Code Red: Archuleta Fans Run Wild Version 2011: The Fail, The Win, The Epic

- July 20, 2011, Wednesday.

- Once again, David Archuleta is back in Asia for another concert tour. I was surprised that he was back in Asia - and the Philippines - just a few months after his album promotion last November. My neighbor Dianne and I wanted to buy tickets for his concert, but a biblical sign told Dianne to "keep the money" (it's a long story, but it was really a message from the Bible.)

- Dianne and I initially thought that we might be able to get free tickets to David's concert in Araneta, but we were never given free tickets by "Dianne's connections." Still, I was OK with not seeing David this year, because I've seen him for two consecutive years.

- Dianne and I came to know that aside from his concert, David would be having mall tours in SM branches, with the very near SM Lazaro being one of those. Dianne told me about it, and I was initially hesitant to go due to school stress and depression. Thinking twice, however, made me realize that I need to go out more often, so I won't stress out too much on school work and stuff. I needed a diversion.

- I met Dianne this afternoon at her house. Dianne quickly prepared, so we could go to SM San Lazaro earlier. We both wore red, because the official announcements of the mall shows encouraged fans to wear red.

- Dianne and I arrived at SM San Lazaro around 2pm. We located the mall show venue, and asked for the mechanics. The salesperson told us that if we purchased our David Archuleta CDs at that moment, we'd still be able to make it to the first 500 CD purchasers. We both did not hesitate to buy David's "Other Side of Down (Asian Tour Edition,)" which was a repacked version of his "Other Side of Down" album, with many bonus tracks and karaoke tracks. The CD (err, more like DVD) was worth 525php, which was really cheap for a DVD.

- The salesperson assured us that we could go around the mall and come back later, since she already handed us our number stubs. I was number 244, and Dianne was 245. YAY!!

- Dianne and I had a second lunch at Kenny Roger's, and roamed around the mall a bit. Dianne also went to National Bookstore to but her own paperback copy of David's book, "Chords of Strength." I should've gotten a copy too, but I figured that I'll just buy my copy next time; I might run out of cash for the day.

- While both of us were "in line" - not knowing if that was the end of the line of not - a lady approached us and sold us baller bracelets of David Archuleta. I initially didn't take interest, but was convinced to buy after Dianne bought her own. Cool.

- We both roamed around once more, looking for the mysterious end-of-the-line, because the "line" we were in was not moving, while the staff were already letting people in. We both searched and searched, until I head someone call my name. I was surprised to see Kimberly, Jimmy, and Jayzie, high school friends, at the venue. We immediately stuck together, and shared out excitement over David Archuleta. We also realized that we were positioned in another wrong line. Gladly, the woman who sold Dianne and me the baller bracelets directed us to the right line. Thank you kind lady.

- The five of us were finally in the audience place, and waited for David to arrive. Dianne soon told me that we should go to the back and wait for David to pass by, and hopefully take a picture of him too.

- The mall show began without any sight of David Archuleta. There were two front acts, and I didn't know both of them. Dianne and I weren't able to see the front acts because we were still keen on waiting for David Archuleta's "grand entrance."

- At around 6pm, David Archuleta, heavily guarded, walked briskly through the crowd, and prepared himself at the backstage. Dianne and I were on our way to go back to the audience place, when one of the managers ushered us to the VIP area. The VIP area was the area directly in front of the stage with chairs; the audience place at the back was not provided with chairs. Win moment!!

- Dianne and I got to see David Archuleta up close, but not too close though. The VIP area just made it easier for us to take pictures without too much people in front of us. I tried to wave at him, but he was usually looking at the other side of the audience. Haha.

- David didn't sing, unlike his album promotion in SM North EDSA last year, but he was kind enough to sing a part of Everything and More (a bonus track) and a part of Something About Love. GOODNESS. It was my first time to listen to David Archuleta sing a capella live, and I can really say that he has a nice and powerful voice. Now I really wonder why he didn't win first place in American Idol back in 2008. Haha.

- After he met and greeted us, Dianne and I tried to sneak in at the back stage, HOPING to get a photo with him. The Facebook contest winners and the staff were able to get their photo ops with David, but sadly, Dianne and I weren't able to have a chance.

- The epic moment however, was when David passed by us, preparing to go on stage to do the autograph signing. Dianne and I quickly said hello, and David, startled, said hello to us. Dianne and I couldn't believe that David just said hello to us, and realized that that could have been the PERFECT MOMENT to ask him to have a sneak-photo with us. Well, we couldn't blame ourselves for being too star-strucked with David. Dianne told me that David really had that "angel aura," which was what made him "special." Hahahaha.

- Later on, Dianne and I were able to have out turn with the autograph signing. Just like last year, photographs were not allowed. Dianne tried to sneak a photograph of me with David, but the guard immediately caught her "red" handed.

- While I was in front of David, I remembered my friend Eric's reminder to shake David's hand, since I wasn't able to do so last year. This time, I forgot to talk to David, but remembered to shake his hand. Haha. I also wanted to take a photo with David's dad, but "we are not allowed to," David's dad Jeff said.

- I also wanted to take Dianne's photo with David after my turn, but she already left after I readied my camera. Fail. Haha.

- Dianne and I lurked around the area, thinking of ways to stalk David. At first we decided to hunt his car in the parking lot, or maybe try to sneak in again at the backstage or something. In the end, we decided that it might be impossible to stalk him, so we thought of going home.

- Just as we were on our way out, Kimberly and Jimmy told us that the even't official photographer (from Great Image) was viewing the photos at the photo studio at the lower ground level. Dianne and I hurried to the photo studio, and hoped that the photographer was somehow able to take photos of Dianne and me during the autograph signing.

- Upon arriving at the photo studio, we both realized that the photographer was having problems with his memory card, since a lot of the photos from the latter portion of the event weren't loading properly - two of them being the David's photo with the Facebook contest winners and the SM San Lazaro staff.

- Dianne and I hoped for things to go well, but thought of going back another day, since it was getting late already. We both asked for business cards, and left San Lazaro at around 8:30pm.

- Dianne and I decided to have dinner at the Shakey's branch near our house, relax for a while, and talk about the wins, fails, and the epics of the day. While reviewing the photos and videos that I took, I realized that my camera was on MUTE mode, and so the two videos that I took of David were voiceless. It was the BIGGEST FAIL MOMENT of the day. (To think it they were my first two a cappella videos of David Archuleta. DRAT.)

- Despite the big failure, I was still happy that I got to see David again this year, got to have my CD signed, got to talk to him and his dad, and got to shake David's hand too. I was happy that Dianne was able to see David up close as well.

- My night became a bit better after seeing my friend and neighbor Bless, with her sister Melody, enter Shakey's. Hurray for neighborly bonding.

- Dianne and I, as well as other Archuleta fans, hope that David will come back again next year. And just like other fans, Dianne and I both hope, pray, and wish that we'll have our own photo op with David in the future. (Talking to him and his dad, shaking his hand, and letting him sign my CDs were good first steps though. HAHA.)


** Dear Dianne, thanks again for inviting me to go with you to David's meet and greet. I honestly wasn't keen on going due to depression and stress, and considering I have evening classes tomorrow. I decided to go because I needed some time to unwind, and so I could bond with you also. I did not regret going with your decision and and my decision of following the Biblical message of "keeping the money." This was definitely more worth it than the concert itself (and cheapter too!!) Thank you once again for the day or fun and fan-desperation. We weren't able to have our photo with Archuleta, like Jenna and Trisha last year, and just like in my dream, but it was already a big blessing that we were miraculously ushered to the VIP area. Truly, we were showered by God's graces. :) :) :) :) To more adventures!! :D:D:D:D


**** Hello!! This is Gilbert from July 26, 2011, 6 days after the Archuleta meet and greet. I mustered enough courage to check the videos I took during the meet and greet. APPARENTLY, my camera didn't fail me, and the videos clips I shot were not soundless just as Dianne and I fount out in Shakey's. THANK YOU LORD!!

Adventure Buddies Reunited!!: Greek and Italian Foodventure in Trinoma

- July 18, 2011, Monday.

- Monday is normally everyone's "start of the week." For me, Monday is the second day of my long weekend, for this semester anyway. Still, Mondays (until Wednesdays) aren't really spent like how people would during their weekends. I still study, talk to the books and the walls, and literally stress my brain to death.

- Today was different. I did start the day, however, by holding my modern Asia history book, and started studying, as always. I talked to Tina via Facebook while studying, when she told me that she needed to buy some foundation elsewhere. I asked her if she needed someone to go with, because I would be more than glad to accompany her.

- At first it seemed that she wasn't sure if she was going out or not, but she told me suddenly to meet her at her house around 1pm. I was so happy that I finished one section of the book and prepared myself. I chose to wear my Jollibee shirt, being one of my "happy clothes," since I can't wear that in school, a place where I am far from happy.

- I met Tina around 1:30, and rode the train and a jeep to Trinoma. We first looked for Tina's foundation, and roamed around the mall while she was thinking of which brand to buy. (Saw some former Ateneans while roaming. Tsk tsk tsk tsk.) We first decided to watch a movie, but the showing times were either too early or too late.

- I told Tina that we could eat instead, so we could spend more time together, since it's been a year and four months since we last went out; the time we met in CKSC last November for our yearbook isn't considered an "adventure." I asked Tina if she was up for Greek food, and she agreed.

- Since the day I discovered Cyma, I always wanted to invite Tina to have a meal with me in any branch of Cyma, but didn't have the chance to do so. Tina was also excited to try Greek food, because it's her first time to try "traditional" Greek food. Of course, my surprise for her, as well as everyone else, was the saganaki (sizzling cheese with wine and lemon,) where the cheese flares up when the wine is poured, and all the staff shouts "Opa!!"

- Aside from the saganaki, we had tonnos (tuna) salad, roka pasta, and an order of chicken gyro sliced into two parts. Knowing Cyma's large servings, I ordered everything in "solo" size. Still, all the dishes filled us up in no time - especially the big "single-serving" tonnos salad.

- We walked around the mall the "help the food digest," and finally bought Tina's foundation of choice. We went around the mall some more, and asked Tina if she was interested in specialty gelato. She also agreed, so I brought her to Gelatissimo, which was a few doors away from Cyma.

- We both had fun tasting the gelato flavors for free, but of course we ended up buying our own cups of gelato. We sat down at the far back, since the about-to-set sun was a bit glaring already. Yay for additional bonding.

- We decided to go home around 6pm, and because the sun was about to set too. We kept on telling each other how happy we were to have had another "adventure" after more than a year. Both of us were busy with our final requirements in college months ago, especially Tina and her board exam review sessions after college. Now that Tina passed the board exam, she's a bit free (for now.) Then again, I still hope that we'd be able to have more adventures in the future. After all, Tina was my first ever adventure buddy.

The Reward Day: Grace's 21st!!

- July 1, 2011, Friday.

- My friend Grace was supposed to celebrate her birthday last week, but the heavy storm last week had other plans. Grace wanted to push the celebration this Saturday, tomorrow, but I couldn't make it due to a dinner reunion with other Ateneans who went to Korea with me (together with Sir Sev.) Grace was kind enough to move it to today, and I am glad that the others were able to make it today.

- Today started out with an early piano lesson, and went home after my lesson ended at 8:30. I finished my report around an hour an a half later, and decided to catch up with some sleep. I thought of finishing a reading I was reading yesterday, but won't study "a lot" today, since I wanted to reward myself for "working too much" the past week.

- I woke up around 11am, prepared to have lunch, and went to CKSC again to meet some friends. After their lunch break, I headed to Tutuban to do some canvassing on materials to be used for making bracelets/necklaces.

- Grace and I agreed to meet up in Wai Ying around 2pm, but I ended up going their a bit earlier. I saw Sheena and Neil, and talked to them while I waited for Grace, who later informed me that she'll be a little late; she was finishing some project in school.

- Grace came minutes later, and we ate a rather late lunch. Moments after Sheena and Neil left, Grace and I left too. We rode Grace's car to her house, and hung out the whole afternoon, watching How to Train Your Dragon, and Music Bank.

- We left Grace's house around 7:30, and drove to Lalaine's house, where we met up with Lalaine and Marnie. When Joyce texted that she was in the nearby LRT station already, we fetched her and went to Tempura's Banawe branch.

- We ate A LOT in Tempura, while talking about Korean stuff. Oh the irony. Still we had a lot of fun with the tepanyakis and the tempuras, from the sushis to the soupies. The dinner was quite short though, but at least I was able to see different people today.

- Grace was also kind enough to drive all of us home, which ended my fun and people-filled day. I do hope I'd get to see more people soon, despite my hectic schedule and requirements for grad school. I'm really tired now, even if school is just on its third week. I weep.


**Outfit: A lot of people noted that I looked different today because of my choice of outfit. Knowing that we'd be eating in a Japanese restaurant, I thought of attempting to pull off a "modern Japanese" look, by splashing colors here and there, as well as some rather "serious" elements, like my keychain-converted necklace, and my vest. The "I O Tokyo" shirt was also a bit obvious to the "Japanese" theme. Still, I ended up looking like a Japanese hipster rocker whatever. Haha. Grace wondered why I didn't weat my jinbei though. Haha!!