2009
It's that time of the year, when everyone looks back to see what life has become in a span of 365 days. I used to write the highlights of all the months but I want to try something different this year. And in the spirit of doing a year in review, I will try to write the major lessons that 2009 has taught me.
People come and GO.
I should have learned this a long time ago but when it happens, always feel like it's the first time. Ever felt that someone's gonna be there forever? You can't imagine spending a day without sending a message, or talking endless nonsense over the phone or just being there for each other when you're dark and twisty and bright and shiny. Things like that end. No matter what, it is bound to end.
The unexpected changes everything.
Major risks were taken this year. From personal choices to career jumps. Most of them turned alright, some went very much ALRIGHT. Then I realized they're all about taking the risks. I am glad I had mustered all the courage that I could to make a big decision this year, even if at least a quarter of me says I shouldn't do it. Or even if people kept telling me, six months is just six months. Sometimes, the uncertain is something to look forward to. There will be surprises everyday and even if I was tired or exhausted, all I can say is, "just bring them on."
When in doubt, close your eyes, and leap.
(Close your eyes and leap is a line from Defying Gravity)
That sounds a little stupid but you'll never know what will happen until you do it. Just go ahead, do it! Life is too short to spend too much time thinking or worrying.
Small choices matter.
Silence can end friendship for not talking is a choice itself. A simple yes or no changes the name of the game. Little actions build big results. That I learned and sometimes wish I could undo it. But I can't. Too late.
Change is inevitable.
I belong to an industry where there are no rules (yet?) or a written formula of success exists. What sells today, sucks tomorrow. One is as good as his last story. And so I have learned to experiment and to keep trying new things. Grey's Anatomy says it best when Meredith said, "Either you adapt to change, or you get left behind." What's important is for one to keep his doors open to all the possibilities of the future. Who knows, maybe ten years from now, blogging is not as relevant as it is today? Or maybe computers have gone obsolete no one uses them? The future is uncertain that's for sure, but the people that are willing to innovate are to stay forever.
There's a reason for everything
Sounds like an old, useless cliche. This year, I did ask God a lot of questions and often times, I get answers when I don't ask for it. I think its the lack of faith that makes us worry, its the lack of trust that makes us go crazy over little issues turning them to unnecessary problems. Nothing happens by chance, ever.
Laughter cures everything, and heals everything.
I tried to laugh or smile at all the not-so-nice-things that I encountered in 2009. Maybe because I knew that there's nothing anyone could ever really do about it but to smile and know that nothing can tear one apart unless he submits himself into it. And oh friends that didn't talk for years, if they're real, they will surely laugh at all the stupid things that once were issues or misunderstandings. They'll laugh at themselves like they never did before ( I did).
The best ideas are conceived in dreams.
The best things in life, the greatest achievements on earth were once called 'impossible'. They usually start as things that's never bound to happen. And that is the best part of dreaming, that challenge to make it to happen, the courage to make the 'im', POSSIBLE, the passion to turn the dream into reality. Sometimes, a dream is all just a blur, no definite direction, and yes, uncertain!
I once dreamed of becoming a journalist, but I didn't quite know how to get there. And then I took a different path. But somehow, destiny found its way to put me back on my path and now I'm here even if I don't even know how I got here or how it happened. My point is, all my life I thought this dream is just it, a dream. Until I stopped thinking it was, until I decided I will take this path. And here I am, doing what I love best, telling a story everyday. Never get tired of turning your dream to reality because that's what our lives are about. At the end of the day, I think it's nice to know that you've done something you can be PROUD of.
And I leave you with this nice line I found at NAIA Terminal 2's washroom while waiting
Don't complain about life, many die young.
Oh yes, ranting never helped, ever.
So this is where I say, cheers to 2009, you have been awesome!
And to 2010, always a beautiful day to save lives, we will have fun!
What's your greatest 2009 lesson?
Our songs are Lea Salonga's songs
At least for two nights.
Disclaimer: The author is a big fan
A few months back, I came across an article about Lea Salonga's December show. But this time, it's different because the organizers found a way for Lea's fans to get involved with the show.
Your Songs, the show's title, is simply that, songs to be sung were requested and sent through her website.
I did my fair share of contribution too. From Snow Patrol songs to that of Ingrid Michaelson and other more known hits to the local crowd like Lady Gaga hits.
Fast forward to the show.
Lea Salonga opened the show with Elton John's Your Song with a first note enough to elate the audience and give her an immediate applause. The next song is to be a surprise because it is a Beyonce hit.
When Gerard Salonga's Filharmonika strumms Halo's intro, the crowd then again went wild because maybe we all knew it wasn't something we'd always hear Lea sing. And oh boy, it was perfect!
True to what Lea said that requests came from all kinds of people, regardless of age, she started a medley of hits from the 70s and 80s including If You Leave Me Now, Making Love Out Of Nothing At All and the highlight (in my opinion) Open Arms.
Aside from sending in requests, some of the fans had the chance to audition to sing LIVE With Lea Salonga, oh yes! And a guy named Rocky Fajardo had this opportunity to share a duet with Lea in A Whole New World.
The next number is a show-stopper.
Lea called the Philippine All-Stars to sing and DANCE Rehab. If you thought I was kidding, I wasn't.
And Lea pulled it off.
After a short wardrobe change, Lea came back on stage to sing He's Got To Be Someone.
This year, after June 2009, a series of what could be a never ending tribute to Michael Jackson started. Lea sang Gone Too Soon (with a nice mix of She's Out of My Life). I suddenly miss MJ and remembered the great loss we had when we lost a music genius.
Time for some Pinoy rock.
Lea started with Juan dela Cruz's Ang Himig Natin which I had the privilege of hearing from the original members in a concert a year ago.
And of course, Huling El Bimbo from the Eraserheads. Probably the song that sealed the band's place in OPM history even after they went their own separate ways.
And lo and behold, Jett Pangan came in to sing with Lea, Salamat by The Dawn. The crowd for the nth time, went wild!
Then came my request, Pokerface! Lea started the song with a slower arrangement, and eventually moved to its original one. Lady Gaga should have seen that performance.
Richard Poon came in to share with Lea some all-time OPM ballads like Sana Maulit Muli, Kahit Isang Saglit, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, Mahal Kita Walang Iba, I Don't Love You Anymore and Sometime Somewhere.
Richard admired Lea for taking the road less-traveled, for not joining the 'Birit' gang and just continuing what she thinks she does best. You have got to give the same credit to Richard Poon, he may not be the typical rockstar and birit boy most of us admire, the big band crooner as Lea says, is more than just ok.
And I braced myself for a Broadway medley.
I believe a lot of people would agree if I say that Lea's at her best when she sings musical theatre hits.
From Les Miserables, she sang I Dreamed A Dream and On My Own, Electricity from Billy Elliot, Memory from Cats and my personal favorite, Wicked's For Good and Defying Gravity. I was expecting some Miss Saigon songs but ending with Defying Gravity made me forget that. (In an interview I had with Lea a year ago, Elphaba of Wicked is one of her dream roles).
Lea introduced the next number as a request that they just can't refuse.
AiAi delas Alas came in as Annie, in a golden wig, red dress and an inflatable dog singing Tomorrow (where we first fell in love with Lea's talent). That cracked the audience!
That short dress converted into a long gown afterwards.
AiAi was always addressing the people in the galleries and balconies and when asked why, she explains that they were her fans, because they can only afford the cheaper tickets. And we all responded in a roar of laughter.
Lea and AiAi shared what they call Jologs songs, in English and its translated Tagalog version. The highlight? It was Aegis's Halik.
It was such a delight to see them both. And we asked for more AiAi action.
Maybe next time, I should watch Aiai's own concert.
Lea, a big American Idol fan rendered No Boundaries, a big big winner!
And the number one request, something that was brought by her performance at the funeral of President Aquino, is Bayan Ko. This part, trust me will make you feel proud as a Filipino.
And we just can't help but give her a standing ovation.
That should be the last but of course, we won't let her go and she gave three more songs one of which is Journey.
This is one of the highlights of my 2009. And this to me is a game-changer in the local music industry.
With Lea Salonga's Your Songs, we saw our own requests brought to life in a full-blown concert. We experience what we thought was just a fantasy. She made possible the impossible.
And oh, there was a meet and greet after the show and I got this:
