We didn't exactly come from the same crowd in HS but we were in the same org/club, which was the school paper called BLUE KNIGHT (geek! hahaha). She was the artist, I was the layout artist. Our club is kinda exclusive, just a few members/staff and we have our own room, under the stairs which was both cool and creepy. We often had meetings and overnight type of work finishing our stories and layout, which was so cool when you were 13-14yrs old.
This artist/painter side of Mai is something I've always known in the past though it wasn't what people knew of her then.
Mai has always been more known to be a SINGER than being a Visual Artist. She would sweep school wide (and interschool I believe) singing competitions and she never failed to wow the crowd. In my opinion, she has one of the best and cleanest falsettos although some people have said the whole falsetto is not very good for a singer. Nevermind them, hahaha. Anyway, this JULY, Mai was fortunate enough to represent the country in the WORLD Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA). By the way, Mai is the one sitting at the leftmost in this picture. Pretty Hot for a Mother of 2 noh? 
This is a talent that Philippine Idol ignored, so I guess some talents are just really bound to be shown in Bigger Competitions. hehehe. I wanted her to win the grandest prize of course. But even if she didn't, she still represented us well and she will be going home bringing 1 GOLD MEDAL - Gospel for the song “His Eye is On the Sparrow” and 4 SILVER MEDALS - Broadway (”Meadowlark”); Open (”Defying Gravity”); Pop (”Weekend in New England”); Rock (”Cryin’ “). She made it to the SEMI-FINALS of the World Championships. Good Job Mai!
I know you probably won't be able to read this until you get home on the 29th but CONGRATULATIONS.
I am so proud of you. I am so proud that you are my friend and you are my kumare. Except that I'm such an absentee Godmother. hahaha. I promise to be better at it lagi. Seriously though, I know how much you love singing and so I know that this means so much to you. CONGRATS Talaga! I miss hearing you sing.. Videoke tayo minsan. ang jolog! hehehe. 
o yeah i remember Maila's voice.. enchanting would be apt. and she was always shy and humble despite already putting everyone into a spell.. even the girls (some envied her i would believe). I'm glad she's still singing. musta na sila ni RV? i'm sure very happy with their small brood, beautiful brood. I got to peek into RV's site here. ang galing niyang photographer dude!
ReplyDeletecongratulates maila!
ReplyDeleteI remember being awed by her the very first time I heard her sing. 1 Gray sya, 3 White ako, at sya ang rep ng 1-Gray for the Freshmen Orientation Singing contest. Agree that she has a very clean falsetto, even then...esp sa last part nung song na "Know It"
But I remember her dearly for drawing all the illustrations for my "El Filibusterismo" report in 4th Year HS.
Uuuy RV, ganda daw pictures niya? hahaha :) No he's really good, idol ako nyan e. Este Idol ko yan. The boys are big already. Nasa site nya din. And they are based in Manila, Makati in particular which gives me no excuse not to see the kids. sorry po.
ReplyDeleteAnd Yes, Mai always has that humble personality. :) Kaya mas madaming naiinggit. hahaha
ALL the illustrations? Power trip ka talaga because you were our editor. tsktsktsk.
ReplyDeletehey, I only asked for about 2 illustrations pero na-inspire sya to make illustrations for all chapters. Happy naman siya when she was doing it. And my "Basilio" looked like Lander Vera Perez. hahaha.
ReplyDeletewow thanks for all your comments. wala pang access si mai sa internet but she'll be back next week na. :)
ReplyDeleteRV, i'm sure you don't remember me (ateneo college samahan) but i'd like to add you as contact here kasi super bow talaga ako sa photography mo. drooling is the word. wished i'd started as early as you did. as in super impressed talaga ako with your work. hope it's ok. all the best to you and Maila (i know she doesn't remember me as well), lol.
ReplyDeletei remember you ikaw talaga.
ReplyDeletethank you!
oo nga.. it's the hair ATE GT. Unforgettable.hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteMaila probably remembers you too, because HS was still quite small back then. Everybody knows everybody (more or less).
Oist! Pagbalik ko galing Davao magkita tayo ha. Kailangan ko ng makita ang mga bugoy! :)
bloody hair... well i do have to thank this kakaibang buhok ko that people remember me. naalala ko tuloy si mam daph coz she would call me from the faculty entrance (finance building) across the samahan driveway.. actually scream "KULOT!" so there you go.. everybody, at least yung napapadaan sa area na yun, knows me nga. i really still wonder why people made such a fuss about my hair. nuninuninuuuu...
ReplyDeleteit's the keri russel hair (felicity)!
ReplyDeletekang, txt ka lang daan ka dito sa studio. shoot tayo. :)
singer slash artist nga si mai, hehe.
ReplyDeleteinviting everyone to listen to her songs on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKooPgAeyqc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eREkqzeKvI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLowRhP0srg
thanks!
charing! felicity daw ba. ngek. ngek. ngek. ngiiiii... ngiewwww...
ReplyDeletesus, kung nanjan ako makiki-gatecrash ako sa shoot niyo! kainggit! and i will enrol at your photography workshops RV's... discount! hehe... btw, ang lalaki na ng kiddo's niyo ni Maila, they're so pogi ha!
Yup, yup.
ReplyDeleteWhen I come back from Davao. I haven't used my camera since May. And technically haven't used it with a good lens since last year. Shiyet! I'm using it when I go home though, so pwede na din. :)
@Kang - Wow! :-) This thread got me all choked up. Thank you! Thank you, Kang, for this uber sweet gesture! I'm reposting this! Awww, what can I say? I'm just so blessed to have damn good friends around! And yes, let's do videoke soon. As for the bugoys, don't worry, I have the list of presents (gift backlog) handy, Ninang Kang. Hehehe. Kidding! :-) See you soon, okay? Okay? :-)
ReplyDelete@Tetet - Hello! How have you been? Oh my, you remember the song I sang back then! Hahaha! Did I draw for your el fili? Gosh, I dont remember. But I'm so happy that I did and was of help to you!:-) Wait...I do remember the Lander Vera Perez kind of drawing...ewwww. Hehehe! Sikat sya that time eh. Well, good luck to you! Take care! Hope to see you again one of these days. God bless!
@GT - Of course I remember you! How could I forget you? Well, yeah the hair...hehe! But it was more than that. You were that strong-willed and outspoken girl who led and inspired us to be the best. You definitely left a mark - I'm not just blowing smoke. Thank you for the kind words! Your kid is sooo cute!!! I'm happy for you and your family. Wish you more happiness and blessings!:-)
You deserve the praise "girl" - say it mala Maan. hahaha :)
ReplyDeleteOo sige, padalhan mo nga ako ng list (of choices not ALL, hahaha). Kasi di ko din na alam ano na ba type ng mga age nila Deano at Nico ngayon. Para pag nasa mall ako, at nakita ko, buy na agad.
When I come back from my vacation here in Davao, mas makakaschedule na ako ng pagbisita. And kailangan may kantahan involved. :) Congrats again, Good Luck with the Singing Career and See you soon.
huh? i hardly remember that bit... but i'm glad i left a good mark with you kiddos, yeah, you were all kiddos... all of you na mga ka-batch ni Kang were like little sisters to us nila Rochelle Tan etc, you were all very fragile then, you know. But look at all of you now. We just can't be any more proud. Hey, Mai, pagbutihin mo yang singing career mo coz not all who are in your place deserve the break. Dapat nga, noon ka pa nagshowbiz! Thanks for the comment about my little one. Ang lalaki na ng mga bugoy mo, you've got such a beautiful family! God Bless you, RV and the kids! ingat!
ReplyDelete