The emcees were already calling the crowd outside to come in. Watdaef. The security aint allow us to enter yet. I was the 13th guy in the male’s lane before Loverage 3 started to accept its visitors. But I was cool. Actually I was bored that I had to SMS my blockmates to ask their song request for my band will play front act. Feelingero! Hahaha. Tagal kasi nila dumating.

Sugarfree was the first OPM band to play. They were followed by bands that I am not familiar with. The crowd is still thin. The security is strict.

Then I saw Anj who answered my prayer and to whom I obtained my Alumni Pass. This was my 2nd year to cover the event which was copresented by UP Cursor, one of my orgs way back.

Penshoppe spot offered a toast to summer with pool of booze. A barkada of organizers who were also waiting for the primetime was kind to mingle. Kat, who resembles someone from my past, offered me a shot of vodka. 9pm and I took the second shot. There would be no fashion show to my dismay. I was starting to feel that it was not worth to break the curse.

Got 3 of these: Red, Orange and Green. Stoplight.

Itchyworms, Kjwan, Soapdish, Stonefree played. Hmm. The night was still young for me to react. I wanted to take pictures with them but the photographer me didn’t have an assistant. Ok. I’m not used to point and shoot me as the doer and the direct subject. Marc Abaya is cool with that.

Stonefree before the stoneful moments.

Marc making his own mark.

Then, I spotted Victor Basa and JC Tiuseco. And because the backstage was still not that populated, they can move freely and had accomodated their fans even those outside the perimeter.

Thanks to Kat and she offered to take the pictures of Victor, JC and me. Maybe since their group is into photography, they know the consequence of being the camera man.

With Club Penshoppe supahstars, Victor and JC.

My Physics blockmates were already around. It was only then I notice the queue circumferencing the Sunken Garden. Regardless, if they have their passes or they haven’t, the line is not moving. While we’re thinking of plan b, we strolled from BA to Educ and ate our kwek-kwek dinner.

Tambay with Tons and his girl

Erika, wearing my alumni pass. Need more of that!

Upon deciding that they were to retreat, the jumping jologs started to attack. They were banging the improvised wall. The earlier frustrasted crowd now woah-ed and cheered the vandals as they were given free act, free show. Erika, Tons and Ainah were guessing how long these JJ’s would take before they could gatecrash. If JJ’s were smarter, they could’ve attacked by small clans leaving ungeared bouncers and security guard. It’s patintero game and some JJ’s managed to pass through the entrance. They were unstoppable.

My blockmates then went home while I decided to go back to backstage. The same group of organizers offered some shots of gin. No chaser. Quite tipsy then. I was not sure if Carlos, who was with his lady officemate, noticed that.

The countdown to Valentine’s day began. Fireworks, courtesy of Enchanted Kingdom, painted the sky. And rawr!!! Bamboo band rocked the show next. I was jumping. I was shouting. I was singing. I also saw Brent, a former HP colleague with his ‘C’amera to the capital C. I began to crave for an SLR for moving subjects like Bamboo. Ang likot mag-perform. Rocker talaga!

A USC person gave a spill in a piece of paper. It was written in Filipino and very UP-nized (wherein the action word is always at the end of the sentence). The only word that I understood from Bamboo is ’stone’. He translated it to English. Hahaha!

Bamboo translated it to English. ‘Magtagalog ka kasi…’, Jologs replied.

It was only when no instruments were playing that I realized that JJ’s were still attacking. I learned that they got wilder as Bamboo sings. I didn’t notice. I was enjoying those moments.

Then the show was cancelled. It was not announced to the greater public since it would just agitate the jologs outside. Greyhoundz is supposedly the next performer. Another Jumping Jolog Catalyst.

And before the night really ended, I saw Yasmien Kurdi with her berks. I didn’t ask her for a picture because I can already sense that she’s half-willing.

I had to walk from Sunken Garden to Philcoa because the jeepneys arriving at the Grandstand were already loaded. Thankful that at least along University Avenue, a jeepney u-turned. It saved me some meters.

Nevertheless, I was still thankful for several reasons:

• I am alive and everyone else after that event . I survived the jumping jologs. By the way, I was thinking of an application program at the entrance that would only allow UP students or a group accompanied by UP student. Asa!
• My battery and memory card lasted long unlike last year. Perhaps, it’s because the line up this year was of lesser bands that I like. Though my quota of 200 pictures was reached. See the complete set at my Multiply account.
• The event fell on a working holiday in Paranaque. It saved me from salary deductions for I still don’t have a vacation leave. Damn.
• I didn’t bring non-UP friends to the fair. Kakahiya kasi yung jumping jologs. Buti na lang Ace and Kristine!
• I didn’t put up a booth for my Tokikot Ambigrams.
• I still managed to meet my former blockmates even though they weren’t able to get inside.
• I was worried before that my brother wouldn’t come because he should take my pictures with the celebrities. But fortunately, lakas na lang ng pakiusap and stuff like that, I had pictures with Kjwan, Bamboo, Victor and JC. (Huhu… I missed Kitchie… Erika kasi eh. Lolz. Joke!)



• I met some acquaintances thus expanding my network of friends and possible supporters when I come to Kuya’s House. Planado?! Hahaha.
• Iba talaga kapag nakapunta ka sa Fair!!! I love the feeling. I love the hangover.
  Yun nga lang… at the end of the night… (early morning pala…) I realize that What hurts more than to be stoned from outside by jumping jologs is the feeling while everyone else’s counting down valentine’s day, you’re alone.

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