29.9.04

some pics from prince rupert.

Images courtesy of the The Daily News (Prince Rupert), Linda LaFleur, Publisher.

why so embarassed?

at my gym, there is a sun tanning booth. i still don't understand why when people go into the booth or come out of the booth for a session why they look as if they have done something wrong? i mean they all kind of have a look on their face which is similar to the one i used to have when i came out of the confessional with my priest when i was 10. don't get me wrong, i've visited one in the past, but who really cares if anyone knows you fake and bake?

maybe it's all that sun.

27.9.04

fashion tip #95.

Even if you live in a tropical climate, a short sleeved dress shirt with a tie is not 'dressy'.

'Dockers' are not business casual. They are just casual. Plus, who wants to be the colour of their khakis (i.e. beige) anyway.

26.9.04

what do you do?

ok, so you call a restaurant on the way home and you order take out. the woman you give your money to is pleasant and smiles. she hands you your food, neatly packed in styrofoam containers placed in a white plastic bag with the appropriate number of chopsticks, soy sauce packets and napkins. she places the change from your bill on a black tray.

do you leave her a tip? discuss.

21.9.04

don't get mad at me.

when you are at blenz, and if you ask for a tall americano, don't be surprised if the barista looks at you with disdain, and clarifies what you want.

don't get mad at me that there is a place called starbucks!?!

p.s. btw, i hate blenz.

20.9.04

natural high.

...is what i have been feeling today. yesterday afternoon we arrived back in vancouver after a fantastic trip. i have been feeling many things today as i usually do after a very big show/tour, and i think cristina basically has summed it all up perfectly in her post here...

what i have been feeling?

...relief for one. i know, i know i have been doing this for many years, but i have a lot of new dancers who haven't done this for very long. they certainly stepped up to the plate, and danced their heart out. as well, i had taught many new dances and casted and re-casted only a month or so before the show. they really pulled it off. there were also some miscues such as changes in performance time (from 2pm to 1pm) to my technical director getting ill (poor sam!), to some lost luggage with costumes and props on the day of, but all in all everything went off without a hitch! and kp did it in style.

...a renewed sense of pride. one of the greatest benefits of being part of a volunteer group such as kp is the feeling that you are part of something that is bigger than yourself. and that is how this weekend felt to me. the community of prince rupert, and not just the filipino-community (which by the way is only 165 families strong) was so happy to have us and greeted us with open arms. the performing arts centre, where we performed, rarely gets a sold out, and we were the first group in a long time to have it sold out! there is no greater feeling than getting a standing ovation from a extremely appreciative audience.

...that kp is my family. new friendships were born, old friendships were strengthened and we were all reminded that kp is like a second family to us. the pursuit of arts, especially folk arts i think roots each and everyone of us, and binds us in a way that few activities can. the love of our culture is a common bond, but truly just serves as the spring board to creating a true sense of community and of family. and like all things that are worthwhile, it is hard work most of the time. but experiences like the one we just had in prince rupert definitely makes everything worthwhile.

raise da glass, kp!

16.9.04

fashion tip #96.

the new 'pink' is 'emerald green'.

for men, chocolate brown shoes are always a better choice than black. black is boring. instead of a regular dress shoe, try a brown demi-boot lace up for size.

comb your local vintage shop for a tweed double-vented sport coat, and have it tailored/taken in for that sartorial look.

15.9.04

observations on my way to work.

a couple of things that i encountered on my walk to work that i'm broadcasting to the world.

if you are walking with an umbrella, please, please, please, adjust the height of your umbrella as you pass someone. you could take out their eye.

if you are walking with an umbrella, do not walk under the awning. doubling up on your coverage from the rain is not cool. chances are there are people walking around without any shelter from the rain at all.

if you are driving and dropping off your wife and her friend downtown, do not let them out right at the intersection when it is green in a left turning lane.

'nuff said. time for coffee.

11.9.04

show in prince rupert.

if any of you live in prince rupert, my dance company is having a couple shows in prince rupert next weekend. this year, we did not have a big show, but wanted to concentrate on tours, first with the one in campbell river and now with a couple shows in prince rupert, at the performing arts centre. this is the first time that we are travelling to a city by plane where the sponsoring organization is footing the bill plus our honoraria -- this is a big deal and certainly a big undertaking for any organization, big or small. there will be 31 of us travelling in all so it will certainly be an experience to remember, especially for the rookies. i'm getting a bit nervous as the show has not completely "come together", with all of the re-casting and new numbers added to the show's repertoire. but again everytime i feel nervous, i believe in the process, and that the hardwork and rehearsal will ensure everything will run as smoothly as possible. it is truly up to the dancers and musicians then to 'step up' their game and take all the preparation that i've helped them with and truly shine in these shows, which i know they can do.

that doesn't mean i still don't get nervous.:)

anyways, here are posters from the upcoming show, gala, and matinee -- spread the word to your friends in that region, if you know anyone (though i think the tickets might already be sold out!)

9.9.04

random thought.

to all you 'guys' out there -- 'colouring' or 'blow-drying' your hair does not make you 'gay' -- 'colouring' or 'blow-drying' someone else's hair, maybe.

discuss.

7.9.04

wedding weekend.

before i forget, i should jot down a few lines about this weekend, which was tye and yolande's wedding in kelowna. all in all, it was different from the more traditional filipino weddings that i have been to, but it was a wonderful experience to be in kelowna and the okanagan valley, one of the most beautiful places in b.c. for sure (and there are many).

friday
drove up with mori and ali. i've realized that i'm not really into long driving that much -- kelowna is far! almost four and half hours away from downtown vancouver. the drive was nice though, even with the length. as soon as we got there, we met up the rest of the gang at jason's place and then headed over to mike's parent's place literally three doors down. it is cool meeting your friend's parents -- you learn alot about them and why they are the way they are.

saturday
got up later instead of early, and got ready to go to the lougheed compound in peachland, about 40 minutes or so from where we were. because we were responsible and there was an open bar, we all climbed into a taxi. the taxi driver was scarwee, and looked like he just came out of jail and had been there since the 1970s. anyways, we arrived safe and sound at the lougheeds, the site of the wedding. a beautiful tent decorated to the nines, and the ceremony area situated so that there was a beautiful view of the mountains. all i have to say is that the house was beautiful, and that it had a guest house. when i grow up, i want a guest house :). highlights of the reception included shawn and ian's rendition of bonnie tyler's "total eclipse of the heart" -- it was classic and scary at the same time, and pete, mike and the groom himself laying down a few fiecre sets on the tables. with no bartender and an open bar, you know that a crazy party would ensue. the night ended with a bus charter bringing all of us crazies back to kelowna -- a city bus with an actual happy bus driver that put up with our shenanigans, being refused service at the mcdonalds drive thru, and invading a local mac's where we bought almost all of the chips and microwaved burritos money (or i should say pete) could buy. we all ended up partying at jason's until the wee hours -- crazy, crazy crazy!

sunday
woke up nursing our hangovers, we went over to rod's parent's house. built in the early 1980s, this house was a testament to what good design means, and what it means is that good design lasts. beautiful and modern, the macinnes' are avid art collectors, owing wonderful work including a few shadbolts (from the group of 7). oh and the house is also right on the lake, with its own private dock with boat. ah, one day. :)

pictures coming soon.

3.9.04

Lakbay: Indak Awit.

if you are in the san francisco this weekend, our sister dance company is having their seasonal production on sunday, september 5 at the herbst theater, 401 van ness avenue, san francisco. tickets are $15 and $20 and are available at the city box office's website or by calling 415.392.4400.

to my likha friends who are my family: break a leg, and have the performance of your lives...let all of the hardwork serve as the base to show your dedication to your art and the love of your culture.

bravo likha!

2.9.04

fashion tip #97.

okay, i know some women do this for 'feet' reasons, but if you are going to work it downtown as a young urbanite professional, why not go at it 100%? what i'm talking about is the woman who wears a charcoal grey power suit with a tonal grey pin stripe but pairs it with a pair of 'keds'.

let's stick to a fabulous pointed heel, please?

come on people!

1.9.04

side note.

forget your favourite pain reliver, neo citran cures all.