Holy Week 2012

Im gonna make this short and painless. :)

Since 2005, it has always been my practice to travel outside of Cebu during the Holy Week to explore some wonderful places. Last year, I went to Biri Island in Samar, a cluster of islands facing the Pacific Ocean. You guys have seen the pics and they were awesome.

This year though, since Im cutting on my expenses coz I have to make the construction of my humble house my top priority, I have decided to go to Camotes. It's just within Cebu, but it's gonna be fun and exciting still. I'm trying to steer clear from Bantayan coz I know the parties are way beyond my call.

It will be a three day trip of no internet, no comfy bed and dust and sweat. I'll miss feeding my Dragons in Dragonvale. :)

Signing Off

If I never knew you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Empty as the sky
Never knowing why
Lost forever
If I never knew you

I just had my last performance with the Reigndition Band, and I bring with me a year full of great memories. One year of singing just flew by so quickly, it's as if I just had my audition with them 2 weeks ago. Not that singing matters not--- of course it does, and it will always have a warm spot in my heart--- but I need to focus more on my other priorities. Right now I'm single-handedly running Mamai's, and another small-time business, and my job with an IT company. For now, these are my training grounds and I have to leave singing behind as I embrace other aspects of myself.

To my band--- Vien, Kisha, Mia, Val, and Emmar (also Deo, Adela, and Chuckie)--- it was an honor working with you all. You guys are so great and so talented, and your talents will take you places, thats for sure. I will miss the stage. I will miss the beats. I will miss the lights. But what Im gonna miss most are the fun times that I get to spend with you. You guys are like family to me already.

But then again, music will always be a part of me and as you know, I am just temporarily clipping my wings.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me the chance to hold the microphone. Not everybody who has this talent is given the opportunity you have bestowed on me. I am sincerely grateful.

And for my diva tantrums, I wouldnt apologize. You know from the very start what you're getting yourself into, hahaha. Kidding. :)

I will miss you all.

Keith Pareja, the musician, now signing off. For now.

Reigndition

We had our first picture taken as a band since Adela (female vocals) and Deo (bassist) left 3 months ago. This is currently the new cast of the Reigndition Band, and so far I'm having such a great time with Chuckie, the new bassist, and Mia, the new female vocals.

In 2 months, we'll be celebrating our first anniversary. :) I never thought I'd come this far, I mean life with a band is just CRAZY. When I started about almost a year ago, I gave myself around 3 months just to test the waters. I have a pretty demanding regular job, and I'm running a small business at the same time. I thought I'd never have the energy to just do what I love doing and that is to sing. But then again, God is just so amazing that when I prayed for BALANCE and SANITY, He gave me this beautiful blessing--- He gave me this band.

Disney Live Mickeys Music Festival

Just showing a little love and support for hubby's giant project this year. You guys, Disney is coming to Manila and Cebu this September for the Disney Live: A Mickey Mouse Music Festival. The Cebu leg will be staged at Waterfront Hotel Lahug.

Tickets will be released soon!

Spelleng

One of the things that I really look forward to during my gigs are the requests we get from the audience. Here are some funny requests that I got to keep so far.

May ipis! The Black Ipis!

"Emperial" jud?

Singular ni cya sa The Corrs...


Move over Frank Sinatra... Coz ALICIA KEY is about to sing NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

Subject-verb agreement, maryusep!
BLOCK is the new Black.

Someone seriously needs to go back to gradeschool spelling class...

MARIA who?

May gana ka pang mag-encircle2x...

Cebu Poker Challenge

I'd like to make a little annoucement. If you guys love to play poker, The Metro Card Club Cebu will be holding The Cebu POKER Challenge, March 18-20. Please see event flyer below for more deets, or you may shoot me a private message on Facebook.

Me Goes Acoustic at the Crimson

The pool area is done and we're set again to perform at the Crimson Resort in Mactan... That's the 10th and newest 5-star resort hotel here in Cebu. It hasn't officially opened yet, but it's now up for limited occupancy. It's the prettiest hotel I've ever been to and the fact that we have been chosen as one of it's performers is a huge honor by itself. Imagine--- 250 suite rooms, 41 villas and 39 plunge pools. It's paradise.

We'll be doing an all-acoustic line-up later at Azure, the beach part of the hotel. We have dedicated a few days of practice to come up with an all-acoustic line-up, coz we never really predicted we would be invited to do a show of this nature. I'm not an acoustic singer myself so I had to do a lot of fine tuning. Tonight, we will be showcasing the music of Cristopher Cross, Maxwell, Sade, Selena, some classic Pinoy hits from the Hotdogs and a lot more.

And since I'm a huge, as in huge fan of the Beatles, the show would definitely not happen without my personal tribute to the greatest band of all time. I spent countless nights to come up with my own medley, and you know it's hard coz it's almost impossible to pick at most 3 great songs from their awesome repertoire. I could no sooner pick a favorite star from the heavens.

I got to narrow down my choices to 3 favorites--- Strawberry Fields Forever, Yesterday and Hey Jude. The medley I made is one kick-ass job and I can't wait to perform it tonight. I'm so excited.

How Can I Fall?

My Share of Sinulog @ 30

Sinulog just keeps on getting better and better every year. I was fully booked Saturday and Sunday, activities and invitations came pouring in as early as the Monday before the big day and as I plotted my to-do's for the weekend, I said yes to almost all invitations leaving myself just a few hours for sleep. I didn’t care, I mean Sinulog comes only once a year, and I'm not getting any younger. THIS is the perfect age to be a party machine.

Anyways, I didn’t get to attend the Grand Procession because the weather was crazy and I had fever. At around 8 I met my friend Rey from GMA and we had dinner at SM. The traffic was crazy, and getting a cab almost impossible. We rode the jeepney instead and thankfully we reached Montebello.

I had the chance to party with Adong's friends from Iligan, they were really cool. Numero Doce was cut-throat island as expected. We waited outside for about half an hour. I stayed there for about 2 hours, and by 3am I decided to go home. I had fever again.

I went home chilling and praying for the fever to go away in time for the Sinulog Grand Parade the next day. I couldn’t miss this one because this year, we are given the special opportunity to carry Tribu Mazda's banner for their sponsored contingent from Tayud National High School.

Sinulog day came and I woke up late for the 11 AM call time. Carla and I met at around 2 PM, parked at Ayala and walked took the access road leading to Mango.

The whole area was filled with people, and we cahnged routes twice because we got caught at numerous dead-ends. I was wearing a white shirt, and a native fedora hat, and along the way, I realized I lost my hat. I loved that hat.

It took us about another hour to pass through that street where National Bookstore is located. We stayed at a little safe corner because the crowd went really wild and I'm seeing possibilities of a stampede. I saw my friend Charisse at one of the booths there and we were able to pass through. While we were talking the Mango to Ramos route, rain started to pour down.

We jogged our way to Jones and met all the rest of our friends with the Mazda contingent.

The street parade was awesome. It was raining as we marched our way to the Grandstand carrying the banner for Mazda. My other hand was carrying our contingent's Festival Queen's head dress that weighed like 20 kilos for godsakes. There was point when it rained hard like twice that we had to redo our Festival Queen's hair and make-up all over again.

Retouch. Retouch. Retouch. :)

Entering the Grandstand was surreal. It was my first time and I had this really warm feeling as our contingent entered the gates. We were one of the most applauded contingents because we won the Sinulog Sa Kabataan competition held weeks prior to the main event. Thousands of people applauded as we entered the Grandstand.

All the contingents were good, and I bookmarked my favorites as I watched all their performances. I had my heart on the Masbate contingent coz they used the best color palate for their costumes, and their moves were flawless. Our contingent was really good, too. We waited until the last contingent and after assessing all the entries, we were positive we would be part of this year's elite 5.

The program was followed by performances of Pilita Corales and Dulce Amor, the Cebuana Divas, and then a really awesome fireworks display that lasted for about half an hour. That was one of the many memorable moments that I felt the pride of being a Cebuano.

Till next year's Sinulog bebehs...

Sinulog 2010 Winners

Sinulog Based Category

Champion – Tribu Sinanduloy – Tangub City
2nd place: Abellana National School
3rd place: Silaw Culture and Arts – Carcar National High School
4th place: Barangay Lahug Cebu City
5th place: Don Sergio Memorial National High School

Best in Costume
Silaw Culture and Arts – Carcar National High School

Free Interpretation Category
Champion – Tribu Himag-Ulaw Placer Masbate
2nd place: Lumad Basakanon – Basak San Nicolas Cebu City
3rd place: Pinta Flores – San Carlos City
4th place: The Land of Beauty and Bounty – Lanao del Norte
5th place: Tribu Mabolokon – Mabolo Elementary School

Best in Costume
Pinta Flores – San Carlos City
Street Dancing
Champion – Tribu Sinanduloy – Tangub City
2nd place: Lumad Basakanon – Basak San Nicolas Cebu City
3rd place: The Land of Beauty and Bounty – Lanao del Norte

Sinulog 2010

It's Sinulog week once again. I went out last week and I was totally amazed at how fun the streets look with the all the streamers, posters and banderitas. I have heard of concerts being held left and right, and everyone in Cebu is just in party mood. I was suppose to go out with my friend Rey from Manila to watch the Regine Velasquez concert at the Waterfront, but one of my colleagues got hospitalized and I couldn’t afford not go to work knowing we're understaffed.

I can't wait to party tomorrow and Sunday though.

It's Friday today and I could feel the pressure. I woke up at around 2am after having just 5 hours of sleep. I was itching to go to Sto. Nino with Carla so we decided to meet up at Ayala by 5pm. It rained so hard we decided not to go and ended up pigging out on tacos, steak and cheesecake. The weather's really bad, and my appetite is driving me nuts. My vows of consuming just 500 calories a day since last week is officially dead today.

Saturday's intended for the holy procession. I'll store as much energy as I can for the party that will come right after.

Sunday will be spent with the Laagans in the streets joining the contingent of Tayud National High School. Mazda is sponsoring them this year and we're joining the crowd coz none of us were able to get ID passes for the street parade and in the grandstand. I'll be 2 tones darker for sure.

Pit Señor, people!

What Happens In Moalboal Stays In Moalboal

We have decided to hold our annual Laagans Christmas get-together at a beach in Moalboal. We kinda ran out of time so we did it after Christmas and celebrated it along with Tope's birthday. We were supposed to do it in Camotes, but the weather's been very unpredictable lately that we just decided to hold it within Cebu. Moalboal is the perfect place to get drunk, I mean you can just vomit and poop anywhere (I heard).

Things went a bit out of control because one of us got REALLY drunk. I could barely recall the details the next day, but the pictures and videos in my camera says it all.

Anyways, another year, another Christmas for the Laagans. It's always nice to look back and recall at how we all started. We are all missing Atan so bad. Every year though the family gets bigger and bigger, and our experiences are getting better.

I'm looking forward at our Bicol Region tour come summer. Which reminds me, I need to book tickets.

Merry Christmas!

SakSak Festival

Last week I was given the privilege to record the official festival song of the Sak-sak Festival of Samboan. The song was written and composed by Mr. Sam Costannila and was given life by the musical genius of Mr. Gani Villaroho, and of course interpreted by yours truly :)

It was truly an honor to have worked with such talents, I had about a week to study the demo, I dreaded for the day I'm finally putting my own touch to the music but these guys have been truly friendly and accommodating.

I would like to congratulate the officials of Samboan, spearheaded by Mayor Raymund Calderon for this wonderful festival song. It was formally launched last Sept 30 with Gov. Gwen Garcia as guest of Honor and speaker.

There are 10 Contingents of different local tribes who will be competing the Street Dancing and Grand showdown with the Festival song in place. Each tribe will show their best of dances and how Sak-Sak is popular in Samboan through dance steps and movements.

My apologies for being unable to come to your mardi gras, my work schedule's just been uber-crazy. :)

The Proud Bestfriend Speaks Up: Show Your Love to Rain Marie Madrigal as the Queen Of Cebu 2009

Hello babies---

Ive never been vocal about how much I adore our relationship, but Im just beaming with pride right now and Im happy that shes back on track and ready to kick ass once more.

Anyways...

The superbowl of gay pageants in Cebu is on its way...

BFF Rain Marie Madgrigal is part of this year's batch of gorgeous candidates for the Queen of Cebu Pageant, October 24, 2009, Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino...



Support Rain Marie Madrigal (Miss Philippines). Log in to your respective Facebook accounts (now who doesnt have facebook??? Come on) and enter the URL below. Click on Become a fan... Check out Miss Philippines' profile and show your love, people. :)

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Cebu-Philippines/Queen-of-Cebu/105242071610?ref=ts

For details you may also visit my own page, http://www.facebook.com/keithpareja


Taken from the pageant profile page---

A Pageant for AlternativesOn an island famed for raising the natural to preternatural, with a penchant for beauty pageants (there is one for every barangay), it was only a matter of time before Cebu celebrated beauty beyond the ladies and gentlemen. Queen, the first on this grand a scale, brings you to the world of the ladies who are gentlemen, and the gentlemen who are ladies.Join us in an unforgettable night this September as we crown Cebu’s new Queen.


THE PAGEANT Like any beauty pageant, one is to expect pomp, but unlike any other beauty pageant, Queen brings everything to overdrive: The flamboyance of the National Costume segment, the impossible gowns, the anticipated question and answer, the million-and-one costume changes, the production numbers, all in the magnificent Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Grand Ballroom. There isn’t a moment of lifelessness in a pageant gone all right like Queen. The pageant is everything you expected, and not unlike the candidates, with a little extra.

THE LITTLE EXTRA More than showcasing an alternative lifestyle, the pageant for alternatives aims to bring to the forefront real, sustainable solutions to the candidate’s charity or movement of choice. Asked to formulate a solid plan of action for a chosen cause, a major aspect in the pre-judging of Queen, it will highlight how our ladies are not only beautiful on the outside, but the singular fact that it is their philanthropy that sets them apart from the rest.


THE CANDIDATES Screened for both beauty and brains, the ladies are the crème da le crème of this particular segment of Cebu society. Queen’s new crop are both physically daunting with a sound, outspoken mind; They are truly the embodiment of the best of both worlds.


Now doesnt that give your the goosebumps? We've never had a serious gay pageant in Cebu in years! This one's just awesome...

Single

I recorded a song over the weekend...

Click on the link-----

Take A Look Inside My Heart.mp3

I wanna promise you honestly I'll always care
That's what my Love has come here for
And every time I smiLe you know there's something more
I'm waiting to share, wanting to share...

A few commercial jingles and a festival jingle on the works... It's gonna be a busy month. :)

Weekend

What makes a good weekend?


Friends. Food. Good sleep (10 hours minimum). Good conversation. Booze. Boys. And a nice chillax venue to top all that.


I went South of Cebu to explore the wonderful spots in Alegria, Ginatilan and Samboan. I was with my closest friends in the world so the whole experience was nothing but bliss since I’ve never gone out of town with them since our trip to Palawan a couple of months back. These are the type of days that I completely forget about work and gym and dieting, family and financial struggles and all that’s left to mind is myself.


Saturday I went straight from work to the bus terminal to take a 4-hour trip to Alegria. At around 10AM, Carla and my inaanak Cahleil arrived at Batong Malunhaw resot in Alegria, Cebu where the rest of the gang waited for us. We had our breakfast there, stayed briefly and headed straight to Costa Leticia Spa and Resort where we spent the rest of the Day. I think the pictures could very describe well how much fun we had.


Sunday, we had breakfast at the native markets of Ginatilan, roughly 30 minutes from Alegria. We briefly visited their historical church, too (by brief I mean not attending mass at all--- we just cam-whored the whole time). The whole point of the day was just to explore Ginatilan and Samboan, and we did. We stayed at Gorion Resort for some whale watching and snorkeling and whatever, and then we got to visit Inambakan Falls. There were 2 falls in that place but we didn’t bother going to the other one because it was raining and the roads were risky.
All in all we certainly got to do pretty much everything we really wanted to do from the places we visited.


Sunday afternoon we headed home and got back to the city at around 9PM. I went straight to party with my cousin Adong--- the usual amusing Sunday routine we have (minus the coffee coz we didn’t have money--- payday is yet a week away). We had the usual fun at Doce. I chose not to party on Saturdays since I discovered that Sundays at Doce are the best--- it’s when my gay friend and ex-neighbor Ron takes offer the DJ booth and plays all the Madonnas and Mariahs and Spice Girls and Kylies and Beyonces. If I’m a complete stranger to you and you see me dancing “Who Do You Think You Are”, you’d instantly assume I got possessed by evil spirits. To give you a clue, try imagining Rica Peralejo in Tatarin--- I’m worse. Going back, I met this awesome guy from Dubai. Killer dance moves. Remarkable biceps. Abs to die for. Awesome sex the day after but that’s another story.

I still wish I was able to fit that cute white long-sleeved Dolce

After yesterday's shift, my cousin, JJ, Marie and I decided to go out and just explore the city. It's been months--- no, make it years--- since I went to the outskirts of Colon. We initially just wanted to purchase some cheap hair coloring products (coz a couple of days ago I kinda mentioned to JJ that there's this interesting store in Colon that purely sells just beauty products--- Like it's the God of all Watsons).

We ended up fitting clothes at the gazillions of Ukay-Ukay stores lined up at Colon Street. I got me some pretty interesting finds, but I still wish I was able to fit that cute white long-sleeved Dolce. Yes Dolce.

Grrr… It's time for one major weight loss regimen. Give me 2 weeks. I mean it.

Dumanjug of All Places...

Prince Harry was thought to have been spotted in Dumanjug, Cebu.

What a shocker. I mean of all places he picked Dumanjug to visit, I mean hello, he could've just gone to Ayala or SM--- or Numero Doce for that matter. According to accounts, " Harry was part of a group of around 20 youths, mostly Tagalog-speaking who started painting the façade of the Dumanjug Central School".

Bummer. I bet none of the folks in that barangay had a digicam. Tsk tsk.

Counting Hours

I am counting the hours til this shift ends. The rest of Cebu is partying--- my friends with their booze and dancing to the drumbeat whilst I'm stuck here in the office with excel sheets and training modules. My mind's been on Sinulog-mode since Monday.

It's 3AM and I'm still getting texts like "hey, where u?" and "kumusta party?" and "hey any chance you're in mango?" and it pains me so much to respond "I'm in the office". It's almost as painful as saying "Mom, I'm pregnant and I don't know who the Dad is..."

Anyways, I won't be able to post up stuff here for, say, the WHOLE weekend coz by then I'll be busy with the parties and gimmicks and stuff. Sinulog is the perfect time to get laid for godssakes!

See you at the parties, guys.

(And by the way, I am inviting you all to the most awesome street party in Cebu, Sinulog sa Alejandro's-- Jan 16-18)

Sinulog Is In the Air

Today is the first day of the Novena for the fiesta celebration of Señor Sto. Nino. I have always been a devotee of the Holy Child and this year, as a form of thanksgiving for all the wonderful blessings I received, I dedicated time and effort to go to the Basilica to light a candle to honor his feast.

I was told that there was a procession that morning, I wasn't able to join though--- I need to work. But that didnt stop me from going to church that very afternoon, Day 1 is super important. There were hundreds of devotees lining up to join the Novena when I arrived at around 6-ish. And dang, there were a lot of cute guys (another good reason for me to go back).

I remember one of my childhood friends saying: "Managkot ta's Santo Niño oi kay basin makakita tag artista!!!!"... Hahaha, silly thought, but who knows right???

Anyhoo, I hope to pay at least one or two more Novenas in the Basilica and attend a Sunday mass before the Sinulog. Then I'll totally have the license to PARTY my ass off after that.

Pit Señor!