Carnaval Afterthoughts

Memorial Day weekend was crazy for me. So crazy that I don't even remember what I did on friday. But Saturday I had be at Pier 27 for our float building day, which turned out to be from 9am to 730 pm. Then I left and went to the graduation of Chaotik30's friend in my hometown of Alameda. Hey free Thai food? Let me think about that for half a second! Afterwards, I went to a birthday party for LA Perez in Hayward then to another graduation party, this time for Mistque out in Da Une. Chaotik was also in Carnaval with me so he gave me a ride back to my pad in Daly City. We got to sleep at about 130 but had to be at 2624 Bryant street in the mission at 730. So, quite naturally, we didn't get there until 8.

When the float arrived, everyone got ready for the parade. As you can tell by the picture below, our float, which was the only Pilipino American one in the parade, was made up to look like a Muslim Vinta ship. In the region of Catobato in Mindanao, they have big Fluvial parades where everyone dresses up a boat, ala how they decorate jeepney, and they float down the local river. Each vinta has its own kulintang ensemble, and of course for our float we had Master Danongan Kalanduyan playing, accompanied by a bass, two tubanos, three counter djembes and one klong yaw, all played by members of the Ating Tao Drum Circle. Alongside the float, we had a 14 person flag team, a persussion ensemble, and of course, our signature Higantes.

The Carnaval committee decided not to have placings this year, so there was no judging [we have come in 3rd, 2nd, and 3rd places, in 1999-2000 and 2001, respectively] but nevertheless we were a sight to behold. The flag team had a set routine, the drum and kulintang was tight and the Higantes were playing with the crowd. I saw a lola start whooping and clapping very hard and loud when we passed by her.

Afterward, I went home to Alameda and tried to watch the Matrix hoping to catch some references from Reloaded, but instead crashed on my brother's bunk at around 1030pm. I slept until about 8 am the next day.

On monday, I hung out with some friends before I went to work at Hillsdale, then drove back to Alameda to have coffee with Netdva333, before crashing out on the couch. Since I was off on Tuesday, I was a vegetable, having one of my best UNproductive days ever.

Take a look at the pics from Carnaval. And maybe we'll see you there next year.

Make Mine Music

~No Tations~

Here's a Carnaval pic. Click here for more


I'm tired. Will blog about Carnaval later.

I lost my hard copy prints of Cuba but found my photo cd that was made, so I'll be posting various pix up from the trip last year!


The square I'm standing in is where the Cubanos gather to hear Castro's speeches. It fits over 1 million people. See the Che Guevara hotel behind me?

This is my primary friendster pic but I figured what the hey, here's my brush with fame.

Have a nice weekend.

Make Mine Music

~No Tations~

Wow such a beautiful day here in Daly City. I wish I was outside in the sun instead of inside the mall wasting time on the computer. I mean, inside working hard.

=P

Makin' Mine Music

~No Tations~

Ah, the end of the spring semester. Which means three things.

Most of the performances are now over [PCN and Carmina Burana]. Finals are coming up [I have one tomorrow]. And summer is almost here.

Here's the weekend recap:

Friday - The SFSU University Chorus' performance of Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana.' We performed in Knuth Hall, which seats about 300 and almost every seat was filled. Our conductor, David Xiques, was trying to stress that one of the movements is supposed to be like dancing, so in order to put his message across, he started cabbage patching...in the middle of the performance. Almost half of us wanted to bust up laughing but professionalism and good judgement overcame us, although many in the audience could tell that something fishy was going on at that point. There's something about this piece that's like a magnet for people. It's primal and barbaric, while at the same time angelic and playful. As soon as we hit the last chord for the last movement, a man jumped up in the back and yelled, "Bravo!" and then the rest of Knuth joined him in a 5 minute standing ovation. It was the University Chorus' most challenging piece in quite some time, and the hard work paid off. If you ever have the chance to hear it performed, GO!

Sat - PCN @ Archbishop Riordan High School. Riordan has actually a pretty good theater, it seems like it could be McKenna [at SFSU] Theater's cousin. PCN pretty much went according to every year's agenda. The matinee show ends up becoming a big dress rehearsal, and it doesn't seem to go right until the Gala [night] show. Overall I heard good comments from my parents, because they'll tell me what they think. I got my dad to play for the choir's performance of "Nandito Ako" which was kinda different and scary. The members of the PCN choir decided that they wanted to make it from a ballad to an uptempo song. Uh Oh. But it turned out. Afterwards, some of the cast came over to my pad for an afterparty, but since we were so tired, almost everyone fell asleep.

Sunday I found out that Josh Habermann, our choir director may not be around for next year, which means a good possibility that the Chamber Singers won't be going on their 'every other year' international tour. Oh well, I'll still be there, and I hope to see some of you at our performances as well.

Just saw Matrix at Metreon.

Worth the money I think. I'm a mark for franchises.

But it's really hard to top the first one.

I wasn't supposed to watch it until later tonight but it turned out that my friend had free passes so I went.

First is still better. But Monica Bellucci did it for me. She's super hot.

What a crazy week.

Friday night is the SFSU University Chorus' last concert of the semester, which will be a performance of Orff's Carmina Burana. Then Saturday night is PACE's Annual Pilipino Cultural Night. Every year I've been in it I've proud because I'm continuing a legacy which was originated by Ating Tao, a Pilipino American collegiate performing arts group who started the whole PCN phenomenon. Created in the aftermath of the Third World Liberation Front student strikes at State, the content of the performances has changed a little over the years. In fact, some people who've been to quite a few dismiss PCNs as 'been there, done that.' But my mother told me, even though the content is not as 'radical' and 'anti-establishment' like it used to be, the fact that these people are on stage continues the struggle. For some people and organizations, however, PCN seems like the only thing they strive for. This is a thinking that should change. Even here at State, spring semester is usually only about PCN and nothing else, despite the PACE Coordinators' vows that 'this year will be different.'

Still it should be a good show. Unlike the previous two years, the script was written by one person, and it is one continuous storyline, whereas in the past it usually had separate skits. Although how this person is doing his job is beyond me. Add to his workload PACE Head Coordinator, TA and graduating senior, and he should be commended, though I would hate to wish this sort of stuff on anyone. But I bet one thing making it easier is the fact that he doesn't work yet. Ah, I wish for those days!

I'm doing the choir again. We're singing 'Nandito Ako'. Nothing fancy there, just a little background singing here and there. Or is there? We were messing around with a little breakdown today in rehearsal. And we're also doing the Philippine National Anthem, 'Lupang Hinirang.'

So Carmina friday and then PCN on saturday.

Should you or anyone that you know wish to attend either or both here's the info:

When: Friday, May 16
Who: SFSU University Chorus
Where: McKenna Theater, Creative Arts Building, SF State
Why: Perforamance of Orff's Carmina Burana
Cost: $5

When: Saturday, May 17 -- 2 and 6 pm
Who: Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor
Where: Riordan High School [yes, it's off campus; much drama, but oh well]
Why: 31st Annual Pilipino Cultural Night
Cost: $12 for 2 pm matinee, $15 for 6 pm gala

Both should be good.

For: Voodoo
Here it is the living, html proof of my test. My goodness, and I even took it again to make sure.

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Eigth Level of Hell - the Malebolge!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Very High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Moderate
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Moderate
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Very High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Talked to the Music Ed counselor yesterday, and we proceeded to guesstimate what my schedule for next fall is going to be. It turns out there's a class where you go out and teach little kids how to play music. She was more than welcoming and really did change my mind about going through with the music ed program. I also took the theory test and, though missing a few of the intervals, I think that I did pretty good. Good enough to pass out of Ear Training I, and depending on the mood of the teacher, maybe even Ear Training II. All that's left is the audition in August, and I need to sing two classical songs (for the B.M. in music ed) and then audition on the alto (for the B.A. in world music) so I have my summer work cut out for me. [BTW does anyone know where that phrase came from?]

The SFSU Chamber Singers concert is tomorrow at St. Albert's Priory in Oakland. It's a Catholic Monastery, with a church whose inside is marble. It's going to be a great way to end our year, especially because a small group of us is going to sing "Sh-Boom" for the encore. Our director, Josh Habermann, loves a cappella, and so he always welcomes groups who want to sing. If anything, it gives a big break from the regular repertoire.

Email me if you want to go: Jmaxl@aol.com

Otherwise, have a good weekend, and I'll give the recap next week.

Makin' Mine Music

~No Tations~

I overslept and today the University Chorus was having a special rehearsal session with Vance George, conductor of the SF Symphony Chorus. It was supposed to be in preparation for our performance of Orff's "Carmina Burana" [from the movies Excalibur, the Marines TV Commercials, and more recently, the opening to the Jack@ss Movie] which is on May 16 at McKenna Theater at SF State. Boy have I missed out.

But speaking of X-men and personalities, here's a test which determines which X-man you'd be. It's limited and I think it's better if people were able to choose their own favorite rather than have one assigned but still cool. According to the test, I'd be a sexy redhead with great psionic and psychokinetic powers who's attracted to a tall guy and a short guy. So true! Yeah, I'd be Jean Grey.

Not.

My favorites were Longshot and Havok. I'm still trying to figure out that personality profile.

First of all, X2 rocks!

As a die hard late 80s/early 90s X-men and X-factor fan, this one lived up to the standards that the comic books set. Nightcrawler's power was cool to see, as was Wolverine's berserker rage. On top of all that, we get to see nice shots of Rebecca Romjin-Stamos' chest, although it is in the blue latex makeup it's still nice. I'm gonna see it again and I can't wait for the third one.

After the movie I went to Mel's with a few friends and I was trying to see if you could do some kind of determine someone's personality by who their favorite X-man/woman is. I guess I just have too much time on my hands.

Well, our last concert is on Saturday. It'll be in Oakland in a Monastery that is made of marble.