Teatrino

  • Sponge Cola: Yael’s Birthday Show (in Snaps)

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    For those who know me, you’d know that there are only two active bands that I follow devotedly. One is One Direction and the other is Sponge Cola. I think these two are the only bands that have songs I know by heart. Odd combination but it’s true.

    Signed, Sealed, Delivered
    Signed, Sealed, Delivered

    I have been a fan of Sponge Cola and their songs since their first album, Palabas. I think I have all their albums except for the special edition of the debut album and thanks to a friend, they’re all signed by Yael (Yey!). The band has been a suki of my alma mater, LSM during school fairs and other fundraising events. Since then, I’ve never been to an actual gig except one time during a U-Break in DLSU in 2007 and just this year in a school fair in St. Paul Pasig. I also lost touch because our new cable operator didn’t have MYX. Fortunately, social media managed to do wonders of keeping people like me informed, though I miss reading updates via the band’s official Yahoo group.

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    Sponge Cola

    Last Friday, November 22, I went to my first Sponge Cola gig in Teatrino in Greenhills, with special guests, Karylle, Jane Oineza, Jhong Hilario, Noel Comia, Cha-Cha Cañete and Chris Cantada. Incidentally, it’s Yael’s Birthday Show. Woohoo! I love his Jon Snow hair BTW. I went to the concert alone and was seated at the balcony beside all of Yael’s relatives including her mom. I wish my mom was as proud of me as she was of Yael. She was singing and clapping along. She listened intently especially during Makapiling Ka. I didn’t know it was dedicated to her. I love the song even more now! The event was hosted by #NoFilter‘s Khalil Kaimo who took care of the raffle and trivia contest. Too bad my number wasn’t called, I was prepared to sing Nakapagtataka. Hahaha! I had only taken a few (very short) videos and pictures). My phone was dying and I had to reserve my battery to grab an Uber going home. No regrets there. However, I also didn’t get to take a picture with Sponge Cola especially Yael. I tried to fall in line but I went home anyway. 🙁

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    *Cryin’*

    As the band performed songs from past albums, I was reminded of the memories attached to those songs. The singles from Palabas reminded me about high school. I remember how our whole class sang Jeepney on the bus ride to the retreat house, how my seat mate always sang Lunes‘ chorus repeatedly. And I mean, repeatedly. The times I voted for Una in the MYX Daily Top Ten. The friend who gave me the album as an exchange gift became somebody that I used to know.  And the endless wondering about the title of my favorite Palabas song, 22. Bakit nga ba 22?! Sa tuwi-tuwina………na #Mindboggledsince2004

    I listened to Transit in college when I was studying and staying up all night. I played the album out loud to keep me awake. I played Sa Bingit ng Isang Paalam on repeat while crying when I failed one of my engineering math subjects. I could not count how many times the album looped on my iTunes. That’s probably close to how many times I was on the verge of failing. (Fortunately, I survived HAHA!) The third album was also memorable since Ange, my only Sponge Cola fan-friend in college moved to Canada. If I could remember correctly, I think I tried and failed to send the songs to her via YM due to poor internet connection. *sighs* Those were the days.

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    Heypie bertdey!!

    In more recent times, Kailangan Kita came out when I was already working. More specifically, when I found out that I was not going to be promoted. I got really sad and affected so I did what I had to do to be happy. I found a promotional post on Facebook/Twitter so I downloaded the single on iTunes and it even got me a fan sign from Yael. It really made me happy. I listened to the song until the hurt was gone. :’)

    One of the things that make Sponge Cola great is that its fanbase in 2004 is still part of its fanbase now. A school concert starring Sponge Cola was my first concert and, this year, I accompanied my sister at her school. The ten/eleven-ish year gap not only makes me feel old but it also reminds me how Sponge Cola managed to transcend generations through the years.

    Here’s Sponge Cola: Yael’s Birthday Show in Snapchat view. Sorry I was not as witty as I should have been. I was trying to enjoy the moment.

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    I was waiting all my life to hear Una  (and this part) live. HAHA

    Listen to Sponge Cola’s latest single from GMA7’s Dangwa.

     

  • Remember Her Name: Lilia Cuntapay

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    “Kilala mo ba kung sino si Lilia Cuntapay?” 

    Lilia Cuntapay (KOON-tah-pie) may be an unfamiliar name, but if you grew up watching the earlier movies of the Shake Rattle and Roll franchise, her face has haunted you at some point in your life. So you better remember her name.

    Now an award winning actress (Cinema One Originals 2011), Lilia Cuntapay stars in Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay (written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone), a mockumentary of her journey leading to a fictionalized awards night. Along the way, we discover the story of the woman behind the mysterious persona we’ve grown to fear. Her motivations and aspirations. Her professional ethics. The highs, glamor, and prestige. The trade-offs, sacrifices and disappointments.

    What does it take to be the most iconic bit player of Philippine horror movies?

    I was lucky enough to have caught the movie (together with Dagitab) in a special screening in Teatrino last January 17, 2015. The movie surpassed any of my expectations. Each scene was effectively executed. It garnered genuine laughs and tears (at least from me). More than a comedy, (also according to the makers) the film is an inspiring tale of an underrated personality who values her craft more than anything else.