Today,

my father and I went to buy some tickets.

Nanay and my youngest brother Oen would be celebrating their birthday this Saturday, and Tatay got wind of a John Williams homage to be done by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic led by Gerard Salonga on Saturday so he decided to take them there.

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The first plan was just for the three of them to go, but then I wanted in so that made four of us, but then Lawin wanted to come home and join too so we might as well go, all six of us. (No sense in leaving Alon out. Eheh.)

So we went ahead and got the tickets…but it didn’t exactly go as we had planned.

When Tatay and I got to Gateway (we were going to get the tickets in Araneta Center), we did the usual—get dimsum and soup or some coffee, and catch up on everything. Most times, I’m catching up on how our family pup Buhawi (or just Hawi) is doing, and he wants to know the latest state of my room. I’m actually surprised Tatay did not mention a word about my room. But I swear it is in good order…relatively

We went to check what seats were available, and that was when The Plan went awry. We were supposed to get Orchestra Center for Nanay and Tatay, and Lodge Center for the four of us, but it turns out the only seats left were Orchestra and Tatay didn’t have enough cash for them to still get Orchestra Center so you could say we kinda met halfway. We all ended up getting Orchestra Side, parents in the second row and kids in the fourth row. I’d like to think it was a happy coincidence.

There was a lot of ado before we finally paid up, because the seats did not come cheap. Good thing they had two counters there or else the people would have killed us already, if looks could kill. #clichéalert

Before Tatay texted me to look this concert up, I actually saw an ad for it posted in the College of Music in UP, but I didn’t really think I would get to see it, and with orchestra seats at that. :) I am so happy I have a(n almost-) hipster for a father. At least when it comes to music. His diverse taste in music is probably why I had the Britney Spears phase late in my childhood. I grew up listening to a cappella hymns, acoustic music, classical music, world music, and whatnot.

The lady at the counter reserved the seats and gave us a price for all six tickets. (Plus Php 540 in Ticketnet fees huhu) She spoke into a mic connected to a little speaker outside the window—that’s how it worked in Araneta—and it really didn’t help that she was almost shouting into the thing </3 but I think no one looked at us weirdly so whatevs (I think)

We had some bread and coffee before we parted ways to have a look at the tickets, and probably to take in the reality of what we had just done a few minutes ago.

I really hope this will be a priceless experience for the whole familia. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN :))))))))))


Segue: Before we went to Cubao to get the tickets, I went to meet Tatay first at a particular government office along QC Circle. We went on Facebook and I showed him the orchestra’s page. After he checked out the event poster I showed him a picture* of me and this guy I met backstage at the UP Fair:

“He looks like a nice boy. I approve.”

LOLJK he did not say that. “Antukin” I think is part of Tatay’s travel mix.

I am so glad to have a father who doesn’t stop me from going to things like this. And I am so happy to find out he’s met Raimund Marasigan before, otherwise it wouldn’t have made sense showing him the picture I had with Raimund, Diego, and RA :P



I raise my glass to cool dads.

*Sorry for the fangirling. I have to dump this giddiness somewhere or else I will not be able to studeeeyyyy :/

Apologies.

Looks like I won’t be posting anything tonight. Ugh. I should have gotten those thoughts on paper a long time ago. Guess I always thought I wouldn’t be doing anything on Valentine’s night.

 

Well, surprise, surprise! I still don’t have a date. But I am going out…with friends…to the UP FAIR!! My first one everrr in my four years of college life. I think I owe it to myself to go even just once. :) But not to fear, I will still post those drama bombs. Maybe tomorrow.

V-Day/S.A.D. has been charming so far. I got to dance with my favorite partner in dance class. We made some small talk, which made me go out of balance, which made him pull me in. But I think I was just imagining it. After class, I went to Area 2 for a siomai lunch with a classmate from dance class, Danielle, and over lunch and smoothies we talked about, well, our classmates and our favorite partners. It was like high school all over again, us still sweaty from class in our PE uniforms, talking about boys. It was nice. Some almost-ripe Indian mangoes fell from the tree just above us and the storeowners were nice enough to give us some.

They were sweet. The mangoes were, too.

The last thing I ever received for Valentine’s before the mangoes was a heart-shaped tin case of chocolate donuts, from my parents.

And the rest was like a normal day, if you take all the flowers and chocolates out of it. Oh, and there was a little time-machine-y a cappella concert of ’90s OPM songs with friends. Memorable as ever.

Alors, that has been my last teenage Valentine’s so far. It’s not as dramatic as I’ve made the past few ones to be, but maybe that’s telling me something. Maybe I’m finally growing up? I don’t think I’m the best person to say that, but who else could could say otherwise, anyway? :) One day at a time. I’ve gotten so used to being single, I wouldn’t know how to spend February 14 any other way, and maybe that’s okay. Maybe that’s how February 14s are meant to be.

I need to stop saying that. “Maybe”, that is. Well, maybe now is not the time.

Ang kwentong pinamagatang “Tanggap ko nang ako’y overweight”.

Sumakay ako ng jeep. Multicab, actually. May dalawang mag-jowa sa kanang bahagi ng jeep. Naupo ako sa may bandang gitna sa kaliwa, tapos sabay umangat yung dulo nung bangkô sa bigat ko. Natawa si ate at itinuro pa, pero dali-dali ko siyang binalingan ng tingin. At ako’y tumawa rin.

‘Yun lang.

Sleep

I remember the night I almost slept on your shoulder, and I find myself smiling a little. I bet I’ll be kicking myself another day for not just letting my head fall, and not just my heart.

Idlip

Naaalala ko ang gabing muntikan na akong makatulog nang nakasandal sa iyo, at napangiti ako. Bakit ba kasi hindi ko na lamang hinayaang mahulog sa iyo ang ulo ko, at hindi lang ang puso ko?