Busy busy busy

We'll be verrrrrrrrrry busy today. In fact, after work just now, we were busy rehearsing some songs. While Marl edited some of the files, Jan and I dyed our hair roots. Yes, we did it by ourselves. Well, basically, I was the one who actually did it. LOL. Thanks to L'Oreal Feria for making our lives easier.
 
We'll have a few costumes changes tomorrow night. Two of which is sponsored by Zang Toi. And so we were also busy repairing our props and costumes. Can't really tell what they're gonna be. But they will definitely be ummm, different.
 
I don't know how it will turn out but we're hoping for the best. Oh, and I'm still the emcee of the New Year's Eve party this year. Poor guests! LOL.
 
When I wake up tomorrow, it'll be very hectic for us. We are doing soundcheck and stage blocking. We are booked at the hotel's salon to do our hair. I will have to RECALL the songs that I only sing on New Year's Eve, or whenever possible. Have to memorize all my songs because we are not bringing any songbook onstage tomorrow! We're doing few last minute touches on whatever we can improve. It will definitely be very busy busy busy!
 
I think the next time you'll hear from me is next year, so before this year ends, I'd like to greet you and your loved ones a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May this coming 2007 bring all dreams to reality!

Itchy palms

Just been to KLCC to buy floaties and goggles for Selena. She's been bugging me for days. I also managed to buy her a pair of school shoes and sneakers. I've got itchy palms and I gotta spend! LOL
 
Jan and Selena are swimming right now. I managed to discover a free WiFi gateway! Yipeeee! Would there be a way for me to sneak out here after midnight?!? If so, I gotta get myself some mosquito repellent! Or maybe a full body suit made of mosquito net?!? Hahaha!

Post-Christmas fun at Times Square

When I was a lot younger, I remember how my mom would take me to amusement park along with my brothers and cousins on Christmas day. And that's what I did with Selena, too. Along with "sissy" Jan. Poor Marl had to work.

We headed off to Berjaya Times Square after 4PM and ate at the McDonald's first. We then entered Cosmo's World, the biggest indoor theme park in Malaysi
a and the biggest indoor theme park I've seen. It wasn't that crowded but still there were lots of people because of school holidays. Entrance was RM25 for each adult and RM15 for each kid exceeding the height limit of 3 feet. Selena is a thrill-seeker like me and likes to ride thrill rides too. But unfortunately, they wouldn't let her ride in some thrill rides so she had to bore herself with kiddie rides and just tired herself out at the playground. Jan chickened out a bit but I was able to convince her to ride a couple of thrill rides. We just lost both our voices from shouting. LOL. Finished off the amusement fun with a some kiddie art stuff that Selena and Jan did.

My father arrived to KL with his family (now). I'm not that close to his family but I tried to get along with them. They are nice people but we can feel a bit aloof at times, especially with my stepmom. My siblings with him (2 brothers at 19 and 20 and a sister at) are nice kids too, but they're all grown-ups and taller than me. Maybe that's why I am intimidated by them! LOL. We managed to meet up at Times Square and have a short chat. Didn't want them to wait up and be late for their coaster. They travelled in a packaged tour. Hopefully I'll see them on Thursday again when they get back from Genting.

Christmas sprain

Aside from suffering from post-Christmas fatigue, I am having a sprain on my left ankle. I twisted it badly as I almost FELL OFF THE STAIRS FROM THE STAGE on Christmas eve! We were on our last set and I was having a great time onstage. I went down, as usual, while singing a song and... slipped. Luckily I was able to hold on to the rails, but the guests on my side saw what had happened. It was surely humiliating but I laughed at myself.
 
I've been doing it for 5 years, the same stairs of the stage, sometimes running up and down several times in a set. I was quite thankful because the guest who's been shooting video throughout the night must have taken some rest and missed the great part of the evening. I would have persuaded him to give me a copy for my website! Hahaha!

Pressies

Marl gave his Xmas pressie to me a few days before the day itself. I just couldn't wait. The moment he said he had found the gift for me, I bugged him to death till he gave it to me. A cute Guess handbag. Very Saritacious I must say.
 
Selena wrote some letters to Santa but Santa just picked the gift she's always been wanting this year - a Tamagotchi! Not only that, Santa Claus also gave another Tamagotchi for mommy! Hahaha! That ripped me off, in fact. I found out that just having one Tamagotchi doesn't make sense because the newer versions of Tama's now are meant to connect to other Tama's. And that's the reason why Selena's Tama came with another one. Aside from the real fact that mommy has been acting like a kid lately and wanted to play with a Tama! LOL
 
I also got some Christmas pressies which I got from friends although Selena received the most of course. So I'd like to thank you, guys, for giving something from your heart out of Christmas spirit. We will always treasure it.
 
But, we actually don't mind late ones! LOL

Christmas party at 4AM

That's how it's been during the past Christmas eves we had here in KL. Of course, the bands who were involved were the ones we see most of the time and most of them are the Filipino musicians from Concorde Hotel. This year, the band from Park Royal Hotel and the male singer from Renaissance Hotel also joined us which made the annual party more enjoyable.
We usually had our previous parties on the corridor of the 3rd floor where Concorde staff stay. But a Filipino friend offered to let us use the massage centre on the 1st floor where it's more suitable for our party and noisy voices. Each band had to bring in food and we brought a turkey. At 5AM, we did our Kris Kringle - a small exchange gift we planned for the party. We had to draw names and pick one to give our Christmas gift to. The budget was not less than RM50 which was agreeable to all. Aside from the gifts we gave to the ones we picked, we also gave out small gifts for everyone. And I guess, Selena had the most received gifts. Anyway, Christmas is mostly for children.
We went back to the hotel at almost 7AM! Aside from the lethargy that everyone was suffering from, we had to find cure for hoarseness of voice because most of us had to perform on Christmas night even though it fell on a Monday, which was supposedly our off.
From the URB Band and little Selena, we'd like to thank the following persons who attended the small party we had and making this Christmas a wonderful one:
Chona, Sarah, Wacky, Bing and Edil of Peach Apple Tree Band; Vilma, Marjorie, Mayshel, Lester and Elmer of Vision 5 Band; Rhea, Mylene and Jeff of V-Rhythm Band; Weng (male singer) and Yza (local girl); Nanay Cora & Raquel (Sarah's family); Mike & Cem

Till next year again... hopefully...

Notable Christmas Eve in KL 2006

Pretty tight.

That's how our schedule has been for the past week. Because they need to repair our room - when the hotel's occupancy is at 40% - we had to transfer to another room on the same floor. In fact, just about 3 doors away. We didn't need to pack because we just literally moved our stuff in it. Selena enjoyed herself helping us, too.

When we woke up in the afternoon of Christmas eve, I was rushing to finish wrapping gifts - something I had to postpone because of moving in the morning. Papa Jamal and Mama Siah dropped by to the lounge to exchange Christmas gifts with us and we had Christmas high tea too. 7PM was definitely a Christmas rush hour for us. We had to fix a usual green dress, attached a red leather belt on our chest to hold it from sliding down and put on our Christmas hats.

It's our 5th Christmas in Shangri-La KL for 5 consecutive years and Christmas eve performance this year, just like the previous ones, was one again remarkable. The lounge was FULL - again. Really packed full. The spaces between each table were so narrow that you had to walk sideways. Though I must say that 60% of the crowd were not usual regulars, but all of them really had a grea time. One regular guest opened a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne for the band. Cool! As usual, by 12 midnight, we did our grand Christmas countdown, sang some Christmas carols to everyone's delight.

I was trying to be jolly Christmassy the whole night - and tried to forget how my family in Manila wouldn't be able to celebrate on that special night. They had to mourn for my late stepfather who passed away a day before Christmas eve, and it just kicked in when Jan sang an emotionally felt "Oh Holy Night". I couldn't stop myself from crying - right there and then. But Marl definitely knew how to turn my bolts so he had me singing songs I love performing to. We finished the evening with a good remark on the people who were there on that special night.

Definitely notable.

In loving memory of Victoriano "Agong" Sy

A very responsible father and a very good friend, my 2nd father, Victoriano Sy, popularly known as "Agong" in Chinese community, has passed away last December 23.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer last April this year and battled with it since then. But he finally ended his suffering to leave us to a better place in heaven where he can no longer feel pain.
Although he's gone and the pain of losing him will linger, my mom Linda, and their two sons Vic Andrew (17) and Christopher (16), along with myself, Marlou and Selena, have wholly accepted that life has to pass on. But we will surely miss his presence and his memories will definitely remain forever.
May he rest in peace.

It's Christmas eve & moving!!!

I don't want to spoil my mood for the holiday season and I'm looking at this on the brighter side. We were asked to move to another room again. Luckily, just a few doors away. But the fact that all our stuff are out and after Christmas shopping, it makes me pull my hair! Anyway, we are moving in a few minutes and there won't be any WiFi connection there so I might not be able to update much. We will be moving back to this old Marritz Suite next year as promised.

For the meantime, I'd like to wish you and your loved ones a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

PS: Thanks a lot for making the past year a great one for my website.

For people working in hotels

1. We work in weird shifts - like a prostitute

2. They pay you to make the client happy - like a prostitute

3. The client pays a lot of money, but your employer keeps almost every penny - like a prostitute

4. You are rewarded for fulfilling the client's ideas - like the prostitutes

5. Your friends fall apart and you end up hanging out with people in the same profession as you - as the prostitutes

6. When you have to meet the client you always have to be perfectly groomed - like a prostitute

7. But when you go back home it seems like you are coming back from hell as the prostitutes

8. The client always wants to pay less but expects incredible things from you - as from the prostitutes

9. When people ask you about your job, you have difficulties to explain it - as the prostitutes

10. If things turn out to be wrong is always your fault - as the prostitutes

11. Everyday when u wake up you say: IM NOT GONNA SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE DOING THIS - like a prostitute


REMARKS:

The only difference is that the prostitutes can take xmas and new years eve off and they actually do get a lot of Money!!!

If you know someone in the hospitality industry send this email so they dont feel bad anymore.... like a prostitute!!!

LOL

Whew!

It was my princessette's 1st day in KL on this trip and I need to catch up on my sleep now. Had a very busy day rehearsing, shopping, being a mom to Selena, being a sister to Jan, being a wife to Marl, being a livewire on stage... Tomorrow's another busy day. Oh, and we're actually performing this coming Monday instead of taking off on Christmas Day. Switching our off on Tuesday.

Happy Holidays everyone!

This is the moment

My princessette is in town! Her flight was delayed for an hour and so I had to anxiously wait for her arrival to the hotel until 2:30AM! But it was such a delight to see my princessette as she walked into the hotel entrance, pulling her pink trolley bag.

Since her flight was at 9PM and coming KL was 4 hours, I had to endure the whole evening at work with butterflies on my stomach. I was exceptionally elated the whole evening. Yes she managed to travel overseas alone!!! She said the people were so nice to her and she was seated beside a Chinese guy on the plane. I asked her whether the guy talked to her, she said, "yes, but I couldn't understand most of the time because he was too slang!". LOL.

After laughing and playing with me and Jan, she's now off to bed. I'm going to sleep with her in a while, too, after blogging. I couldn't let this wonderful moment pass without sharing it with you guys! This Christmas will definitely be better than Christmas itself!!!

Waiting anxiously

She will be arriving soon. My princessette. I'm gonna see her soon. She must be on her way to the hotel. I asked my friend to pick her up from the airport. Biting my nails...

Pbase updated

New pix are uploaded on my December 2006 gallery. Check them out!

PS: Selena's arriving tonight and I might have a busy life as a mom. Will keep you updated for sure!

Lucky 9,999!!!

Since the day my Canon Ixus 750 was sent to me as a belated birthday present via UPS from a friend in US somewhere in November 2005 (eventually J.B. became a friend after being an anonymous lurker on my website LOL), I've already taken thousand pics. The photo above is in fact the 9,999th picture taken by my camera, taken after work a while ago. The lucky 9,999th photo before my camera resets to 0001 (because it can only have 4 digits). An early fresh start for my camera before the new year!

Please pray for my family

I never liked him when I first met him.

I was about 9 years old then and I remember going up to my room when this Filipino-Chinese guest would visit my mom at home. My mom had been a victim of failed marriage and I was still 2 or 3 when she got separated from my dad. I grew up with my mom together with her sisters.

Being the only child, I grew up as a little princess. Literally. Bratty sometimes. And when my mom and Agong decided to live together, I felt like my kingdom has been trespassed. I had 2 brothers named Andrew and Christopher who I took care since birth. And I saw how Agong took care of my me and my mom. And that earned him my utmost respect.

I called him Uncle and he didn't have problems with that. It was hard to explain to my brothers at a later part why I call him that, now Selena is the one asking and it's even harder to explain to her! So anyway, he had been my father figure while I was growing up, but was still reluctant to be her daughter. As a teenager, I became rebellious thinking that he and my mom are trying to be too strict to me. I wish I knew better then.

Last April, he was diagnosed with a lung cancer. Stage 4. It broke my mom's heart. They tried to battle with the disease for months by trying chemotherapy & other alternative methods. But since I was told that lung cancer is an unforgiving sickness, there was no success. The hope gradually faded.

The last time I saw him was in October before leaving for KL. I could barely recognize him when I walked in our house. Just skin and bones. And he was telling me of another chemotherapy he wanted to do. He is a very strong person and he wouldn't give up just like that.

Just yesterday, my mom was called by his 1st family. To talk to Uncle on his, maybe, uhmmm, last stage. He's so fragile that he couldn't talk and couldn't move anymore. I'm not sure if he is still conscious. His health is deteriorating and so is he.

Please include our family in your prayers.

An off before Christmas

As of now, we still don't know whether we'll be performing on Christmas day, Dec 25, which falls on Monday. It's inevitable, and that's why they hired us to work. To entertain people when they need us most. So since today is our off before Christmas, I will enjoy it as well as use it wisely. It's time for costume hunting for Christmas and New Year. Also have to buy some of Selena's needed stuff. She won't be bringing anything with her, because I don't want her to have a check-in baggage since she will be travelling alone. Will try to upload new pics and vidz later tonight.

Better (Sun)day

After a whole week of quiet business for the lounge, I was amazed at how responsive the people were tonight. After work, we went to Concorde to meet up with some friends. Some members of Beat Culture band (of Hyatt Saujana's RP) were there and we jammed with the Vision5 & B'Thru bands until 3AM. As expected, the manager of the lounge asked me to sing a Shakira song. LOL. It has been labeled with me, though I want to try something else sometimes. I attempted to jam songs from Britney, PCD and Ciara in the past, but still, management of Concorde wants me to sing Shakira.

Don't get me wrong, I adore Shakira and her songs. I know I should take it as a complement. But I do that for a living and I guess it's just fair to keep my mind off it when I'm not working.

Which is hard.

Because the moment I pass by the full-length mirror in the room, I'd gyrate infront of it. LOL. In fact, I don't even want to sing when I'm off from work.

Which is hard too.

Because I hate killjoys and it's very difficult to hate myself if I turn into a killjoy! LOL.

Oh well, I guess it's the lightheadedness that's talking now. No alcohol to blame this time! LOL.

Countdown in Style at Shangri-La

excerpt from Shangri-La Newsletter December 2006:

Bid farewell to 2006 and welcome the New Year in style at Shangri-La Hotel's Black and Silver New Year's Eve Countdown Party.

Enjoy the international buffet with seafood station laden with oysters, lobsters, crabs and shrimps, caviar and fish roe. Enjoy the Asian and Western gourmet salads galore as you help yourself to the Japanese station full of sushi, sashimi and tempura.

The carving station will feature prime rib and lamb with the dessert station will display the most splendid array of seasonal goodies.

Exclusive seating with live entertainment at Hotel Lobby
Price: RM 350++ per adult (excluding beverages)
RM 240++ per child (including softdrinks)

Seating with live entertainment on wide screen at Lobby Lounge
Price: RM 295++ per adult (excluding beverages)
RM 185++ per child (including softdrinks)

For reservations, call the Festive Desk at +60-3-20743526.

A week before Christmas eve

By this time of the month, it would have been Christmas everywhere in the Philippines. Not much in KL. Here, you will only feel the Christmas spirit when you go to malls, sometimes in hotels. It's a week before Christmas eve. But what I'm looking forward to is the arrival of my princessette. Few more days!!!

When Selena comes to town...

Taken last Dec 2005, here's a video of Selena singing her favorite Christmas song called "When Christmas Comes To Town" from the movie Polar Express. Can't wait for her to come to town in a few days!!!

Who says I'm pregnant?

It has been a fairly quiet week at the lounge. Not much of regular guests. Lounge is mostly swarmed by hotel guests this week. I wonder where the locals are these days. Maybe they're saving up for the coming holidays. Or maybe a lot of year-end tasks to finish. Some might be on holiday overseas. Or whatever. Don't want to stress myself thinking about that. We're still doing a great job, as far as we're concern. We practise and work hard everyday to be able to give great entertainment each night.

I'm guessing that this headache that I've been having for a week now is not because I'm pregnant, as others have speculated. It's because of my eyes. Haven't worn my contact lenses for 9 months now and because we've been practising new songs lately and so I've been straining my eyes looking at my lyrics on the floor and trying to read size16 font!

And I'm not a doctor to give such diagnosis so don't mind my gibbering. And so are you! Just give me more possibilities other than I'm pregnant!!!

Hurtin' from head to toe

Thanks a lot for some of your concerned and curious messages if I'm already feeling better. The freakin' thing is still inside my head and it's throbbing and causing me to become idle most of the time. But it sure doesn't stop me from my usual performance. After rehearsing a few stretchin' & bendin' moves with some songs yesterday, Jan and I are now suffering from body aches. Also, I began wearing a new pair of shoes this week as well so I'm feeling pain - literally - from head to toe! Huhuhu!

Punching my card

Just punching my card on my blog... I don't have any mood in uploading more videos these days because I haven't been feeling well. It's been like 4 days now and still I don't feel well. Maybe it's the season. Lots of people and staff are sick right now. Couple of singers in Concorde are down with flu. Marl and Jan are still sneezing after their flu attack more than a week ago. And geez, I'm still awake right now when I should have been sleeping early! *hits my hand*

Still not well

Still not well, guess it's a nasty fever waiting to bloom. But luckily, I haven't got colds and cough (knock on wood). I guess my health supplements and vitamins kinda help. Or maybe it was the off I had yesterday. Guess I will take early rest tonight too.

By the way, MY VIDEO has slowly becoming the most visited page on my site, dethroning this blog page from its No.1 position! About time for a change, eh?

Pain in the head

Havin' severe headache since I got up on my offday. Will try to sleep EARLY. As in early in the morning! LOL. Hopefully there won't be any calls to disturb my therapeutic rest. Enjoy the newly updated video page!

New... err... Old videos added

I've added a few more videos for you to enjoy, however some of it are in Tagalog. But what the heck, you're only viewing them to see how I can be stupid off stage! LOL

MY VIDEOS

Xmas shopping

I've spent my off wisely today. Did some Xmas shopping, better be early than be caught in a midst of Christmas rush and busy schedule. My princessette is coming next weekend. Very excited about it.

Full all day

I was in dreamland when the phone rang at 2PM. It's our Papa Jamal & Mama Siah and they were in KLCC so they wanted to meet up with us. I dragged my ass off the bed and didn't even have my usual dose of coffee. I still had pillow marks on my face when we were walking to KLCC. Met up with our friends and went straight to the Little Penang Cafe on the top floor. Had Char Kway Teow and Rojak and was thankful to have my freshly brewed coffee.

Walked around the mall as we window shopped while I was in my comic state. Jan lost her voice coz of laughing. I saw one lady in a sexy bright red-orange dress, big shades and high heel shoes. Sexy yet very funny. She trotted like a model, well, a defunct model maybe. With a chest-up-stomach-in-butt-out gait. Striking and really head-turning... head-turning because you'll wonder if she's knows she's in a mall and not some nightclub. And head-turning because you'll wonder if you've seen a girl or another gender! LOL. Ohhh, good Lord, forgive me for my wagging tongue of uninvited and unfavorable judgment!!!

Before we headed back to the hotel and while waiting for the rain to stop, we had some traditional snacks at the Aseana cafe. Our tummies were all full until our esophaguses. When we went back to the hotel, I had an hour of beauty rest before work. Enough time to make up for the disturbed sleep earlier.

Work was as usual great eventhough I was having a bad hair day. I set my hair with curls at the end, but due to dancing and sweat, my golden crown became a lion-like do! LOL. Anyway, it's our off tomorrow. Yipeeeee!

Video page up!!!

Finally the wait is over! There are currently 12 videos on my video page. No recent videos, though. And I'm just warming up. Once I have worked on my favorite vidz, will add them till youtube surrenders!

Enjoy MY VIDEOS!

Kris Kringle

Just been to meet up with other musicians. We met up for the fortcoming Christmas party we're organizing. Every Christmas, we try to have this little party of Pinoy musicians. This year, Concorde and Shangri-La bands are joined by the Park Royal band. So in preparation for that, we had the Kris Kringle draw for our little traditional exchange gift or Kris Kringle. We drew out some names and the one that you'll be getting will receive a little gift from you. Well, since none of the musicians present there reads my blog often, I'll let you in for my little secret. My Kris Kringle is a guy. Ooops, that's enough.

Still full from the supper we just had. We had our supper behind Concorde. It's fun when musicians would hang out all together sometimes. I still am having problem with my video page and still trying to sort out the problem. But I'm really sleepy. Gotta go now!

Christmas in the air


Christmas is definitely in the air everywhere. Shangri-La KL has finally put up the Christmas tree this afternoon (Tuesday) and it will still be a charity Xmas tree. I don't know why Christmas makes me sentimental, warmhearted, sensitive, emotional, happy and homesick.

After work tonight, I watched the Christmas film called The Polar Express. It was Selena's favorite Christmas movie and the song there was her favorite Christmas song. I concentrated on the movie till it finished, but been holding back tears. But when it came to the credits, I just burst into tears and cried on Marl's shoulder. I miss my princessette.

Knock on wood

When I woke up this afternoon, I felt different. I have slight headache coupled with warm temperature. After Jan and Marl suffered from flu last week, I was so scared that I caught the virus. Hopefully not. As doctors say, vitamin C, fruits, juices and lots of liquid. Oh and I think I heard alcohol too! :-)

Caught on A1 cam!

During the A1 GP race at the Sepang Circuit in KL on Nov.26, there were 2 girls dressed in kebaya and looked more like flight attendants. I took their photos as I was walking during lunchtime and they also took mine with their own cam and then anded me a business card with the line "For this picture, go to www.winthepacecar.com". And I disregarded it.

I was cleaning my table the other night and saw the card and I just went on the said address for curiosity's sake. And yes, I saw my face there - among 185 other people (mostly guys). Thought it was bogus and I even thought that they had a toy cam because it didn't look too professional & it didn't have flash at all. Remember those times when you'd take your dad's film camera without any film inside and pretend to shoot people with it? That's how I felt they were doing. But I was wrong.

See for yourself - Win The Pace Car photo gallery.

Updates!

  • Added 5th puzzle which might be interesting to some of you LOL
  • Added couple of pix in the Nov '06 gallery
  • Created Dec '06 gallery and added couple of vain pix to start with
  • Planning to put up a Music page for the band site
  • Editing some funny videos to be posted on YouTube

Mars & Venus

"The most happy marriage I can imagine to myself
would be the union of a deaf man to a blind woman"

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)

I got this quote from my Quotation of the Day on the front page. It's kinda strange that some people have different perception of other people. Funny that I have been reading the book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus for 2 months now but I still couldn't understand it. The description of the characteristics of the Venusians doesn't fit my characteristic. I even find it funny to think that I might be the only woman from Mars and Marl might be from Venus. And I do agree with that. My attitude is more masculine and his attitude is more feminine.

No, don't get me wrong, there's no gender-confusion going on here. I'm talking about the characteristics. You see, in the said book, Martians tend to isolate themselves when they are upset or they have a problem. And that's really me. I don't like talking about my problems unless I really need to. Whereas, Venusians tend to talk about their problems because they needed to be heard and understood. And that's Marl.

I think I should change the title of the book to Sarita Is From Mars, Marl Is From Venus. LOL. And the quote above doesn't really apply to me and Marl. It should be rephrased to: "The most happy marriage I can imagine to myself would be the union of a mute man to a deaf & blind woman". LOL.

December commences

It's the start of the most significant month. For some, it means year-end bonus. For me, December means Christmas. And Christmas brings mixed feelings. Home-sickness and happiness. I'll just wait what happens this month that will make it different from the past 27 Decembers I've experienced. Hoping for better things. Hope - that's one.