We open tomorrow...

So sad that my jorney is coming to an end... but WE OPEN TOMORROW and thats something to get excited about!!!

-Jared

Practice makes perfect...

Dress rehearsals are upon us! It is supposed to rain like crazy this week, and if yesterday is any indication it will be raining a lot more. For now the weather is nice enough, though my cast isn't faring that well. True to dress rehearsal and tech we have a few people getting sick and its spreading. I'm sure we will be over it soon though. You know, everyone here is uber afraid of ghosts and not just like that's scary but like FREAKED OUT Scary... so when Lacey and I told them about all the theater superstitions it didn't really help that all the power went out at the same time. although secretly Lacey and I found it kinda funny.

Today is Tech day... I just can't wait for the day to be over and it's barely begun...

Once on this Island...

Have you seen that musical if not you should really take a look at it. It's coming closer and closer to showtime less than a week and counting! I have so much work left todo... It's going to get done, just like the train "I think I can I think I can, I knew I could I knew I could....". Check out once an this island it has a charm similar to what I am expereiencing here. Anyway Enjoy the pics form rehearsal and the short video I took with my students! Its sunday and its really really time to work ASAP!

Nights...

Nighttime is different here. It seems like lots of things just shut down after 8:00 which is not that different from home unless you know where to go. I kinda like how everything starts early here though because you really have a lot more of your day. I'm still definitely a night person but I know I have always been an early morning person too (that is if I have a reason to be awake). My point if I have something to do them I"ll be up early and ready to go. Like this morning, same thing with staying out late otherwise its good night buddy for me. Life is to short for sleep... that used to be one of my motto's. I am re adopting it I cant be lazy like that anymore! I don't want to be like that at all! Ill take some pictures and video this weekend ... we are going to Banauay (sp?) and another place Saturday night - Monday morning!
-J-rock

The YMCA - Adventures in Babysitting

Check out the Lyrics to The YMCA and you might understand.

We judged the dance and vocal competition for the Cagayan Valley YMCA asociation over 14 schools participated. It was a good time and pretty easy thanks to the numerous times I have had to sit in the directors chair listening to people sing and watching them dance. Everyone was very good especially the Elementary school Hip-hop dancers. It was very cool to be invited by the president of the YMCA to be uest judges... It also helps that my Grandfather is the Former President of the YMCA for all the Philippines! :-)

On another note directing this particular cast for "High School Musical" has been an adventure. They keep me on my toes and on them! Sometimes its like babysitting and other times its like hanging out with some really close friends. Here are some pictures from rehearsal a few days ago. Enjoy!

News...

So ... I just noticed that here we have been watching Aljazeera News... WTF? It's kinda fun, kinda funny... and really interesting. If you remember what I am talking about I mean you should its not like old news... I still want my CNN but its really cool to see news thats from another perspective no not like that just not an American based news company you know?

UPDATE - BTW, Aljazeera... so much like propaganda sometimes. I turned back to CNN and BBC news.

-Jared

So im lazy this morning...

Here are some videos that I took this week, from rehearsal and from our All Saints day celebration at the cemetary. (Nov 1st) Today is Sunday not sure what we are doing besides working on the show of course. We might venture out in to the city again today... it sounds like fun.

We're all in this together...

So we finally held auditions and had our first few rehearsals. Its really a challenge to teach words, lyrics and music here. We have had to go back to our roots which in many ways is really good for Lacey and myself though it just emphasizes the monumental task we have before us. I have found myself giving lessons on diction, basic music theory, stage direction and dance. They do pick up fast though. I really think we have inspired some of our students to stretch out of their comfort zones. The enthusiasm and work ethic of the kids is amazing if everything works out we should have something amazing to show you in two more weeks. Here are some pictures of the workshops we taught before auditions and the actual auditions and our 1st rehearsal. ENJOY!

I have been tired for 3 days time to wake up!

The last few days have been pretty exciting. We ventured out into town on our own and meet up with one of my cousins and two of our students, held auditions and callbacks for our show, and had our first few rehearsals.

Going outside of our haven the campus was basically an act of boredom. The streets and various shops range from very nice to very "home grown". I enjoyed checking out the little shops and food stands on our way around the city. There is a restaurant that is maybe a block away from the school that they call the MCD (i think) that has cabannas a gravel stone floor and a pretty good menu. We tried a few different things and had a few bottles of the national beer "San Miguel". Then we walked almost 1km in the city to a vide-o-ke (karaoke at tables) bar and sampled some local food. Our new friends and my cousin bought Balut, read about it and you'll see why I wouldnt touch it... but I thought it was kinda funny to let Lacey find out for herself. We ate a few other random foods to. Check it out.

Bugs, and junk food

Today we meet with our 2 dance captains and gave them their assignments. Lacey also taught the majority of the dance to "We're all in This Together" to the Alli Dance troupe. Lacey did such a good job putting that together all we have todo now is clean it up and teach it to another 40 people... lol. Tomorrow Lacey and I will be working with the college staff to re-do their lighting plot its a monumental undertaking and I know Lacey is really nervous about it. But I think it will work out, its going to be sooo much work but it will work out. Our main concern now is getting the scripts in time from MTI ... anyone out there want to help sponsor our production we are running short on funds! :-)

We bought a lot of junk food tonight it was kinda funny we totally were FAT KIDS at the grocery store. Our cart was full of soda, ships, cookies, and other things. The picture in today's post was the bug that was sitting on the door for us when we got home. The girls at the house got a good laugh out of us since we wouldnt go in. I HATE BUGS! Esp... the big kind.

Last night we hung out wiht my cousins, AG and Bitoy. We played all the old school games High, Low, Red, Black, Kings cup, Truth or Consequence (their version of truth or dare) and 10 fingers. It was a blast... but we also got pretty drunk... who knows you might get a phone call from me some afternoon! LOL

-Jared

I'm going to be a judge!

The last 24 hours have been exciting! We meet with the director of the Cultural program again Mam' Bing and some of her top students. Her dance captain Darwin will be working closely with Lacey and I the next few days recruiting people for our show. We have officially been granted the rights to High School Musical which we will be auditioning for on Oct. 27th!

Last night we meet one of the Senators in the Filipino Senate and were asked by the president of the YMCA in the Philippines to be Officials in their academic and cultural Olympics on Nov 4 and 5.

With auditions quickly approaching Lacey and I are busy working on the vocals and dance for the show. Yesterday we spent 2 hours rehearsing in the theater (or GYM) today we will do the same. Pictures to follow...

Postcards and karaoke

So one thing that I haven't done yet is send out any postcards mainly because I am here on the college campus about 80% of my time and every time I do go out I usually forget to buy anything besides alcohol! (LOL) and other necessities. I will send postcards though that I promise. Aside from talking about the show I would like to quickly comment on TV here in Asia. Here are 3 AWESOME facts...

There is ANIME on all the time... like the good kind too and there are 3 anime channels! Though I am missing my Star Wars Clone wars cartoons.

TV is so entertaining even if I don't understand whats going on - so funny and I'm not just laughing at the language or costumes. Actually pretty entertaining especially the commercials.

HERE IS THE TOPPER! There are 2 yup count it 2 Karaoke channels! Hours of free entertainment!

That's all for now ... back to work!

-J-rock

Monkeys, Bats and a Musical

It has been a while since my last update and I am certain that there are a lot of things that I am going to leave out. Here goes...





Yesterday after the business I had to take care of in the morning we went to Callao to see the bats. It's pretty cool thousands of bats flying out of a cave to go hunt insects at night. Then we went to a bar called "The Port" and had a drink. Lacey is kinda sick her stomach has been bothering her since last night... and today we are going cave exploring and kyacking so I hope she feels better.

I went to the capital with my grandfather to see his office in the senate and everywhere we go people keep asking him if he is going to run for Governer... what a crowning achievement would that be if he ran. The school that my family owns is cool too check out the walking tour.

The day before Lacey and I got to meet with Bing the lady in charge of their arts program. We also were formally introduced to some of the students. Starting the 22nd we are going to be holding signups for the musical and auditions will be on Oct. 27.

I'm also going to put an application in for the school to join the International Thespian Society. I'm sure there is a lot that I have missed.

Smile!

So yesterday afternoon I went with my grandfather to meet the staff at the school, you know mingle say hello. I hung out with him while he signed some documents and talked to people that needed his help, or signature. He cares for the well being of everyone who works at the school so much. So many people appreciate what he does it was very nice to see. We were invited to the last day of faculty training on the 4th floor of the Administration building. As Papa opened the door it was in the middle of a speech we were ushered in and sat in the from row. Now the entire time I have been in the PI (Philippine Islands) I have been stared at especially in Tuguegaro (sp?) however when you are introduced as the Grandson of the President of the College who is also the Son of the Founder of the college, you are from the united states, you are going to help "enrich the schools theater program" and help them be come a great university, are with a female travel companion who is similarly credentialed, and you are also introduced as the Son of Leilani Perez the eldest daughter, and board member... yeah...smile so needless to say we ended up in the faculty picture for the school dead center... You know its a good thing my mom taught me to dress to impress because despite the high humidity and 90 degree weather... Lacey dressed up to meet with the staff in the admin building and I was wearing my slacks, shirt and tie... SMILE! Thanks mom I was prepared... even though you said there was no need...

-J-rock

Pickled ? and Mangos? I think...

So yeah we didn't really have an internet connection the last day or so. So you all kinda missed the few hours that we had in Manilla. We are in Tuguegaro now the capital city of Cagayan provence. Our room is pretty cool all blue covers and curtains and as the locals say "air con" as well. We had breakfast after we unpacked our bags and are about to go out to see the school. Trying new things is FUN! ... I thought I heard a monjey this morning in the trees too... AWESOME!!! Anyway.. time to explore.

-J rock and Lace Face

Nope I didn't see Godzilla...

So Lacey and I were in Tokyo for about 2 hours... we had a dance party! There was a smoking room and stuff too.

We're pretty damn amazing! I think on the way out me might have run in to Mothra we had a little turbluence. Other than that the flight wasn't that bad. On the way from Portland to Tokyo I sat next to a guy who was looking for places to set up a furniture factory that he will have decorated in the PI... gotta go now write more we are almost done with our trip there...

... Then have a nap then fire the missles!

If you dont quite follow my refrence you really need to watch this Lacey and I are well on our way, we we are almost well on our way. We went out last night with friends and the rents saw me and her off at the airport along with Rachelle and Will. I am now sitting in the international wing of Portland airport. It's noon we have been here since 9:30 and our next flight leaves at 1:55 to Tokyo. Then another change to our final flight from Tokyo to the Philippines. I hope our connecting flight is close we only have an hour and a half to get to it.



-J-rock

Skype

If you havent heard of Skype check out the wikipedia on it. You should all get it and add me, free internet telephone and video! You can download it here. The 12th is quickly approaching! Still haven't decided what scenes we are going todo exactly. But all that will come in time.

-J-rock

Getting ready...

I have my travel dates I will be leaving Oct. 12th from San Diego and wont be heading back until november 18th. I am going to help start an outreach theater program at my family school Cagayan College Tuguegarao. Check out the website to see where I will be spending a majority of my time! Shoot me an e-mail with your address and Ill make sure to send you out a postcard!

-J-rock