Some bands are worth seeing once. Others, twice. But with Fall Out Boy, I don't even have to think twice. I'll never stop seeing them as long as they keep coming back. I love this band so much, I'd even go to a show alone if I have to and I did.* After all, you're never really alone in a concert. I enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed their last two shows here. Or maybe even more.
This time, Typecast opened up for FOB (2007: Chicosci, 2009: Hey Monday). Funny how I've seen Typecast multiple times now because they always seem to open up for my favorite bands. The crowd was chanting "F! O! B!" while the vocalist was introducing themselves and I couldn't help but laugh as he teasingly said, "Kayo talaga ha!" HAHAHA Kids. I guess local bands are used to that by now but still, they deserve a little respect too.
But enough about that, let's move on to my favorite moments from Fall Out Boy's third time in Manila. Just excuse the crappy photos, okay?
1.1. The band opened up with Thriller, bringing us back to the last time they were here. Honestly, I was hoping they'd start the show with The Phoenix and it's hair-raising intro but I'm glad they stuck to Thriller. It was the perfect opening song then and it remains to be the perfect opening song now especially for a band who came back after an indefinite hiatus to save rock and roll. After all, it has always been about the kids. "Crowds are won and lost and won again but our hearts beat for the die-hards. So long live the car crash hearts!"
I have always loved Peter Pan (and I guess I always will) because just like him, I never want to grow up. And honestly, I kind of freaked out when I turned 25 last year. I knoooooow, so childish right? Let's just say I had a bit of a quarter-life crisis then. But this year, I feel (in)different. Signs of aging?? Haha I like to think of it as seeing things in perspective. Why sulk over how old you are when you can be grateful for another year to celebrate life? After all, that's what celebrating birthdays are for! And if you were born on a holiday like me, you'd look forward to celebrating it every year as the entire nation celebrates with you.
Yeah, I turned 26 today and it feels great to be alive. I have nothing but thanksgiving for another wonderful year so thank You, Lord, for 26 awesome years and for being with me through it all. With that, I leave you with 3 "Alive" songs I coincidentally discovered right before my birthday. Enjoy!
Last May 25th, I saw Yellowcard for the first time and I've had this song stuck in my head for days. Here's Yellowcard with Here I Am Alive feat. Tay Jardine of WATIC.
"They say you don't grow up, you just grow old. It's safe to say I haven't done both."
Next up: Am I Alive by TEAM. I discovered TEAM two weeks ago after bands I like started tweeting about them. I have a rough idea who the members are but as of now, they remain a mystery. I'm glad I listened to their first single though because it's so good. LSS guaranteed!
"Am I alive or just breathing?"
Lastly, here's Bo Bruce with Alive. It's MV was recently released and I just had to get Before I Sleep. So much emotion in her voice!
"What are we waiting for? We're alive."
So there, I hope you enjoyed listening to the soundtrack of my life. Chos! Happy independence day everyone! Enjoy the holiday~!
So I'm going back to Boston in four days time. I'm not too psyched about the 19-hour flight but hey, I'll probably sleep my way through it or blog about my recent Japan (2.0) trip if my eyelids stay up long enough. Oh and I'm not too excited about being away for two months and missing Ate's law school graduation either but still, I have nothing but thanksgiving for the outpouring of blessings. At least I have the weekend trips to look forward to. Not to mention Memorial Day (SALE!!!!), and the experience I'd gain from this business trip. Three different trips in a month? CRAAAAZY! But thank You, Lord, for keeping me safe and sane.
...I made this decision and I'm proud that I'm still with my first company. Parang kelan lang, we were building our resumes while looking for potential companies. Tapos naka-5 years na agad?? Not much has changed I guess but it's still funny when you look back on it. Ang childish lang namin okay! :))
I've been thinking about something over the last weekend. It's about time I take action and take that little step into making my dreams come true. But each time I try to, it stirs up the butterflies in my tummy. I don't know why but I keep on second-guessing myself. But God, being the omniscient being that He is, felt like I could use some words of encouragement in the form of random tweets.
Monday
Change is a choice exercised by those willing to endure pain for ultimate gain.
- @Jamieavastera
Tuesday
It's Tuesday again! Still second-guessing or doubting something? Just remember #GoLangNgGo!
- @enjoyGLOBE
Wednesday
Don't let your dreams be dreams.
- @alexanderdeleon
Thursday
If you are gonna dream, might as well dream big. It takes the same amount of energy.
- @iamjonathancook
Friday
When you are discouraged and you quit, you limit what God can do in you and through you.
- Ptr. Peter Tan-chi (RT'd by @kalachuchai)
The funny thing about this is I keep forgetting what I'm supposed to do but each day, these tweets keep reminding me of my dream. Amazing how much He knows me. Better start working on it. Bit by bit. :)
Started using Filed instead of BDJ. Goodbye coupons, hello doodles!
Bought my very first pair of Toms.
New tourism campaign: It's More
Fun in the Philippines. Love it!
Watched Simple Plan at Araneta Coliseum.
AND went to Edsa
Shangri-la the
next day to meet the guys and get things signed. First SL (Stalking Leave)
of the year yo!
SC Batch 2 Year-starter at Subic (Tree Top Adventure and
Ocean Adventure)
FEBRUARY
Watched Mamma Mia! At CCP Theatre.
Went to all LIV5 dates and watched A+ Dropouts, The Summer
Set, The Ready
Set, A Rocket to
the Moon, and Forever the
Sickest Kids.
Fell in love with Jordan. :)) Thank you Ayala Malls!
Enrolled in Fitness
First for four
months.
Fell in love with yoga and zumba.
TGIS reunited to attend Tats and
Puchie's wedding
as bridesmaids.
Missed Bill Beckett's StageIt show because of
time zone confusion. FAIL!
Had a Leap Year
Party at Cyma
(then Watering Hole) with '04 batchmates.
Got addicted to Draw
Something.
Took my One
Direction
addiction to a whole new level by buying Forever Young.
MARCH
Met The Cab atthe CD signing event at SM
Sky Dome.
Watched Smash
Project
featuring The Cab, Cobra Starship, Dashboard Confessional, and The Used at Araneta Coliseum.
Start of Magnum craze!
Fell in love with Mark B.'s zumba class.
Booked KUL-REP flights.
Uncle Melic passed away. :(
Hunger
Games!
Got addicted to Community.
Watched The Maine for the fifth time, this
time at SM Sky Dome. Pulp Royalty, baby!
APRIL
South-East
Asia Trip!!! My
most ambitious travel adventure to date. Manila - Singapore - Kuala Lumpur
- Cambodia - Bangkok - Manila. AHH-MAZING!
Went to Singapore for the second time.
Woke up at 4 AM just to get
the chance to go up the Petronas Twin Towers.
Finally saw the famous Angkor Wat plus some other temple
ruins.
Tried Happy Pizza and got high. Unfortunately,
my kind of high was the sleepy kind so yeah, I just fell asleep.
Drank all the Thai Milk
Tea I want while
in Thailand!
Experienced my first foreign
festival ever - Songkran in Bangkok. I'm definitely coming back!
Experienced MRI for the first time because
of my left knee.
Had to enroll for 10 PT
sessions at
Healthway.
Forever 21 finally opened at The Block.
Our company had to retrench
some people. :(
MAY
SAGADA! Survived the back-to-back
Cave Connection and Pongas Waterfalls challenges! Plus some other minor
ones: Marlboro Hills, Kiltepan Peak, Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins.
Ate Pinikpikan for the first and last time.
Had Karaoke
Night with the
entire Axiom team plus Pat at Centerstage.
Filed a half-day SL and went to MOA just to see Ian Somerhalder for a few minutes. Totally worth it!
Went to Street Food
Fridays for the
first time.
Watched Weekend
Getaway for the
first time because of their Sagada episode.
Got addicted to The Moon That Embraces The Sun. New crush alert: Kim Soo Hyun!
SEPTEMBER
Watched Potted Potter at RCBC Plaza.
Went to Kalibo for Lola Melba's interment.
Surprise Boracay getaway!
Watched BONA at PETA Theater.
Celebrated Karly and Daddy's birthday at Kanin Club.
Went bowling at SM Annex afterwards.
Watched The Cab at Trinoma.
UP Pep Squad won first place in this year's UAAP Cheerdance Competition.
Watched The Phantom of the Opera at CCP. BEST. MUSICAL. EVER. So I bought tons of merch.
Went to Zac Efron's Fan Conference at MOA Arena.
Went to Bazooka Rocks Festival by Pulp to watch Avastera, The Wonder Years, A Skylit Drive, Forever the Sickest Kids, The Maine, Marianas Trench, Mayday Parade, and The Pretty Reckless at SMX Convention Center.
OCTOBER
Went to the South Korea Embassy at Taguig to apply for our tourist visas and got approved!
Traded in our old luggage and bought new ones at Travel Club's Luggage Sale.
Booked our room at Hongdae Guesthouse.
Decorated our area for the company's annual Trick or Treat and prepared treats for the kids.
Mabel finally resigned. I'm gonna miss her!
Broke my sennies and bought the new earpods.
NOVEMBER
Celebrated Ate's birthday weekend at Balay Indang.
SOUTH KOREA 2012!Autumn in my heart ang peg!
Wore hanbok for the first time at Myeong-dong Tourist Center.
Stayed at a hanok (with complimentary traditional breakfast) for the first time at Friends House. Communicated with very little English.
Visited Gyeongbokgung for the second time but this time, we watched the Changing of the Guards and wore traditional costumes (court lady and guard).
Went to Petite France for the first time.
Wanted to try Nami Zip Wire but failed. :(
Went to Everland for the first time. Didn't try the T-Express though.
Strolled across Cheonggyecheon for the Seoul Lantern Festival Exhibit.
Went to MBC Dramia where they filmed most of TMTETS.
Went to Trick Eye Museum for the first time.
Went to the Lee Min Ho Benchsetter Fun Meet at Araneta
Coliseum.
Celebrated Mom and Ate Elsa's birthday at our new unit in Bldg 31.
Had a house blessing for Bldg 31.
DECEMBER
The office had a bidding for excess office supplies. Bought a new computer set.
Watched Rurouni Kenshin. OH THE MEMORIES!!!
Finally bought a white Lumix LX7 from Kimstore.
The company's theme for this year's Year-End Party was 60's inspired. Our batch went as the cast of Mad Men.
Had an Axiom Year-end Party at Music Match.
Had our SC Batch 2 YEP at H Cuisine.
The world didn't end so we celebrated by having lunch at Roberta's Flavors of Asia.
Our unit at Grass Residences was finally turned over to us (after 4 final viewings).
Celebrated Christmas at Bldg 31 with the entire family.
Celebrated New Year's Eve at Cavite with our fetal friends. FUN!
As you can see, the past year has been nothing but great. So thank you, Lord, for the continuous blessings. And to everyone who were part of my 2012 for making it absolutely fun. Here's to an even more exciting 2013! [ EDIT: I can't remember exactly when but I did start using my left hand to control my mouse so I can lessen my right hand's activities. Hihi Carpal tunnel prevention, yo! One step closer to being ambidextrous. Chos! ]
Oh, how I miss the days when I was this happy to receive my paycheck. And yes, I got my first paycheck in cash four years ago! Haha As new hires, our ATM accounts were still being processed during that time. I was so happy back then thinking how much more I'll make in the future. I don't know what happened. Well, wanderlust happened but I have no regrets. Sure, I want a fatter paycheck but I'm still thankful that I have a job that provides for my needs (more like wants, really). I guess nothing beats the thrill of receiving your first hard-earned paycheck after all.
Photo credit: summer bliss // - my old Multiply page haha define ancient!
