I missed the big concert!!! AaAuUgGhHh!!!!

Grr. I swore I'd never miss a big concert except the first one!!! Anyway, here's an entry from the Eraserheads Yahoogroups by Nielsen Oliva on what happened that night in the UP Theatre:

Ang Ultraelectromagnetic Jam Album Launch (ayon sa aking memory):

Matagal ang hinintay namin bago mag-umpisa ang concert. MGa 10 na yata nagsimula.

Namatay ang mga ilaw at pinalabas ang video ng With A Smile sa widescreen. Pagkatigil ng video, kinanta na ng South Border ang rendition nila.

Si Kitchie nakalimutan ata yung lyrics ng Ligaya kasi inulit nya yung line na "Ilang isaw pa ba ang kakainin". Iba na yung banda nya.

Namatay ang ilaw at lumabas ang mukha ni Raimund. Ginaya nila yung style ng Beatles Anthology at may kanya-kanyang input yung bawat member ng Eraserheads tungkol sa beginnings nila.

Raimund: "sabi nila sa min, HINDI KAMI GWAPO. pagkasabing-pagkasabi nun, nag-disband na kami. hindi pala music lang dito sa Pilipinas..."

Nakakatawa kasi pagkasabi ng tungkol sa pagka-GWAPO at PACKAGING, tumugtog ang Cueshe. Nagkalat ang bandang ito. Objective ako nito ha. Hindi nila alam ang lyrics ng Hard To Believe at parang nagma-mumble na lang sila ng words. Marami akong narinig na "BOOO". After ng performance nila, walang pumalakpak. As in wala.

Nagkwento si Yael ng Sponge Cola "lagi naming kinakanta yung mga kanta ng eraserheads tuwing field trip namin nung grade school pa kami". Kinanta nila yung Pare Ko. Kulang yung performance nila kasi naaalala ko pag concert ng Eraserheads, malaki yung part ng crowd sa pagkanta nito, lalo na sa part na "DI BA, T%#@ INA!!"

Tumugtog ang Isha ng Torpedo. Kumakanta na lahat ng tao nito. Namatay ulit ang mga ilaw tapos may interview kay Isha. "Ang mga kanta ng eraserheads ang soundtrack ng buhay ko nung college".

Napaka-ultraelectromagnetic ng performance ng 6 cycle mind. Tuluyang nagbago na ang tingin ko sa bandang ito. Nagwawala na ang mga tao kakakanta ng Alapaap. Nakikita na naming nagse-setup si Paolo Santos at iniisip namin kung paano nya susundan yung ganung katinding performance.




(Now this is the best part -Katie) Paolo Santos: "oo nga pala, may bago akong friend... si Marcus Adoro ng Eraserheads". Parang sabungan yung UP theater sa sigaw. Standing ovation para kay Surfernando. Kinanta ni Paolo yung Magasin. Nag-guitar solo si Marcus nung huli. Ang lupet. Napaka-lupet. Kaso ayoko na ulit tumapat sa mga speaker pag may dalawang sliding guitar. hehe

Tumugtog ang MYMP ng Huwag Mo Nang Itanong. Tumahimik lahat. Parang nagdadasal. Napaka-captivating ng boses ni Juris. Yung nga lang, nasira yung amp nila at nababoy ang guitar solo sa huli.

Nagkwento ang mga members ng eraserheads tungkol sa Overdrive. Sabi ni Raimund, "nagsimula ka sa wala nun tapos biglang dami ng pera mo. anong gagawin namin sa pera? pare bili tayo ng kotse (tawa ng tawa)... e si buddy pala, hindi pa marunong mag-drive"

Interview naman kay Barbie: "napaka-visual ng mga kanta ng eraserheads. alam mong kahit mabababaw ang lyrics nila, they are smart people." Kinanta ni Barbie yung Overdrive. Ang kyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut.

Tumugtog ang Imago. Para akong nahi-hypnotize sa performance ni Aia. Kung iko-compare ko yung performance ng mga female vocalists, sa Imago yung pinakamagandang performance.

Right after ng Imago, kumanta si Ebe ng Sugarfree ng excerpt from "Lightyears". Ginawa nilang intro yun ng Tikman. Habang nasa instrumental, sumigaw si Ebe ng "MABUHAY ANG ERASERHEEEEEEAADSSS!!!"




Sumunod ang Radioactive Sago. May hawak si Lourd na bote ng alak at tingin ko nandun yung lyrics nya ng Alkohol. Sa galing ng performance nila, sumisigaw na yung mga tao ng "AL-KO-HOL!!!AL-KO-HOL!!!AL-KO-HOL!!!" na parang nagrarally sa EDSA.

Interview sa Orange and Lemons: "sinusundan namin ang Eraserheads dati kahit saan pa sila mag-perform...maraming salamat sa Eraserheads dahil they paved the way for bands like us. kung wala ang eraserheads, hindi nabigyan ng break ang mga alternative bands sa mainstream" (or something like that).

Last performance ang Orange & Lemons. Wala si Rico J Puno, Brownman Revival, tsaka si Francism. After ng show, wala pang tumatayo at lahat e tumitingin sa likod at nag-aabang ng surprise. Sa kasawiang palad, nagsalita na ang voice-over ng "that's all for tonight folks" at obvious na bitin na bitin lahat ng mga tao.

Overall, nice show. Parang concert na rin ng Eheads yung napuntahan ko sa tindi ng energy. Hintayin nyo baka ipalabas to sa TV kasi may mga interviews ng GMA7 tapos baka lumabas din to sa VCD or DVD. Sulit ang bayad ko. Actually hindi lang sulit. Parang may utang pa ako sa producers.

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Oh my God! Markus is still alive! Yiheeee! Again. I missed the big concert. AaAuUgGhHh!!!! Nuff said. (bow.) -Katie

EEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

Like a big sassy fangirl that I am, I went "EEEEE!" the moment I got hold of my new ULTRAELECTROMACNETIC JAM album. It's a collection of old songs by most favorite band in the world, the Eraserheads, performed by hottest bands in towns today. Here's a lineup of what songs to expect in this fabulous package (What an amazing offah!!!!)...

With A Smile - South Border
Ligaya - Kitchie Nadal
Overdrive - Barbie Almalbis
Huwag Mo Nang Itanong - MYMP
Magasin - Paolo Santos
Alcohol - Radio Active Sago Project
Torpedo - Isha
Spoliarium - Imago
Hard To Believe - Cueshe
Maling Akala - Brownman Revival
Superproxy - Francis Magalona
Alapaap - 6Cyclemind
Pare ko - Sponge Cola
Ang Huling El Bimbo - Rico J. Puno
Tikman Ang Langit - Sugarfree
Huwag Kang Matakot - Orange and Lemons
Para Sa Masa - All Star

Although I don't really like Orange and Lemons because of their gasgas song "Pinoy Ako", I love their rendition of "Huwag Kang Matakot" here. I first heard this song in Baguio and reminds me of this special place always.

I also like the new "Superproxy". Aside from Francism's genius, you'd here Ely Buendia in here, too. Goodness, it's been a long time since I last heard his voice over my earphones. (I didn't buy his solo album and that other album with his new band... not that catchy for me.)

"Tikman ang Langit" proves that Sugarfree is the new Eraserheads, the similarities in the style and sounds are undeniable. I heard Ebe's one big E-heads fan, as well. I should say he's doing a great job as a fan- memories keep flowing in whenever his voice airs on my radio- Ah those Quezon Avenue Burger Machine days! LOL!

The Radioactive Sago Project is the best band to play the song "Alcohol". Both witty and funny, even if the song's more than a decade old already.

I'd say the album is a five-star all thumbs up highly recommended collector's item to buy for E-heads geeks like me. I'm glad my Elmo was just on time to catch one of the five last copies in Odyssey. I heard the CDs are selling like pancakes. Shish. That's much like when I bought Cutterpillow. Imagine, they got a platinum three days after the album launch! Too bad, this time, only the company that sells the stuff gets all the revenues. Ely, Raymund, Buddy and Marcus should get back together to get all the credits... again.

Oh my God! Only Markus went to the tribute concert? Bummer. I'm still wishing they would still get together for a one-time deal concert. With all differences set aside, just for the fun of it. One-time lang, that's all this big E-heads fan asks. And after that, I can return to heaven. And they all can get rich again. :)

On Leave

HatePhilippines is going to rest for a while for the meantime, mainly because I'll be busy with real-time work and writing for our next big project- Wicked Fate. Don't worry, guys. After doing the kickoff, HatePhilippines will be back in business. Meanwhile, I'll be collecting all good ideas in mind for my next entry here. To my avid readers, you can still email me at cutiekatietorres@yahoo.com.

But before I take a long vacation, here are my thoughts for the latest issues in the Philippines today:

1. EVAT. Yes, it's a solution. But a bad one. They say it's good for the economy, and the results are getting obvious as days pass by. The question still is: Who's economy are they talking about? I'd say it's a solution, yes, but a bad one. There are better solutions out there which the government obviously ought not to choose because of certain limitations set by the corrupted system. It's like it's better to take money from the little people than to jeopardize the truces that they have already made with the big ones. The best solution in the list would be to really enhance the collection of taxes, but can they really go against the interest of these big people who, in the first place, had financed their victory in the last elections? The answer is obvious.

If it's a solution, how come the common Filipinos can only afford two meals a day now? How come small businesses are closing amidst claims that they are exempted from the added taxes? How come middle class people who needs transportation for daily trips to work are forced to deal with the stress of public transport now? How come most employees of factories prefer not to take miryendas but just wait for them to get home with empty stomachs? Yes, they promise that this solution will manifest good result in years to come, but we're all fed up with empty promises. Besides, if all has to take part in the sacrifice, how come they don't take part in it? Oh look at Mr. Arroyo feeding his cute cute grandchild. I bet that's a hundred thousand bucks a spoonful!

2. The presidency was once a job of honor, dignity and credibility. Every child would want to be the president of the country decades ago. If you'd base it on the Bible, it would mean that it's a tough job, as the highest of the leaders should be the lowest and most dedicated of the servants. Does it apply here now? Nope. Prestige may come with the position, but credibility? Nah. Would you want to run for the position because of pure intentions of just wanting to serve the country? Nah. The position has been blemished with too much corruption, no one who lives by principles would want it. If you want to get rich, yes, go ahead and run for president. It's the best way to spend money, go around the world, talk to famous people, eat expensive food, provide economic growth for your kamag-anaks, give way for political ambitions of your children and grandchildren, go surfing in Boracay without really taking away cash from your own pocket. It's service, yes. High quality self-service.

But what happens after the term, or after the people have decided that they're already fed up with how imbecile the current presidency is? They are left with nothing but their excessive earnings. The name is totally ruined, the only choice they have for their next days here is to let them be judged by the people, or get out of the country and spend the rest of their lives there. In the case of Gloria, is there honor and dignity left for them after her term? I think this is the reason why she's almost begging the Congress to have the parliamentary government idea push through. After her term, what? No more peace of mind because, for sure, accusations of corruption and bad leadership will come from all sides. Fatass husband and son has no where to go but outside the country, even now as the mother's term has not yet ended. Where will they be after the regime? In the Bahamas, laughing out loud at as.

3. Gloria's telling the media to stop showing bad news, and start concentrating on good news. Mada'am president, there's no good news to tell, so what the heck are you talking about? Think of it this way: 75% of Filipino families have TV sets in their homes. They can spend with their salary enough only for two meals a day and a decent set of clothes. They worry much on how to pay for their electricity and water bills. They worry much on how to budget their small earnings against the rising prices of commodities, they worry much about their safety and security when they go out, and when they do go out, they deal with daily corruption and bad service in their local government agencies and law enforcement bureaus who provide their other basic needs, they see that almost all people that they know deal with the same daily predicaments... then all they will hear in the news is that the Philippine economy is getting better, the country is getting rich, no more crime in the streets, nothing more about corruption and what really happens out there. What? Are we converting daily news to fantaserye, too?

Besides, broadcasting companies in the Philippines have always been focused on politics. It's no-news for them if they focus only on the economy. Do good, tame your husband, and avoid evil influences, Gloria, and you'll get what you wish for. For now, as long as Mr. Bunye's not doing well in denying all your subordinate's misdeeds, you can expect more of those dirty news about Malacañang. :)

4. Pinoy Big Brother. It's a fad that's conquering not only the Philippines, but also the US and Europe. Sosyal, di ba? At least we get in line with these big bullies when it comes to entertainment. But have you seen Pinoy Big Brother in Europe? It's like watching live porn at midnight. Don't get me wrong, people. I don't watch this show. I just heard it from guys who email me, although I'm beginning to think I'd want to try watching one episode as patikim lang. teeheehee...

Thing is, ABS-CBN is a genius when it comes to gathering revenues. It has the ability to turn any fad into a big money machine. Have you thought of how much the company earns everyday just from Pinoy Big Brother's text/download business? Millions, I'd say. It's really easy money once you've caught the Pinoy's taste. And yes, again, ABS-CBN is good at it.

5. Car jacking, cowboy style. I have a friend who became a victim of this mindless crime. You drive in Ortigas at 2pm (yes, in the middle of the day!), men armed with armalites block your way, and the next thing you know, you're on your way walking to the nearest presinct to report the unfortunate event, without your car, without your money. But for my friend, the nightmare was not over. After putting details in the blotter, it seems that the case just went to nothing. After checking on the case, she would go home in tears as she feels nothing is being done to have these carjackers tracked down. Worse is that, the next week, she saw an ad in one of her yahoogroups saying a car with the same specs is for sale for only around 50 thousand bucks. I'd say these people would not have the guts to do it unless they have backup from either the military or from the police. And the latest operation against it that was all shown on TV? Could be another Kuratong-Baleleng case, all for show, and I pity those who were sacrificed just to have the name of the authorities saved from further shame.

That's all for now, folks. Tune in next month for more of my outrageous thoughts on everything that has to do with Philippine politics! Merry Christmas, everyone! *MWAH!*