010/100: RAMAniscing by ChiquiSita

10TriviaAtbp.

1*  Best showbiz experience ever.
2*  I was starstruck every single day of rehearsal and all-throughout the performances. 
3*  This was my first and last major play.  It happened on the 10th year of being in the business.
4*  A lot of people didn't understand my "leaving" then.
5*  Most comments were to the tune of "but you're at the peak of your career and now you're letting it go?!?"
6*  Life Learning:  Sometimes the Outside doesn't match the Inside.  And when you're heart's not in it...
7*  I was feeling so out of place, burnt-out, disillusioned.  Sometimes show business (or any kind of binis for that matter) can do that.
8*  I do miss the bling-ness of it all - the trappings, the entourage, the yayas,...the illusion.  But my life has its own version of bling now.  One that's more organic and definitely more genuine in its shine.
9*  And I am struck in a way where I would literally give my heart to the stars of my life.
10*  As the title of the song goes "Sana Siya Na Nga" which translates to "I Hope He's The One".  Well,  turns out The One was never out there but in here.  With two, three, four and five completing the circle!

Here's to you the journey of finding YOU if you haven't began yet...
And if you have...YOUhoooooooo!!!

Love,
ChiquiSita

009/100:time to say goodbye

008/100:all i ask of you-a duet

Hi!  Chiqui Pineda for the 100im.perfect.songs project.

10TriviaAtbp
and some Toddbits, too!

1.  This is the first official duet on the 100songs.

2.  Todd has an amazing story to share - one that speaks of the great power of the human spirit.  I'm one of the lucky ones to hear it.  Hope he shares it with you, too.  (Your call, Toddster.;))

3.  This is one of my J's favorite songs.  The Phantom of The Opera being his favorite musical ever, I'm not surprised.  (How many times did you watch it, hun, 7?!?)  I've asked him to let me record and share the duet we made.  He's still being 'shy' about it.  One day...

4.  This was a Take 1 recording.  (Galing mo, Todd!  And don'tchaworry about that "Anywhere you go..." bit.  Anything goes!

5.  After recording, we had painting session pa with matching Nerf bullets flying around, thanks to little J.  In case you haven't discovered yet, Todd is an excellent painter and doodler, too, having studied art.  But then he stopped.  He's now beginning to let his artist breathe fresh air again.  Thank Muses for that.

6.  It was lots of fun having a fellow artist jam in on the 100songs for a change!  Change IS good.  (Unless it's FB tinkering with the features again.  Happening today.  So many unhappy FB'ers, me included.)  I'm thinking of dragging inviting other friends to join in!  Right now I'm imagining some friends sing and plays the guitar so beautifully and soulfully.  (Anna, Darna, Coach Neil?  Are you there? ;))

7.  I love watching plays but don't do it often enough.  Must pencil it in and make more time for it.

8.  I no longer believe in the "But there's not enough time." line.  This is one of the reasons I love the 40's.  Less capacity for BS- from others and more importantly, from oneself.  ;)

9.  I want...need my own car.  The family car is beginning to cough blood. :(  There's oil blots on the driveway.  Rainy day came.  Rainy day left.  So what now?  Back to work-y day, that's what.  Just want to bravely put that one out there.  I can almost see Coach Julie gently and wholeheartedly nodding in agreement.

10.  Grateful beyond words for the gift of Friendship and the icing on the cake, CREATIVE friendships!

Courage in Creativity,
Chiqui

006/100 : are we listening yet?

10TriviaAtbp.

1.  I'm actually getting better at this 'letting go' business!!!  And if you're anything like me and have struggled w/ this evil called perfectionism, this is cause for a celebration!  Bravely left all the 'sablays' - the flats and sharps, darn cheap earphone noises getting picked up by the microphone (Lee!  I know what you mean now.  Fullylee! LOL  *click-click*)  

2.  Lee, my superfriend and vocal coach gave me this Barbra Streisand version (originally from the play "Into The Woods" by Stephen Sondheim) to sing during one of our lessons.  Lee said the song idea came to him when I was ranting and raving like a loonytuney person on email about my latest parenting fail moment.  I think I went all momster at the poor little bunsoy J over a small thing (which back then seemed like a 'big' thing.) 

3.  In true sentimama form, it took me about half a dozen earnest attempts before I could finish this song back then.  I had to desensitize myself in preparation for the concert in which this was Song #8 or 9.  It turned out okay as my three munchsters came up on the stage with me and provided enough distraction while I sang.  Photos here.  (Thanks to Mr. Rene Sevilla)

4.  I had a choice this morning - to power nap or sing.  The obvious choice won.  I feel energized just the same.  ;)

5.  I made a mistake saying "Day 7" when it's only Day 6.  I'm leaving that in, too.  No biggie, as J loves to say.

6.  I got an email from Mr. Mavster (Eric Evangelista of the 100songs's Kahit Ika'y Panaginip fame :)) which makes me happecstatic!  He's given me a choice of four very good songs and since I couldn't make up my mind, I picked all of the above!  Yay, CoLOVE.

7.  I'm going to include old vids, one of which is another collaboration, for the next post.  It's the very first one I did on Facebook with another amazing young talent, Bobby Leynes who plays the piano like a dream.  Part of that coLove-story HERE.

8.  Meeting a dear friend for some Me-Time lunch today.  The weekend was a tiring one for this 2-childrens'-bday-parties +chauffer services+shopper mama. 

9.  This was the same video which was featured in Putting It Together, The Concert and it contains some of my best and most beloved photographs of my kids and my niece and nephew, too.  God bless and protect all our children!

10.  And may God bless and protect you, my dear friend, and here's wishing you a God-centered, courageous and creative week!

Love,
Chiqui

100im.perfect.songs project:005:friday's firework

The beats behind the song~

*  I put together this slideshow back in June, a grateful collage of photos from our vacation in Florida and other end of school year days.

*  I first heard the song Firework back in January and had goosebumps galore ('geese'bumps according to Eric kasi marami) because of the words of encouragement ("You don't have to feel like a waste of space, You're original, cannot be replaced, If you only knew what the future holds, After a hurricane comes a rainbow..."  Amen!) and that video!

*  This was the last song added to my last concerts' repertoire.  According to Direk Rey, we needed a fast song and this was the first and only one that came to mind.  It turned out to be the favorite of so many.  Jawaid loved it so much he listened to it all the way home from KCCC and the week that followed.  Emma, too! (Katy Perry who???  :*)  Although the tweens of Josie and Bong, Marikit and Julia caught on the wrong lyrics to which Bong said "Give her a break.  She only learned the song this week!"  Thanks, Dad!)

*  My favorite line in the song has got to be this:
Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know...

And I know YOU know.

*  The month of June was a month of performances for me, three!  One for the Fiesta in Brampton, the second in KCCC and the third in downtown for GMA 7's Pinoy Independence Day Celebration in the Toronto Convention Center.  It was such a thrill to be singing/performing again.  But I must admit the most 'kilig' part was when those kids came up to me backstage to get to sign their little autograph books.   Thanks for recording the moment on your iPhone, Toddster!


Happy Weekend, my friend!

It's time,
Chiqui