Hey there Champions!

CONGRATULATIONS

UP MEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM!

Step Permanes and Goy Valmayor a few moments after the final whistle.

Fallen Tigers provide a dramatic background for Coach and ex-Azkal Anto Gonzales, and #8 Jed Rances.

Photo by Ana Gagarin.

The team with some of UP's football alumni.

Awarding photo by RN Bautista, our 'classmate' in football games. haha

Step Permanes - Most Valuable Player, Deo Segunial - best defender, and

Jinggoy Valmayor- Rookie of the Year and Best Striker

Photo from Ma'am Eloi Hernandez @eloindigoart

SO PROUD OF THEM. I've seen the whole of Round 1, watched a few games in Round 2 (because I had to fly out for Dad's bday and the Azkals game) and I made sure I'm in Manila for the finals. Our boys definitely deserved this victory.

Bigger smiles from Bacolod Part 2

We stayed at the lobby to grab something to eat first. The players passed by one after another- surrounded by police escorts. They made their way to the street party just to say hello and then back to the ballroom where the sponsors, politicians and the who's who are staying.

After eating that overpriced plate of nachos, Mau and I went up to the roofdeck. It was pretty much a failure though because the after party was filled with screaming fan girls- no Azkal in sight. We left after 5 minutes because it was really unbearable. We went back to the lobby. And peeked through the glass panels of the ballroom. The Azkals were there. I told Mau 'Try natin pumasok. What's the worse that can happen diba?' She was hesitant so I said 'dito ka lang ba? May titingnan lang ako.' So I went to the second door of the ballroom- and I waited for some kids (prolly children of the sponsors) to go inside and stuck with them. HAHAHAHA Yes, I got it!!! IT WAS SURREAL. AND FUNNY! I guess this is what I get for watching all those secret agent series- malakas loob ko. I went around. Brushed elbows with Jason De Jong, Marc Nelson and everyone else. And then I texted Mau 'pasok ka sa second door'. When she got it, she said 'Nakakatawa. Pinagbuksan pa ako ng pinto!'

From there we just started asking for signatures, taking shots of the players. I was so sad that Neil wasn't there but OHMYGOD I saw him enter the hall through a hidden door, I ran to him and greeted him happy birthday. He said thank you. I died (duh). And then the rest of the girls saw me ran toward him- and he had to hide again. HAHA

When he came back to the ballroom, he was with Aly. I approached but the teenagers who were with me were so wild, he and Aly had to say no because literally, it was a mob. I got squished- hit Neil's abs. UGH. Of course I was delighted! haha

This is me- after getting squished between the teens and Neil's abs. That's Neil's arm btw. Had to cover my face. MY REACTION'S HILARIOUS!

Another attempt was when a sosi girl approached me to borrow my pen. Apparently she was friends with Neil and the pen was for Neil's use. I SUPER DIED. She helped me approach but Neil was feeling down and bad- he was almost crying. Our theory was he got harassed by the teenagers who followed through the secret door. I swear- wild yung younger fans. I was just a foot away from him- his face was on his arms (like when our teacher in kindergarten tells us 'heads down') and he didn't accommodate the teenagers offering jerseys for him to sign on. His friends just told the girls 'He's gonna faint na.' So the girls had no choice but leave. The lady who borrowed my pen tried to get his signature for me but I said 'wag nalang, nakakatakot si Neil.' I could see his eyes getting red- almost crying. SO KAWAWA BUT SO CUUUUTE coz for a big guy, he's actually pretty much a softie. hihi

That's my pen. Unfortunately Mau missed the pen in the frame. That girl in black shorts holding a beer bottle was the one who borrowed the pen. I think she's a model or a socialite. She looks like Kelly Misa but prettier.

Mau and I left Neil's table, the lady, failing to get me a signature, gave me their flight details instead. 'Catch him at the airport' she said. Hahaha I thanked her. I think naawa lang siya sa akin. Poor me. :)) We moved to Aly Borromeo, and then Rob Gier, then Patrick Hinrichsen. There were a lot of players there- the pure Pinoy ones too. I feel so bad I dunno their names so I didn't approach! UGH. Promise next time, I know them na!

Check out Aly's 'chicken breasts'.

Patrick Hinrichsen. He's super nice (and cute).

And then after a while, Neil was feeling better and started accommodating people for photos and signatures. I got my signature. Yay! When I thanked him, he smiled. SO SWEET! After getting his signature, 'quota na ako' I said. So Mau and I sat in one of the tables and had ice cold beer to celebrate. Yes, next to Anton's table, and a few steps from Aly and Neil. We were just there drinking merrily. haha

QUITE A STORY TO TELL. My favorite is sneaking into the ballroom. BEST. EXPERIENCE. EVARRR.

* * *

Lord, thank you. I'm so lucky, I have nothing to complain about. I could not ask for more. It was amazing. It was more than I expected. Much love. :)

Bigger smiles from Bacolod! Part 1

Warning: If you haven't got time, skip this post coz it's pretty long.

BACK FROM THE CRAZY, MOST ANTICIPATED BACOLOD TRIP EVARRRR.

I got to Bacolod around 9 am and met up with Mau at L'Fisher. We were supposed to claim our tickets to the after party but since our contact was not gonna be at the office until 10, we decided to go to our hotel first.

Glad our taxi was nice- he even agreed to take us to Silay and Talisay for 600 pesos. (We paid him 700 though. Pang 'tip'.) He took us around, dropped us off at Manokan Country where Mau and I had a hearty chicken inasal meal- kamayan style! haha Sarap!

Anyway, let me take you through THE highlight of the trip. We got back to the hotel at 1:30- Mau was able to take a nap while I bathed in preparation for the hot weather. I don't wanna be stinky during the game. haha

We were supposed to leave at 2:30 but it was raining so we decided to let it stop first. We were able to leave at 3 for Panaad. I've been to Bacolod countless of times but never in Panaad so it was a surprise to see that it was 'looban'. It's somewhere in the outskirts where you have to pass narrow roads. When we got to a rotonda, the police men asked us to just walk to the stadium (which isn't visible from where we got off) because cars aren't allowed to go any further.

A little father down that strip of road, we saw the stadium. It just literally popped into our sight. First thing that entered my mind was 'Quidditch field!' We lined up at the 'blue tickets' immediately. A lot of blue ticket people were already there. I thought we won't get good seats but later that night I figured we had the best ones. Those who sat on the lower bleachers originally had a nicer view until latecomers started pouring in and had to stand so their view was blocked. Us? Really good. Clear view, closer to the right half of the field where most of the 'action' took place. LOVE IT! We met new people too- Kuya Jam, a friend of Mau's from Fine Arts, brought along three other friends whom we saved seats for. It's always nice to meet new people.

During the half time, I checked my phone. I had three text messages telling me they saw me on TV. HAHAHA Hilarious! I have to verify that later when I watch the replay.

First burst of the fireworks. I love this shot. hehe :)

Moving on...after the games, we all stayed outside the stadium. We didn't leave immediately because of the narrow roads. Suffice to say it was like EDSA on a rush hour that time. While waiting for the crowd to disperse, the bus of Team Mongolia passed by in front of us. We waved at the players. They were sad- duh. haha But some were smiling too.

Azkal bus sponsored by Manila Beer. Photo from http://azkalsunited.tumblr.com/

A few minutes later the Azkals bus was approaching. It was so difficult to move because the fans were on the road, screaming and waving! I said to Mau 'Lapit tayo!' She said 'Wag ka na lumapit kasi di ka nila mapapansin sa dami ng tao, dito ka lang.' So I obeyed and just waved from where I'm standing. AND THEN THE CRAZY HAPPENED. OH MY GOD, NEIL SAW ME AND PUT OUT HIS HAND AND WAVED AT ME. YES, AT ME. Eye contact, and smile and all that. And I know it was for me because I was the only one standing in that spot. Mau, Kuya Jam, and his friends were laughing at me because I stood there- all kilig like a teenager. SHIT. hahaha I told them 'I know I hate screaming fan girls but all that just went out of the window' HAHAHA

Anyway, Kuya Jam's friend Jona (if I remember it right) offered us all a ride. So funny coz after we managed to stuff ourselves in the vehicle (we were 10 people), a lady knocked on the window saying 'flat kayo'. HAHAHA So we went out of the car, the driver worked on the tire only to find out walang cross bar! So it took us another hour- as in wala nang traffic sa road- naubos na yung tao sa Panaad- andun pa rin kami. ahahaha The waiting was pretty bearable though as we had a lotta laughs sharing stories about football. We were feeling the hunger though as it was already 11 pm. Finally another friend's car came to the rescue and dropped Mau and I off at our hotel. Mau and I just changed and went immediately to L'Fisher for the after party.