Roadgasmic... and the night I felt like a drunken college chick

 

Last night, we held an event for one of our clients. The image you see above is our invite for the event. It was my first time to be the writer for an activity like this. I'm really more used to traditional advertising (TVCs, Radio Commercials, Print). 

So I wrote the script and some other things. That was fine. One thing I never expected though was the HUGE PRESSURE that I'd get come crunch time. In the planning stages, no one really told me what I actually had to do when event day comes, probably because they knew I'd get nervous and almost black out. 

The thing is... when you are the writer, the script is yours. Everyone will be following whatever you say, because you made it and by the time you're done with it you've already mastered how everything will go. Having said that, when event day comes... Who's to brief everyone with their lines and the entire program flow? Who's to talk to the host and explain everything to him? Yup, that was ME.

One well-known fact about me: I shake uncontrollably when I get stage fright. Okay, technically I didn't really go on stage, but a huge weight was dropped on my shoulder so that counts. Needless to say, before everything started, I was a nervous shaking wreck! It's very noticeable and funny to look at, that all my friends laugh at me whenever it happens. No worries, I just laugh along... it's hard not to.

So, before the program kicked off, what I did was... went straight to the bar, took about 5 shots of different alcoholic drinks! What's funny is that the host, Mr. Rovilson Fernandez of the Amazing Race Asia fame, (who I LOVE... but more on that later) seemed a little nervous too, so we took the shots together. The shots helped a lot. It calmed me and gave me a devil-may-care attitude. "F*** this, let's just get this over with!". I kept thinking that, as they say, sometimes the best things happen when something goes off the rail.

To cut to the chase, all went superb... It definitely helped that I had a host as quick-witted and charming as Rovilson, because when he felt he needed to (especially when something did not go as it was originally planned), he did a great great adlib (he's a writer too, and that helped A LOT)! I stayed backstage the whole time, feeding him the lines, writing on the cue cards... (btw, even my handwriting was shaky) so I didn't really see what was happening on stage and how the crowd reacted to the program. But everything went so well (based on my co-workers' observations), and the guests seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

When the program ended, and by the time our entertainer was doing their closing number, PARA AKONG NABUNUTAN NG TINIK. I was relieved! So I got out and went to the bar again and DRANK LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW. Iba-iba... Halo-halo! I got home drunk as a skunk and embarrassed myself in front of a lot of people. I won't go into details anymore. Partly because it was so unlikely of me, and also because I don't even remember what happened.

About Rovilson, yeah I said it... I love him! He's an amazing host, and actually helped me a lot too by giving me tips on how things can go smoother. Although I didn't tell him, I could tell that he sensed I was new to this sort of thing. I didn't tell him that that was my first time, because I didn't want to make him more nervous than how he already was. Also, I didn't want to look like an idiot. So now, I'm campaigning for him to be an endorser for any client we have that would take him. I'm serious. I love the guy!

 

Kawasaki "BAH" TVC30s

Presenting... 

One of the fruits of our labor for the 1st quarter of 2010.

Kawasaki "Buhay Ang Hanapbuhay" TVC30s
Director: Raymond Red
Producer: Cookie Littaua
Agency: Well Advertising



And... another thing I wanted to share.

We did not make the next one below, but I wish we did. This is what I call "goose-bump worthy". It's exactly the kind of thing that inspires me to do good at my job.



Say it with me... GENIUS.

10 years??? 10 FREAKING YEARS???

The year 2000 was, and still is an unforgettable year for many of us.

It was the turn of a new century.

It was the beginning of "the future".

It was the rise of the pop stars: Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake (who I just saw perform with Timbaland and will marry sometime soon, in my dreams), Nick Carter, and the Hanson kids.

It was the popularity of rave parties: loud techno music, glow sticks with strings, weird outfits, and even weirder dance moves.

It was the year I graduated high school.

It was 10 years ago.


Yes, the year 2000 was definitely unforgettable, especially for Britney Spears, JT, Nick Carter, the Hanson kids, and of course, me and my high school batchmates. 

It was the year I felt I was officially entering "adulthood", and I felt thankful that everyone will stop treating me like a kid. I got into college feeling pretty cool about myself, having that "oh yeah, I'm an 'adult' now!" attitude. I specifically chose a college that does not require uniforms because I strongly felt that school uniforms are for kids, not for this grown-up woman. The new found independence felt thrilling, and I couldn't wait to see what the future had in store for me.


Now, I look back to the girl I was, version 2000... and I can't believe it's only been 10 years. I wish I could say that I feel that those 10 years just zipped by, but honestly, I couldn't. Instead of feeling "wow, that was 10 years ago, where did the time go?!", I kind of feel like, "That was ONLY 10 years ago? Why do I feel like I'm 40?"


Here are some historical events from the past 10 years of my life. Like I said, I find it quite hard to believe that all these (and other things I don't want to mention) happened but it did:

1. Graduated high school.
2. Got into college. 
3. Started smoking.
4. Transferred schools.
5. Quit college.
6. Said goodbye to mother who migrated to SF, California.
7. Took charge of family business.
8. Closed down family business.
9. Got my first office job.
10. Quit my first office job.
11. Got my second office job.
12. Became top 2 agent in my second office job.
13. Got sick of my second office job.
14. Wanted to quit my second office job, but couldn't.
15. Got myself fired from my second office job.
16. Was unemployed.
17. Applied in several offices, unsuccessfully.
18. Got my 3rd office job, but 1st job in account management in the advertising industry.
19. Realized that being an account manager isn't really for me.
20. Tried to quit smoking (presently still trying).
21. Tried my hand in copywriting.
22. Quit being an account manager.
23. Transferred to creatives as a copywriter.
24. Wrote this blog post.


Now that I've typed all that, and as I scan this list of my "main events", I wonder... could I have done more? Become more? Saved more? Or, done differently?

Of course, I could have. There are a lot of things that I could have done to add to my list above... and I have also committed a lot of mistakes that directly contributed to who I am now.

My life motto always has been "Never regret anything". I'm not sure if that's the right virtuous attitude, but it has worked for me. Many of the shit we go through are painful and life-altering, and we'd probably have a better life if we had not gone through that shit. The thing is, though... I've always believed in two things: 1) That to live life with regrets is to live a sad, unsatisfying life; and 2) Everything happens for a reason. 

Now I've been thinking of the movie, "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion". Remember that? It was their 10-year high school reunion too. We'll be having our reunion this December, I think. Do I have to invent something comparable to post-its now? I have 8 months to do that. 

I guess this post really has no point, but thank you for reading.