between Aberforth and Harry to be more detailed yet brief than what was actually shown in the film. I was also expecting a bit more action scenes. But all in all, it was really a good film. A very good finale film. I cried from the scene when Lord Voldemort killed Professor Snape until battle was over. We were laughing at the scene when they all got 'older'. Harry grew facial hair and Ron grew a belly. They both even have a different hairstyle -- brushed-up look for Harry and parted-on-the-side for Ron. I mean, you can really see the effort of making them look older but they just look funny! Hermione and Ginny didn't look 'old' that much, as if nothing really changed much except for the hair in a bun for Hermione and a shorter hair for Ginny.

Cast

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling

I still remember reading the first book, which was surprisingly and randomly borrowed for me by my mom from her friend, in a hotel room. I can't remember if it was on a vacation or just a family weekend but I clearly do remember that I just can't seem to put the book down! I'm a late bloomer fan. I've read the first four books continuously during one summer vacation in high school. Since then on, I waited, just like any other fan, for every release of the remaining books.

The Harry Potter series, as nerdy, as cheesy or as fanatic as it sounds, really became a part of my life. To say that I grew up with it is just an understatement. I believe it is one of the tools that honed my mind as creative and as imaginative as it is. J.K. Rowling's words weren't just used properly but they perfectly described every event, every thought, every feeling of the characters. The books aren't all about fantasy. It talks about life. Disregarding the magic, the spells and every little weird and flying thing, it tackles relationships in all forms, issues. It depicts determination, strength, love, honesty, trust, presence of good and evil, defiance. I believe with these books, Rowling made non-bookworms to bookworms, at least to Harry Potter alone. You united a lot of people and you created such a craze! You made people preoccupied on their spare time or not. So to J.K. Rowling, cheers! Thank you J.K Rowling for your presence and your creative gene that brought this series in this world. I know it was tough to write this series and the pressure of continuously keeping up and maintaining its level of excitement and curiosity and adventure is just unimaginable. But you did it. For years, every new release of the book and every movie made was a phenomenon. It's crazy! Thank you for introducing Harry Potter and gang and their story to us. I'll make sure I'll have my future children read Harry Potter. I, with the rest of the fans, will definitely miss Harry Potter and the gang.

The HP Main Characters all grown up.

Now it would be really weird seeing Daniel, Emma and Rupert not together in a film or even if they are together and it's not a Harry Potter film.

Funeral, Guimaras and then some.

11th of July, 2011

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust him shall understand truth and the faithful shall abide with him in love; because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with elect.

Wisdom 3:1-9

On my uncle's 50th birthday, his father, our grandfather was finally brought to his final resting place. It was such an emotional day for all of us. We know he is in a better place and he is watching and guiding is from above. :)

13th of July, 2011

Since my uncle was on his vacation and I was still waiting for an important call (that happened already 6 days after this), he and I went 'touring' two days after Lolo's funeral.

Museo Iloilo is a small museum that has exhibits on prehistoric Chinese traders, Spanish era and American years. As expected in museums, you can find a lot of interesting things but in this museum, my favorites were the old clothing items/fabrics made of pina, jusi and sinamay which is still very intact as of the very moment (Amazing!), a letter written in English that was dropped in a balcony or lake (I can't remember where exactly.) in response to the message given by a Filipino general (if I remember correctly) regarding the retreat of Japanese soldiers and uniforms, pins and medals of some Filipino soldier and/or general. I'm a sentimental person and I find value and meaning over more personal things like these. For me, it's like you can actually feel or imagine the person who wore it or who owned it. It tells more story that you don't usually find in history books.

You can also find old jars/bangas, bones probably of a prominent/rich person because of jewelries on his nose and wrists, kitchenware and cookware, more or less century-old religious sculptures made of wood and ivory, donated paintings, bottles of wine and chinaware of British, American radio/telegraph, Japanese rifles and bombs in Museo Iloilo. Souvenir items can also be bought inside.

View of Guimaras Island

Fort San Pedro, according to what I've read, was originally built as a form of defense to protect the city from invaders. It was destroyed during World War II. Now, though it looks dull and quiet and seemingly unrestored, I think it's still a good place where you can randomly go and sit, eat with friends or family and see the sunset or just the view of Guimaras Island.

15th of July, 2011

My grandmothers, my uncle and aunt and I went on a roadtrip to Miag-Ao and San Joaquin to see two famous churches.

Miag-Ao Church

Miag-Ao Church or Church of Santo Tomas Villanueva is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Site. Done by 1797, it still stands strong and represents spiritual and cultural legacy over the years. 

Amazing sculptural relief, isn't it?

One can't help but be mesmerized of its architecture and its creative sculptural relief on the outside, front walls. According to what I've read, the church's walls were made of solid coral and is several meters thick. Unfortunately, the church was closed when we went there so we weren't able to see how it looks like inside. I bet it's just as beautiful as it is on the outside.

San Joaquin Church

San Joaquin Church was completed by 1869. Like the Miag-Ao Church, it also stood stronger over the years. It was listed by National Historical Institute as a National Cultural Treasure. 

See its sculptural relief?

It also has an interesting architecture and has a bigger and more sculptural relief in front that depicts the victory of Spanish cavalry against the Moors in the Battle of Tetuan. It also has a three-storey bell tower. Inside, you can find three altars.

Bantayan Beach Resort

We had lunch at Bantayan Beach Resort in Guimbal afterwards. The view is just relaxing. We were the only ones eating at the resort so it wasn't crowded and you can really hear the gush of waves and movement of leaves. Oh, how I missed the smell of sea water and fresh air!

18th of July, 2011

I started my week with a trip to Guimaras with my uncle and grandmother. It is a 30-45 minute boatride away from Iloilo Port. Just like going to Puerto Galera. Boats get filled up easily and leaves every 15 minutes or so since there are a lot travelling to Guimaras and back everyday. When we arrived there, we rented a van-turned-jeepney, their usual form of transportation there.

The background behind that boat is Iloilo. Yes, that's the boat you'll ride to get to  Guimaras.

At the Port of Guimaras, in Jordan.

We went to see the Trappist Monastery. It very much reminded me of Oasis of Prayer in Cavite, my high school alma mater's retreat place. As expected, it is a very quiet place and has a very beautiful scenery. Check out their gift shop, their jams are very good! Aside from religious items and other souvenirs, you can also find lots of mango products since the monastery owns a mango orchard.

We went to eat lunch at Raymen Beach Resort, recommended by the driver of the jeep we rented. While waiting for our food, we roamed around the area. OH MY GOSH, their beach -- well, not just their beach but beaches in Guimaras ARE VERY BORACAY, ONLY UNDERRATED. I was amazed!!! Bongga! My aunt said once to me that if I wanted to go to Boracay, I should just go to Guimaras instead because it is not crowded and the beaches there are just the same. Very true. Minus the crowd as well because the place itself is very fresh and 'uncommercialized' or slightly undiscovered. I'm not sure if I'm giving the right terms but you all get what I mean! Haha! :) Check also out exquisite accessories as souvenir items. You can find them being sold on the beach. :)

"Very Boracay," isn't it? At Raymen Beach Resort.

We also passed by the world's smallest plaza. I never knew until that day that it is in the Philippines! :)

The island itself is very peaceful. You can see a lot of greens all over the place! 

That's where the beaches are.

Despite the scorching heat and the unwanted tan, it feels good to finally breathe fresh, nature air again, to experience no traffic, to feel for just a few hours what simple, unhurried, seemingly oblivious to time kind of life is. We decided to go back here next time, probably on Lolo's first year death anniversary, with a more stable and prepared grand vacation plan. :)