Rico Blanco

Last weekend at the Ayala Terraces... Elevation: Concert with Rico Blanco

It's been a quiet week leading up to this one blast of an event at Ayala Center Cebu. Took a few shoots with my ipod touch.

8am call time with us checking and cleaning up the artist's tent. Tracy, assistant director, came from Manila. Yeah, no matter how early call time is, we always get our faces made up. hehehe

...one reason being...you see people during the pre-prod briefing, hehehe.

...and during lunch. We had one hearty meal at Siam! Delicious Thai restaurant located at the Terraces. I would like to commend the very gracious attendants...

4 o'clock. 1 hour before the gates open. With all those preps (I sometimes help out aside from being the photographer), the heat, humidity and flowing sweat I always want to freshen up. But there was just not enough time to do everything over. And my smudged eyeliner was bothering me too much. Disappointing really. One of the pricey brands. Oh well. What better thing to do than run to the Rustan's (we were just outside the mall) make up counter. It was a quick decision when the girl at the Chanel counter smiled at me. Graciously pleaded with her she take out my smudged eyeliner. Aside from putting on fresh eyeliner on me she let me test a rockin' shade of red lipstick! Smudge proof liquid eyeliner and lipstick no. 28 (Romantic) from Chanel and a quick dash of powder, I was ready full-on!!! hahaha...thank you pretty lady at Chanel. They are always ever so pleasant. Sometimes you just have to trust the pricey tags. hehehe. Yep, when the heat is on, a 1700-peso Chanel eyeliner is your ammo!

Here's a shot of the concert:

And the eyeliner? Yep, it was definitely smudge proof. Got home after midnight and eyes were still rockin' !!!

3 weeks ago while loitering around the mall (I was waiting for the kids to be done with school activity nearby) I made a conscious decision that I would only go in shops of locally made brands (apparels). Did the smaller shops then to the bigger ones. I was actually saving the feeling of being surprised by the bigger shop. hehehe. I've always spied them display windows being trendy, simple and updated. The second I stepped into the shop, this song starts:

I went about checking out every single shirt, style and color to the beat of Bruno Mars.

How could I not NOT shop?

By the time I was doing my own version of fitting-room montage (think Christina Applegate and Cameron Diaz in The Sweetest Thing 2002) this is blaring in the speakers:

So there.

(Nopes, I didn't buy anything. Since when did plain cotton t-shirts cost P788 a piece?)

Speaking of Bruno Mars...

Ticket prices at:

VIP 4,999.88

Gold 2,599.88

Silver 1,299.88

Bronze 888.88

Are you excited?!!!

I am.

So the story goes...Bamboo is no more.

Last Monday, DJ KC Montero announced on 89.1 Wave FM radio that Philippine's popular rock band, Bamboo, is breaking up.

Last night, confirmation was in the form of a statement at the official website of the band itself.

One of the country's high regarded band, their soulful take on rock will surely be missed but cherished.

Well, they come and go.

It was a fun ride. They were cool.

My heart listened to them.

Felt every guitar string.

And now, farewell...

(let me share with you some photos I took of the band...)

Bamboo Manalac, vocalist

Nathan Azarcon, bassist.

Vic Mercado, drummer.

Ira Cruz, guitarist.

(Me, clearly failing not to look too starstruck, during a concert shoot assignment)

Read the official statement here.

Ok ok, so he plays cool guitars. His songs...hmmm, touching. And rumors have it that he has some bit of issues in that music guitar genius. So ok, ok, understatement of the year. John Mayer held a concert in Manila last week. Heard from the grape vine he wasn't at all the Mr. Congeniality...not that we ever thought he is. More like Mr. Destroyer!!!
He wasn't at all nice to hotel staff and such. And worse, he reported trashed the Presidential Suite at the Edsa Shangrila hotel. One of the swankiest place in the country. WHY? Furnitures and fixtures were destroyed. The suite had to be temporarily closed for repairs. Well, I'm no medical experts but in my book, people who do that, rockstars or not...have some screws loosened in the head.
Total bill? (drum roll please...)...
USD8OOO!!!
There goes the profit...
Yes, folks, Php3OO,OOO!
I've never been in the Presidential Suite but I picture it to be like this one:


(Thank you JUDE NG for the JM picture above.)

Two bands played in the exclusive concert. This is Rivermaya.
Vocals, Jayson.











Like I said, Can I have your job Mr. Camera Guy? hehehehe












Rivermaya band members with one of our production assistants Obet. This is one cool photo! YOU THE MAN OBET!!! ahihihihi...
We totally had a blast! We hope to see them all next year...