dual*ities

I love Wednesdays. There’s always something to look forward to on this particular day of the week. Wednesday nights, in particular, are gimmick nights. It is synonymous with hanging out with friends at 70’s Bistro or Conspiracy while enjoying the music of Noel Cabangon, or watching the latest flicks that are being shown in those fancy movie houses in Eastwood or Makati. If one does not feel like going out (or perhaps, working overtime), it would not be such a bad idea to stay at home and enjoy some primetime TV. Unlike on most other weekdays, there’s a variety of shows to choose from for one’s TV-viewing pleasure on the third day of the week. In my case, the mere effort of not missing shows such as The Amazing Race, American Idol, and CSI on the same night always keeps me on my toes.=) In a nutshell, Wednesday nights are winner nights.

Just this Wednesday (like most other Wednesdays), I began the day in good spirits, in anticipation of my planned night-out with May8 and Maits. This time, our destination was St. Scho’s St. Cecilia’s Hall, to watch a show featuring The AKAfellas. Although none of us were AKAfella fanatics, all of us have had the chance to catch the group in a couple of shows and were quite impressed by their song renditions and group camaraderie. They were a fun group, and we figured that it would not hurt to watch them for a hundred and fifty bucks. We, however, felt a little foolish for attempting to watch a concert that we were expecting to be filled with screaming teeny-bopper fans. I mean, at our age, it’s a little embarrassing to be identified as groupies. Well, we were just there to enjoy some good music, so if that makes us groupies, so be it. Hehe.

And so, May8, Maits and I made our way to the “concert” venue, and eventually found our way queuing for the entrance. But looking around, we noticed something a bit odd about the whole scenario. First, for a “concert crowd,” the people standing in line were really, really quiet. Second, many of them were quite “mature-looking.” The whole thing was just the antithesis of what we expected, hence, prompting Maits to double check her ticket and ask around if we were in the right event.

Well, the good news was we were in the right event. The bad news was…we were in the right event! Hahaha. Bad news, because, to cut a long story short, it was not at all what we expected. After having to wait another 30 minutes for the program to start, and after coming up with several theories as to where the rest of the audience is, we later on discovered that the show is not actually an AKAFellas concert, but really a culminating activity for a class project! Hence, the “stars” of the show were the students of a particular class from a nearby school, and the AKAFellas were more of “bit players” in the program. At that point, we were thinking, “there’s goes our P150.00!”

It would not have been so bad if the lead female singer (who lost her voice during the show could have lipsynched the songs in a less obvious manner, or if the male lead singer did a little justice to Ryan Cayabyab’s composition, or if a few more variations had been added to the lead dancer’s moves, or if the voices of the members of the male singing group actually blended and harmonized, or if the sound technicians did not mess up the microphone amplification. But no! Unfortunately, all of the abovementioned things actually had to happen.

Poor students. They must have felt that they were biting more than they could chew. But in fairness to them, despite being (presumably) new to such an experience, it looks like they really tried their best. Moreover, they did not give up despite the many glitches and bloopers experienced throughout the show. Nevertheless, one cannot help but wish they could have prepared a little bit more, knowing that they are performing side by side a group of professional artists like the AKAFellas, whose solid performance only served to highlight the amateurish presentations of the students. Oh well. I guess life’s like that. You make mistakes, then you learn from them. Too bad these student performers had to commit their mistakes in front of all those people in the theater. Good thing that most of those in the audience were their family members and friends. At least that was one good thing that went well for them.

In the end, the AKAFellas only did about 5 songs. Quite disappointing, especially if you’re expecting to hear them sing the entire length of the two-hour show. Still, we did enjoy those 5 songs. I especially relished their rendition of the last one, “Seasons of Love” (from the Broadway musical Rent), which is one of my favorite songs ever. It was, indeed, the perfect consuelo de bobo (consolation) for a night of “desolation” and frustration. Hehehe.

Nevertheless, on our way home, Maits, May8 and I could not help but be bothered by how this particular Wednesday turned out not quite the way we expected it to be. It got even scarier when Maits and I looked back to two Wednesdays ago, when we went with Kangirl to Conspiracy to watch Noel C., only to find out he is in far-off Brazil. And guess who was singing in his place? No, not Joey A., not Gary G., not Cynthia Alexander. Instead, performing that night is Paolo S.! Arrgh. No offense to Paolo fans, but he just isn’t our type of performer. So, instead of paying P 150.00 for the entrance fee only to squirm on our seats, we chose to take off to Tapika, where MYMP was playing. Not exactly our type either, but for us, it was at least a little better than the other alternative.

Needless to say, Maits and Kangirl (who are true blue followers of Noel C.) really felt frustrated that night, so as to label it a “Loser Wednesday.” As for me, I did think we were unlucky then, but never really gave it further thought. Until this Wednesday, that is. When our plans got frustrated a second time around. On the third day of the week.

I am not a particularly superstitious person. But boy, it sure does bother me that my winner Wednesdays are fast becoming “loser” ones. Harhar. Deep down, however, I know that that will not happen as long as I’m in the presence of friends who I could laugh and nitpick with.=) To adapt the old adage, no Wednesday (or any day for that matter) could be too unlucky or boring for me, as long as I’m with good company.

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P.S. The moral(s) of the story: (1) Think twice before going out on a
Wednesday; and (2) If you want to see The AKAFellas perform, just catch them
at DISH. Mwahaha!

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i love wednesdays too! just because its the middle of the week. ewan lang. masaya.

hope the next wednesday is lucky na. :)

-anj

groupie! groupie! groupie!

ay, ako nga pala ang sinabihan niyan. anyway, see you again wednesday?

anj, wednesday girls nga tayo. lalo na ikaw.=)

may8, so patulan natin invitation ni kangirl? i don't think she knows of our recent "loser wednesday" experience yet. baka magbago pa isip nya. hehe.

let's make it a winner wednesday!!! or let's make it a "loser wednesday club" if the bad luck persists :) anj, if you're here by then, sama ka (like i have the power to make aya, mwehehe)

and i mentioned the gig to reg already. she was profuse with apologies :)