20th Fil-Kor Cultural Fest

Yesterday, I attended the 20^th Filipino-Korean Cultural Festival at the Aliw Theater, CCP, Pasay City with my ahjumma, Gilda. It was a free event to everybody who loves anything about Korea, ‘though getting an admission ticket (passes) requires you to be a “tough one.” Lol. After five straight late-late-nights of “puyatan,” I finally won my ticket on a Friday afternoon (Gah.) via Arirang Town Ph. At least it is a pair of passes, so I can carry another friend for a company. I decided to bring with me my ahjumma who’s just a few steps away from our house. Likewise, she’s a “Hangukeu Aein.”

The event will begin at 2pm, but the ticket distribution will start at 10am to 1pm as the Arirang admin posted on their wall. I told Aunt Gilda that we should leave our house as early as 10am so that we can reach our destination by 12nn. By then we can still have a chance for a more comfortable seats we could have. But sadly as it is, she came at 11am. So at around 1:15pm we’re still at Vito Cruz, waiting for other passengers to fill the seats of our shuttle going to CCP Complex.

When we reach the venue, there were several commotions on both sides of the entrance - FC and other groups who’s in-charge of tickets distribution. A younger-aged man, who’s wearing purple shirt with “20^th Fil-Kor Cultural Festival” print at the back, told the crowd that the PKCI (including other FC) winners must proceed to the right side and the Arirang winners to the left. Not knowing where the left is (haha…), I asked/told him I am a winner of Arirang Town. So he guides us to the Arirang direction. Upon reaching the said booth, we followed the queue to get our entrance passes. We were instructed to bring ID when claiming our passes, so I did. But when I reach the ticketing staff, she just asks my name, and then ask for my companion, I logged in on their book, then that’s it, I got our catalogue/ticket. They didn’t require ID.

So we proceed to the entrance. They gave us bottled water upon entering the lobby. I was hoping the following staffs will give us a more solid food such as biscuits, or any pastries that will compliment the water they gave… ahahah! But that’s it! Water is all that they can offer! (Don’t ask for more, Misty, remember it’s a free event!). Ok… Anyway, food and drinks are not allowed inside, as you can see on the walls of the theater. Maybe they gave us water to aid us with our squee-ing later on. Lol.

You have to climb a few stairs to reach the entrance of the theater itself. Between the stairs-break, there’s that ulzzang Korean greeter that welcomes you to the event. My ahjumma companion wants to answer the greetings with “gomawo” if only she didn’t forget. So she just replies it with a smile. Haha…

Upon entering the theater, the ELFs are already squee-ing since the SuJu’s MV is playing on the screen. Gosh, I wish I was one of them. We found the right seat for us. Unfortunately, that “right seat” is reserved for VIPs (judges and special guests) only. Ahahah… Most of the “good seats” are already occupied so we proceeded on the upper section. Then we found along the pathway on the center. It’s not the best seat but not a bad one, ‘twas just in the mediocre middle. The video on the screen continued on playing MVs of different kpop groups, and the fans continued to squee as well.

The program started with singing the national anthem of the two countries. Then, the two emcees (Kim Hyun Sun and Jojo Alejar) proceed to the introductions and announcements on the event. Welcome remarks and messages were stated by the chairman of the events, UKCA president, and other representatives from different trades of two countries before the contest begin. There were 15 grand finalists who performed on the event. Koreans finalists perform Filipino songs and dances and Filipino finalists perform Korean songs and dances. Group performances got the most squee from the crowd ‘coz they do parodized the kpop groups. In the end, the “Heat Group” which consists of female dancers bagged the grand prize. Two of the invited guests are JM de Guzman and Julie Anne San Jose which made the audience scream and go wild. The event ended with awarding of plaque of appreciation and raffle draws.

Comments:

Overall, the event was good. Yeah, since it was free, I won’t be nitpicky about it. But I want to comment on the announcement of winners part. I guess it was because of communication barriers that the two emcees/hosts can’t understand each other. On the presentation of the winners, Jojo A. obviously doesn’t understand who the winners are. The Korean host, I don’t know, but I think she has a world of her own (or maybe I was wrong ‘coz I don’t understand what she says). She doesn’t clearly stated who wins, I think she just call the group to come to the front. We, the audience just know it ‘coz they go with them, and they’re giving the awards to them. Just my two-cents. :D

Tiring Monday

I have to pay our 2-wks overdue Meralco bills early yesterday ‘coz I’m afraid they’d cut their service to us so I left our house at around 8am (yeah that’s early for me, hmp!). I took the Ever-Ikot jeepneys to shun the difficulty of climbing the Sandigan overpass and a long walk going to the Meralco center. After arriving at the Ever Mall, the driver send me to another jeepney passing along Meralco to avoid from being caught by the traffic police (the Ever-Ikot route is obviously not yet permitted), and I’m thankful the kind driver returned the fare I paid.

Getting in at the Meralco Center, I took the lane for wheel-chaired persons, noticing the guards and other people looking at me going to that lane. Care koh db?! Why should I trouble myself climbing the stairs when there’s an easy way going up, hehe… When I reached the guard at the main entrance, he welcomes me with a smile and greets me a good morning (well, good!). Upon entering the premise, quite changes I have observe. Well, it’s not the same old Meralco building that I visited years ago. I was paying my bills usually on bayad centers on malls so it’s my first time to see the difference since they renovated the structure. My most appreciated transformation here is their service. Now, they got many counters to attend to their clients, both payers and inquiries alike. And that’s what they call serbilis. They also had the energy counter on one corner, which displays two aircons. I guess it tells you how to count/compute the energy used for these two appliances, on which I don’t dare to care, haha… Right at the back of the teller shows the murals that illustrate their services by showing smiling people, etc. Nowadays, murals have always been used on malls, banks, restaurants, and yes, even service centers. Actually, our office, a seafarer’s manning agency had this too. A mural really creates a different aura to the establishment it presents.

Anyway, back to Meralco, after paying our bills, I decided to walk along Commonwealth Avenue going to Sandigan footbridge. Since it’s just a few steps going there, I don’t sweat over that small stuff (haha!). And here comes the footbridge… ahmm. It’s should have been easy to climb that great stair if there’s shouldn’t have any obstruction to the handles on the side. It’s just that there are several beggars on the side on which I don’t know where I can hold and get the strength I needed to push myself up. Omg, on panic, thinking I might lose my balance, and end up on the bottom of the stairs, the last thing I remember is holding somebody beside me, and told him, “Kuya, pahawak ha, kc hindi ako makaakyat eh!” My goodness! To my shame, I don’t look to see the face of the man. I don’t know if he’s older or younger than I am, if he’s good-looking or not. And worse, I haven’t thanked him for his kindness! Aigoo…

After I crossed that overwhelming footbridge, I took jeepney going to Cityhall for I had to renew my NBI document. Arriving at 9am, I’m thinking I was early and confident I could get my needed document within the day. But to my disappointment, when I asked the guard, he told me that the cut-time for giving numbers (yeah, numbers for the people they can serve/attend within the day) ended at 7am. And when I looked at the queue of the applicants for NBI Clearance, woah…it is so long that the tail-end almost reaches the Kalayaan Avenue (Philhealth Dept). Some people blab about they’re being there even before the crack of dawn. Gosh… With no other option left, I finally decided to go home. But wait, when I passed at Ever Mall early that morning before going to Meralco, I noticed an ad at the front of the mall stating they accommodate NBI Clearance processing. So I dropped at the said mall hoping I could have my most sought after clearance. I went straight to the side entrance (as the guard instructed), and joined the other “hopefuls.” Later on, another guard attends to us and confirms what the other applicants told me. They can accommodate only 500 pax within the day, and all the slots had already been given.  Waah…

I don’t know what else to do. I’m tired to travelling back and forth, and I accomplished nothing. Sitting on a bench, I tried to look at the stuff on my bag. Personal things, papers, envelopes… yeah… On one envelope, I saw the application for POEA clearance (for new LO) which I processed last week. I’m thinking maybe I can get it now. Why not?! So I called the number scribbled on the back of the application letter to confirm if it’s available this time around. And it was. Yay… So again, I took the COA-Ikot jeepney queuing beside the mall to avoid the troubles of crossing the footbridge. Then, I rode Ortigas-Ilalim bus going to POEA.

The travel took almost 2 hours, and I reached my destination at 12:30nn. So I waited till 1pm to while away the lunchbreak. I went to cafeteria to find a decent meal I can afford to buy, but unfortunately my budget suits two hopia and a Big Plus juice which I bought on the street-side stores outside the building. After finishing my hopia-meal, I went to the 4^th floor of the building. By the time I reached the location of my purpose, the lunchbreak ends. But as what happens usually on government offices, some staffs were not yet on their posts. Some were doing their last-ditch hygienic activity (toothbrushing, hair-combing, etc.), and some were trying to prolong the last minutes of breaktime by chit-chatting w/ fellow employees. We’re in the Philippines so that’s normal. Lolz… Anyway, on me, I think I waited another 10 minutes (wow! At least, that’s kind!) before I was attended (of course, I was first on the line).

After getting my clearance on the AIRB (Anti-Illegal Recruitment Bureau), I submitted it to the licensing division together with the other needed documents. Upon checking the documents I’ve passed, the clerk told me that the NBI lacks my thumbmark, returning all the documents to me. Aw, where can I find that stamp pad?! Don’t know where to go, I took the elevator going down to the ground floor. Ah, I think the man who sells autoload, callcards, and offer fax services had it. So I went there, asks for a P15 autoload, then I ask him if he has stamp pad. He directs me to the ID/photo shop just in front of him. Gosh… I saw it but I was hesitant to approach the man ‘coz I was thinking maybe his stamp pad’s for his customer’s use only. With no other choice left, I moved toward him and ask shyly if I can dip my thumb on the stamp. And he says, “Oo, cge!” with a smile. Then after I lay my thumbmark on my NBI, he offers a rug to clean my thumb. Gosh again… I love you na kuya! Bait mo, promise! Hahaha…

After thanking the super bait na kuya,  I went to 4^th floor again. On the elevator, I found the ever-friendly ‘Nay Elvie, asking the elevator-lady. Her non-stop question-answering-her-own-questions were, “May library tayo dito db?! Anong floor ba ung library naten? Fifth floor db?! May ire-research kc ako eh!” I don’t know if the elevator-lady knows her, but looking at her reaction, I don’t think so. Hahaha… The lady half-heartedly answers, “Oo.” Nanay Elvie, not minding if the latter answers her questions or not, turns to look around at us all. Then she saw me, recognize me, and ask me what I am doing there. I told her I need to give the papers to licensing division. Then we reach the fourth floor, and she exits too. She also asks the guard for the location of the library. Fifth floor. Now, she accompanies me to the receiving counter, where I’ve been earlier. She told me to give the documents to the teller, so I did. The clerk told me to follow-up the papers after 5 working days, which means I may get it next week. Then we left the counter. ‘Nay Elvie told me that after they release the clearance for those documents, her job is done. I heard the sorrow and regret on the voice behind that statement. She holds this position for almost 10 years, and although she’s been a slackey one for this job, I know she loved doing it too. I feel partly-sad, partly-glad to what she says. I admit I’m happy that I will be having a source of income by doing this, but also sad ‘coz I know somebody else will lose that source. ‘Though I know that this is just one-part of her many sources, it will mean a great loss for her.

We part ways as she went to the 5^th floor while I went down to the ground floor. Sitting on the chairs allotted for the applicants waiting for their turns, I texted Sir Noli and Ma’am Tess regarding the status of my agenda. Finally, after waiting of no reply for almost half an hour, I decided to go home. While crossing the Ortigas footbridge going to the Fairview-Route bus, I received a text from M’Tess saying she had my ordered shoes, and I may get it at the office in Kalaw. So I said I’m coming to get it. I was about to do the labor-steps of the stairs when I received another text from her, “Baka mahirapan ka, malayo pa un!” She was aware of my difficulties in climbing the stairs of the MRT in Ortigas. When I read it, okay, there’s next time! Besides, I’m really exhausted travelling, climbing up and down to the stairs and footbridge the whole day. Gah. So I rode the Fairview-routed bus, dropped me at the Riverside, then I took the tricycle going home. I reach our home at 3:30pm. I ate my lunch and take a rest. Haissttt… my feet and my legs are aching… A really tiring Monday!

Leg Problems

I’ve been suffering leg problems for months now. My friends noticed I had this kind of “unusual walking” several years ago, asking me if my leg/feet hurts, but answers them no/not. I haven’t paid so much attention to it because I haven’t feel any pain on my legs/feet on that time. It’s just that these months or maybe a year ago, that I started to feel the pain on my legs. Actually, it’s not pain that I felt but more on the tiredness of my legs. It lacks strength to support my body when I’m walking. I can’t walk on long distances without resting from time to time. It feels like I need to recharge my leg’s energy after every short distance of slow walking, then I can walk again another short distance. Also, when climbing stairs or even riding a bus, I need the support of my arms to push myself up ‘coz my legs are too weak. I do feel pain on the hip joints in the right leg after a short-distance walk-rest-walk-rest series. And since I can’t stand on tip toe, all my body weight lies on my heels, thus the heel pain.

Confirmed

As the title says, it’s already confirmed! My first angel will be coming again to visit me! Heh! He’s giving me another chance to meet him personally, ahahah! I’m so happy…

Kim hyun joong will be visiting the Philippines (for the 2^nd time), for his High Five Event on August 25, 2011, which will be held on the activity center of Trinoma Mall, Quezon City. This is due to the massive response of his fans on the Philippine launching of his first solo album titled “Breakdown.” The said album launched last July 2, 2011, tops the overall weekly chart sales of the Odyssey and Astroplus record bars. The High Five Touch Event is available to the first 500 buyers of his album on that day, August 25, 2011, Thursday, on the said venue.

Hoping to be one of the lucky fans! Hay, I think seeing him personally is just enough for me… am satisfied with that! Eheheh… but touching his hands even for just a mere second, my goodness… *swoon* It’s actually transmitting-my-love-thru-our-palms! Hah! Can’t wait…

KHJ Breakdown

On July 2, 2011, Polyeast Records will officially launch Kim Hyun Joong’s Breakdown Album here in the Philippines. The said album, which tops Korean Music Charts since its local release on June 7, 2011 and breaks sales records on South Korea, will be launch at the SM North, The Block on the said date. Triple S Philippines has been helping on the distribution by mass-buying the said album and distributing it on the other TS. Purchasing the Breakdown album on the launch date will give you freebies such posters and pouch bag.

Because of the tremendous sales the album made on the music world on South Korea alone, KHJ’s agency, Keyeast, will release a limited edition (10000 copies) of the album Breakdown. Included on the special edition is the DVD of making film, dance rehearsals and never before seen photos of KHJ. The leader of SS501 is also planning to make an Asian Tour on 9 destinations this coming August.