The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in Philippines

Last Saturday, June 25, I watched "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" at the CCP Complex, Manila, Philippines with my boyfriend's family. The first time I heard of it, I am excited already plus her mom will buy tickets for everyone to come and watch with her including me! ha! Lucky ME! :)

Oh, yes.. I am one of those little girls who gone through those times that they constantly wishing and hoping that someday, they can go up on those kind of stages and sing or dance for thousands of people to watch and experience the trill and excitement all together during the show and will see that her audience will stand-up and clap their hands and praising her all together by the end of her number. I have been an active student when it comes to extra-curricular activities like singing and dancing, cheer dancing, choir, cultural shows, fashion shows, plays, and a lot more until my college days. I been a member of school cultural club in my high school days and actively dance in different events in different areas. I end up as a president in my college theater club on my 3rd year, organized some activities and enjoyed perks like free tickets on Miss Saigon play and other more but it is not something big like in other universities. And I loved and cherished the experience, the standing ovation, the recognition, being famous and everything. Why I didn't pursue it? Well, first as I grew older, I discover that my voice is not that great anymore and I can accept that. My mom is actually amazed that somehow I can sing since no one in family do sing. : ) Second, here in the Philippines, it is hard to pursue a path like that unless you are really gifted and talented. And at that time, it is difficult to be a famous artist even if your really good, unlike now that we have YouTube and the internet. Third, I think, career upstage is not something I want to pursue (I think). But still, all those things will always be a part of me and now I am one of those people who can only appreciate and patronize art like this. So, my dream changed from being upstage to being one of the audience who can experience every art the world can offer.

It is actually not a simple dream or should I say, goal (because I am planning to aim this before I get older), don't say, just that! Imagine how much per show costs? And if I am really going to pursue this, this will go hand-in-hand with one of my goal, traveling. And after watching Webber's concert, I really do promised myself that I will save some money and will watch all the best shows I can around the world. So just so you wait. :)

But before anything else, If you're here in the Philippines or if Webber's team will visit your country for their world tour. Watch it! Watch it! It is AMAZING! All the singers are great, my favorite part are the "Don't Cry for me Argentina" and the "The Phantom of the Opera" songs. It is just sad that they only sang one song from the "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" since I heard that there's a lot of good songs from that play. The whole concert is an experience of listening to all best songs of all the best plays in the world in just one roof. I only have one suggestion, if only they could add some costumes and props (even not that grand) just to make every song more visually interesting. Costumes will add more charm and people will surely say that it is like you actually watched different plays in one sitting. But nevertheless, you should take this chance or you will surely regret it, if miss this one. So better, buy your tickets now before you can find one anymore. : )

Love, Love Changes Everything! 

Gaga over Lady Gaga

Isn't she's pretty here?

Lady Gaga, an American pop singer-songwriter and one of the most influential people in the world. And I bet every iphone, ipod or ipad in every teenagers have a list of Lady Gaga's latest hits. Because even my boyfriend's eight years old niece have them in her dad's laptop. And she can do sing with it and pronounce every word of every song. And if you would really understand every word of it, it is actually not appropriate for an eight year old girl to sing. But we really can't control kids anymore with what song they can hear or not especially with the easy access on the internet. What we can do only is to guide them and explain what are those words in the lyrics that are not appropriate yet on their age and let them enjoy the rhythm of the song (which in the first place the reason why they are singing it). 

And because of that, I found myself watching Lady Gaga music videos, interviews and reading some articles about her on the net. And in a snap, I became a Lady Gaga fan or what she called her "little monster" after wards. Even if I will be going into a conservative type of person, I still would like to hear her music, meaning the rhythm and tunes eliminating the words (actually some words only, you know what I mean). It is actually fun and it is the kind of music that you want to use in a party or when you want to be in a party mood. But after watching her interviews, reading some articles about her and learning more of her, I then came to a point that you can enjoy the song much much better if you will agree with the lyrics and with the tunes all together. For me, you will be surely a Lady Gaga fan if as a first step, you must know who is Lady Gaga as a person, her point of views, her inspirations in every songs and some other things and then you will enjoy her songs and understand it and maybe can relate to some of it too. 

I am a fan not only to her music, but to what a Lady Gaga is as a person. I admire her, for being FREE. For being careless of what other people will think of her. Not thinking if the society, culture, religion or other groups will judge her for being proper or not. She freely expresses herself through her songs, hairstyles, costumes, make-ups, videos and some other things without giving boundaries a chance. She is completely honest with what she thinks and what she is as a person even expressing her dark side. And I think only few people can do that, even me I think can't express that much. Rules, government, church, society, environment, media, policies, right and wrong, proper and not proper, good and evil and a lot more exist in our everyday lives and they are already dictating what to do and what we can't do (So much for freewill huh!?). And most of us are afraid to be judged by someone or afraid that we may end up as losers. But not her, not Lady Gaga. And that is a tough thing to do. Well, I don't know her personally but from what I see, what I watched and read, this is one damn person and admire her for that. Some of her lyrics may not be appropriate for children, no doubt, but what the heck, let the parents guide them and let everyone enjoy what a good artist can share in our music industry.

Cheers to you, Lady Gaga <3 <3 <3

 This is my personal favorite video. Enjoy!

Note: For us Filipinos, "GAGA" means Crazy. She is one of a kind crazy girl and loving it! :)

Are you a GREAT father?

Happy father's day to every great fathers out there.

Every GREAT father deserves to be recognized. Being a father is not an easy task and for me, I can say, there are only few men who can really be a great father especially nowadays. I mean, you can be a great lover, a great husband, a great friend, a great brother, etc. but being a great dad is much much different. Not all fathers take their role seriously. And for be being a father is a huge responsibility and one of the most difficult job/career you can take just like being a mom. Some can be a great husband but not being a great dad, some may be a lousy husband but can be a great daddy, some can be a good provider but too busy to be a father, and some may be a good father but can't provide for their family and you'll be damn lucky if you can get a man both a great husband, a great provider and at the same time a great father.

Not lucky for me that my father is neither a great husband nor a great dad. Damn! But life goes on, if only we can get to choose our parents. hmm.. : ) That is why I am so jealous of people who can get a chance to have such a wonderful dad. A father that you can rely on, that will take care of you, carry you, comfort you and make you feel all the love he can give that even you're already on your 30s, you will always be his little princess. A father that you can feel you are always safe as long as you have him in your life and a father that when you're still small and tell everyone that you want a husband someday just like your dad. A father that you'll be proud of and a father that every girl like me wishing to have one. But there is always a reason for everything and we have no other choice but to accept it, if you're unlucky like me. But what I learned is, if I get the chance to have my own family, I should pick one man who can be both, a great husband and much much great father to my future children. At least my children will get a chance to experience something I long for, to have a wonderful family I never had.

Being a parent should not be taken lightly. In my own perspective,
one unhappy wife + one happy husband = unhappy family or
one confused wife + one irresponsible husband = one big miserable family or
one super great wife + one drug addict husband = a terrible family with emotionally battered children
one career woman wife + one lousy jobless husband = a disaster family that soon be a broken family
the list may go on and on, hope you got my point.


So better aim for this;
a couple who is both emotionally, financially, spiritually, mentally, physically and in-love + both want to have a great marriage and wonderful children + happy as a person (meaning both are happy even without the other but are better if together) = then what are you waiting for! get married, multiply and be happy : )

My point is, raising a family is not something we can take back, if we think we can't take it any longer. Being in a relationship is already difficult how much more if you will bring a child in between it if you, yourself don't know how to make yourself happy. There are lot of unhappy children already in this world, if you can't bring up a happy family, don't even think of getting married or get yourself pregnant. Seriously, you will just contribute in adding a population full of unhappy, confused, miserable, emotionally battered children that someday can blame you for letting them live in a terrible life that they don't deserve. So better think twice or yet a hundred times before getting yourself pregnant o getting your girl pregnant, so if you will end up badly, there are no children involved and can just move on with you life and maybe if you can find your perfect partner later on, that will be the time that you can think of having a family again if you got the formula already. And I am talking here base on my own experience (but now is not the time to talk about it).

I know there are some point in our lives that we are unsure or really so head over heels that you thought the relationship is perfect and yet you end up getting a divorce with a children on the side. Well, life goes on, just aim for few things = be a perfect parent (even as a single mom or dad), make your children happy and let them grow fulfilled, continue making a good family even you don't have a better half,  a good provider and never make the same mistake again ever!
 
Life is hard! You should never let your future children experience a much harder life! Every good life for the future starts in you, every good person belongs to a good family. Aim for that one and we will surely have a better world. Love can change everything.

Sofie

Practice Makes Perfect

One of my goals in life is someday I can publish my own book. A book about me, my family, friends, experiences, career, learning, heartaches and everything about what life means for me. I know this is not new, I've been telling myself that too. But what makes my life different among the others is at the moment, I am living life despite and in spite of  everything life brings. Embracing it even the things I am not wishing for, but of course it would be much better if I will just experience things that I only want and I think that is impossible. I am actually a very opinionated person and a little miss know how about life that can make this site as an outlet that at least I can share it with some people who's interested aside from my dear boyfriend.

And they say, practice makes perfect, so I am now practicing writing through this blog. I am actually want to delay this blog of mine until I have my own laptop, but since I don't have my job yet, I think this will be the best time. And I am hoping I can buy one soon already, as soon as I can. And maybe someday, I can compile all my blogs and make it as my first published book or whatever. Writing is hard! It is like I am not making any sense here and I am too worried with my English and grammar and everything, but I need to write something just to start this. : ) Anyway, 4Clover Leaf will be about me and everything else in life. Hope you can find something you can relate to, learn something from my experiences or maybe laugh with me too.


4Clover Leaf brings Faith, Hope, Love and Luck to me, and I hope to you too. Happy weekend everyone!

Love,
Sofie