Back on the bandwagon, baby!

Taken after the first set :)

The clock has started to move and the meter has started to run. U.R.B. Band is back on the bandwagon, baby!

It was our first night back to work at the Cloud Nine Bar of Shangri-La Beijing. Given the scenario of bad sound system and poor lighting, maybe you'd have an idea how it went.

Oops! No, you're wrong. We just had fun onstage even though we felt like we were only singing for ourselves. We just couldn't afford to let it bring us down. It was a matter of dealing with it than complaining about it.

And that's the way it was. Go U.R.B.!!! :)

Raising concern for an imprisoned fellow musician in Iran

Ernie Tamonde

Earlier today, I got messages from Sonny Panis, one of the members of Pinoy Musicians Network (PMN) about a fellow musician who was jailed in Iran and is now facing execution for drug trafficking charges which he was believed to be innocent of.

His name is Ernie Guinoo Tamonde and he also happens to be a member of the musicians' site that me and my husband run - Pinoy Musicians Network. His case is no different from other innocent victims who eventually became suspects of drug trafficking. He wrote a letter from his cell to get help and to appeal to the Philippine government about his case. Read the full story here.

As I've searched about him on the internet, I found a Facebook page about his case and his appeal. If you have access to anyone from the media, government agencies or Philippines embassies who can help Ernie, we would greatly appreciate it. I hope I can help in my own way of spreading this news to our fellow musicians and those people who know him.

Below is a copy of the 2-page letter he wrote.

2-page letter written by Ernie Guinoo Tamonde from his cell

Greetings from Beijing!

Stopover at the Xiamen Airport. We're in China! :)

Marthy and I at the transit bus from the plane

Marl on the transit bus waiting for the other passengers from the plane

The placard that our chauffeur was holding when we got out
of the plane. Looks like I'm the only female in the group, eh?

I know that we're near our hotel because I can see the nearest
landmark which is the Beijing South Railway Station

Just checked in at the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing!

Hi everyone! The U.R.B. Band has touched down on the soil of the capital of mainland China yesterday. It has been a long holiday back home and this cold weather is just a little too much for us. Brrrrrr!

Our journey started at the NAIA 1 at 6AM where we had to pay a ridiculous amount of P30,000 for our excess baggage - which only consisted our basic needs, costumes and instruments. Feel free to share with our sympathy for ourselves. LOL. Our flight was 9AM which was on schedule. We stopped over at the Xiamen Airport at 11:20AM where our passports were chopped with arrival stamps. Surprisingly, when we finally reached Beijing, there was no need for us to go through its immigration anymore. We were ushered by our chauffeur from the plane to the spot where the limousine service of Shangri-La Hotel Beijing was waiting for us. Yeah, back to the sweet posh life. *winks*

For us, nothing much has changed since we left here last year. For them, U.R.B. Band has definitely changed. Aretha was replaced by Marthy now, Marl has gained weight and guess I still look the same.

We will start performing at the Cloud Nine Bar of Shangri-La Hotel Beijing tonight, November 26, 2010. Check out the URB website for more details > www.urbband.com

The price I have to pay

This was one of holidays that I've really enjoyed because it has allowed me to prove that I can do good in other things, too, aside from my real profession which is singing. And one of them is to be a hands-on supermom to my princessette mini-me.

Since we moved out of my mom's house in Paco and moved into our condo in Mandaluyong which we haven't lived in since we bought it 4 years ago, I have had the chance to really take care of my daughter. And that's the best fulfilment I've ever felt.

But it's taking its toll on me now. Because my husband Marl and I are leaving for Beijing to work at the Shangri-La Hotel there. And my heart is crushing at this very moment that I'm lying beside her, knowing that in a few hours, I'd be missing this. Her hugs, her kisses, her sweetness and all.

We definitely have to make sacrifices in life. And this is the price I have to pay. Totally.

:(

Hair Asia 2010 at the World Trade Center... SUCCESS!

It was the biggest ramp modeling that I've ever been in. But of course, it's the Hair Asia 2010 which was held at the World Trade Center in Manila, Philippines. I was one of the Clairol models for Anita Gutierrez and Danny LaPointe, hair experts from Clairol Professional. Although I'm busy these days, I managed to gather the videos from my iPhone 3GS and Panasonic Lumix digital camera and tried to edit the video this morning. I knew I needed to edit it today because I've only got 5 more days left in Manila, before flying off to Beijing. I made two parts of it: behind the scenes or the making and the show itself. Enjoy!

Here's two part video of Hair Asia 2010 for Clairol Professional in a playlist:
Toggle the side arrows on the video to advance to Part 2 or watch Part 1 again


Related posts:
I'm so ready to hit the runway for Clairol at the Hair Asia tomorrow

Countdown begins... to Beijing

We've been traveling and performing in different Shangri-La Hotels in China, Malaysia, and Philippines nonstop for the past 10 years now. And we only go home once a year to spend at least 2 weeks to a month with our families especially to see our daughter. But this break has been different in many ways and has become an indefinite fun holiday for us.

After our successful gig at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for the 7th time, we went back home to take a break while waiting for us to apply visa for our next booking to Shangri-La Beijing in China. However, it wasn't an easy wait. There were lots of hindrances and there were lots of visa denied to our sister bands and other musicians who wanted to go to China for unknown reasons. Not to mention with what happened to the recent hostage tragedy and numerous drug trafficking cases in China. But a few lucky ones with new or renewed passports managed to go through. So, we had to wait for a month - plus a hefty agency fee - to have our passports renewed. And based on our new passport numbers, we had to wait for another month for Shangri-La Beijing to get us our permits to apply visa. Wait, wait, and endless wait. And now that we've been here for more than 3 months, the wait is finally over. We have applied for our Chinese visas yesterday and got a call in the afternoon that we got approved and will get visas early next week. Yayyy for that!

Although it was a long wait, we didn't waste a single moment. We moved to our condo which we have rented out for the past 3 years. So finally, we have a small abode that we can call "home sweet home". We spent quality time with our only daughter, Selena, and enjoyed my domestic job as the "superhotmomma".

The model & the photographer

We weren't ready for an indefinite holiday financially. We thought it'd just be for a month and a half but we're now approaching our 4th month. Fortunately, these different activities have really helped us survive in many ways. I did some jobs that I enjoyed doing like photoshoots, castings, events, and whatever "rakets" or sidelines our friends can help us with. We have worked with creative and talented people along the way and have been to places we haven't been to before. So to those guys who have helped us and whom we have worked with especially to Cedric Nicomedes for the events and Manny Librodo and his protégées for the fun photoshoots, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the opportunities! Hope to work with you again in the future.

The copper chick at the Hair Asia show

The countdown to Beijing begins. Mixed feelings about it. I'm happy because we're going back to work but sad that we'll have to leave our daughter again. Also, we're gonna miss all the fun that we had during the past 3 months that we've been here. Mushy mushy time. Huhuhu! When are we going back to Manila? We don't know. :(

Follow my Twitter updates at http://twitter.com/saritaonline!

I'm so ready to hit the runway for Clairol at the Hair Asia tomorrow

I'M SO READY TO HIT THE INTERNATIONAL RUNWAY, Y'ALL! :)

I have done lots of conceptual model shoots, a billboard shoot and few magazine shoots in Malaysia and Philippines since 2009. And here's to add to my modeling experiences - ramp modeling.

I have done ramp modeling for the launching of Wella SP product range of Wella Professionals in September 2010. That was the first time I've done ramp modeling. I received lots of good feedbacks at that time - maybe because of the jolly persona that I showed - and was called for another Wella event last weekend where I did ramp modeling in the department store of SM Megamall Edsa. I wouldn't have to worry about my 5'3" height because these events didn't have tall height requirements at all because we're "hair modeling".

Luck definitely comes in 3 and my 3rd event with Wella being the best and major thing. This is by far my first international modeling for the runway and the biggest fashion event I'd be in. I am one of the chosen models who got in for Clairol for the forthcoming international event called Hair Asia 2010 that will be held tomorrow, November 16, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. I'll be hitting the runway in my newly colored and styled sexy hair by the the famous Clairol hair experts, Anita Gutierrez and Danny LaPointe.

This might be my last modeling stint in the Philippines this year as I might be leaving soon for Beijing, China. So if you want to watch it, I'd really appreciate your presence there.

When: November 16, 2010
Where: World Trade Center, Pasay City
Time: 3:00PM (main ramp event for me)

Watch out for this blog and if you want real up-to-the-minute-and-hour updates, follow me on twitter.com/saritaonline. BOY, I'M REALLY EXCITED and SOOO READY TO HIT IT, BABY!

The dark horse topped the CCF Photo Exhibit... as a photographer

Contrary to everyone's knowledge, I'm not just a face infront of the lens. Few years ago, I used to take snapshots on street photography using just a point-and-shoot camera. I am not a technical photographer who would be worried about exposures and settings. I'm more of a someone who wants to capture the very moment. And street photography was a great way to train my eyes and reflexes with. You can never make those street children hold their poses and do what you wanted them to do. But that was like four to five years ago.

Few weeks ago, I was just invited by my friend Claire and my hubby Marl to join the Pasig River Photowalk organized by Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) for their project called CCF Cares. I think I was the only participant who was not a "photographer", as all of them were either professional photographers like Badeedadee Marl, Derrick Lim, and Alex Ruelo or those attending photography workshops and classes. In short, I'm the only who doesn't know anything about the DSLR that I was holding - except to aim it at the subject and click the shutter. I went there to join in the fun, meet new friends and to support my husband Marl and friend Claire and was even joking to them that my "bara-bara" shots will be chosen over theirs - because I'm the ONLY non-photography buff there. LOL.

The aim of the said photowalk is to showcase images where "God is needed". Only 20 photos would be chosen to be put in a photo exhibit and there were around 20 photographers who joined the photowalk - and we already have foreseen that each of us will have a chosen shot for the exhibit. We were asked to submit our best 5 shots for the contest. Out of the 20 photos chosen for the exhibit, the chosen winning shot would to be printed on a 24" x 36" canvas, while others would be printed on 24" x 36" matte photo paper.

And what happened next was truly unexpected and unbelievable. I got a call from Claire that she got an update from the organizer that Marl's three shots were chosen for the exhibit - yeheyyy! And the best part? Two of my shots were chosen and one of them was the TOP PLACER!!! Wooooohooooo! Who would have thought that a non-photography buff like who just borrowed the backup DSLR of her husband would have shots included in a photo exhibit and would have the winning shot? Call it "chamba" but yes, the dark horse did it all! :)

Guess it's time to update my CV and add 'photography' as one of my passions and add 'photographer' under my belt of careers. Thank you CCF and to Claire who invited us!

The shots below are only of our photos which were included in the CCF Exhibit at St. Francis Square. Please enjoy! :)

My winning shot named "Rubbles" printed on a canvas

My other chosen shot named "Underage, Underpaid"

Badeedadee Marl with his chosen photos named "Age Doesn't Matter",

"Worried for Tomorrow", and "Water For Life"

Badeedadee Marl's winning shots

Vote for Badeedadee!

Please vote for Badeedadee Marl's entry for FPPF's online photo contest. He seldom joins photo contests and when he does, I'm always supportive of his work. Here's all you need to do:

1. Go to FPPF's Facebook page HERE.
2. Click "Like". You cannot vote unless you "like" FPPF's page.
3. Click on the photo below to take you to the voting page. Or click here.
4. Click "VOTE NOW" and if you want, leave a comment. :)
5. You can vote once a day. So you can continue voting until Nov. 7, 2010.