Starbucks Happy Hour

So there’s Starbucks Happy Hour today from 2pm-6pm and all Frappuchinos are 50%OFF on all sizes. Filipinos being Starbucks-obsessed people rushed all the way to Starbucks branches for that 50%OFF. I am not really so much into Starbucks and I barely even go there because I just think that it’s unreasonable to throw a hundred bucks on coffee when I can conveniently get free coffee which is equally tasty and has same effect in our office. Sometimes I think that people only drink Starbucks beverages to show off to everyone that they can afford Starbucks drinks and because they think that if you drink Starbucks drinks you’re cool. That’s just silly.

So it was 50%OFF and you don’t get that alot in Starbucks. Since I am such a cheapskate and that Starbucks is still…Starbucks, it won’t hurt to get yourself a little treat every now and then especially if it comes in 50%OFF or better if it comes for FREE. I love anything FREE to be more specific but of course FREE is never going to happen in Starbucks so might as well just be happy for that 50%OFF. If you’re a sane person you wouldn’t bother falling in line with the rest of the people and taking advantage of that 50%OFF. I mean that’s a long line that actually goes spiraling around the store and extending until outside. It’s all the more a crazy idea to actually really fall in line there during work hours. If you’re in your right mind, you wouldn’t do that. Obviously, I am not in my right mind because I actually spent an hour and a half in the line just for a Venti Green Tea Frapp. Two of my co-workers and I got so hooked with the 50%OFF and we just lost our minds like that. I think more than Starbucks, it was really just the 50%OFF itself that got us. Oh and did I mention, I am still quite sick yet there I was sipping on a Venti Green Tea Frapp. I ordered Green Tea because I thought that even though it’s a cold drink that’s 60% crushed ice and 40% flavoring the mere fact that it’s Green Tea makes me feel that it’s still healthy somehow. So the 50%OFF made me into a big fat liar to myself. I just hate myself sometimes.

The Maine Live in Manila (Pioneer World Tour)

Can I just say, I am 22 and never have I thought that I’d ever act like a total fangirl. EVER. But The Maine Live in Manila happened.

I have never watched a concert before so I don’t really have any inkling what goes on in concerts. I just feel that spending heaps amount of money for a certain artist’s concert whom you just like but not love enough is not worth it. I promised myself that if ever I will watch a concert I will only settle for the VIP section and that it has to be an artist/band that is really special to me. Last year, when The Maine came over to Manila for Liv3. My friend and I decided we’d come even though it was finals week. We were on our final year in college so exams were earlier than usual. Unfortunately though, exam schedule was the exact week of the Liv3 shows. Nonetheless, despite being studious, it was The Maine were’re talking about here so we’ll just have to sacrifice sleep for our finals to watch The Maine. Everything’s planned already until we got our thesis draft. Our final thesis defense was already fast approaching and we have to do the final edits of our thesis. So, goodbye The Maine. It’s been pretty much a shitty week since I haven’t been sleeping enough or at all during the finals week and what makes everything worse is that my friend and I had to let go of the opportunity to watch The Maine.

I first discovered The Maine around 2007 when I was just 17 in Myspace while I was searching for Boys Like Girls. I stumbled upon Kennedy and John’s personal Myspace page. It was really their good looks that drew me in to them at first then when I checked their profile I found out that they were a part of the band The Maine. So I checked out the band’s Myspace profile and songs and thought that they’re good!!! I have become a fangirl of this band since then. I only get to watch and listen to The Maine via Myspace then eventually I turned to YouTube to satisfy my The Maine fixation. Since 17 I was only depending on the internet to watch The Maine’s performances abroad hoping that one day they come over and perform. That time I thought it was never going to happen. The Maine is not a huge act and thinking about it breaks my heart because I really want to see them perform live badly. Then, came Liv3. When I first heard that they were coming over, I was so ecstatic but in the end I was not able to go and for the entire week I cannot get over the fact that everyone’s out there watching the band and I’m right here sitting in the pantry of our dorm editing my thesis and preparing for my finals. It was such a bad time!!!

Around early February 2012 I checked out The Maine updates and found out that they were coming back for a solo concert. I can’t express how happy I was to find out that they were coming over. Good thing I’m now working and earning my own dough which means I can buy my own concert ticket. I knew right away that I had to get a Platinum ticket. It may cost alot but I don’t mind. It’s The Maine and I have been waiting for so long to see them live. So Fatima (the same friend I was referring to in the Liv3 story)  and I bought concert tickets right away thankfully it wasn’t sold out yet when we reserved tickets. A few days after we got the tickets, Platinum was already sold out. Whew Thank you God we made it this time without any unnecessary problemos.

A few weeks before the concert, Fatima slipped and broke one of her toes in her left foot so she had to go to the concert with a cast and a crutch. On the other hand, I was wearing ultra high heels that everyone disagreed with when I told them I’ve made up my mind that it was what I am going to wear to the show. I don’t want anyone to block my view. I know it’ll be hard to get to the front row so even if that was the goal I had to have a back-up plan thus, the high heels. I have to be taller than everyone so even if I have to wait in line for hours in high heels, I am more than willing to do so.

For weeks, I was so giddy for the show. Every morning I’d check Twitter and Tumblr for The Maine show updates. I have never been so excited to wake up so early in the morning on a weekday during that time. Come concert day, Fatima and I arrived at around twelve something in the afternoon and my goodness there was already a line!!! We didn’t want to take the risk of going somewhere else first before falling in line thinking it’s still too early so we joined the line. Fatima had to go to the comfort room in the late afternoon which left me alone in the line. The Pulp royalties were already inside for their Meet and Greet and Soundcheck Party so the security already divided the people by their sections. I was starting to worry about Fatima until I saw her right in the front most part of the long line waiving at me. At first I thought “What the hell is she doing there in front waiving at me?” I decided to leave the line when I realized she was calling me to come over to the front. I found out that a bouncer saw her struggling and let her stay in the front away from the line to wait for her safety. So basically, the whole time, the two of us were waiting literally outside the line. Just me and Fatima. That injury caused her so much hell for the past few weeks but has suddenly become a blessing that day. The organizers noticed her condition and initially told her to just seat on the bleachers so she’d be safe since the Platinum area is so jampacked and it’ll be dangerous for her to join the pack there. Obviously, she did not want to trade in her Platinum ticket for her safety and said that she can survive the mosh pit. We had to sign a waiver that whatever happens to her the organizer will not be liable. Both of us were not expecting to get any special treatment and that letting us stay outside the line was the final stretch. We just waited patiently to be instructed on when we can finally start going in to the venue.
The organizers were more than caring to all of the people in line which is great. For me a good show organizer is not someone who can bring in a great artist who can put on a really good show. A good organizer is someone who can assure every attendee that it’ll be fun, exciting, safe and can make everyone feel like they’re a one big happy family. While waiting, one of the organizers decided to talk to us and ask which band we want to see next. Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club, Parachute, Marina and The Diamonds, Matt & Kim and the list goes on. This guy loved our suggestions and said that we have such great taste in music. Throughout the entire day of being surrounded by super hyper teenagers, it felt good to be able to talk to an adult even just for a short while.

When the staffs were already preparing everyone to enter the venue, one of the organizers (the one in red shirt and brown pants) approached Fatima and I and asked us to move beside the Platinum section’s entrance. We were so shocked when we were the first ones to be permitted to enter the venue. I had to support Fatima since she was still having quite a hard time walking. I don’t know what to feel, if I should be excited that we got in first or to feel conscious because everyone was literally looking at both of us while we were on our way inside the venue.

Itchyworms opened the concert. It’s been a while the last time I saw them and they remain really good except that the audio sucked. Seems that The Maine loved them too especially Pat. When The Maine came out all I can think about was “Oh my gosh this is surreal!!! I never thought I’d see these guys in flesh”. Can I just say, they all look really fine. It’s really nice to see them so overwhelmed with the massive response of the audience to their show. This is the first concert I have ever attended but I can easily say that this is probably going to be the best too. The show was pretty intimate in a way. I’d rather come to a show that has a smaller venue because in that way you get to be more closer to the artist. You don’t go to a concert, pay a ticket worth a thousand bucks to see an artist perform live ant-sized. If that’s the case I’d rather choose Youtube instead.

Of so many live performances of The Maine that I’ve seen on YouTube their performance in the Manila leg was one of the best. To be honest, I wasn’t event expecting too much from John Ohhh because I’ve seen alot of live performance videos wherein his performance is just lacking. But this time it was anything but perfect.  The band was really caring too. I can’t even count anymore how many water bottles he threw to the crowd who were all begging for water. The whole venue was jampacked and everyone’s sweating from all the singing and jumping it was so humid yet everybody was still having so much fun.

The concert ran for two hours and the band performed nineteen songs from their various albums yet it felt like the show was too short. The audience kept shouting “More More More…” after the band left the stage. It was a show worth all the pain at least for the front row people who had to suffer the most after the people from the back kept pushing and pushing like it’s as if their pushing will take them to the front.
Some of the highlights of the entire show for me would probably be when the band sang “While Listening to Rock & Roll”, their addictive semi-ballad ‘Into Your Arms” of which the whole crowd went crazy when the band performed it, “Misery” the first single from their latest album, Pioneer. Not only did “Misery” send the crowd screaming of excitement but the whole performance turned out to be really flawless. Simply one of the performances in the concert that stood out. Then who can forget the very first live performance of the Pioneer B-Side “Take Me Dancing”? John Ohh nailed it! Plus the soft lighting during this song made the performance more dramatic which drove lots of fans to tears. Lastly, the finale song which is “Don’t Give Up On Us”. People were just going crazy singing along with probably the most popular song of the band yet. I was so impressed with the whole crowd who all sang their hearts out from the beginning to the finale. Not even one moment did the energy fell a bit. The fans were all squealing of excitement all throughout the set. You can really see that The Maine was at awe and more than thankful the entire time.

I say, after this concert I don’t regret a bit spending a hefty amount of money for this show. It was worth it. I don’t think I’d ever get this kind of experience with any other artist who I’m going to watch ever again. After the show, my love and loyalty to The Maine just went a notch higher. I love this guys not because they are good-looking-well, when I was younger maybe- but because I’ve seen them grow as individuals through the years and saw how much they have improved artistically but remain grounded. Next year, I am fervently hoping that they come back and do another show in Manila and I’ll make sure I’ll be one of those people in the front row again just like in their Pioneer show this year.

*04/01/12 entry

Fueled By Gossip

Once upon a time I was extremely bored and I found Fueled by Gossip. Actually, I’ve seen this site before but never bothered to look through it because I thought most of the things people say there are pointless or just plain lies so I’d rather look for some other sites to kill time. Then just recently, a friend told me things she read about The Maine hooking up on tours and practically just living the rockstar kind of life at Fueled by Gossip (other bands included). I still didn’t care at all because I’m not that interested in those kinds of things. I’m 22 and when you’re at that age you don’t go dwelling on things written at Fueled by Gossip or just Fueled by Gossip in general. For all I care about whatever The Maine or other indie band people do when on tour for me, all I care about is their music and that they continue making music. All the more when I have a ton of deadlines to meet at work Fueled by Gossip does not deserve even a minuscule amount of attention from me. But then a few days ago I got so bored and ended up checking out Fueled by Gossip.
I can clearly see how popular this site has been. There’s Fueled by Gossip and then there’s Fueled by Gossip V2.0. Gossip has never entertained me this much before. But I was so bored that I ended up reading stuffs at Fueled by Gossip. I was surprised to find myself really drawn to all the entries. I was so entertained, flustered at some stories I read especially the hook-up stories and I just really enjoyed reading a lot of threads plus it made me realize some things I didn’t saw clearly before. I can’t believe Americans can be so bad at spelling and grammars at times. I just don’t understand it at all. I mean English is THEIR language and some of the grammars…I was just so shocked. I never expected to read something so grammatically wrong there. Then there are replies that’ll make me pause for a while and say “WHAT!?” and lot of them use too many loooooooooonnnnnnnnggggggg abbreviations and I’d just stop reading and try to decipher what those abbreviations mean.

I’m pretty sure that most of the people running and posting in that community are teenagers. Everything screams “DRAMA!!!” but I still continue to read. I super love The Maine so I keep reading threads about them. Even at work, once I arrive in the office the first thing I’m do is open fueled by gossip and read. It’s so addicting and it just makes my day a tad better and less stressful. It’s like going back to high school except that it’s online and I’m just right there as spectator while everyone bicker, insult others, proclaim how proud they are to have hooked up with this or that band member, report on the latest hook-ups, fights, groupies flirting band members and band members flirting back, scene queens (I had no idea what this was about until I read about a certain Jac Vaneck? Nicole Buckley? who they dub as a scene queen,slut,hoe,bitch,stuck up ugly ass b*tch and the list goes on) I can’t remember how many swears and insults I read per page especially when the name of those girls are mentioned. I have never heard of her before until I started reading entries at Fueled by Gossip. Then I got to read wild Warped Tour stories about bands I’ve never heard before, Artist Vs. Poets, Family Force 5(?)… stories about how sweet, sexy, adorable, gorgeous, irresistibly hot this or that vocalist, guitarist and etc. A lot of times they’d name band members from various bands and I’d have no idea who these guys are. I only know a few members from some bands that I listen to but mostly I have no idea what their names are except for a few bands of course like The Maine which I’ve been listening to since 07 so I know the name of all the members. I’m actually very impressed how these kids know so much personal stuffs about band members. I have been listening to The Maine since I was 17 and I have no idea how many sibling they have or if they have any siblings at all or how they got into this kind of stupid accident or who’s dating and who’s single, names of their current gfs or exes. It’s crazy how some people know so many things about band guys even if they don’t really know the band dudes personally.

Reading that blog has made me understand more how groupies do their thing. I’m not sure how much of what I’ve read are true or make up stories but it definitely showed me a picture of what it’s like to be involved in the indie scene and lives of groupies. I really don’t understand how those people (Groupies) could do whatever they want with their lives. After reading stories about them I always think of how they can easily just do those things or how they can easily go from one state to another and one show to another as teenagers I mean where the hell are their parents!? Don’t their parents wonder what their kids are doing? Then there’s a long list of threads about tours with like hundreds of replies everyone updating each other of what went down on this date or on this or that venue during bamboozle or warped or some tour. Who were the popular groupies/fangirl sluts that were there and who went home with who, people who saw this or that band guy flirting with this fangirl who’s always seen in so many shows. Then these kids go around myspace, twitter, tumblr or facebook exercising their expert stalking skills and posting links of profile pages of those fan girls or groupies they’re talking about. There’s a lot of bullying, lying, kiss and tells and every crazy thing imaginable. Sometimes when there’s this whole thread talking about a particular fangirl that everybody hates all of a sudden some anon would claim that she’s a friend of the one being talked about and go all out defending that girl or sometimes they’d claim that they’re one of those being talked about and would go defend themselves then all the others would keep lolling about those people and tell them to get lost. Funny but at the same time it made me realize how extreme these kids are considering they’re just teenagers. I have NEVER met anyone that extreme ever even in my school or just anywhere. Nobody’s gotten to that level wherein they’d squeeze as much hate and insult they can muster towards a certain person they barely even know and ride on with the rest who hates that person and tell the whole world how disgusting that person they hate is. They’d go all out. Just unbelievable. Even when I was a teenager it never crossed my mind that a teenager is capable of crushing someone else’s life this bad. Also, I can’t imagine how some kids are just so mean to the core even if they don’t know the whole story or if the tales are even real.

I read A LOT of stories about so many bands I listen to. A lot of stories especially about All Time Low, Cobra Starship and The Cab. Honestly there have been moments wherein I’d question whether what I’m reading is the truth or just a product of some desperate teenage imagination. But at the end of all my reading spree, once I’m off Fueled by Gossip I go back to reality and shrug off all the doubts and not bother thinking about what I’ve read. It’s really all just plainly for entertainment. Theo ne and only thread i really liked somehow is when the kids would tell their stories of how some band guys care so much about their fans by taking them to their car especially when it’s late in the evening or when bands go out in the pouring rain to sign autographs or take photos with fans or approach fans randomly and strike a friendly conversation with them. it’s nice to hear how some bands, despite their popularity still goes out and meets fans, talk to them and don’t act all cocky just because they’re going big time already. It was also kind of funny reading about how John O’s virginity is such a huge deal to everyone. They’d literally flood the forum with gazillions of replies telling everyone that John Ohh is virgin then someone else would say he’s not then some hook up stories will come up and the whole thing just can’t ever find its ending. Some posts can also be quite annoying especially some fans who would literally invent stories and defend themselves when they’re called liar even though it’s obvious that they just made it all up. Or when some die hard fan girl would blog endlessly of how she’s bffs with this band member when in reality she’s not. It’s really shocking how some young girls can invent such ridiculous things. I never thought it was possible. Not even once when I was a teenager or have I heard any of my friend when we were teenagers who were capable of doing something like this or has done something like this. It’s crayyyyy craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!! I’m so shocked reading things like this I wonder what more for the bands who are being talked about non-stop in this forum?

Some stories seem plausible and even if it concerned The Maine I am interested to know the details but at the end of it all I don’t care much at all. They are practically ordinary people who just happens to be in some band who are semi-popular but at the end of the day once they finish their shows, they go back to their normal lives. They make decisions just like everyone, work to earn money, hang out with their friends and have a little fun or go back home to their families. To the groupies out there who sleep with band dudes, I don’t understand why do share to the whole world that they slept with the vocalist of some bad ass indie band? Is it so necessary? Whatever I will never understand that as much as how it baffles me how other girls are willing to give up their lives to go spend full time on planning how to get their dream band dude.
For me, I’m just going to keep listening to music and care less about what these bands do with their lives. I love my life and happy enough listening to those bands’ music to care too much about getting noticed by the band members and being their FB one day.

*04/12 entry

Dear Die Hard Fangirls Who Flooded Me With Hate Tweets,

A few days ago my sister was telling me about this inside story that was being talked about on this tv-radio show that exact time about this certain local pop star’s parents who prefers her current big star suitor than the past celebrity suitor who the parents didn’t like. Turns out according to this showbiz popular reporter/writer that the parents prefer this current suitor than the past suitor because he looks neat, wears signature clothes and gives signature items as gifts. I tweeted something about this local pop star’s parents being a social climber for preferring the current suitor over the past suitor just because he wears signature items and the past suitor doesn’t. These people need to learn to look back to where they come from. What I said was bad but that’s my OPINION.

I believe that this local pop star is very talented and deserves all the blessings she’s been receiving but I just feel so bad for her for having such rude “fans” who thinks the world revolves around them and their idol and who will step on everyone who will say something bad about their idol. I opened my twitter last night and was greeted by a whole bunch of hate tweets from die hard fans of this local pop star.

The last time I checked the Philippines is a democratic country and everyone’s entitled to express their own opinions without being bashed by others. What annoys me more is that these fans think that people have to agree with them all the time. Hello news flash!!! Not all people think the same way you do and phulease who the hell spends the whole day tweeting celebrities!? These celebrities knows nothing about you except that you’re named @<username w/tons of numbers insert here> and that you’re just one of those die hard fans who defends them against people who criticize them. Respect your opinions!? You were the ones who responded to my tweet non-stop when it was supposed to be a conversation between two people only and now you’re telling me to respect other people’s opinions!? BTW, I don’t even know any of you!!! I have never lashed on anyone before just because his/her belief is contrary to mine. All the more if it concerns stupid showbiz dramas. I know respect and you clearly don’t. Another thing, double check my sources? Oh come on, there are more important things to do than that and what’s the big deal hat’s what I heard from a showbiz writer/reporter who works closely with celebrities 24/7. I am smart enough to know that not everything these people say are true but then, why would I bother double checking what I heard from some showbiz writer/reporter? Why waste my time on such inconsequential matters such as showbiz dramas? Showbiz is one thing that need not to be taken seriously. It exists for mere entertainment. In fact, that’s what most celebrities want anyway. DRAMA AND MORE DRAMA. They’d rather be talked about than be ignored.

If you think that you’re purpose/true calling is to be a hopeless slave for these idols who btw barely even cares about your daily welfare go ahead I don’t care at all but please put in mind that just because you think that you’re idol is a god and that he/she is the best among the rest, there are millions of others in the world who thinks differently and tell you what, that’s what life is all about. Whenever I see negative tweets or criticisms about personalities I like, I never barrage them with tons of hate tweets because I know better. I know at least that we are all entitled to our own opinions and that we should all respect each other’s views on things. No person can please the whole world no matter how beautiful, nice or talented he/she is. That’s real world for you.

PS. Also, next time, if you’re going to tweet me make sure not to use ridiculous spelling shortcuts. If you find it so hard to tweet by properly spelling words, do yourself a favor and go back to school. Also, don’t you ever suspect that I’m a diehard fangirl of this other celebrity who you’re hating and who you think is competing with your idol. Not everyone lives and breathes just to end up a pathetic diehard fangirl. Lastly, no matter how much you tweet me don’t expect any replies from me because I am not going to stoop down to your level. You probably don’t know but everyone I know and I are laughing so much right now just reading all your tweets. You all made our day!!! LOL to all of you making yourselves a bunch of laughing stocks.


That’s it. I’m never talking about this again. Ever.


XOXO
TIFF


*4/12 entry

The Fault In Our Stars/Thing Thing About Books

I have just finished reading John Green’s “The Fault In Our Stars” last weekend and it gave me waterfalls. Nevertheless, it was a book worth reading. It centered around the lives of two characters, Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters. For me, this book allowed its readers to see through the inner workings of the mind of the people on the brink of death due to an incurable disease such as cancer. More than a love story between two hopeless teenage cancer victims, it was a story about life and how Hazel Grace and Augustus saw the world and life in general and living the most out of the limited time they’re given. It’s a really beautiful story that once I finished reading the book, it make me think of how precious life is. I thought to myself how lucky I am to have been born healthy and to have the opportunity to see the world in a way that a lot of people especially the likes of Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace can only dream about yet I chose to waste my time complaining, being ungrateful and selfish. If you have time, read it. You will definitely not regret reading The Fault in our Stars.

I love books so much. One of the things that I am most thankful about in life is the existence of books and creative minds of writers who create timeless tales. If there’s one thing I pride myself for, it’s my intense love for reading books. I know a lot of people who loathe reading and I’m just so glad that I’m not one of them. I cannot imagine life without books. Too bad that some people will never get to realize the extent and stretch of human imagination that comes in the form of novels. While I was reading The Fault In Our Stars, I saw the quote above about some books being too personal and special that it feels like it’s a betrayal to share that special book to the world. At first, I thought it was just me who feels that way in certain books I loved then, I saw that quote. I’m not crazy after all. Thinking about it, maybe there are some books that tells the stories that makes you happy and allows you to step into another sphere that’s just impossible to happen in reality  but is just too desirable that you have to show to everyone that that’s your ideal life. It gives you an temporary escape from the harsh real world. These are the books written without any deep purpose but to entertain the reader. It doesn’t mimic your story, it just shows your expectations about life that doesn’t always follow in reality. Then there are books that tells your story through a fictional character’s perspective. It doesn’t matter how mushy or dark the story is about. It touches a sensitive part in your life and you just feel that the book was tailor made for you. It becomes yours. It answers your questions about life or certain personal events which has affected you in a way that you may have successfully accomplished or may have failed to realize. You search for answers through the character and think, “What if I have dealt with it the same way as the character did?” or “What if I try to be THAT person?”. But even if the character succeeds or not in finding the answers to the forever unfathomable complexities of life, at the end of it, the weight of the world becomes lighter than before. Books are written to inspire and to find your story in a novel means you are fighting a battle worth all the pain and struggle. These are the books that you just don’t share to everyone. Remember what people say, that the more people know about something the less special that something becomes? There’s something mysteriously beautiful about something that’s not meant for everyone to see. If a certain book tells your story and it helps you get through life, it is definitely something you’d never want to get tired loving and holding on to so you just keep it to yourself.