“Do you remember the 21st night of September”
The song starts...
“Love was changing the mind of
pretenders
While chasing the night away”
..and it goes on
I just love the song from the
time Colton Dixon sang it. It’s a perfect song to reminisce not only this
year’s September but for the previous years as well. But hey, I am not here to
talk about the song by Earth Wind and Fire but rather to share an unforgettable
experience of being a Blujay. And to answer the question, yes, I can vividly
remember that night, not only that specific night but all those moments.
Due to impulsivity I traveled
all the way from Ilocos just to take my chances of being able to see, if not
really meet Jessica Sanchez. I kinda promised myself during the AI Season 11 that
I’d meet her someday. Well that someday came sooner than I expected when they
brought the Idol Live tour back in the Philippines. Imagine the hype after she
tweeted me “Really? That’s crazy. Looking forward to meeting you :) Love you!”
when I told her what’s a 9 hour travel compared to seeing her last September 14.
I am one crazy fan, right (my mom thought so, LOL)? I prayed so hard to God
that I’d be able to see, meet and hug her, not only for
myself but for my bubby
love Chin.
Chin was my
Blujay better half and I know that it could have been much more awesome if she
was there with me fangirling, screaming our hearts out and making the most out
of every given moment. Though Chin wasn't with me then, I thank her for all the
motivations and support. And thanks to PX, Danda and especially Loren (who
was with me all throughout my crazy “Jayscapade”) for everything. I could have
not done it without them.
So let’s go back to the 19th
of September when I arrived in Manila. The only planned activity then for the
day was to be at the autograph session of the Idols in Eastwood. I knew that we
wouldn’t have enough time to talk to them but it was worth the risk. It’s the
only chance I had, to be close to her and I didn't want to waste it because
it’d be unforgivable. Eastwood wasn't just a step away from us then. We didn't just ride the LRTs, and chased empty cabs but we walked from one station to the
other, ran, climbed stairs two steps at a time and agonized in those moments of
waiting as I whispered a lot of prayers and crossed my fingers. It was one hell
of an Amazing Race before we finally secured ourselves a slot for the
quick autograph session. We had no clue at all that waiting for them to arrive
was longer than the chance we'd have to mingle with them. But still it was one
awesome experience. The moment Jessica, Deandre, Heejun, Erika and Elise
stepped into the platform the crowd went crazy. Aside from the fact that the
view from the side wasn't at all pleasant, those who didn’t even buy an album started
swarming like bees because the barricades were already useless. I got so
annoyed that I also pushed my way to the front to see her up close. I tried to
catch Jessica’s attention by madly waving my printed material (which I do hope
she really remembered since some friends already gave her a copy of that photo twice
and we bugged her for so long about it). Those seconds her eyes bored into mine
were priceless because I never thought she’d notice me. When my time came for
the signing I was still confused on qhat I’d have uhem signed. So u just handed
tuem the poster for AI tour. I was quite surprised coz things were so fast the
moment I turned it in. Elise was just beautiful, I didn’t notice Deandre that
much coz I was talking to Erika (I have always loved her personality, she’s
really cool). Then came Jessica and I completely forgot about Heejun. She just
took my breath and thoughts away. That’s when she first hugged me. (It was like
a dream) I was in bliss. At the end of the day, i had that crazy feeling of
happiness and apathy at the same time. I didn’t know why, maybe due to
tiredness but it was indeed a fantastic night.
I missed the Alabang Town Center
event the next day because it was just far, we’re really tired, we slept so
late and woke up late as well. But people kept saying that the event there was
far better than the one in Eastwood. While me, Danda, Jen and Loren spent the
remainder of our day strolling at Trinoma and SM North Edsa. We also checked if
tickets were still available for the American Idol Concert the next day but
we’re too late. All tickets were sold out. How unfortunate. I still didn’t have
one.
The day of the concert came (September
21). Our plan was to purchase General Admission tickets since we already saw
them in person and we just wanted to hear them sing live. Though in my heart I wanted
another moment, just one moment to be able to meet Jay again and have her sign
my sketch for I forgot to show it to her back in Eastwood. We were in the venue
almost 5 hours before the concert (if scalpers were our only chance that day we’d
grab it as long as it’s a gen ad ticket) As the time drew near for the concert
to start, when it seemed like all hope is gone, the ticket office started to
sell concert tickets again(only upper box) because a lot of people hoped they
could still get a last minute ticket to witness the idols perform live (I guess
it was because of Jessica coz that’s what I kept hearing that day). All I can
say now is, God is so great, He gave me and Loren a chance to watch the show
(which meant He made Gen Ad tickets available). Much thanks as well to Danda who never left us until we got hold of our tickets. It was really a great show
although I failed to realize it sooner that the camera had no memory card
because i left it on Lao’s laptop and I just took a video of the performances
using my phone. I was still glad I didn’t let it pass.
Remember my wish of another moment with Jessica? It happened last September 25, 2012 when she had
her Bench Endorsement at the Mall of Asia and I was with Lao. We got another
chance to talk to Jay, hug her, give her stuffs (I just showed her my sketch because
it’s not allowed to be signed and she told me “Awww you’re so sweet” and gave me
another hug to cherish). But in the end, I had to give the sketch (well in a
really different and memorable way =P) because it felt nonsense she has nothing
to remember about me. I gave the sketch to her mom and grandmother before they left.
I crazily knocked on their car window while people watched me, showed the sketch I have, and her mom gladly
opened it. I was shaking as I handed them the sketch and blabbed about things. When
they closed the car window I didn’t budge. I just watched them gaze at my drawing with those genuine smiles painted on their faces until they left (it actually
made me feel proud). Now isn't that one unforgettable way to be remembered?
LOL.
(If my memory serves me well I was at the Mall of Asia (The
Bay) the same day but just a year ago with Lem, Nikko and Lao. It was drizzling and we walked and ate fried ice cream.)
So there... I just gave you a glimpse of my
Jayscapade. It will take a really long article if I placed all the details
here. I'll just keep them in my memory and play it over and over again. At the
end of my blujay adventure despite the setbacks we had, I am still lucky.
Sometimes when we want something, God has another way of giving
it to us. It could be a little lesser than what you expected or even much more.
God has been so great to me, to us. And I am very much grateful for He never failed; He gave me exactly what i asked.
xoxo
i like the fact that it's detailed :)
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