ang pasko ay sumapit...

phewie that it rained today in the city by the bay! i was really looking forward to marching through the couple of blocks of sf to yerba buena with the parol i made. well half made, someone else started it. i'm so not only in the christmas spirit but in the filipino community spirit.

because of the rain, the parol parade was cancelled, but the contest and festival continued at the bayanihan center. it was so fun! the only people i knew was the ones i've met through bindlestiff and all the people that i've met through bj. it was really good seeing all of them. i was really proud of how everyone came together. it felt like a real community. something i honestly didn't know i could feel after being in a place like sac. in sac.. well, it's more like family since a lot of the people in that community have lived there for a very long time and knows each other very well. sometimes too well. and i don't want to assume that the community here in sf is different since i don't know them, yet. but it was just really nice to see a community come together in a positive atmosphere as it was tonite.

oh, before i forget, i broke one of uncle sonny's rules and waved at someone from the stage. i actually didn't care because i hella miss this woman to def! i didn't really get to talk to her that much, just a quick hug hello and a very very real, "i love you." but it was hella crazy in that room and i just wanted to savor those moments that i spent with that community. was really beautiful.

the parols were awesome. i took a couple of pictures and i just sent it through my phone so hopefully it'll get here soon. i really like ours "the 'stiff's" parol. it was white, but once you turn on the lights, there are images of mga kamay that are visible. a lot of them in different gestures (no middle fingers!) but as explained by someone, that they are a symbol of all the hands that have voluteered their time to bindlestiff. :) i'm feeling positive about my involvment, well upcoming involvment with them. one of bj's bandmates came up and talked to me about a proposition that i'd like to take up. mums the word until something happens. we'll see.


i just tried to soak all of this newness in. new city. new community. new friends. just everything. oh, they also were giving away food! wha wha? yup. volunteers were going around with trays of pan de sals asking if we'd like some. so mabait! then i heard that ong pin donated food like empanadas and chicken soup! omg the soup was good and hit the spot on this cold blustery evening in the filipino heart of the soma. spoke to so many people that i haven't seen in a while. all are doing well which is nice to see.

in a surprising turn of events, each group had to do a presentation. we've been practicing for a while, but unfortunately, we didn't know that we had to sing, so the crew that i've been singing with had already left, leaving me with me and bryan. luckily tj was there, but then all these other bindlestiff players came along and helped out with the song. i was just glad to help out. i didn't mention that i just finished 3 shows with sinag-tala (which i did wear my st 2005 shirt up on stage to represent!) the week earlier. but when we were rehearsing at the studio, some mentioned being nervous. which was good in a way, but i've seen these same amazing people on stage before and i think their nerves would have calmed down in front of a crowd. in short, we did our thing and had a good time performing although only one song. i haven't mentioned that i've been performing for so long and with the training i got from st that i'm prepared to perform at the drop of a hat, but i dont want to be like that. just keep it humble you know and to keep remembering that anytime i step out in front of a crowd to act or sing, i'm representing da tropas and sinag-tala, cuz i wouldn't be even able to get up here had it not been for them in the first place! never forget where you come from is what i'm sayin'!

this post is over, but i have another thought marinating that's about to burst any second now...