June 24th, 2008 Kiko
Three in the morning and I am still wide awake, and sick at that. What could be wrong? Either I am too excited about tomorrow’s work? (that means today) or I am too anxious about the pile of work that’s waiting to be done later. Either way, I still can’t sleep.
I haven’t been out for the whole day yesterday and that makes me oozing still with undepleted energy for some more activities. I am not a big patron of nonprescription medicines, so I haven’t taken in anything yet to deal with the fever. Man…I think I am too old for Paracetamol. Besides, I have 2 doses of antiflu in the last 2 years. That makes me more confident that this is nothing serious.
Past midnight, I engaged myself into a movie spree. And guess what I got? Simpsons the Movie! Yeah, I am so outdated, but perhaps laughter can work for me this time. I did laugh, a lot! But I believe that the Simpsons father and son duo are just too mean to their neighbors. Not good examples. But that’s how the series became famous. Well, at least the gurls are there to dilute the meanness. Well, then, be sure you PG your kids when they’re watching the series.
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June 23rd, 2008 Kiko
How do you handle parting with your loved one…
Tons of songs were written with love as the theme. Each situation has at least a single song that fits the mood. Let’s review three of them…just for fun (Like I’ve never been into the situation, eh?)
Love will lead you back – You are still hopeful that the person will come back no matter what. This is the unrealistic and unreasonable idea that we have to start flushing out from our system. No matter how seemingly stellar one relationship can become, it does not always end up the way we want it to. So forget about your love coming back. Only homing pigeons do.
Before I let you go I want to say I love you…I prefer this one, because the person already has come into a resolution that it’s simply no good keeping his feelings and that letting go is the only option left. Love is still there. But it’s a love that does not put its interests above anything else; an unconditional and unselfish love that does not ask to be reciprocated. The mourning is still there, but it’s not mourning for nothing. It’s a misery with a hope that things will be all right some time soon. And that loving someone to the best of your might does not warrant you to keep the person forever. It’s one of the harsh realities of life that the song writer has obviously discerned.
I guess I’m down, to one last cry – Probably the most requested parting song of all times. This is usually the first phase of a separation ordeal. Crying makes you feel a little better. You feel like mourning has become a necessity during this difficult period of your life. It’s about embarking into a recourse that you have always set aside and kept handy just in case things get out of hands. Ey c’mon, you knew it, everything starts to fall into its proper place, don’t you think? The process is never easy. But you are aware that you are heading to the right path where you have always wanted to be. Just my thoughts.
So go on, let the heavens open its floodgates of tears. Sooner, you’ll be surprised and you will be glad. And realize that there are things and people in this world that matter more than what you originally thought.
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June 4th, 2008 Kiko
The weather was fair and it doesn’t seem like there will be any late afternoon showers on the fourth and final day of the World Pyro Olympics. Now the organizer La Mancha Productions had lots of making up for the delays and postponements of this event. And I’d say they did very well during the last day of the event.
At 6:00 pm, the parking lot beside Imax theater is already packed with excited spectators from all age range. Certainly this is the show for everyone. Surprisingly, though I know this is not the first time, One E-com Centre is also crowded with several yuppies who are probably working inside the building. As usual, multilevel parking lots are fully occupied. All of the above, I guess enjoyed the show, for free!
The whole stretch of the ledge part of Esplanade is already fully occupied with families and photographers, hoping to get vantage view of the fireworks. Wait, this is supposed to be a pyromusical. So where is that speaker system that’s supposed to be connected to the main viewing area? Upon learning there’s none, I headed to the general viewing area nearest the central viewing area, only to find out that I wouldn’t be able to get a decent view because of the thick crowd.
Without second thoughts, I stormed the central viewing area, and asked for ticket upgrade. I had to pay the rest of Php 1500 to get in. And alas I can have the whole lawn to choose from. The ledge has very few spectators perched on it. Plus there’s not much photographers. Man, this is the last day, so I’d better make the most out of this. The two barges are almost directly fronting me. But I realized that either I am too near to the barge or the barge is too near to the breakwaters.
A collaboration of all the contingents made up the so-called Fellowship of Fire and showcased the best in each in ten-minute show. A bit short, but that’s just fine.
The central viewing area has two concessionaires to choose from – Italianni’s or Via Mare. I chose the former.
Mr. Ricardo Crisostomo, the founder and president of La Mancha Productions addressed to the crowd and talked about the Filipino being at par with the best of the world when it comes to pyrotechnics. As Mr. Crisostomo, I guess I’m falling in love again and again with fireworks and the experience is truly enthralling, though I cannot fully explain the feeling. Let’s hope the next generation, namely his sons, who are about to replace Mr. Crisostomo will be as good as he is.
This year’s prestigious trophy was bagged by no other than Parente Fireworks of Italy. The award was received by the Italian consul, with the Department of Tourism undersecretary in attendance.
Mr Crisostomo made some introductions about the pyromusical show that the crowd is about to witness. This is a show where the music will have to synchronize with the fireworks bursts (not the other way around). I cannot contain my excitement anymore. This could be the longest pyromusical show I’ve seen so far. Afterwards, the Philippine National Anthem was played as prelude to the pyromusical exhibition of La Mancha Productions.
And without a doubt, the crowd was awe-struck as the shells exploded one after the other synchronizing with the tunes. Some of which I can’t fully discern, but nevertheless, enjoyed. Some of the tunes played were themes from Superman, Mission Impossible, Starwars and even Lord of the Rings. My cam is as excited as I am, as it was trembling right there atop one of the loud speakers!!! Unfortunately, my SD card ran out of memory space right when LOTR theme was being played. Overall, I enjoyed the show and won’t tire watching the video over and over again. I like how the explosions blend very well with the music and how the show transitioned from one scene into another like a musical play.
I love it and the kid inside me is once again awe-struck by the colorful lights filling the black canvass creating one figure after another. I wish I had my siblings with me that time so they can enjoy the same show as I do. Now I am thinking about the next WPO and I could not wait to know who are set to stage their pyrotechnic expertise again. I hope I can have my whole family that time.
To the organizer La Mancha Productions, congratulations to the job well done. It’s worth the long wait and all the traffic chaos to see this fantastic event. You successfully brought the world closer to us, and the country closer to the world. I hope this will now become an annual event. Let’s do this during summer though, when afternoon rains are less likely. That’s also the time of the year when my kids (siblings) are on vacation, so we can watch the show together! Sounds selfish eh, but that’s for all the kids out there! Hehehe….
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May 28th, 2008 Kiko
AWESOME! Probably the best word to describe this Saturday show. And the weather went pretty well with only some rainshowers before the first firing.
Presentors were:
7:30 pm: Parente Fireworks of Italy
9:00 pm: Venefuegos Fireworks C.A. of Venezuela
Interestingly, I’ve seen similar faces as the ones I’ve seen during CA and FR’s presentation on Day 2. The crowd is thicker than it was during the first days of WPO. But with the anticipated chaos within MOA, several security personnels were deployed around the vicinity to make it sure everything goes well. And it did…I guess.
Italy showcased several usual and unusual bursts plus some water shells. The ones I’ve seen during the weekly Saturday show of SM Mall of Asia but not as much as the ones that UK fired on their winning performance during the 2nd World Pyro Olympics.
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May 20th, 2008 Kiko
Mukha pa ba akong beite sais? (Do I look like I’m only twenty six?) Definitely I don’t. Stress has definitely added a decade (or even more) to my real age. A fast-paced metropolitan living has amplified toll stress has caused upon me. The next time I knew it, I was already packed up holding my airline ticket en route to Visayas - to some of the places I have never been - Cebu City and Bohol Island. This is my way of coping up with stress. Everybody else might do it in some other way - it can range from dining outside, munching chocolates, shopping (retail therapy), paying psychiatrist a visit, or worst…committing suicide…(please don’t). Read the rest of this entry »
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May 19th, 2008 Kiko
Blame it to Cosme (tropical typhoon), the third day of the much-anticipated event is again postponed to the next day, May 18. However, the typhoon has not completely left the city and the winds are still gushing above Manila Bay sending big waves to the Esplanade breakwaters.
Hopefully, weather will be more cooperative this coming Saturday when Italy and Venezuela dazzle us as they paint Manila skies with flowers, peonies, bees, mums, and…name it.
See you there…
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May 16th, 2008 Kiko
Where: Levi Strauss PH Corporate office, 20F, The Enterprise Centre Tower 2 (if you are wondering where on earth this skyscraper is….it’s right there at the Ayala Avenue-Paseo de Roxas Intersection. The four corners of that intersection are occupied by Ayala Tower One, BPI Centre, Insular Life and Enterprise Centre; Enterprise Tower 1 has ‘HSBC’ skysign in it while Tower 2 has ‘BPI’)
When: May 28 - 30, 9 am to 6 pm
How: You mean how to get there? If you are taking the MRT, you can take the walkway route from SM Makati, Glorietta, Landmark, turn right to Ayala Museum from Greenbelt 4, then walk straight ahead. The walkway is connected Enterprise Centre, so if you are a commuter, start scouting for a prospect employer here…=)
If you are taking the bus, you will be dropped off at Robinson’s Summit Bldg. Take the underpass and cross Ayala Avenue, take the left escalator/stairs then that’s Enterprise in your front already.
One good news: they accept payment through credit card and EPS. Unfortunately for me, I was already able to buy 3 jeans last weekend of a different brand. So this time, I opted to buy casual and formal bottoms, and polo tops plus 2 shirts. So don’t be surprise when you are walking along Ayala and realize that the guy next to you is wearing the same shirt as yours. Hehe….Oh ladies, they got jeans and tops for you too. I was thinking of buying something for my sister but I am yet to ask her size and color. I hope it would not be pink!
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May 12th, 2008 Kiko
Life’s journey is full of crossroads. At some point in our lives, we reach a point where we have to make choices. Choices that will make us who we are in the next few years, if not a lifetime. I’ve been through a crossroad few years ago. I made choices, set my goals…worked for them, I took some risks and suffered the consequences. I lived my life in what I think is best for myself. However, all endeavors proved to be chasing of the wind….Futile!
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May 12th, 2008 Kiko
(originally written on April 02, 2008)
When everything seems to go wrong, SMILE seems to be the last thing in my mind. It’s so frustrating to know that you are like travelling along a road where everyone seems to be driving the opposite direction. Changing the mindset of people around us in the secular world is indeed a hard sell. I never wanted to change anybody overnight, but I am certain that there are certain values that we more or less (should) share. Nonetheless, I am starting to believe otherwise. I still could not figure out why some people are acting in their own ways - which I find deviant…erratic. Or maybe it’s just me.
I used to believe that no matter how difficult some people may seem, there will always be room for goodness in their heart. And no matter how minute that space is…I believed it’s powerful enough to dispel the refuse away.
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May 12th, 2008 Kiko
True to its season, May is indeed marred with rainy afternoons. Heavy rains that is. And the second day of world pyro olympics is no exception. This time, the rain poured relentlessly right when the show is about to begin. To my surprise, the rain did not keep Canadian pyrotechnicians (Pyro Studios) from painting the sky with flowers, peonies, brocades, palm trees, flower bouquets, spirals, bees and all. (I’d bet you’ve never recognized those…I hardly did myself, I was just guessing…hehehe)
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