The One I Haven't Watched on my Spotify Top 5 Artists

Spotify has a summary of what you listened to for the year. Saw this earlier when I used the app to play some Christmas songs after my last meeting. I needed to be in the right frame of mind to write several contracts*. 

I looked through the "wrap" and it included a list of the top 5 artists I listened to in the past year. I showed the list to Sweetie and he pointed out that I have watched 4 out of 5 live in concert. I immediately looked at the list and asked my friends to guess who I haven't watched. 

So who haven't I watched?

The Piano Guys

Most of my friends guessed The Piano Guys. If you did, you're wrong! Haha. I watched The Piano Guys on September 25, 2020 in Singapore. It was a surprise from Sweetie. The amazing music of The Piano Guys helped heal me and continues to do so until today. 

Backstreet Boys

Some also guessed the Backstreet Boys. It was the last biggest concert I watched before the pandemic happened. It was also another surprise by Sweetie! He bought tickets just two days before the concert because he heard good reviews about the concert. It was on that day that I said goodbye to Menudo. 

Truefaith

Ahhh, my all-time favorite band. I'm sorry to say, but I love Truefaith more than the most popular Pinoy rock band. Of course I got to watch them because I got free tickets from Eugene Marfil (Medwin's brother) who used to be SK chief of their barangay (story here). Anyway, that's how I got to watch them.  

Juris

Of course I watched Juris when she was part of MYMP. Twice hehe. And the second time was a surprise by Sweetie! The sappy story on how it happened is here. The first time I watched with my friend Mabel (I've completely forgotten about it, thanks to my blog now I remember!). I love Juris' voice and that's why I still listen to her songs to this day. 

Ben & Ben

I haven't been able to watch a concert in Manila for a long time now and Ben & Ben hasn't visited Singapore yet. So it's them. I haven't watched them perform in person yet. I'm subscribed to their YouTube channel and that's how I've come to love them. 

If you noticed, most of the concerts I watched was a surprise from Sweetie! That's because Sweetie is the founder of Titikpilipino.com. It's a multi-awarded website on Filipino music and I was starstruck when I first met him (teehee!). The website is offline now, but you can check out some of the photos he took of Filipino artists back in the day on the Titikpilipino Instagram account. Hopefully someday Sweetie can surprise me again to watch another concert!

Ben & Ben, please come to Singapore when it's safe! We'll definitely watch your concert! 

*This is where my legal management degree comes into practice haha. Dad would've been proud. 

#CB//238 #StuckAtHomeDay/268 #WFH158 #StayHome #BeKind  

Back to Back to Back

Photo by JayDJ

Last December 1 I got the chance to watch the "Back to Back to Back" concert of Side A, Freestyle and MYMP at the Araneta Coliseum with Sweetie (special thanks to Titikpilipino.com and Viva Records!). It was a rare chance to see all three super-loved OPM bands in one show and the venue was really jam-packed.

I had wanted to scream along with other fans, but I had a bad cough back then and all I could do was wave my hands. Aside from the hits of the three bands, Michael of Freestyle brought the house down with his rendition of "Give Love on Christmas Day" ala Michael Jackson (at age 5). It really brought a great feeling to everyone and was a good way to mark the beginning of Christmas (since it was December 1). People also started dancing when Leevon (Mica's newest crush) and Joey Generoso of Side A  made everyone stand up. I stood up as well and ended up dancing a bit. 

It was really a great night and I hope next year I'll get to watch more concerts!

Other concerts I watched this year:

Eraserheads Reunion Concert

Swing Out Sister

George Benson and Al Jarreau

MYMP (a surprise Valentine gift!)

and a whole lot of other shows by favorite Filipino artists like Richard Poon

MYMP and an Engagement

I was clueless about how we were going to celebrate V-day (a belated one). All I knew was we were going to Megamall to meet a friend and drop by an expo. By Friday night I was already going crazy over the surprise (OC ako eh!) and was trying to wheedle it out of Sweetie all night, to no avail. So, I had to wait!

After the meet-up, surprising Richard Poon (I bet he never expected us to show up in that event), and hyperventilating at the expo (thank God for the huge electric fan at the Megatrade Hall), I was whisked away to the Metrowalk area, still clueless about where we were going. I was just told we had to eat dinner and then we had to go and "claim" the gift.

I was then given an envelop and in it were 2 tickets to MYMP's "A Valentine... So Perfect" concert at the Meralco Theater. I did not realize immediately that the concert was about to start in 30 minutes and that Meralco Theater was just a stone's throw away. I had to ask, "Kelan ang Feb 16?". Me, the dodo. I finished my dinner in no time.

I love OPM. I've said that time and time again and I just cannot help but feel starstruck whenever I meet an artist and I don't think I will move past being a fan. Anyway, I couldn't help but giggle last night when we arrived at the Meralco Theater. Why? Because the whole place was filled with lovers! Mag-jowa! Magkasintahan! Good thing I have Sweetie because if I didn't and attended that concert I would've ended up depressed over the lovey-dovey feeling in the whole place.

Juris and Thor

The last time I watched MYMP was back in 2006 at the Araneta Coliseum with my friend Mabel (and we sat at the bleachers!) and I truly enjoyed watching them. Juris gave a heartfelt rendition of "Bukas na lang Kita Mamahalin" and Chin gave a powerful performance of "Kisapmata". They also introduced what I'd say would be the Philippines' version of "Rod Stewart" - Tata (hope I got that right). Thor also graced the occasion and did a duet with Juris, "Be My Number Two" (check out his album "Soul Obsessions" it's really good).

I've heard of surprise proposals - done in concerts, with famous authors, or even as scavenger hunts - but I've never witnessed one (planned some yeah, but not I have not witnessed one). Juris announced that they were going to name someone "couple of the night" and while she was singing, photos of different couples were flashed in the screen. The couple in the final photo was called down to the stage and were given some flowers and gifts.

Juris asked the girl to give a message and she just said, "Thanks sa treat, happy valentine's and... I love you." The crowd cheered! Sino ba naman di kikiligin nun? Then the microphone was passed on to the guy and he was quite formal at first, greeted Juris and Chin, the audience and then he said, "Juris I hope you don't mind if I say a few words." The audience suddenly became silent. And then the guy said, "Hon I spoke with your brother 3 nights ago..., " the audience started going wild here, "and I told him `ang kapatid mo ay mahal na mahal ko at siya lang ang mamahalin ko buong buhay' and then I told him that I want to take care of you," then the guy kneels down , "Hon, will you marry me?"

Of course the girl said "Yes" and after the guy placed the ring on her finger she started pounding his chest (and was probably crying already). And then Juris sang "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways". Awww...



Check out photos of the concert at the MYMP Band Multiply account.

It was a great day. I definitely made the right choice =)

A Starry Weekend

My original weekend plans did not push through, so I was left with free time! Woohoo!!! And what a fabulous weekend it was -

1. What was the Twisted Wedding Planner doing in this event?


2. Fan meets MYMP!


3. And meets Thor during his album "Soul Obsessions" launch where he does duets with a lot of artists including some of my favorites like Sofia, Nina, MYMP, Luke Mejares, and violinist Jerome Nunez.


4. Where did the Lakwatsera get this yummy burger?


5. But, nothing beats these stars. LOL.


#1,2 and 3 photos by Sweetie.