Sea of Change: Where

Originally written as a poem, Ode to the Sea, and rewritten into a song called Where.

Sea of Change: The Event

Still processing the other pictures. Will post them as soon as I can.

Many thanks to the very talented band, Melvin Sumalinog (guitars and back-up vocals), Peter Manabat (bass and percussions), Ziegfred Diaz (khon). To Polari Comedy Club for the support and the vote of confidence. Special shoutout to Junie Tobillo, Gigi Lualhati, Allan Alojipan, Marvin, and Neil Tolentino.

To my family, who showed all out support - Ma, Ian, Adam, Andrew, Elai, Cathy, Ken, Tin, and David - thank you!

And to all my friends who came to cheer me on, God bless you all! High school friends, grade school friends, college friends, Bubot, ABS friends, online friends, Paandars, GMA friends, and Survivor peeps (will miss you all!)

And to God, who made it all happen and gave me the opportunity to write several things off my bucket list. You're the best, Lord!

LSS

NEW SONG ALERT!
NEW SONG ALERT!
NEW SONG ALERT!
Hehehe. This one's called LSS.

As is my usual disclaimer, please forgive the crude playing and singing.

LSS (Last Song Syndrome)

Ladadaradada... dadadaradaradarararara...

Ginising mo’ng nanahimik kong puso
pinukaw ang damdamin kong
nagmistulang bato

Pinanabik ako sa himig na inawit
sa gabing pinaningning
nitong mga bituin

Ikaw ang laging laman ng isip
ang LSS na laging inaawit
ikaw ang tonong sa puso’y nakaukit
ang himig na dala hanggang panaginip

Ladadaradada... dadadaradaradarararara...

Singtamis nga ba ng tinig mong malamig
ang pag-ibig na hatid
anong kaba nitong dibdib!

Ang bawat himig at salitang nagmumula
sa ‘yong bibig nagbibigay init
sa gabing malamig

Ikaw ang laging laman ng isip
ang LSS na laging inaawit
ikaw ang tonong sa puso’y nakaukit
ang himig na dala hanggang panaginip

Ladadaradada... dadadaradaradarararara...

Kahit di ko aminin
kaysarap ulit-ulitin
dahil ang tinig mo
tanging ang himig mo
ang naririnig ng puso ko

Ladadaradada... dadadaradaradarararara...

- completed today, July 6th, for Vincent

WRU

Just had to repost :-(

WRU - Kokum

Pudpod na ang suwelas ng sapatos, ngawit na ang binti sa kalalakad, kahahanap sa iyo. Pumipintig mga ugat, mga mata'y lumuluwa katitingin sa kawalan, sa kawalan. O nasaan?

Sinuyod na lahat ng maisipang puntahan, at laging gising sa kagigimik, kaiikot sa gabi. Sinuong na ang baha, sinugod ang bagyo, pinilit na masilip ang anino mo, woooh, mahal ko.

Ikaw ang nag-iisang laman ng panaginip ko
Bumibilis ang tibok, ang tibok, ang tibok ng puso ko
Sa tuwing maiisip kong hinihintay mo rin ako
Sa tuwing maiisip ko, maiisip na magkikita rin tayo
Mahal ko, magkakakilala rin tayo

Sino ka ba? Excited na 'kong makilala ka. Ano'ng itsura mo? Ano ang hilig? Sa'n ka ba kinikilig? Bago pa makita ka alam ko nang mahal kita 'di maiisip na iwanan ka, woooh, ako'y iyong-iyo.

Ikaw ang nag-iisang laman ng panaginip ko
Bumibilis ang tibok, ang tibok, ang tibok ng puso ko
Sa tuwing maiisip kong hinihintay mo rin ako
Sa tuwing maiisip ko, maiisip na magkikita rin tayo
Mahal ko, magkakakilala rin tayo

Woooh, ikaw ang hinihintay, sana ika'y abot-kamay
Pasabugin ang kulay, dahil sa 'king buhay

Ikaw ang nag-iisang laman ng panaginip ko
Bumibilis ang tibok, ang tibok, ang tibok ng puso ko
Sa tuwing maiisip kong hinihintay mo rin ako
Sa tuwing maiisip ko, maiisip na magkikita rin tayo
Mahal ko, magkakakilala rin tayo

Liwanag

Sumikat ang araw, sumilip sa ‘king bintana
Dumampi sa ‘king mga pisngi ang init ng ‘yong kalinga

Pagmulat nitong mga mata, nariyan ka
Kasabay sa ‘king pagkakahimbing, gabay sa ‘king paggising

Ikaw ang hamog na humalik sa mga rosas
Ang ilaw na bumasag sa dilim
Ikaw ang umagang naghatid ng pag-asa
Ang nagbigay-liwanag sa aking daigdig

Umihip ang hangin, tangay ang aking pagsamo
Ibubulong sa ‘yo nang taimtim paglingap ko at pangako

Kasama sa ‘yong paglalakbay, karamay
Nandito ako sa ‘yong tabi hanggang lumipas ang gabi (dahil)

Ikaw ang hamog na humalik sa mga rosas
Ang ilaw na bumasag sa dilim
Ikaw ang umagang naghatid ng pag-asa
Ang nagbigay-liwanag sa aking daigdig

Huwag nang mababahala pang muli
Huwag nang mag-alinlangan ni sandali
Parating na’ng araw na minimithi

Ikaw ang hamog na humalik sa mga rosas
Ang ilaw na bumasag sa dilim
Ikaw ang umagang naghatid ng pag-asa
Ang nagbigay-liwanag sa aking daigdig

Sumikat ang araw, sumilip sa ‘king bintana

- for James, a song long overdue

Bucket List

Okay, this is so I don't forget. The list just keeps getting longer so I'm putting some of the things down while they're fresh on my mind.

• Be a travel writer - get paid to go places and write about them.
• Put my music out so it's heard by many.
• Sing and play music on stage and TV - be a kick-ass rockista.
• Act on film and TV - and eventually go international.
• Host a show on TV - a travel show, maybe, or a cooking or music show.
• Cook and invent more and more dishes.
• Write books.
• Have a great body.
• Own a house by the beach.

That's it for now. I think. Will just add and subtract as I go along.

Padlock Party

Evie/Piper posted pictures and a video of the PADLOCK party held at my apartment last week, in honor of my birthday and Jeng's (and Blessie's). Couldn't have been any more fun than it was. Only things missing were Blessie (and her pansit, which means shorter lives for Jeng and I - hahaha!) and Prue.

Click here to see the pictures. Be sure to check the video as well.

Alright

Another beginning is starting its ending today. I ain't okay
so don't come raining down on this parade.
The bubble has burst. The clowns have gone. The party's over.
Now, I'm done with this charade.

You left the room and left the lights on all night.
I woke up blinded and you were nowhere in sight.
Honestly couldn't remember if we had a fight.
And all this time I thought we were alright.

Now there's no more laughing and talking 'til morning comes
through the windows. No more kisses on the nose.
And now I'm beginning to feel the gaping hole you left in me.
You have gone, and so it goes.

You left the room and left the lights on all night.
I woke up blinded and you were nowhere in sight.
Honestly couldn't remember if we had a fight.
And all this time I thought we were alright.

Promises made and promises broken, feelings to share left unspoken
We could've given. We could've chosen. We could've been.
But you made your choice and now I'm broken. What else is left to bargain?
I could not have seen it coming.

Maybe tonight when I imagine you beside me
under the sheets on my bed.
I'll close my eyes to try to catch some scent of you
on the pillows on my head.

You left the room and left the lights on all night.
I woke up blinded and you were nowhere in sight.
Honestly couldn't remember if we had a fight.
And all this time I thought we were alright.

Another beginning is starting its ending today. I ain't okay
so don't come raining down on this parade.

- for Doc, completed August 4, 2008

Brownbuds at Umagang Kayganda

W.R.U.

Pudpod na ang suwelas ng sapatos ko, ngawit na ang binti sa kalalakad, kahahanap sa iyo. Pumipintig mga ugat, mga mata'y lumuluwa katitingin sa kawalan, sa kawalan. O nasaan?

Sinuyod na lahat ng maisipang puntahan, at laging gising sa kagigimik, kaiikot sa gabi. Sinuong na ang baha, sinugod ang bagyo, pinilit na masilip ang anino mo, woooh, mahal ko.

Ikaw ang nag-iisang laman ng panaginip ko

Bumibilis ang tibok, ang tibok, ang tibok ng puso ko

Sa tuwing maiisip kong hinihintay mo rin ako

Sa tuwing maiisip ko, maiisip na magkikita rin tayo

Mahal ko, magkakakilala rin tayo

Sino ka ba? Excited na 'kong makilala ka. Ano'ng itsura mo? Ano ang hilig? Sa'n ka ba kinikilig? Bago pa makita ka alam ko nang mahal kita 'di maiisip na iwanan ka, woooh, ako'y iyong-iyo.

Ikaw ang nag-iisang laman ng panaginip ko

Bumibilis ang tibok, ang tibok, ang tibok ng puso ko

Sa tuwing maiisip kong hinihintay mo rin ako

Sa tuwing maiisip ko, maiisip na magkikita rin tayo

Mahal ko, magkakakilala rin tayo

Woooh, ikaw ang hinihintay, sana ika'y abot-kamay

Pasabugin ang kulay, dahil sa 'king buhay

Ikaw ang nag-iisang laman ng panaginip ko

Bumibilis ang tibok, ang tibok, ang tibok ng puso ko

Sa tuwing maiisip kong hinihintay mo rin ako

Sa tuwing maiisip ko, maiisip na magkikita rin tayo

Mahal ko, magkakakilala rin tayo

Ad lib

- completed July 16, 2008, recorded draft July 18th

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

It appears from this quiz that my dominant intelligence is musical intelligence. The first sentence in the description below is quite a revelation for me. I may have always known it, but I was never really able to verbalize it.

Your Dominant Intelligence is Musical Intelligence

Every part of your life has a beat, and you're often tapping your fingers or toes. You enjoy sounds of all types, but you also find sound can distract you at the wrong time. You are probably a gifted musician of some sort - even if you haven't realized it. Also a music lover, you tend to appreciate artists of all kinds. You would make a great musician, disc jockey, singer, or composer.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Kokum Reborn

Thought I'd post this. Kokum will be reborn and will rise again.

The Bohol Invasion Begins

Was in Bohol this weekend to cook up something big for July. Sharing with you some of the pictures we took during down time.

For those vaguely aware of how we work in Stickdreams, this is basically the kind of environment we keep. Keeps all of us sane. Hahaha!

Slow Dance

You looked up at me
With eyes that mirrored
The painful reality
Of what was to be

Tears of bitterness
Were waiting to fall
And I was there waiting
To catch them all

Then our music started playing
It was the first song of the evening
But we both knew what was true
It was the anthem of an ending long overdue

How can we dance and then pretend
Follow the music that leads to the end
How do we embrace and say we didn’t try
How do we dance the slow dance of goodbye

Locked in a dance
We were in a trance
Spoke of love so pure
But the future was sure

When the first tear fell
Your pain I felt
I could no longer keep in step
So I held you and wept

Then our music started playing
It was the first song of the evening
But we both knew what was true
It was the anthem of an ending long overdue

How can we dance and then pretend
Follow the music that leads to the end
How do we embrace and say we didn’t try
How do we dance the slow dance of goodbye

If this is really the end
For the last time let me hold your hand
Let’s let this final moment stand
And love while we still can

How can we dance and then pretend
Follow the music that leads to the end
How do we embrace and say we didn’t try
How do we dance the slow dance of goodbye

- reworked into a song from an old poem at the poetry site, written originally for Cynthia, completed March 28

Drift (Recorded)

Recently learned that the one for whom I wrote this song has broken up with the guy he ended up with. Now he's with someone else.

Sigh.



It's the turn of the year
I see everything clear
Got a new job at a new place
Ready now to run the race

Packed my bags and said goodbye
To all the ones that passed me by
Everything fresh, everything new
It's all too good to be true

I face the road ahead
With much ado 'bout nothing
But the truth is I am running
Running away from you

Running away from you, oh woooh
Running away from you, oh woooh

Looked back at the pier
As mem'ries disappear
Of the love that I once knew
Farther away from you

Now I reach the shores of promise
But something's still amiss
Not everything fresh, not everything new
It's not complete without you

I face the road ahead
With much ado 'bout nothing
But the truth is I am running
Running away from you

Running away from you, oh woooh
Running away from you, oh woooh

I have crossed the seas and oceans blue
Only to find my heart...

Drifting back to you, oh woooh
Drifting back to you, oh woooh
Drifting back to you, oh woooh
Drifting back to you

- written January 7th, on the night I arrived in Boracay, revised with music January 13th

First Light (Recorded)

This song was written for our dearest Prue, who is now in hiatus. I think this is going to be the first time for him to hear it. Forgive the off-key singing. I recorded this at home in the wee hours of the morning. Prue, I hope you like it.



Here I lie on the sand
Hazy blue skies above
Morning’s soon to dawn
And will bring my love home

I stand on the promise
That one day you will come
Oh, angel of my life, alight
With the morning sun

Now I know I will never be alone
And they will know that our love will be that strong
Because with every waking dawn
Your warm embrace will come along
Because the sunrise brings my angel home

You’re as real as my thoughts
And feel as warm as the sun
When your wings take flight
With the coming of the light

I stand on the promise
That one day you will come
Oh, angel of my life, alight
With the morning sun

Now I know I will never be alone
And they will know that our love will be that strong
Because with every waking dawn
Your warm embrace will come along
Because the sunrise brings my angel home

And now reality sets in
Your presence slowly growing thin
So I live through the day, and head out again at night
So I could wait for first light

Now I know I will never be alone
And they will know that our love will be that strong
Because with every waking dawn
Your warm embrace will come along
Because the sunrise brings my angel home

- written January 24th for Prue, words and music by Kokum

Through

I know how hard it's been
How things can be so grim
How dark the clouds can turn
And the lessons hard to learn

Life can be so cruel
It can turn you into a fool
I know this much is true
'Cause I was there with you

So don't cry again
Don't shed no more tears
Because home is now
And home is here

You are never alone
Because I'm there with you
Feeling the sadness you do
I’m crying there with you
But this I promise you
Together, we’ll get through

But it never ends the same
No one’s really to blame
We each live our own
But you are never alone

Let’s leave the past behind
We can make up our minds
Look up it’s a new day
Hope is coming your way

So don't cry again
Don't shed no more tears
Because home is now
And home is here

You are never alone
Because I'm there with you
Feeling the sadness you do
I’m crying there with you
But this I promise you
Together, we’ll get through

Together, we’ll get through

So don't cry again
Don't shed no more tears
Because home is now
And home is here

You are never alone
Because I'm there with you
Feeling the sadness you do
I’m crying there with you
But this I promise you
Together, we’ll get
Through

- completed March 15, 2008, dedicated to Single Fish on the occasion of her birthday

Going SomeWHERE

Found myself an audio editing program online and recorded Kokum's Where last night. I hope you like it.

Who is Kokum?

As I have previously posted, Evie and I had planned on sending an audition video to The Amazing Race Asia Season 3. Well, we did. Evie re-edited the video and came up with this. So for those who want to know who Kokum is, this video is for you.

Where

Where the wind blows freely
Where waves and sand touch endlessly
Where the sky meets tenderly
The sea

Where dark blue skies cover me
And sand warms me
Where the stars wink at me
Naughtily

Where I am who I am really
Where truth is truth
Constantly
Where I can see eternity
Beckoning me
To be free

Where a soft breeze carries me
Where imagination takes me
Where I’m finally free
To be

Where I can’t pretend to be
Any more than me
Where the truth let’s me see
Inwardly

Where I am who I am really
Where truth is truth
Constantly
Where I can see eternity
Beckoning me
To be free

Where I can see my reflection
Clearly in the glassy sea
Where comfort comes soothingly
From the sound of sea

Where I am who I am really
Where truth is truth
Constantly
Where I can see eternity
Beckoning me
To be free

- completed March 3rd, reworked into a song from an old poem posted at the poetry blog, photo by El Cid Tirol