Mama Mia!

I had the most perfect Tuesday night. It was Mama Mia’s first night on stage at the CCP.

I am still high from the Katy Perry concert. I am still singing Firework. But last night, I added another repertoire in my “bathroom concert”, Thank You for the Music (one of my favorite songs from Abba).

telegraph.co.uk

Everyone must have seen the Mama Mia movie, with Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried as lead stars. Everyone must be familiar with Abba. Everyone knows at least one song from Abba, and chances are, Dancing Queen will be on top of the list.

mamamiamovie.com

The story is about a mother, a daughter, and 3 possible dads.

Set on a Greek island, visited by 3 men 20 years ago, these men met Donna Sheridan on separate occasions, and dot dot dot…. =)

Sophie Sheridan invited these men to her wedding, in her quest to discover the identity of her father. And so scenes of love, laughter and friendship unfolded thereafter.

pep.ph

 Backed by classic songs from Abba, one couldn’t help but sing along with the cast (mentally though). It was soothing to hear the opening song (I Had A Dream)… the actress had that angelic voice, I was really captivated.

The scenes featuring the songs Chiquitita, Dancing Queen and Take a Chance On Me were wonderful.

If you enjoyed the movie, you will also enjoy the play. It’s totally different watching it live.

Picture taking was not allowed. I so want to sneak some shots, just like what the person in front of me did. Unfortunately, he was caught, and was asked to erase the photo.

The show started on time, and ended after 2 1/2hours (with a 20-minute break).

Mama Mia souvenir items were being sold in the lobby, like shirts, pens and ref magnets. Program souvenirs were also available for 500p.

The CCP was full to the brim. A mixture of young and old can be observed from the crowd.

And of course, I watched it wearing for the 4^th time my Travelling Dress.

The Mama Mia International Tour will be performing at the CCP Theater until 19 February 2012.

Ticket prices are:

  Matinee (3:00PM)

  Sat / Sun

  VIP = 7,210.00

  A = 6,180.00

  B = 5,150.00

  C = 3,605.00

  D = 2,060.00

  E = 1,030.00

   

  Evenings (8:00PM)

  Tue / Wed / Thu / Sun

  VIP = 6,180.00

  A = 5,150.00

  B = 4,120.00

  C = 3,090.00

  D = 1,545.00

  E = 772.50

   

  Evenings (8:00PM)

  Fri / Sat

  VIP = 7,210.00

  A = 6,180.00

  B = 5,150.00

  C = 3,605.00

  D = 2,060.00

  E = 1,030.00

Katy Perry is Love!

"You just gotta ignite, the light

and let it shine

Just own the night like the

4th of July"

                            Firework, Katy Perry

The show was scheduled at 8pm, but Katy appeared on stage so late…10pm! I was tired and hungry. People were booing. 2 hours delayed ba naman, come on!

But my Sunday night was capped with the best foreign concert I have seen so far. Katy was so cute and bubbly, with an endless supply of sense of humor. Made the waiting forgettable in the end.

Though by 8pm, a DJ was on stage for over 30 minutes, but the people were not really interested in him. Everyone was there just for Katy.

The crowd was huge, an estimate of 25,000 people. This is the 125^th show of Katy’s California Dreams Tour, making Manila as the last leg.

There were a lot of kids as well.

At exactly 10pm, out came Katy, with a deafening applause and howling from the audience, and screamed, “Manilaaaaa, did I save the best for last?”

Dressed in a short white dress with red pinwheels, singing Teenage Dream:

 She sang a total of 14 songs. That’s also the number of times she changed her outfits, excluding the Hot & Cold number where she magically changes her clothes several times (I lost count).

 In between songs, a video was played ala Alice in Wonderland story and characters. This gave Katy an opportunity to change her costumes.

At one point she asked for a guy to join her on stage. A lot raised their hands, even the teens, as young as 12 years old. Katy refused the young ones as she doesn’t want to spend a night in jail hahaha. So, she instead requested for guys to take off their shirts, and the first one to do so can join her on stage.

 This was the lucky guy, Ivan:

She asked the guy to kiss her (cheek only), and she kissed him back (again, sa cheek lang). But it was a looong kiss.

I was far from the stage, so most of the pics were from the huge monitor.

 

What she wore for the FIREWORK number:

A white suit decked with lights. Yes, those colored dots were actually lights.

I took a video of this, and it turned out so funny. My voice was loud and clear, singing Firework hahaha (sintunado pa naman din). It's my favorite Katy Perry song eh.

Her last song was California Girls. Giant beach balls were released and passed around the adience. And she was armed with a bazooka-like gadget, and sprayed the audience with foam! Those in front got totally wet.

Anyway, here are wonderful pictures from divinemlee.com:

 My souvenir shots. My 3rd time to wear the Travelling Dress =)

this photo is unflattering! I'm still posting it for the sake of the Travelling Dress.

 

 

 

After the show, look at all the trash!

tsk tsk tsk

It was a happy show, despite the delay. I left the MOA grounds still singing Firework.

Achooo!

Third day at work this new year and I caught the flu bug. Dang. My throat was itchy, my nose was running, and I had a splitting headache. After rejoicing from getting that healthy glow, bigla uli akong nalanta, parang pechay lang.

The reason? The office airconditioning unit that fully blasted directly at my working desk.

I am a lamigin person, hence I prefer the heat. My apartment is not equipped with an aircon, buhay pa naman ako hanggang ngayon. An electric fan is good enough for me.

yang aircon na yan ang may sala!

Everytime I ask the guard to lower the temperature of the aircon, the ladies from the two nearby departments will subsequently call the guard to increase the temperature! Their departments are warmer compared to ours.

I still have to wear jacket over my long-sleeves or knitted sweater. It is really that C-O-L-D.

There are 3 solutions on hand:

1)      Buy and replace the aircon. One that swings.

2)      Remove and transfer the aircon to somewhere else, to an area where people want to experience hypothermia.

3)      Build a wall to divert the flow of the air.

I want to transfer the position of my desk, to the area occupied by our book shelf and steel cabinet, but it was discouraged. The area is jinxed daw.

The lawyer who originally occupied the place died, and the subsequent lawyer got terribly sick for 2 weeks (unknown reason).

So I am stuck in my place.

 I am going to make a lot of noise. I want to be so far away from the freaking aircon.

Achoooo.

********************************

I went back to work today, after 2 days of sick leave. Changes/repairs will have to be made re the aircon according to our VP. Alleluia!

During my sickness, I only had oatmeal and fruits as comfort food.

My temperature went up, 38.9! My taste buds went numb. I couldn't taste a thing, I just actually forced myself to eat.  

Last Friday, I summoned the gods to give me strength... to go out and have a real meal. So, I went to the nearest Max's....in my Travelling Dress!

my SECOND time to wear the Travelling Dress

Had the Basic Meal and Crab Soup.

I got hungry again by midnight, and craved for sinigang. I went to Aristocrat:

yummy sinigang!

And I was still wearing my Travelling Dress =)

The best cake in the house is Torta De Los Reyes!

melts in your mouth =)

To cap the night, I dropped by Quiapo Church for the Black Nazarene.

I went back to see the Black Nazarene on the eve of its feast. It was displayed Sunday night at the Quirino Grandstand.

Long queue all the way to Roxas Boulevard.

The closest I could get...

Viva Nazareno!

Stay healthy, everyone.

Sa panahon ngayon, bawal magkasakit.

The Travelling Dress

I am fond of dresses, whether long or short, floral or plain…name it, I have them in all sorts inside my little closet. Other than it’s easy to wash and wear, I feel more feminine (which I really like) and more graceful whenever I wear a dress.

While shopping, I found a dress that made me decide to buy it, even without trying it on first. In other words, it was love at first sight! This is very rare, as I always fit a dress before purchase.

paisley printed

It’s a maxi dress, which I wore during our New Year’s party.

with my pamangkin, Yeco

And so, to spice up my 2012, I decided to wear this dress 100 times this year. Hahaha, yes, I know its crazy (and I am crazy!), but I am going to do it. I will wear this dress in 100 different places and occasions. I will document it, whenever I can, and share with you my journey with the Travelling Dress.

I hope this dress is durable enough to endure 100 washings, hahaha.

Come on, it’s almost the end of the world. It’s time to do something crazy. And stupid.

the Travelling Dress

*********************************

How did you welcome 2012?

In Davao, fireworks/firecrackers were banned for almost 10 years now. Since then, torotot had been our source of noise, and aluminum trays that we bang on the walls to drive away the negative spirits. Very primitive, I know. But Davaoenos get to welcome the new year accident-free, and with complete 10 fingers. Plus it means holiday for doctors and nurses as casualties are nil.

Others get in their cars to honk the horn incessantly, while some drive around with tin cans attached to their vehicle. Again, very primitive hahaha.

We got used to it eventually. When the ban was first implemented, a lot of eyebrows from the people were raised. But the Mayor was stiff, strict implementation with no exceptions was enforced.

Anyway, after blowing away the torotot, we had Media Noche together as family.

My favorite heart-stopper: LECHON!

Shrimps and macaroni salad made by Mom:

Spaghetti of my Tita Fe:

And a lot more!

kinilaw

beef with mushroom

fried chicken

Our celebration ended at 6am! And slept the whole day of January 1.

my Mom and cousins

From my family to yours, have a blessed 2012!