15th Year High School Reunion!

Last weekend was for the books. We celebrated our 15th year high school reunion for three straight days. Yes, not once but thrice! LOL! They say no batch parties like batch 1996 of Silliman University High School. I'm happy I belong to that batch. :)

Prom Night is the theme of the reunion dinner

There's a pictorial area near the reception

Our class president Sanda welcomed us on video

I love the detail of the flower vase - HS pictures inside the vase

With my classmates at Tierra Alta

Picture, picture!

We danced the night away to 90's hits

Cheers!

 

The following day, we attended Silliman University's 110th Founders Day Parade

We were a rowdy bunch, always stopping to take pictures of ourselves. :))

After the parade, I stopped by my high school dorm that's now a transient house

Trespassed just to see my former room

Had my picture taken with the Silliman portal

 

We also stopped by the booth area

Then inuman at kainan sa Hayahay!

Walang katapusang photo op!

Hayahay scene that night

I don't drink. Promise.

Day 3 is Family Day

My classmate's daughter Tara is so kawaii!

Then we dined at KRI.

Seriously, the food here is delicious! Look, empty plates!

Had dessert at the newly-opened Poppy Coffee & Cupcakes in Portal West

Capped the reunion weekend off in Hayahay.

Truly had a fun weekend.  Actually, I'm already looking forward to the next reunion! Haha!

I have more reunion pictures in Facebook.

Japan!

Went to Japan for the first time last week for PBB Tokyo Auditions. Spent the first two days touring the city with Estong who I only met there (he's a friend of my kababayan Drew). Estong gladly showed me around town and took touristy pics of me in almost every Tokyo landmark. LOL! Thanks Estong!

After that, it was purely work already. Surprisingly, working in Japan was the more memorable part of the trip because it made me experience the so-called Japanese lifestyle and culture. Learned a lot from it, showed me new perspective, introduced me to complex characters and stories and made me appreciate life. :) On the trivial side, I'm happy to say that I conquered the Japanese railway system because of it! LOL! Work also brought me to nearby prefectures Chiba and Kanagawa. Sadly, I can't share my work pictures and videos since they have spoiler value.

Upon arrival at Narita airport

Start of city tour with Estong

It was drizzling so I had to buy a Japanice umbrella

Family marts are everywhere in Tokyo!

We went to Roponggi district

Kawaii kid!

Gatecrashed a karaoke party of Metrobank Tokyo employees :)

With Metrobank Tokyo employees

Met a kababayan, a half-Japanese half-Pinoy whose mother is from Dapitan City

We partied in Shinjuku!

Define wasted

Party, party!

Lunch with the boss!

Seriously, this is the best katsudon ever!

Art Fair in Shiodome City Center

Arty farty!

Sandara Park, isdatchu?

Street in Ginza

Harajuku!

My harajuku girls!

PBB Tokyo Audition (the only audition pic I can show)

This place has the best-tasting ramen in the world!

Nagugutom ako!

With TFC Tokyo Sir Enrique, Mon and Armi after audition

Conquering the Japan railway system alone

Karaoke with Pinay entertainers in Chiba

Futon!

Shibuya Crossing!

More pictures in my Facebook album.

Good Vibes Forever!

After 22 weeks (extended from its original 13-week run), curtains finally closed on Good Vibes last Sunday but good memories I have of the show will definitely last forever.

I will always remember the good vibes on the Good Vibes set, thanks mainly to the positive outlook of my hardworking staff and crew. That’s a big deal coming from a pessimist guy like me. I also love that everything on this show is a beautiful work of collab, no big egos, and no insecure pets.

The kids are also a constant source of energy and inspiration. Their enthusiasm and open-mindedness in improving their craft are admirable. I know after the show, they'll graduate to primetime soaps and box-office/award-winning movies. I will, of course, be a proud "kuya" watching them in the sidelines and always remembering that foremost, they were part of the Good Vibes crew.

I will never forget our creative team. They remind me of our team back in Pangako sa 'Yo, very passionate and proud yet the sense of fun and humour are not lost. They're newbies but very talented and promising. I already see them writing future classic drama series on television. Seriously.

Then there's the online community who've always been critical yet supportive, scathing but encouraging. We exchanged tweets every Sunday, I answered their Formspring questions every day, we communicated on Facebook regularly, and we had a sense of community. Because of them, Good Vibes became larger than TV.

These are the reasons why in my heart, cheesy as it sounds, there's Good Vibes forever.


Fish pose with Sam, AP Keina, PA Eric, LD Sherman, EP Justine & Choreographer Rosie


The Pedroza family with Good Vibes staff and crew


With James and Devon, and our boss Direk Lauren Dyogi


Main unit's main crew


Sam and Quen with my female bosses EP Justine, AP Keina and PM Maru



The creative team with Direk Nico & I


Art Department w/ PD Gerry (in blazer)


Camera unit


Post-production unit with master editor Barnett (in red)


With my co-director Nico

More pictures in my Facebook account but sorry, for friends only. :)

Good Vibes premieres today!

Please watch the season premiere of Good Vibes today, after ASAP Rocks, on ABS-CBN. I'm really proud of this show that's why I hope you'll support my 3rd directorial job for TV.:p

Mana Po Farewell Party

The Mana Po farewell party last Friday has got to be the most fun farewell party I ever attended. Miss Maru was right in her observation after seeing the AVP. We had a happy set.:)

Mana Po, you might be a quickie, but I will definitely not forget you.


Melason and I.

For the curious, I posted some video links from the party on my Twitter page.

Hongkong Trip 2011

Trips like this put some sense into everything.


Chungking mansion in the background. (Hello, Wong Kar Wai!)


At the Avenue of Stars while waiting for Symphony of Lights.


The Peak.


Michelle Yeoh, yo!


Disneyland!


Big Buddha.


Cable car. Not.


Ngong Ping Village


Disney, one more time!


Imperial Hotel

More pictures in my Facebook album. For friends only, though.

Good Vibes

I'm sorry for another shameless self-promotion entry but I'm really excited about this youth show I'm directing that will premiere this April on ABS-CBN. :)


Sneak Peek


Music Video

I've always been a fan of youth shows like Dawson's Creek, Gimik, Gilmore Girls, G-mik, The OC and Gossip Girl. I also wrote for one starring K-Pop superstar Dara. That's why, directing Good Vibes is nothing but an enjoyable experience. Cool, actually. :)

Mana Po

Sorry for the shameless self-promotion but I hope you support my 2nd TV directorial job.:)



Precious Hearts Romances' Mana Po starts airing this February 21 on ABS-CBN Hapontastic. It stars Melai Cantiveros, Jason Francisco, Tom Rodriguez, Megan Young, Johan Santos, Bea Saw, RR Enriquez, Alex Castro, Josef Elizalde, Quintin Alianza, Giselle Sanchez and Boboy Garovillo.

I ♥ 2010!

Truth is, I'm apprehensive to meet 2011 because 2010 just ROCKED! True, there were many life highlights. I got signed as Creative Consultant after being offered a high-paying job by a competing network. (Allow me to be braggadocio just this once, please.) I had the most fantastic Hongkong getaway with work and life friends. My heart got bruised and broken again during summer. There were many more. However, at the end of the year, I would best remember 2010 as the year when I finally achieved my childhood dream. I became a director.

The showing of my short film Ang Asawa Kong Si Nikulet in SM Cine Expo back in August was just the prequel. The main feature happened during the last week of October when the producers of the soap opera Kristine asked me to direct for the show because the main director (also one of my mentors) Direk Rory had to go on a medical leave. To say that I figuratively "jumped" would be an understatement. I found out I'll be directing for Kristine the night before taping day. It would also be my first time directing for television. But I "jumped" and I "swam" and I did it.:)

Of course I wouldn't have done it without years of production training in Star Cinema and studying in a film school. However, I also don't think I could have done it without the support given to me by my bosses (Direk Lauren, Miss Maru, Miss Mavic, Direk Richard and Direk Rory who constantly gave me feedback that helped improve my craft), by Creative who gave me the best scripts, by the Core Production Staff who might be generally young but are one of the best in their field already (Direk Rory and Miss Mavic surely mentored them well), and of course the cast. Biases aside, the Kristine cast is definitely one of the most professional set of actors I've worked with. (I need to mention Cristine Reyes and Zanjoe Marudo for trusting me with their first love scene on television. Thank you, Zantine!) I have nothing but respect and gratitude to all of them. They made everything cool! :)

Doing Kristine for 2 months was also a crash course in directing different genres. I directed love scenes, action scenes, traditional soap breakdown scenes, and many more. Writing about it now, I'm still wondering how I did it but if there’s one thing I’m sure of, the learning will definitely help me in my new projects for 2011. Yes, I'm sad to note that I will not be back to do Kristine in the New Year. The good news though, is that I was offered to direct an exciting TV project and an episode of a film trilogy. It's still uncertain whether both will push through but with the kind of experience 2010 gave me, I say 2011, bring it on!