"How Many Almonds Does It Take to Play the Piano?? One Awesome Almond."

- February 12, 2013, Tuesday.

- My pianist-friend Almond (yes, that's his real name,) invited me and many others to his graduation recital. He's been studying piano performance as his major in the University of Santo Tomas for the last 6 years, and finally, he was up and prepared to his big night at the PhilAm Life auditorium.

- I have to thank the heavens for several things. First, my class tonight was cancelled, because my professor wanted to give our class a research break. Second, I had LBM last Sunday night, and was quite fine yesterday and today; my tummy acted up again immediately after Almond's grad performance. Third, I was able to see some friends I haven't seen in a while, including my neighbor Charmaine who lives right above me.

Almond preparing.

Photoshoot with neighbor Dianne, photos courtesy of my former neighbor, Riezeryl.

Was wearing my kurta and Nehru vest.

- Almond performed for around a total of one hour and fifteen minutes, excluding the 15- to 20-minute intermission. He played:
    1. Prelude and Fugue in B-Flat Major for Organ, BMW 560 by Bach-Kabalevsky
    2. All eight movements of Kreisleriana, Opus 16, by Robert Schumann
    3. All 5 movements of Suite de Danzas Criollas, Opus 15, by Alberto Ginestera (an interesting Spanish-
        inspired piece,)
    4. Frederic Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Opus 11; Almond played Chopin's concerto
        together with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Jason Borromeo Ros.

With the orchestra.

Final bow.

Speech.

- Almond had a short (??) thank-you speech at the end. All of us had a hard time catching Almond for photo-sessions; he was like a celebrity tonight. (I also had a difficult time asking him to smile properly.)

I said a nice smile!!

Why smile with him, not me??

Almondddddd!!!!

Snooping around backstage.

OK great. :D:D:D:D

With the awesome Marianne.

- I wanted to stay for the food and refreshments afterwards, but my friends decided to eat some place nearby for unknown reasons. Needless to say, I opted to go with them, since it was more fun that way. At least I got to hang out with them again, and got to know Zach's brother and his current significant someone, Marianne, who was also awesomely kind to drop me and my neighbors home.

- I was relieved - or not, again, - the my body completely went haywire, part 2, after I arrived home. Perhaps, it's the heavens' way of willing me to go to Almond's recital tonight, and spend time with awesome people.

Slithering through the Crowd: The Snake Year is Here!!

- February 10, 2013, Sunday.

- After years of not seeing each other, I was able to meet up with my college friend and hobbyist photographer Raphael. I invited him over, since he wanted to see the Chinese New Year festivities in Chinatown, and take nice pictures of the colors of the new year.

- I met Raphael around noon, and started walking from the far end/ back door of Chinatown, and walked towards "mainland Chinatown," trying to chase lion dances along the way. I also tried to look for an inexpensive red-stringed jade-coin necklace, to no avail.

The lion peeks through the crowd.

Forced-mutated pineapple.

- Rap and I decided to eat at Cafe Mezzanine after the big President restaurant was occupied with people from floor to ceiling. Cafe Mezzanine was a bit crowded too, and we were the first in the waiting list. We were both seated after around 15 minutes of waiting; I had a small costume change afterwards.

Hey Rap!!

Hello again Shirby!! :D:D:D:D

- I introduced Rap to Cafe Mezzanine's light Chinese comfort food,  like kiampong, asado-egg, clear meatball soup, tofu, and fried wanton. They were good alternatives to the big platters other tables were having; there was only the two of us, and we might not have been able to eat the really large platters if ever.

- We hopped to Lucky Chinatown Mall to look at the cultural stalls and activities that once flooded Chinatown during the new year, before the existence of the mall. We passed by the stage in the main atrium, and peeked at the Beijing opera being shown. We were both more interested with the stalls with cultural stuff, although I quite expected what the stalls were going to have.

Chinese checkers.

Hello Lucky Chinatown.

Have you seen my limousine??

Money tree.

With Shandeigh and Shanlle.

With Rap, photo courtesy of Shandeigh and Shanelle's dad.

- What fancied us most was the big red money tree at the back of the China alley, where the stalls where. I almost disappeared as I stood in front of the tree because of my red-and-gold, and angpao-like Chinese polo. There were also small Chinese rickshaws, with Lucky Chinatown's staff, dress up in Chinese costumes, and drove the rickshaws around the area for those who wanted to ride them, or just take photos with the rickshaws.

- Rap and I went back to Ongpin to buy his siopao before going home. Along the way, we saw Rap's usual photo-walk group, and went home with one of them  after buying Rap's siopao in Masuki. I went back to Chinatown, and came across a dragon and two lions that were quite "stationary," and so I took the chance to take photos with them. I even got to hold the dragon's head!! (Err, at least the pole that was connected to the head.)

With Ceej and Tata.

Finally!! :D:D:D:D

With one of the nicer lions I've seen this year.

Out of this world Chinese cosplay in the middle of Ongpin.

- I went to my friend Pei Mei's store in City Place (behind Lucky Chinatown,) to personally greet her a happy birthday, and most probably, her daughter (my goddaughter,) was going to be there wearing something nice and cute. Pei Mei told me that her daughter Scarlet was in Lucky Chinatown, wearing a small qipao. I tumbled back to Lucky Chinatown, and fortunately, her daughter was easy to spot. Scarlet had just probably woken up from her nap, so she didn't mind me (or anyone,) carrying her. She's grown so big; she's already very heavy.

Met Sandy. :D:D:D:D

Scarletttttt!!!! Like godfather like goddaughter.

Hellooohhhh Jefferson.

La mudra of Scarlet.

The birthday girl.

She's a little heavy girl.

She does this face when I play with her.

Giant ghosts??

- I must have had something that caused me a bad tummy, probably the melon soya that I bought in Lucky Chinatown. Funny, I never had LBM after buying from that soya place. Still, I'm partly glad that my body went haywire after coming home at around 5pm -- I'd be happier if I didn't have to get sick on the new year itself, or get sick ever. Haha. Still, I can say that I spent the lunar new year well.