ACAn’t forget: Zigazig ah!

Writing this entry while on my way home and fresh from the Spice Girls concert. Aaaaahhhhh! My heart is so happy being transported back into the 90s! That being said, I just want to share bits and pieces from my childhood memories of girl power:

I bought my first ever walkman in first grade while we were vacationing in Manila. As in super clear from my memory: sa SM North department store music section I bought a black sony walkman which cost me my whole savings. Of course, para magamit ko siya, I had to buy cassette tapes and my first ever purchased albums were Hanson’s Middle of Nowhere and of course, Spice Girls’ Spice.
First grade din, I was running for a position in the student government org. Siyempre, apart from the speeches, uso yung may pa dance number pag campaign. Our dance: Wanna be by Spice Girls and believe it or not, memorise ko padin yung steps sa chorus part.
Kasagsagan ng Spice Girls fever, nauso yung pink glittery and chunky/ platform shoes. Nagpabili ako sa tita ko kasi di ko afford dahil sobrang mahal parang 3k ata yun from skechers. Good thing my feet barely grew so from 2nd-6th grade ko siya naitawid isuot.
I’ve always loved baby spice but I was intrigued with how pilya ginger spice was. But when I was in high school, I’ve grown to love sporty spice cause I felt she always had a powerful voice plus I loved her song Never be the same.
England/UK/Great Britain first came to my consciousness because of them, and of course, who would forget the iconic dress flag?
When they disbanded, I was in denial. Naniwala ako na magkakabalikan din sila. I think I only came to terms with it nung nagkanya kanyang album na ang mga ate.
My favourite memory would be when my sisters (Fuzzies) threw me a despedida party and Goodbye by Spice Girls was sort of the theme song. I miss them everyday.

Anyway, I think I’ve hanashed way too much! I’m just so ecstatic because after all this time, I finally got the chance to see them perform live. Dati, pangarap lang itetch. Isa to sa mga dineday dream ko nung bata pa ako. Sigh.

I wasn’t able to take any photos or videos apart from the 1 or 2 stories I posted on my IG because I chose to just enjoy and sing and dance my heart out. I even ended up surprising myself cause I still knew every song, every lyric, even the ooohs and ahhhs pakak parin sa memory ko. As in every single song sa set list kinanta ko besh! I still even know the dance steps it felt like I was transported back into the 90s. Bonus pa cause they had Jess Glynne to front act for them narinig ko pa yung isa sa favourite song kong Take me home live oh diba bongga!?

When they started singing Viva Forever, mga veh, medyo teary eyed nako tapos sinundan pa ng let love lead the way then goodbye. Pero what really started the waterworks was when they sang Mama. As in nadama kong national anthem ko siya. Haaaay! Also, I kind of hoped Victoria would make an appearance pero waley ang ate nyo. Sayang but I still had an awesome time.

Just for reference, here’s the setlist!

Aca-ntahan, Random Snippets

Random Snippets: #20

Watsaaaap!

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2 years after the show opened in London, I finally watched Hamilton! Just a backstory, ever since I saw them promoting this play and opened for one of the awards show, I have fallen in love with the music. I’ve watched performances on youtube, memorised some of the songs and even saved the playlist on my phone! So imagine how happy I was when they announced they were coming to West End right? It was quite expensive though and seats get fully booked easily. Of course, being the cheapangga person that I am, as much as I loved seeing it asap, I had to be practical and patiently wait for a more budget-friendly ticket. Subscribing to Ticketmaster’s email alerts was my saviour and luckily, my wait had to come to an end – yasss!

The music just won me over a thousand times. I was bopping my head and thumping my fingers the whole time. Another proud moment was Rachel Ann Go’s superb performance. We did try to see her after the show but she already left when we got to the backstage door. Still, we got to personally congratulate the rest of the cast. And PS, that’s not Craig David! It’s Alexander Hamilton Lol! PPS, I was so haggard kaloka! hahahah!

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April marks the end of my second module in Uni. Which also mean cramming to finish all the final requirements. I am still trying to polish everything right at this very moment and I just felt like taking a break from writing a very structured and formal essay hence, the random snippet. I am liking the challenge though. And that feeling of accomplishment knowing I am getting somewhere. I don’t exactly know where, but definitely somewhere. I do hope I pass though lol. We’ll see! Also, here’s my mandatory university pic! I am loving all the student discounts!

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I have been chasing Aurora for 2 episodes (Iceland and Scotland) now and all I (literally) have is a 3 second image from my mind (she literally just said hi and bye when we were hunting her in Iceland) but nothing for me to physically keep which I can call mine. I know one day, we will eventually catch her but this faux Northern Lights installation in Tower of London a few weeks ago did leave me wanting for more. Artificial but already breathtaking. How much more when I finally see the actual thing? Sooooon bessssh! PS. Not the best photo but, you get what I mean char!

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Lastly, can I just say.. Level 1000 nako sa Candy Crush (ultimate pampalipas oras) and on the 1000th day on Timehop. Babush!

Aca-ntahan

After 8 years…

2010 was the first time we met (sort of). I could just look at you from afar but I can hear you clearly, telling me how it was nice for you to meet me and promising me that whatever tomorrow brings, you’ll be there – with open arms and open eyes. 8 years later, we meet again.

Chaaaaar! Arte ko. Anyway, this is a story about how I was reunited with (one of) my all time crushies after 8 long years- Brandoooooon Booooyd!!!!!!!!

As I mentioned, I did get to watch Incubus for the first time in 2010. I didn’t have plenty of money back then so I was only on General Admission so more or less the view wasn’t great but at least I heard them loud and clear and live! I was at my happiest then! I think that was also the first time I watched a proper concert with a foreign act so ’twas really memorable.

It took me ages to really recover and I’ve come to a point where I even named my first slr – Boyd lol. I was optimistic that one day, our paths will cross again. And once that day comes, wala lang edi sana dumating charot.

2018. (April) I always receive concert updates and one day, my phone pinged. It was an alert for Incubus’ show. I was so excited! I even set an alarm on my phone to remind me of the ticket sales and literally on that day and a minute past the opening time, I secured our tickets wohooo! Fast forward to September puhleeeease!?

September 2018. Day of concert (a few hours ago). Of all the days, my body suddenly decides to get sick today. I overdosed my body with Covonia, applied Vicks to as many places I could and brought my inhaler for emergency (which I used twice btw) and I honestly had to drag my body to get up and commute to Brixton.

Unlike the first meeting, Now I could see him clear as day. He has obviously aged but his voice was still crisp! I was suddenly transported to my high school years with the tape and huge cassette player; I suddenly remembered prom night when the band sung Drive; Ahhh, memories. Fun, fun times it were.

He still doesn’t speak much during the whole show which I sort of knew anyway but also sort of wished it was different this time. They still took out the carpet (fans would know why I’m pointing this out) but for some reason didn’t use it. Brixton also transformed into a big mosh pit! I did participate but after a number of songs, my energy died down from all the coughing so I mostly focused on not fainting on the spot and preventing to be squished. Also, they sung a mixture from their different and most recent albums although there’s this part of me that wished they sung more of their classics but what do I know hahaha.

My only wish now is that one day, Brandon and I could have picture together. So if anyone reading this has connections, please hook me up lol. Lastly, I’m gonna end this entry with this picture – cause it won’t be complete without a shirtless Brandon Boyd. Enjooooooy!

PS. Just realised, it took 8 years for us to meet again then when it did happen, they were touring for their new album named – 8! Coincidence? I dare say not! Taaaa!