The 2013 Year-end Review

Beer, travelling, all-nighters, and reunions: these are some of the words that defined the epic moments in my life from the past 12 months. 2013 was a hell of a ride for me, but above all else, it's been a year of continuous learning and maturing. I'll never ever forget it. I now present to you my 2013 Year-end Review: The 13 Things I Learned from 2013.

1. Nothing beats having a beer with your best bros.

"I hate beer, pero gusto ko yung kwentuhan." (Mujer, 2013)

That sentence always came out of my mouth whenever there was a conversation about drinking. Beer tastes horrible, but I have no problem drinking it as long as I'm with good company. In 2013, I had two memorable drinking sessions to celebrate my 18th birthday. One was with some of my high school best bros, the other with my college roommates.

(high school best bros)

(college best bros)

Both of them were epic, to say the least, and I have the pictures and videos to prove it (though they may never see the light of day again). What makes drinking one of the best ways to bond is because everyone is frank and unreserved, even when they're drunk or not. I guess it's a sort of natural response to having beer around, but whatever the case, this being unreserved makes for having even more epic conversations that one wouldn't normally have. The drunk antics and wild confessions are a big plus as well. More importantly, by the time you wake up in the morning with a throbbing hangover, you'll learn to appreciate your best bros even more. From me to you, go have a beer from time to time with your best buds. The hangover will be worth it.

2. Never forget who your true friends are...

Ever since the greatest years of my life ended, I've only been with my high school barkada a few times. However, nothing really changed during those few times we hanged out. In fact, it's like high school all over again every single time. The last time we hanged out (or at least most of us) was July 31, 2013, and even now, I don't feel that we're apart. I realized that as long as you don't forget them, true friends will always be true friends. Look at pictures, cherish the memories, plan more outings. That's what I've been doing, and every single time I do it, I appreciate the fact that I'll never really be alone in life. People come and go, but true friends don't.

3. ...but make way for new friends too.

Here's a confession: I don't like most of the people I meet in college. They're just not the type of people I'd like to hangout with, and for most of the past two years, I was pretty much alone. While most people I know hangout with their college friends, I still chose to hangout with my friends from high school. Then I realized I should open up to people more, step away from my comfort zone, and well...stop being quiet and start talking. Only when I did all of those did I begin to really get to know these guys:

These are my JTA Fall blockmates, and they're some of the best bunch of people I know. The short time we spent together were some of the best I had in college. I'll never forget them. Thank you, 2013.

4. There will always be that one person who will make everything okay.

2013 was probably my most stressful year in terms of academics. The amount of all nighters I needed to do and the effort I exerted was five times more than the previous two years. Any other man would've broke down from all the stress, but I didn't, and it's all because of one person:

That woman was always there for me. She made it her mission to make me happy whenever I was down, and she helped me realize that whatever happens, everything will be ok. With every requirement, she was my inspiration. She pushed me to do better in my academics, and become a better person as well. She's my silver lining. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Christien Bernadette Meneses Lo. I love you.

5. Travelling is living.

2013 was a year of blessings as well. The past year, I was lucky enough not just to travel one country, but two.

(South Korea)

(Vietnam)

Travelling makes me feel even more alive. Although I'm a homebody, I'll never forego the chance to explore new places and go on an adventure. Every trip, whether in the Philippines or abroad, reminds me of how grateful I should be for the life I have. Once again, thank you for the opportunity, 2013. I hope 2014 will be an even better one with my 4-month Junior Term Abroad. Cheers to making this good life an even better one!

6. Judging comes with learning to admit your mistakes.

I'm a judgmental person (the silent type). 90% of the time, I'm right about my judgments. Whether it's a "gift" or not, I don't know. I've made a few mistakes, of course, but none as worse as the one I made a few months ago. I won't name the person, but she made me realize how wrong I can be. She also changed the way I looked at people I don't exactly know. Whatever the things I said about her a few months ago...scrap that. She's the exact opposite.

7. "If you do it right, you'll love where you are."

My parents have always believed in what I could do, and they pushed me to become what I can be, but I never did help myself. This changed come October 2013. After coming off from a bad semester, I promised myself that I'll do better this time around. I exerted more effort into studying and made more time for it. Now that my grades are coming out, I can say that I'm reaping the rewards. "...in life you're gonna go far, if you do it right, you'll love where you are." And indeed you will. Thanks, Jason Mraz!

8. The only way out is through.

My mantra for every exam (ESPECIALLY oral exams) I had to take the past year. And doesn't it apply to some aspects of life, as well? Sometimes, you just have to take on challenges whether you're ready or not, because whatever happens, you will always overcome it.

9. Everything passes with time.

This year, like any other, had its ups and downs. But 2013 probably had the deepest of downs. However, whatever sadness or pain I felt the past year are now gone. In 2013, I've learned to move on more quickly and let myself off the hook for all the things I've done. These and so much more are only possible with the passage of time.

10. Family must always be above everything else.

Having a family who loves you is one of the few sure things in this world. Bond with them, love them, and never ever forget them. My family is my sanctuary.

(too cute)

11. A true man is a man with class.

My time in the Ateneo may not exactly be the best years of my life, but I will never regret going to college there. My past few years, especially 2013, in the Ateneo made me a man; a man that knows the importance of having class. With my impending 19th birthday coming up...I can truly say that I've grown up (at least in some aspects).

12. Reality sucks sometimes. You just have to man up and deal with it.

Just when you think life is good, reality slaps you in the face. It hurts, but there's nothing you can do but be a man and face it head on. 2013 taught me that you'll never get anywhere by being afraid. My childhood is long gone. Welcome to existence.

13. Only when you fall out of love can real love begin.

There's only one thing that stuck with me from my recently finished theology subject, and this is it. In the words of my professor, "Every couple will eventually fall out of love. When that happens, only when you choose to stick with that person can you say that your love is true." 

It makes sense, doesn't it?

The past year has been a turning point in my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you, 2013. It's been a blast.

An Idea

Imagine you're watching a movie, and its formula is relatively simple: a man and a woman meet in the most unexpected place and time, and they instantly feel a connection between them. The movie then stems from this single event; the man tells his friends how he's finally met the perfect woman, the man and the woman "coincidentally" see each other again, they hangout, talk all night, and the budding of a very special relationship begins. But just as the man begins to think of doing anything serious...BAM! PLOT TWIST! The woman has a boyfriend already!

I've watched enough chick flicks to know where a plot like this goes. The man will do everything to have the woman. On the other hand, the woman plays a game of tug-of-war between what she knows is right (stick with her boyfriend) or what she knows is TRULY right (go for the man she met). A whole bunch of drama ensues throughout the movie (and some comedy, if its a rom-com), and the movie always ends with some kind of happy ending. This is, of course, with one thing being a lock: that the man and woman who met each other in that unexpected place and time ends up together, and they live happily ever after! Yay! The audience, including you, break a smile, and with hopeful hearts and lifted spirits exit the movie theater with the thought that the person meant for you is somewhere in this world.

But wait...what ever happened to the woman's boyfriend?

People who watch these kinds of films are made to focus on the love story between the two main characters, but considerations are hardly given to that one guy or girl whose heart was broken. They're merely an afterthought after the movie's over, but guess what: the love story of that one man with that one woman who he pretty much STOLE from THAT poor guy is celebrated! Of course, variations include the poor guy/girl being a rebound in the two main characters' love story...

(Good job, Poy)

Or the poor guy/girl was simply dragged into story, fell in love with one of the main characters, then after all his effort, gets rejected in the end.

(The victim in the background trying to mask his pain with a smile)

At first, I was part of the majority. I never really did take a second thought on any other characters in chick flicks aside from the man and the woman with the main love story, but when I grew up and had my own fair share of "love stories", I couldn't ignore these characters any longer. In a way, I think I even began to take pity on them. I started to think, "What if I were in his position?" And if I were, wouldn't it be a little painful to think that you were merely an "extra" in someone's love story? That you gave everything you had for the chance to be with that special someone, but life gives you a slap on the face because hey! You're not the main character in this love story! Some woman loved you and you loved her, then out of the blue, she breaks up with you because she's more in love with that other guy. What's worse is that movies actually make it seem like an okay thing.

Don't get me wrong, though. I'm definitely not against the format of these love stories. It works, and it makes people happy. It's what matters in the end. It mat just be the curious side of me that wants to know what the poor guy who had his heart broken feels, or what he thinks, or what the universe has for him next.

Now, here's my idea...I'm not so sure if its been done, but why not make a movie whose theme revolves around the victims of these kinds of love stories? Take for example, Maja Salvador's character from One More Chance. Imagine a movie where she takes her experience with Popoy as a lesson about love, and we see her trying to move on from it in any way she could. The main focus would be how the experience changed her and her outlook on love and life as a whole. Then maybe somewhere along the way, she meets some guy and they fall in love without any other person being hurt. In other words, how nice would it be if there were a movie that focuses on the life of that one person after getting his heartbroken from another person's "perfect" love story?

It'll be a refreshing change, and how great would it be if that kind of movie had the feel of (500) Days of Summer in it? One can only imagine...for now. Go make it happen, Star Cinema and Hollywood (and if you already did, at least do a better job).

I Want To Play A Game

Like any other teenager, I had my fair share of "crushes", especially during high school. Some of them are known by many, some will come as a complete surprise. Looking back, I'm grateful to each and everyone of these women, as they all helped me shaped the image of my perfect girl in one way or another (perfect girl = Christien Bernadette Meneses Lo).

(abso...)

(...lutely...)

(perfect.)

So here's the game...I'll give clues on each and every girl I had a crush on during high school, and it's up to you, dear reader, to guess who the girl in question is. Maybe I'll even say how long I've had a crush on her, but in the end, that won't really matter. Of course, I won't reveal the answers, but isn't it fun to just assume?

Let's get started then!

Girl # 1

• Not a batchmate
• Looks like a teen star from GMA-7
• We had the same section during *blank* year
• Currently in a relationship
• She's pretty thin
• She's definitely one of the prettier ones in her batch
• Dimples? Check.
• Muse
• Addicted to a popular alternative-rock band at one time
• The letter Z isn't so uncommon with her
• Prettier when she lost her braces
• Might have been my crush for three years

Girl # 2

• One of the friendliest people I've met
• She's rather shy, but good at having conversations
• One of the three girls I danced with during the first acquaintance party
• First crush in UPRHS!
• Straight hair is out of the question
• A mother figure for some people
• But she also has a tomboyish personality
• Known for having "rough" and "small" hands
• Has a mole on her face (though not really that evident)
• Once had a thing going on with the "crush ng bayan" of the batch (wasn't me)

Girl # 3

• Started before tucked-in polos
• Ended in 2007
• True athlete
• Manuel V Pangilinan, if I remember correctly
• Below average height
• AdMath
• The apple of the eye of more than five people at the same time
• One of the songs dedicated to her by batchmates: "Harana"
• Not really white, but not a "morena" as well
• Queen
• Stayed out of the limelight during the last 2 years of HS
• A VERY private person
• The first woman that turned me off because of a certain pet peeve I have

Girl # 4

• NEVER runs out of energy
• Outgoing
• One of the more well-known people in (possibly) the whole school, especially during the first two years
• Her biggest asset...hhhhmmm...
• Beloved by many, disliked by many as well, but still a true friend during high school
• A true guy-magnet
• Height is definitely not average
• Talents? Singing? Dancing? One of those two, she does very well
• A tough woman in some aspects
• A passionate athlete
• Quite a loudmouth as well
• A leader at some point...
• Dresses rather weirdly sometimes
• One of the more attractive ones in high school

Girl # 5

• Filipina good looks
• Long hair
• One-half of one of the most "celebrated" love teams
• Quite the athletic type too
• Friendly
• Might have been a bit of a cry baby
• Not short, not tall, but not really average height either
• Far from having an NBSB status
• Pretty good at Math!
• Was an officer of a club at some point
• Can (dance or sing?) very well
• Crooked something
• Might have been my crush for only a week...or less.

Girl # 6

• At one point had the weirdest hair in the whole school
• Quite a cutie
• Had long hair, and another long something...(no not that.)
• Not really prominent for any academic related stuff
• Part-*blank*
• Was horrible at acting
• ...and oral exams
• Basically anything that involves talking
• She's quite a good swimmer and badminton player
• Ear-piercing screams
• Wasn't really known for good morals
• Touchy-friendly type
• Addiction is her way of life, I guess
• Made me realize how great it was to be truly single
• If you don't know who she is by now...c'mon

Girl # 7

• One gayness test was whether guys thought she was attractive or not
• Music was her thing
• If she were a celebrity, she'd probably be a Kim
• Manlier than some guys, to be honest
• One of the few girls that contradicts my "girls are only beautiful when they smile with their teeth, and they'd still be beautiful" belief
• Great at a certain sport
• Her life's a mystery, I guess

Girl # 8

• The most beautiful girl in the whole batch
• Dimples as deep as the blue sea
• Eyes as beautiful as the stars
• Future celebrity

• Simply cannot be hated by anyone
• Absolutely adorable
• Contestant of one little competition called Mr. and Ms. Freshman
• Master of arts and crafts
• Can sew
• Can cook well
• Once the President of a club
• Popular
• Geometry genius
• Very friendly and easy to talk to
• Attached for practically the whole of high school
• But she's now with another super lucky guy
• May be half-Chinese and half-Goddess
• The epitome of perfection

Girl # 9

• The Intramurals was her playground
• Not really noticeable during the first few years of high school
• Undeniably smart
• A real cutie
• Kind and friendly type
• Average height
• Might not be a batchmate...
• Very photogenic
• Cool girl
• May be considered as one of the guys

Girl # 10

• Morena
• Short hair isn't her thing
• Sports too
• Not exactly a looker, but doesn't lack in attractiveness either
• Has the aura of a suplada
• One-half of another well-known relationship
• Short to average height
• May have braces OR had braces
• Has a noticeable feature on her face
• Adj. is her name and...well...
• One of my seatmates during one subject in high school

I think that's all of them! Keep in mind, "crush" doesn't mean I had serious feelings for them (although for some of them, I did have just that). Another disclaimer:

I CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE FEELINGS FOR ANY OF THESE WOMEN EXCEPT ONE.

And if you don't know who she is...c'mon. 

Guesses made through my twitter, fb, or face to face conversations will be entertained, but no answers will be confirmed. 

Thanks for playing the game, dear reader! Look out for another one soon!

Life During December 28, 2011 to July 31, 2013

I still remember all the promises said during my high school graduation in 2011.

"Magkikita tayo lagi ha!"

"Oo ba! Every week dapat."

"Walanag iwanan."

and such.

But more than 2 years after high school, I've come to realize that as hard as we try to keep these promises, the universe makes it impossible for us to do so. I, for one, am not unfamiliar with the sudden cancelling of plans because of the amount of schoolwork needed to be done. There's also the problem of how one divides his time between family and friends. It's obligatory to spend time with family whenever you come home, and it's great to hangout with friends, but with only a day and a half before you return to the Metro, there just isn't enough time to do both. Online chat? Hardly the same as talking to each other face to face. That's the sad reality of it all: you'll have to make sacrifices.

Taking everything into account, it's no surprise how people have drifted from each other since high school. I'm no stranger to this either. Even though I've tried to keep in touch with all my friends, there's this one person who I've been best friends with since 2008...but I didn't see him and hardly even talked to him for ALMOST 2 YEARS.

(me sharing a light moment with the person in question)

I don't think his name matters, so I'm not giving it, even though the 3 or so people who read this blog already know it.

Sounds pretty unbelievable right? I couldn't believe it either, that is...I couldn't believe it after realizing it 11 MONTHS after we last saw each other. Maybe we didn't really miss out on each other, or that's just how the brain of a guy works. Sure, I thought we somehow drifted away from each other, but that thought didn't really stick with me. The time would come when the two of us would see each other again, and when the time comes, it'll be awesome. I was sure of it.

Sure enough, it did happen...last July 31st. That was a year and 8 months since the last time we saw each other. After that, we only talked over the phone for about 3 times. That was it. We went on with our lives and made new memories without even knowing what happened to one another (aside from the occasional facebook posts). What's important, though, is that nothing changed. When we saw each other again, there were no awkward moments, and it's like high school again. It felt great to know that.

So, in dedication to this rather unbelievable happening, I'll name the stuff on the top of my head that happened between December 28, 2011 (the "last" time we saw each other) and July 31, 2013 (the reunion).

• I had my first girlfriend
• He had his share of flings
• I became 17 and 18
• I rode a plane 8 times
• We survived 2012
• I became an honor student once again
• K-pop became an even bigger trend
• I got drunk for the first time
• At least three unexpected relationships from the batch happened
• I learned to play three new sports properly (Table Tennis, Futsal, Handball)
• I cried 0 times (real men don't cry)
• I puked after more than 5 years, though
• The Ateneo became 5-peat champions
• He became a choir singer
• At least one of our kabarkada had a girlfriend
• At least 5 batchmates started smoking
• I became an even bigger football fan
• The Philippines named 12 new senators
• Iphone 5, Ipad Mini, and Windows 8 were released
• I went through at least 4 different hairstyles
• Manchester City won the Premier League
• Miami Heat became back to back champions
• I watched a Jason Mraz Concert
• Finished two of the latest How I Met Your Mother seasons
• Two New Years
• Juniors at UPRHS were now in college
• I got my driver's license
• I went from being fat to fit to fat again
• I got hooked on Suits
• Had a reunion with elementary friends to celebrate 5 years after we graduated
• I made this blog
• I discontinued my old tumblr account
• Twitter became a daily thing
• Hours of facebook became minimal
• I bought a new laptop
• Jan Javier had four flings
• My love for Bon Chon became even bigger
• Re-visited two places from high school fieldtrips: Ilocos and Manila Ocean Park
• At least 4 known couples from high school broke up
• My relationship with wrestling went on and off
• My relationship with some friends became sour
• Met some of the best people during my JTA accelerated sem
• Had my last summer vacation EVER

and many more. Frankly, I've ran out of things to list down, but the message is evident. A LOT OF STUFF happened since December 28, 2011, and in those 578+ days since we "last" saw see each other, we couldn't even find even a single minute to hangout. But like I said, nothing changed, and that made me realize the good thing that came out from all of this...

If the friendship were true, then no amount of broken promises can break it.

P.S. That ending was totally gay, but true as well. Let's leave it at that.

(during the reunion last July 31)

The Wait Was So Worth It

Here's my ULTRA late blog post on the Jason Mraz Concert at the Araneta Coliseum

There are moments in our lives that you just wouldn't want to end. In these moments, there’s a sense of freedom, where one becomes unhinged with the weights that carry him down. True happiness engulfs you.  And when it ends, these moments then become memories;  memories that'll be cherished forever.

Like every one else, I've had a lot of these moments in my life: my first plane ride, pretty much every minute of the 7xi Subic Field Trip, and the time when my first girlfriend said yes. Of course, these are merely a fraction (a VERY small one, at that) of all the great memories I have. Recently, I've added a new one to my vault of memories. It happened on May 14, 2013 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the night when Jason Mraz serenaded Manila.

This is the third time that Mr. A-Z gets to perform in Manila, and I knew I wouldn't miss it for anything, especially after coming so close to watch his second concert in Manila last 2011. That was an acoustic concert with his right hand man and percussionist Toca Rivera, but the most recent concert was a special one because it was with his complete band! There's no way I was going to settle for anything less than a Patron or Lower Box seat (there's a 1k difference between the two). I originally decided on buying a Lower Box ticket since there's wasn't really much of a difference between it and the Patron seats, but they were, unfortunately, sold out. I was left with a choice to dish out 6k for Patron seats or not watch the concert at all. Then it dawned on me that I would seriously regret not watching this concert. "Make Memories" is one of my mantras, after all. With that thought, I made it official. I bought two Patron tickets for me and my sister, and IT WAS ON.

The Day Itself

We arrived in Araneta at about 7pm, a full hour before the concert begins. The last time I was in the Araneta Coliseum was the UAAP game between ADMU and NU, and that was in 2011. It came as a surprise for me then to see the newly renovated coliseum. It looked really classy and clean. I felt rather proud that we have a world-class arena such as this (sorry, I've never been inside the MOA Arena). After buying official Jason Mraz t-shirts (this almost emptied my wallet), we bought a slice of pizza and fries for our dinner, then took our seats. For me, it's a bliss every time I enter Araneta. Maybe it's because I always see it on TV, yet I've only been there at least five times. Anyway, we had seats at the elevated sides of the Patron area. They honestly weren't as bad as I expected! What's best about it is that when the concert began, there was no one blocking our view. The concert hasn't even began, but I immediately felt that the 6k was worth it. The stage looked amazing as well!

I'm actually holding a 150 peso glowstick in that picture. Yes, it's THAT expensive. My sister wanted both of us to have glowsticks, so add 300 pesos to my total expenses of the night. Bought the blue one, of course! OBF

At about 8pm, the lights dimmed and the crowd went wild! All of us were expecting the front act, Zendee (the random karaoke girl from that viral video), to appear...but everyone got a BIG surprise. 

It was Jason Mraz himself! The screams of the ladies in the crowd were deafening! Jason got out of his way to introduce Zendee himself. You have to admire the humility of the guy. Massive respect to him. After a hug and a peck on the cheek from Jason, Zendee performed four songs (five, on my count). She was wonderful, in my opinion. It was great to see the rest of the crowd welcoming Zendee with open arms, and we gave her one of the biggest ovations of the night. It was inevitable now. We all knew Jason would take the stage soon enough, but because of technical difficulties (I think), we were made to wait for about thirty minutes or so. At 9pm, the lights were turned off. Only the lights from the different colored glowsticks were visible. Then, a barely visible figure took the stage. We were sure of it this time...

The crowd EXPLODED.

And out they came, one by one, with Jason being the last one to appear on stage. The feeling was simply incredible, and the guy I've been a fan of for more than 8 years was finally in front of my eyes. "Mabuhay!", and the crowd exploded once again. Jason was a natural comedian, and he made an effort to communicate with the crowd. He was a little weird cause of his relatively new "love, life, travel" persona, but oh man. He's a true musician. What we hear in the radio, that's exactly how he sounds like live. As much as I'd love to go into detail on every single song he performed, I think giving some comments on his setlist is enough. So here it is!

The World As I See It wasn't really memorable, and I think a more upbeat song like Make It Mine should have been used as the "intro" instead. Great song, nevertheless (If I remember correctly, he didn't play the whole song and immediately went to the next one...)

I loved Everything Is Sound! The song wasn't in the fake setlist they released a day before the concert, so I was a little disappointed. I love the song, and I loved it even more when I heard it live. Plus, I think I was the only one in the crowd who knew all the lyrics to the song, but it was cool hearing most of the crowd singing the chorus in harmony. The song really set the mood for the rest of the night.

And of course, everyone went nuts when Jason sang The Remedy. I think it's the song that drew the largest cheer from the crowd, and EVERYONE sang along. No kidding! Even the senior citizens near my seat were trying to sing along. Incredible performance with Jason hitting all the high notes easily. Like I said, it's as if I was only listening to the radio. That's how good it was.

They Shaped My Life (Who I Am Today) is a mash up of two very unfamiliar songs, so after a song like The Remedy, this gave us some time to rest. That doesn't mean we weren't listening though. This one was particularly memorable because Jason introduced the song with a story from his childhood. He sang it with only a guitar playing in the first verses and chorus, and the band accompanied him until the end. Great performance, as expected.

Butterfly got the crowd dancing! The wind instruments got a good time in the limelight as well. I wasn't really familiar with the song, so it wasn't really memorable for me. BUT, the screens one the stage flashed some pretty funny (and provocative) pics. Listen to the song and you'll know there's a reason for them.

By now I expected a big crowd favorite (considering the back to back unfamiliar songs), but instead, Jason sang 3 Things. The song will most likely come from his next album. It's an inspirational song, and a little upbeat too. Also, Jason's introduction to the song was pretty great!

The next song, I was very familiar with. Frank D. Fixer is one of the more relatively unknown songs from Jason's latest album, but I like it particularly because of its chorus. The crowd went a little dead on this one, but a good number tried to sing along with the chorus. I loved it, nevertheless! It's a great tribute to Jason's granddad, and the screens flashed pictures of him as well. 

THE SONG THAT MADE MY NIGHT. This came as a total shock because of many reasons, but for one, he actually sang it! My absolute favorite Jason Mraz song: You and I Both. There was only a spotlight on Jason, and he sat on the right side of the stage. He then pointed to the left side of the arena, calling out the people, telling them how far away they were to them. He then went on to talk about long distance relationships and the hardships of love, and then, he sang the first line...."Wasn't it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me....". I think I might have jumped out of my seat because of pure happiness. Jason performed an acoustic version, and every second of it was perfect. The best part? It wasn't even the most memorable song of the night.

Living In The Moment was great! I loved how every person swayed to the melody of the song and (sorry for this) "lived in the moment". I'll end it with that.

To be honest, Lucky was a bit disappointing. It's one of the songs I've been waiting for too, but there just wasn't a connection between Zendee, revelead as the special guest for the song, and Jason Mraz. There might have been technical problems with Zendee's mic at some point because no one can hear her voice. The song was a crowd favorite though, so the audience managed to bring some life to the performance.

Oh baby. Make It Mine was awesome! I though the song was not very popular in the country, so I was surprised to hear most of the audience sing along. What I loved about the performance was how every one in the arena came to life. It was refreshing as well. The quick tempo was what the audience needed.

Only Human...the crowd went limp from this. Not my favorite as well.

Plane is a pretty good song. It's too bad 95% of the crowd didn't know it. Everyone was seating at this point, so I guess this and Only Human were the calm before the real storm...

And then Jason sang You Fckn Did It with right hand woman Mona Tavakoli (who's REALLY pretty). The performance was CRAZY good. I, for one, wasn't familiar with the song (it isn't in any of Jason's albums), but I instantly loved it. The duo's theatrics and unbelievable connection rocked the whole arena. This is probably my favorite performance of the night because of the sheer energy!

Another unfamiliar song (mainly because it's a hidden track in Jason's latest album), but it was a wonderful performance. I'm Coming Over set up the kind of atmosphere that'll make you want to just fall in love then and there. I already have a girlfriend though, so I just entertained myself by looking at the couples being sweet with each other (PDA. PDA. PDA.)

The Woman I Love was spectacular on so many levels. I love how Jason set the mood for the song, giving a speech about mothers, sisters, girlfriends, and such. The production crew flashed a lot of beautiful pictures of ladies throughout the performance as well for the backdrop, and everything was just perfect combined.

Goodness...the song I waited the whole night to hear live. Way before the concert, I already loved the two live versions of A Beautiful Mess (both the Live on Earth and Nobel Prize versions). And surely enough, Jason Mraz did not disappoint me at all. I guess this is the part of the concert where I felt REALLY lucky to be there and experience everything. This may have been the song where my voice gave up on me too! Totally worth it. If You Fckn Did It was my favorite performance, this was the most memorable one for me.

93 Million Miles was an inspiring performance. It was like you can feel everyone's happiness in the arena, and everyone was swaying their arms to the song as well. I have no more words to describe the performance except this: wonderful.

The runner-up crowd favorite that lead others by a mile! I Won't Give Up, although a slow song, made people stand up and sing-along. What I can't forget were the oldies in the concert singing along, muttering every word of the song. That's how big the song was for this crowd! Of course, the performance was epic (as expected). It could've been the perfect ending to the concert, but I was glad to know it wasn't.

And then the break before the encore! This is probably my proudest moment of the night, because I actually started a chant! When the applause of the crowd started to die down and most wondered if the concert was over, I screamed "We want more!". At first, it was only me, then the group of guys behind me started chanting along. Then the whole red gate area of the arena, then the whole patron part, then THE WHOLE ARENA EXPLODED WITH WE WANT MORE CHANTS.

(What the stage looked like during pre-encore)

After about 2 minutes, the band came out to another HUGE ovation. They soaked in the screams and applause for a few seconds, waved to a few sections in the audience, and Jason started to give a speech about the importance of friends and keeping them close to us no matter what happens.

Then he sang Song for a Friend. At this point, it didn't matter if the song was not that popular, cause the crowd LOVED and cherished every line and tone that came out of Jason's mouth. Everybody was just cheering and swaying their arms, knowing that the epic night was coming to an end. The only comforting thing was that there was assurance that it would end with a bang, because if one kept track of every song Jason sang, there was one huge hit that he hasn't sang yet...

To be honest, the memories are kinda hazy at this point. Maybe they went away along with the adrenaline, but there's one moment I can remember pretty clearly....when Jason Mraz plucked the first two chords of this song, the crowd went NUTS. There's no other song that can do this aside from I'm Yours, the universe's most favorite Jason Mraz song (except for me). Oh man...no words can describe the performance. Every band member moved around the stage, Jason riled up the crowd, dictated them to sing at some parts of the song. Everybody was dancing, and well...everything was perfect. That's all I can say, really. It was the perfect song to cap off one of the best concerts I've ever watched.

Jason and the band did their final bows to officially end the concert, waved to the audience, then walked off the stage. Of course, Jason was the last one to leave. He soaked all the screams and applause of the crowd first, took his hat off, gave a final bow by his lonesome, and walked backstage. That was it. The concert was officially over.

Jason and his Band take their final bows

(Sidenote: I almost bumped into Harry Thomas, US Ambassador to the country, when I came running back inside the arena to search for the t-shirt I left on my seat)

After the concert, I didn't feel sad at all. There was only happiness from the thought that new memories were made. My sister and I couldn't stop talking about the concert, and we even played Jason Mraz songs throughout our car trip. We celebrated a little bit because her birthday was the next day, May 15 (only a few minutes left before it by the time we were going home). I was dropped off at my dorm, and well....that was it. 

The wait was, indeed, worth it.

(taken from the Araneta Coliseum FB page)

Some of My Favorite Album Artworks

1. Love Is A Four Letter Word - Jason Mraz

2. An Airplane Carried Me To Bed - Sky Sailing

3. Parachutes - Coldplay

4. Ocean Eyes - Owl City

5. Sa Wakas - Sugarfree

6. Science and Faith - The Script

7. Above, Over, and Beyond - Hale

8. Dreaming Out Loud - One Republic

9. Abbey Road - The Beatles

10. As The Music Plays - Bamboo

11. On Your Side - A Rocket To The Moon

12. Wonders of The Younger - Plain White T's

13. You'll Be Safe Here - Rivermaya

14. Look After You - The Fray (Single Cover)

and of course...

15. Disco Disco Beatz! - Elmore Venus

Mr. A-Z's Best of the Best

I've been wanting to do this post for months now, but was forced not to because of various reasons. Now that the day of my favorite artist's concert is coming, I feel it's time to finally do this. My taste in music is...varied. I love any song that's mellow or easy listening, but I'm also a fan of pop, rock, rap, jazz, and even country. Out of all the artists I've ever listened to, there's only one man who managed to integrate aspects of these different genres into his music, and that man is Jason Mraz.

I dished out 6k just to watch Jason Mraz, and I am REALLY excited! So, without further ado, here are my top 15 favorite songs from Mr. A-Z himself! And don't forget to watch the videos in numbers 5 to 1!

THE TOP 15

15) Halfway Home - Live At Java Joe's

Halfway Home will be the only live song in this list, and it comes from Jason Mraz's first album "Live At Java Joe's". Before signing with Elektrika Records, the company that went on to produce his debut studio album "Waiting For My Rocket To Come", Jason recorded this album along with percussionist Toca Rivera, who is a staple in his shows up until now (and is also the back-up vocals to almost all of his songs), in a Cafe' in San Diego named Java Joe's, the place where they also met. I love this song for many reasons. One, it was recorded in an intimate setting where the audience was truly a part of the show, as the cafe was small. Jason Mraz likes to interact with the audience a lot during his shows, and I can just imagine him serenading every single member of the audience with this song, talking to them as if he was their best friend. Two, this is the only second song ever written by Jason, and a song that's relatively close to him. Three, the lyrics. The lyrics are just phenomenal. In a nutshell, the song says you won't be able to achieve anything unless you take action yourself. This might be one of his lesser known songs (it wasn't released as a single), but it's proven to be a gem of a find.

14) Curbside Prophet - Waiting For My Rocket To Come

There is absolutely no doubt that every single one of Jason Mraz's songs are catchy, but this particular single has got to be one of the catchiest. What I love about this song is how it distinguishes itself from others by dwelling on the genre of country, yet the essence of Jason Mraz's sound is still there. His quick-release of words (reminiscent of rap) surprisingly fits the sound of country, and it sounds great. Plus, the song is about his humble beginnings of breaking into the music scene, and the reckless joy that comes with it. "Frank" is one way to describe it, and it's a song that you'd just want to sing along to again and again.

13) 93 Million Miles - Love Is A Four Letter Word

If you want a song that will lift up your spirits, this one's for you. This comes from Jason Mraz's latest album, where the overall theme (obviously) is love. The song is about the love of parents to their child, and also the love for hope. It tells us that no matter where we are and what happens, there will always be a home for us to go to, a place where we belong. Funny as it sounds, it's comparable to every motivational speeches every parent has given. The song reminds us that there is always a silver lining somewhere, and all we have to do is stop and take a look around. Also, the music in itself is simply wonderful, enough to bring out the sentimental side of anyone. Basically, 93 Million Miles is a song about life, and an honest one at that.

12) The Remedy (I Won't Worry) - Waiting For My Rocket To Come

I was quite surprised to know that this song was written by Jason Mraz to a good friend who was sick, hence the title. This is may very well be Jason Mraz's most well known song, and it really isn't much of a surprise, considering just how catchy and upbeat it is. Most people don't even know or understand the lyrics to this song, but the chorus itself was enough to capture the ears of anyone who listened to it (including me). "I won't worry my life away", a simple yet empowering line that has surely been someone's mantra. Although this song isn't really high on my favorites list, it's still an essential song to any Jason Mraz playlist.

11) I Won't Give Up - Love Is A Four Letter Word

If I were given only one word to describe this word, it would be this: sweet. I Won't Give Up encompasses the mixture of feelings that one experiences in loving truthfully, whether it be love for family, friends, or that special someone. It has a very mellow and wonderful melody, and lyrics that will touch the soft spot of any soul. There are a lot of things I love about this song, and the thing I love most is how honest and straightforward it is. Because of that, the overall cheesiness of the song isn't really felt, and I love it even more because of that. It's a powerful tribute of love, and I can see it as a song being played in weddings for many many years to come.

10) Lucky - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

The message is clear and simple, "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend". Nothing else could sound sweeter than those 8 words combined. The chorus alone, composed of only three lines, is enough to pull anyone's heartstrings. There are parts that are a tad too cheesy, of course, but its cheesiness compliments the song's infectious melody and its overall message. Nowadays, one will hardly get to hear a love song without it being a heartbreaking one, but "Lucky" was able to distinguish itself by being a love song that truly celebrates love and its sweet beginnings through both its music and lyrics. With Lucky's relaxing tune and simple, yet relate-able lyrics, it's no surprise that it won Jason Mraz and duet partner Colbie Caillat a Grammy in 2010.

9) Clockwatching - Mr. A-Z

Some songs have sexual innuendos in them, take for example, another song from the same artist I'm featuring called "Curbside Prophet" (#14 in this list). And to those who are curious, here's the line I'm referring to, which is also the very first line of the song: "I'm just a curbside prophet with my hand in my pocket and I'm waiting for my rocket to come". This may be just my interpretation, though. MAYBE. Anyway, Clockwatching is a straight up song about time and sex. What's great about it is that it won't even offend anyone, kind of like John Mayer's "Your Body Is A Wonderland". Undeniably, the song is absolutely catchy (a word that I might have already overused in this post), and it's really the thing that makes this song so fun, and even relaxing, to listen to. Surprisingly, there's a hint of sweetness to this song, especially because of the final few lines of the song. Overall, I can only say that Clockwatching is a song that's a lot of fun. 

8) Sleep All Day - Waiting For My Rocket To Come

I've actually only just rediscovered this song a few months ago while sound tripping. At first I didn't recognize it, but then I remembered the unmistakable chorus from my childhood. It might have been the 5th (or even 4th grade) when I developed an LSS for this song, and it may have been the first Jason Mraz song that I liked (just maybe, because I remember the song at #3 being the first). In a nutshell, the song is about making beautiful mistakes, and in this case, moving out and running away with the one you love. It's one of Jason Mraz's songs that truly tells a story from start to finish, and one that also displays the contrast of lyrical meaning to the song's music. And if you aren't impressed with Jason Mraz's vocals, this will make you a believer. I love every aspect of this song, and I ask you, dear reader, to give this one a try.

7) Make It Mine - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

The message of this song? Don't stop trying until you get the thing you want. Simple as that. This is actually a song that I've only recently learned to like, and now, I am loving it. Make It Mine makes use of uncommon instruments in mainstream music and makes it work brilliantly (i.e. trumpets). There's nothing much I can say about this song, except that it has won Jason Mraz a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, besting out the likes of John Mayer and even Michael Buble'. In my opinion, it's well deserved.

6) Sleeping To Dream - A Jason Mraz Demonstration

The underdog of this list is at number 6! If you're a fellow Jason Mraz fan and are unfamiliar with this song, don't fret. This song was included in Jason Mraz's independently released album "A Jason Mraz Demonstration", which is also his very first album (technically). I only discovered this song a few years back while I was listening to some of the lesser known songs of Jason Mraz, and I immediately fell in love with it. It's a song of reminiscent of childish wondering, and there's a sense of euphoria that goes with it. It's also the kind of song that you'd just want to listen to while lying on your bed on a dark, rainy day. Notice the lyrics, and it tells of a love that is frank. Sleeping To Dream is a fantastic song.

5) Geek In The Pink - Mr. A-Z

THIS SONG IS THE MOTHER OF CATCHY IN JASON MRAZ'S DISCOGRAPHY. It's crazy fun and it's just energetic to listen to! It's also a great display of Jason's awesome rapping skills. Don't believe me? Watch the official music video embedded here. I'll let the music speak for itself.

4) I'm Yours - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

Now who doesn't know this song? I'm sure anyone who's anyone has heard of this at least once, especially in 2008 when this song was dominating the airwaves. Love, life, and happiness are the central themes of the song, and it just clicked. It's the kind of song that just flashes images of coconut trees and beaches, and will even make you want to get on your car and drive until you get lost. "Freedom Song" is my way to describe it, and it is nothing short of great. I'm Yours is a song that is likable to the young and old, and that's what makes it even better. Here's the MV of this chart-topper. If the song combined with the video doesn't scream freedom, I don't know what does.

3) Wordplay - Mr. A-Z

This song is at number 3 mainly because of sentimental reasons. As far as I can remember, this is the song that introduced me to the music of Mr. A-Z (or was it the song at number 8?). Don't get me wrong though, this song is exceptional. In my opinion, this is the song that greatly emphasizes Jason Mraz's talent for rapping and the type of music he's famous for. What's also interesting is that this song tells the story of his life while producing his second album, "Mr. A-Z", where this song came from. The chorus of this song also rivals that of The Remedy's in terms of being the greatest, at least in my opinion. To those unfamiliar of Jason Mraz, I highly recommend this song. It's a great song to get familiar with what kind of music Jason Mraz makes, and it's one of his best. Get a blast out of its weird-ass music video right now!

2) A Beautiful Mess - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

Aaaahhh. A Beautiful Mess, the dark horse of this list. This one came as a surprise for me, as I only knew about it late last year. If you haven't listened to this one yet, you are missing out, especially if you're a mark for love songs. The song is perfect because of three reasons: the exceptional lyrics, the music itself (it has an orchestra!), and the vocal talent of Jason Mraz. It's a song about the ups and downs of a relationship through the eyes of a guy and how he sees the one he loves. I may have used this word a tad too much in this post, but it's the perfect way to describe the song. A Beautiful Mess is beautifully honest, an admission of love that transcends everything. I now present to you my favorite live performance by an artist EVER. Do not finish reading this blog without watching this one first. Simply wonderful.

1) You And I Both - Waiting For My Rocket To Come

It's an upbeat love song that tells of a guy, the once perfect love he lost, and the lessons he learned from it. Relateable? Yes it is. Catchy, Sweet, Vocal Talent, Love, Honest...those overused words are the perfect words to describe this song, and to be honest (there goes that word again), no other words are needed. Oh, except for this one: Perfect. You and I Both is my favorite Jason Mraz song, and now you know! As a reward for painstakingly reading through this surprisingly long post, here's a very entertaining and great solo performance by Jason Mraz of You and I Both. Thanks for reading!

Number of Top 15 songs per album:

A Jason Mraz Demonstration: 1

Live at Java Joe's: 1

Waiting For My Rocket To Come: 4

Mr A-Z: 3

We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things: 4

Love Is A Four Letter Word: 2