I posted this journal entry last Oct. 13, 2012 using FB notes. I just I might post it here as well.
One of the best (and also the worst) things about me is I get to be really dedicated (and obsessive) with my fandom. Or fandomsssss. One of them is the Phantom of the Opera. You cannot imagine how ecstatic I was when I heard that there will be a POTO world tour and that the Philippines is one of its stops.
I watched the production last September 30 but the hangover is still not over. It’s already October 13 on my calendar and I don’t think it will end soon.
I really planned to meet the cast at the stage door (or the artists’ entrance, as the CCP employees call it). They have been tweeting that fans (or PHANS) could meet them at the area. But I was with my father that time (nahiya naman ako) and my brother took the USTET on that day too and my father and I had to fetch him from UST.
But then I got really REALLY jealous when I saw some fans (or PHANS) posting pictures of them with the cast so I decided I was going to get my fangirl ass at the stage door to have my pictures taken with the cast and to get their oh-so-precious autographs.
Today, October 13, I convinced my dear friend, Sheena Sacdalan, to go with me to CCP just to meet some of the cast of POTO. No, we did not watch because the tickets were already sold-out (AT ANG MAHAL KAYA NG TICKETS, JUSKO). We just planned to see the cast upclose. But before proceeding to the stage door (or artists’ entrance) we went to the lobby of the Main Theater. It broke our hearts to hear their voices but we could not watch the performance. I HEARD JONATHAN’S (THE PHANTOM’S) VOICE ONCE AGAIN. MY HEART OH LORD. While listening, Sheena and I saw that the costumes used in the production were on display! They were displayed in Greenbelt weeks ago but I didn’t get the chance to see them so I was absolutely shocked and hap—no- OVERJOYED to catch them in CCP. Sheena and I took pictures of them. We took turns taking pictures of each other with those gorgeous costumes.
When the show was over, Sheena and I went to the stage door. OH OH OH! WE ALSO SAW SHAMAINE BUENCAMINO, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL THEATER ACTORS IN THE PHILIPPINES! She is so kind! We even got her autograph and took some pictures with her. She was there because she was acting in a production played in one of the theaters of CCP. God, I love that woman. She said to Sheena and me, “Sabihin niyo naman sa friends niyo na manuod ng theater.” And Sheena and I were like, GUUUUUUUUUURL, WE DON’T NEED TO DO THAT.
Going back to my We saw Anthony Downing (Raoul) but didn’t get the chance to catch him and get his autograph. He was in a hurry, or something. Seeing him was enough for me, though. I’m not really a fan of Raoul. Next was Cat Lane who was Meg Giry in the play. GOSH SHE’S SOOOOO SMALL but really really cute. I got her to sign my playbill. Next was Jordan Pollard, who was a member of the male ensemble. For those of you who haven’t heard, he’s the one who got his iPad stolen from him. I really felt bad for him because if someone stole my iPad, I would track the bastard down and skin him alive. While getting his autograph, I told him, “I’m really sorry about your iPad.” He said, “Oh, that’s okay. These things happen.” At feeling ko mayaman naman siya so keri lang. He asked some of the fans if they enjoyed the show. One of them said, “YES THIS IS OUR THIRD TIME WATCHING!” Napaisip ako, “Shet. Ganun ba sila kayaman o ganun lang ako kahirap?” THREE TIMES??? THREEEEE????
The next cast member I met was Emilie Lynn who played Christine during the matinee. Emilie is very special to me. She played Christine last September 30 when Claire was supposed to play but she was sick. Emilie is an incredible performer and her voice is such an eargasm. I found her Twitter and tweeted her a few times and she was kind enough to reply. We even chatted for a few minutes on Twitter and she was very friendly to her fans. She knows me by the name Jam. That’s my name on Twitter. I told her that I would come to the stage door and meet her. She said, “See you! x”
So there I was, standing in front of the stage door and she was coming towards the fans to meet them. Inside I was jumping up and down like a kid. When she finally came to me, I asked, “Could I have your autograph?” She said, “Yes of course!” And I said, “By the way, I’m Jam.” And she said, “OH!!!” AND THE PRECIOUS WOMAN HUGGED. I WAS PLEASANTLY SUPRISED. I WAS SOOOOOOO HAPPY I ALMOST CRIED IN FRONT OF HER BUT I’M HOLDING BACK THE TEARS. Sheena took our photo and I took their photo. I gave her the gifts I bought for her and asked her to give my presents to Claire Lyon (actually she’s the main Christine and Emilie’s the Christine alternate) and Anthony since Claire wasn’t there and I missed Anthony. She said sure and I thanked her again for signing my playbill. GOD THAT WOMAN IS HEAVENLY. SHE IS SOOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL. SHE MADE ME LOOK LIKE CRAP IN OUR PHOTO. HAHA.
I expected Jonathan Roxmouth (the Phantom) to come out too like the rest of the cast but he could not because it’s difficult for him to remove his prosthetics and his heavy costume. I asked a female staff how I would be able to send my gift to him. She said, “I could give it to him, would that be alright?” I thought, “GUUUUUUURL OF COURSE NOT I WANT TO PERSONALLY GIVE IT TO HIM YOU’RE NOT THE ONE WHO SPENT HOURS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT TO GIVE HIM YOU’RE NOT THE ONE WHO WROTE HIM A LETTER YOU’RE NOT THE ONE WHO’S DYING TO MEET HIM AND I HAVE A CRUSH ON THE GUY NOT YOU SO NO IT’ WOULDN’T BE ALRIGHT.” But I said, “Yes, please! Thank you!”
And the dream of meeting Jonathan Roxmouth just dissolved just like that.
I was still happy, though. I met Emilie, the sweetest actor I know so far. I was able to give her my gifts. I brought my ass at the stage door. I wouldn’t regret for the rest of my life that I wasn’t brave (and crazy) enough to meet them at the stage door.
I had dinner at my cousin’s house after my trip to the CCP. I asked if I could use their internet to check what’s happening in my online social life. And when I opened Twitter, LO AND BEHOLD, JONATHAN ROXMOUTH TWEETED ME. He said, “Thank you so much for the postcard and gifts Jamille.” Then EMILIE LYNN TWEETED ME AFTER A FEW MINUTES. Emilie and I chatted for a little while but THIS TIME I COULD HOLD BACK THE TEARS. Since I was in another person’s house, it would be very humiliating if I just burst out in tears. I went to their bathroom and gave my tears the release they deserved.
I LOVE THIS DAY. I DO. I LOVE THIS DAY SO MUCH. I know things can be made to improve this day (like you know, actually meeting Jonathan) but I’m really thankful for the opportunity of meeting some of the cast members. It’s truly a day that I won’t forget (or regret).
And lots of thanks and love to one of the most awesome people I know (and a phangirl as well!), Sheena Sacdalan! Teh alam mo na kung saan tayo pupunta kapag may productions ulet. Haha!
These are their answers:
Oh Jonathan laksdjhlasjhdlashdasflkhdskj. /fangirling/
If you have been watching the news regularly for the past weeks, I’m sure you are at least familiar with the House bill 6330 or the “Religious Freedom in Government Offices Act.” This bill was proposed by Kabataan Partylist representative Raymond Palatino and it prohibits the religious ceremonies and the display of religious symbols or relics in government offices and/or public areas. This bill seeks to promote government’s neutrality towards every religion in this country. Also, as Palatino said, he wanted to remind everybody that, “public space is for everybody” regardless of what religious group one belongs to.
When I learned about this bill, knowing what kind of people live in this country, I said to myself, “Ah, this bill doesn’t stand a chance.” Just a few days after its proposal, it was already labeled as the “Ban God bill.”
We can’t deny that the majority of Filipinos are Catholic Christians. If you observe the Filipino lifestyles and traditions, you can deduce that Filipinos are strongly religious. But let’s face it, we are godly only on the outside. If we really live by the words of God, why are we considered one of the most corrupt countries in the world? If we follow the teachings of the Church, why are crimes and violence still hot news topics? And if these people who consider themselves the lambs of God, why do some of them get involved in cases of molestation and child abuse?
Filipinos need to realize that they are influenced by religion more than they are supposed to be. We need to be aware of the fact that most of our decisions and actions are based on our beliefs no matter how illogical they are. Political leaders even forget that the Church should not interfere with the State and vice versa. Some bills that are being proposed do not get approved due to the opposition of the Church leaders. Some of these politicians even become icons in the own religious groups. If they are doing it out of sincerity or they are just gathering support for their political career, we may never know.
I am an agnostic person and I have no intentions of contradicting any religion. I respect people with strong religious backgrounds and beliefs. However, they need to know where to put boundaries and stop pushing their beliefs down other people’s throats. In a larger scale, Filipinos in general should be aware of religious freedom, meaning they could choose a religion they want to practice or they can refuse to practice at all. Also, Filipinos need to stop labeling people a “demonic,” “anti-Christ” and other degrading names if they opt not to belong in any religion. For all we know, they could even be more morally right than those who pray the rosary and go to church every Sunday. Filipinos need to realize that being religious does not automatically guarantee righteousness. Most of the time we need to know when to think with freedom and logic.
If Raymond Palatino believes that this bill does not have ill intentions, he should have fought for its passage. However I have learned that he withdrew and even apologized for its proposal. If the leaders need to have an open mind for this bill, Palatino needs to have the balls to pass it.
So I could shock people when they try to talk to me in my native language and pretend that I don’t understand them.
Or I could fool the fuck out of people when I’m answering the phone.
I mean, what kind of mother would name her kids Sherlock and Mycroft?
Would you believe that this photo is unedited? Yes, no alterations of any sort. This is a picture of a table light that I took during a family dinner. I thought that the light was really pretty so I took a picture with my phone. Gorgeous, right?
Loki: THAT’S ENOUGH! ENOOOOOUGH!!! I’M A GOD, DAMN IT, AND I WILL NOT BE BULLIED—
Hulk: Bitch please.
Around a year ago, my friends and I went to this place called Little Tokyo in Makati and filled our stomachs with Japanese goodness. These cold babies were our desserts.
In my chemistry class, we make rainbows.
Loljk, those are McIlave buffers. But, seriously, they are pretty.
Damn, that’s hot.