Kontrakultura: A Date with Destiny (UP Fair 2012)

I was really not in to UP Fair this year, but gym-mates Crimson and Edgar made the case that one night is fine. and since I really don't have anything better to do on a Wednesday night (thesis aside), I decided to go.

Kontrakultura: A Date with Destiny

These are my observations for this year's Fair.

• Less Aggressive Publicity - in the previous years, you would really know that it is Fair season. Fliers broadcasting the event reach as far as Recto (even Niog, Bacoor). You can even smell it in the air. Promotion shifted online, though.
• "Inspirational" nights - I have yet to confirm this, but this is the first time that Christian Organizations bid for a night (2 nights, actually), bringing their own flavor of performance choices.
• Booths - There is a 'Mercato' feel in the food stall area. Milk Tea is in and UP Fair is not an excemption, with Moonleaf, Etchetera, and Bubbatealicious leading the helm. Chic-boy, Manang's Chicken and Juan Isawan were present. The videoke booths were absent, maybe because WOW is co-presenting. Less wall climbing and more rides like the flyer and the Space Lab. No Marriage booth :(
• Trends - Less Jumping Jologs (JJs) and JJ Sk8rbois. And thanks to 'Tangled',the attack of the Sky Lanterns! Photobooths! No Scantily-dressed Frenzy Girls and condom games, as well as those swaying cloth towers. 
• Security - Better this year, visible guards, brand new fences. 

I was sold to the idea that Gary V. will perform for two hours, albeit very early by UP Fair standards (8-10pm, the stars usually perform at 11am the earliest). I have some reservations, though, that it will be like an A.S.A.P/Sunday Service crossover, but it turned out quite good.

UP FAIR ON

Bought my ticket on-site and was amazed by how fast I was able to secure a ticket and get inside amid the sea of people outside, a testament of how organized they are at the entry/exit points. Quest was playing when I got in to start booth and freebie hopping (Free Globe SIM and URC Products, 25+10 Globe Load promo, etc). I ended up trying Manang's Chicken for the first time and concluded that BonChon is still the chicken to beat in the Soy Garlic Category. As I finished dinner, Gary V. performed!

I rushed in to secure a spot in the JJ area, readying to be mesmerized by his performance. Sure, we see him every week on ASAP, and I happen to attend one of his solo concerts, but Gary V. in Sunken Garden is one for the annals of UP Fair. He said that he will sing songs that 'touch the heart, the soul, and keeps me going'. He started off with Hataw Na and SaYaweh, with the crowd motionless - either stunned or in an awkward position to groove with the upbeat inspirational song. he followed it up with a back2back2back2back performance of his Kapamilya teleserye themesong hits "Tayong Dalawa/Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo/Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin/Sana Maulit Muli". The mood then changed as he told the story of the lowest point of his life (and the apparent end of his burgeoning career) - the then unborn baby Paolo. This turnaround turned to be a blessing, and as he welcomed his eldest, the testimonial ended with a Beatles Medley 'Yesterday/Come Together'. He then preached about how God changed his life as he sang 'I Will be Here', 'Lead me Lord' and 'Take me out of the Dark'. He did a dance number with his son in the rhythm of 'Shout for Joy', complete with walking sticks as props, as a proper end to the party.

The afterparty did not disappoint, but it was marred by long dead air, absence of  hosts, and technical difficulties. highlights include the community Videoke singing of 'Firework' and 'Price Tag' courtesy of WOW Magic Sing, the marriage proposal onstage (I died!), the spontaneous stand-up comedy ala 'I Object!' using the lyric sheet stand as props, the technically challenged Barbie Almalbis performance,  the 'new look and outlook' Kitchie Nadal, the 200 wpm performance of Gloc9, Spongecola II, Gracenote, and Yeng Constantino.

Edgar was particularly happy with his last UP Fair as a student, and was rewarded with a tweet reply from Mr. Pure Energy himself.

One Happy Jiggly

Dondie meanwhile was happy to claim his prize from an online contest, at the expense of Judd - 2 drinks from Etcetera.

Happy Dondie!

Me, Lingling, Dondie, Kelsey

LAST UP FAIR AS A STUDENT (CROSS FINGERS) - CHECK!

[REPOST] : A Fair to Remember

I will repost the Inquirer Article about last year's UP Fair. I was ambushed during the fair and was asked questions.

From: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/2bu/2bu/view/20110226-322248/A-UP-Fair-to-remember

A UP Fair to rememberCate de Leon 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

February 26, 2011 

More than the sing-alongs or food tripping, this year’s fair will be remembered for the bittersweet goodbye to the well-loved UP band, Sugarfree
THE ANNUAL University of the Philippines (UP) fair welcomed thousands of students and graduates for a five-night concert, featuring the best artists in the local scene, as well as some homegrown bands.

“The smell of roasting isaw, the parade of bands onstage, and the rickety rides will always be experiences worth remembering and reliving,” says medicine student Krisha Borromeo of her UP Fair experience.

“Picture yourself singing along to your favorite OPM songs with good friends, under the stars. The night seemed limitless,” she says.

DLSU Manila graduate Jon Choi recalls rushing to his first-ever UP Fair. “I was on the phone with a UP friend who was screaming in excitement that Urbandub was beginning their set,” he says.

Ten minutes later, he arrived as the band was playing their second song. “I hope next year’s is just as memorable,” he says.

What else to enjoy

There are carnival rides, rock-climbing walls and numerous booths where one can get food, clothes, bags, tattoos, all sorts of trinkets, and even travel packages for really cheap prices.

“You have to know what to enjoy,” said Chris Ng, broadcast communication major at UP Diliman, who doesn’t go to UP for the bands, but for the food.

“Food tastes different in the atmosphere of a fair. I just walk around and try everything: the grilled corn, grilled squid, the Mongolian bowls. I found a stall that sells buko pandan. All the food I want is in one place, and it’s all so cheap!” Ng says.

Ng even found himself touring his Korean friends on the campus. He encouraged them to try the Pinoy street food.

Sugarfree’s last UP Fair

Electrical engineering student Philip Martinez looks forward to bumping into the people who were part of his UP life every year.

This year, though, was extra special. “We sang our hearts out with Sugarfree for the last time,” Martinez says. This year’s UP Fair was particularly poignant, since it was Sugarfree’s final performance at the fair before they disband.
Ivan Saldajeno, mathematics major at UP Los Baños, narrated his experience of joining Basagan, the first-ever rap battle tournament at the UPLB Fair, which took place simultaneously with the one in Diliman.

“Even though I lost, it was a fun learning experience that I will cherish as I venture into the mainstream rap battle league Flip Shop,” Saldajeno says.

He continues: “The most memorable event, however, was Sugarfree’s final concert at UPLB last Friday. It was rocking yet emotional. Just before sunrise, a flurry of Facebook posts, Tweets, Plurks, and even Tumbleblogs that featured the band headed by Ebe Dancel (a proud eLBizen) filled cyberspace. Our fair was the most memorable so far, and it should be more memorable next year.”

Ateneo law student Christian Rillera attended the fair just to catch Sugarfree for the last time.

“I posted a Facebook status before going to the fair that night asking what time Sugarfee was going to perform. Sir Jalton Taguibao (the bassist of Sugarfree) posted a comment saying they were going to perform at around 12. Now, Sir Jal and I have not personally met, but I added him on FB because he is a UP Association of Political Science Majors (APSM) alumnus, like me. After they performed I went backstage to introduce myself to Sir Jal and ask for his autograph. He said, ‘O, Christian!’ And I was like, oh my God he knows me! He even asked me how I was doing in law school,” says Rillera.

Sugarfree sang their most popular songs, such as “Prom,” “Mariposa,” “Overdrive” (by the Eraserheads), “Burnout,” “Hari ng Sablay" and “Tulog Na.”

Rillera recalled the experience: “While they were singing ‘Tulog Na,’ they asked the crowd to wave goodbye.”

©2011 www.inquirer.net all rights reserved

Valentine's Day

Vulgarly stating that I
am not bitter.
Lame
excuse for
not having to deal with
the fact that
I
never had you.
Every other moment I
still think of that
day I reckoned that I
actually loved
You