The Web Warrior

I’ve been experiencing great emotional and spiritual battle for more than three weeks now that’s why it took me long before I write my next blog. But three days before my birthday, I spent time in fasting and prayer. I asked the LORD to deliver me from my personal and emotional struggles. The LORD didn’t give my request but instead He gave me more strength to face these battles. I have also confidence in Him that no matter what happens He is always beside me - in other words He is with me during these battles. Psalms 6 and 23 inspire me to continue trusting Him with the little faith and hope left in me no matter what.

I learned a lot of things in my 30 years journey here on earth. I believe that GOD did His part for me to step the next level of maturity in terms of emotional, personal, professional, mental and especially spiritual aspect of my life. It’s about time to let my failures and weaknesses RULE NO MORE in me with GOD’s guidance.

I thank GOD for my family, church, WMC, friends and those people who prayed and keep praying with me and who loved me and keep loving me despite of my unwanted behavior and attitude. I also pray for new perspective and direction - and of course for a lifetime partner! :D

I praise the LORD for everything He has done to me and for all the blessings I received from Him! ; )

As I woke up very early in the morning, the first thing came to my mind was this girl I keep on dreaming to be my GOD-sent partner someday. She inspired me that much to wrote a free verse poem about my crazy experience with this special girl. A friend of mine who is in U.S. revised this poem; it’s better than the one I wrote though I added some words to make it more complete but still the original message is preserved.

You hurt others
And make mistakes without knowing it
Yet you are beautiful and lovable
Easily forgiven, accepted, and loved

You’re so sweet
You make my heart beat faster
When ever I see you smile
You give me strength
With just a glance at your face

If only I can hear God’s voice and hear Him
Saying that you’re not the one for me
Then every little thing that you do
Will be worth nothing to me

But if God will show me the future
With your last breathe and I’m at your side
I will find you and look for you
Till the ends of the earth I will pursue you

The first day was quite tiring but at least we slept and rested well in our hotel. The next morning, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet - bacon and egg, fruits, pastries, juices and many more. The day got more exciting as time kept on running. Two purple buses brought the participating bands to the actual location of the event in Taipei. A very large tent for stage and audience was built plus small tents for the guests and the bands. The first part of the activity was sound checking. Most of the equipments used like drums set, speakers, mixers, and monitors were of course made by Yamaha including the electric guitars, bass guitars and keyboards won by each bands during the national finals held in their home countries.

While we were waiting for our turn in sound checking, we also have plenty of time to make friends with other bands. We all shared about how the band started and formed, the music genre, musical influences and compositions, and even personal matters such as age, work, marital status and much more. One thing we didn’t forget to share was who is Jesus Christ in our lives. It was already 2pm when all of the bands finished sound checking and the rehearsal at the same time. After that we took our lunch on our tent and got enough time to visit some places in Taipei nearby the event place.

It was almost 6pm when we finished our dinner and got back to the event location. The tent were already filled with audience for the special Saturday event. A free clinic was presented by Yamaha with Nathan East, Eric Clapton’s bassist, and Patti Balinas, one of the promising female drummer from Mexico. Both musicians played well that night and we learned a lot from them specially “the groove” and “the emotion or feel” on playing musical instruments. The night was over and we have to get back to our hotel to take some rest for the D-Day.

View more photos of day 2.

We landed the Taoyuan International Airport (TIA) after 2 hours flight. Unlike NAIA, their airport looked strange because there were few people you can see that time. The place was quite cool - more or less 20 degrees centigrade.

The band met JD, one of the staff of Yamaha, as band’s official tour guide, translator, coordinator and nanny… hehe. She was the one who accompanied us from airport to Sun World Dynasty Hotel by coaster and it took us almost an hour before we reached the place. Yamaha Asian Beat’s staff were waiting for the arrival of the bands and they gave our room assignments, Yamaha stuffs and participant’s badge.

We arrived in the hotel before lunch time so we have still plenty of time to relax and visit Taipei with JD before the welcome party at night. Aside from the band, Mr. Tom Garcia and Mr. Tak Suzuki, officials of Yamaha Music Philippines, were with us also. We spent our lunch at the Bangkok Restaurant and later at Taipei 101 with courtesy of Mr. Suzuki (thank you so much sir for the treat!). We really enjoyed riding the MRTs and subways.

After visiting the various places in Taipei, we had to go back to the hotel for the welcome party at night. At that time, participating bands were all there except for the band from China due to failed application of Visa of one of their members. The day was so tiring but also very exciting… at last all of the national champions from 8 countries in Asia got together for the first time!

View more photos of day 1.

Asian Beat 2008 Grand Finals was held in Taipei, Taiwan last March 7-10, 2008 sponsored by Yamaha Corporation, Japan. Our band, NaCls, won the Asian Beat Philippine Finals last December 15, 2007 to compete with other bands from different countries in Asia.

I was so excited and very nervous at the same time during the first day of the event - from the time we left the house until we reached NAIA. You know why? Well to let you know this is my first time to fly with PAL, first time to stay in hotel for four days, first time to see the bands from other countries and many more! This day was so exciting for me and also thrilling one because Jordan, the drummer boy, was caught with bullet from his bag! We thought this will be the end of our trip to Taiwan. The security officer found a key chain with this empty bullet and Jordan didn’t know that it was inside his bag. But praise God after few minutes of interrogation with him we were been cleared and ready to take aboard.

The first 20 minutes again was so exciting when the plane started to take off. Viewing the lands in the northern part of Luzon was like viewing it in Google map! Hehe… I have seen the beautiful mountains of Mt. Pinatubo and Baguio City. The plane flew higher and higher until only clouds were seen through the window. While enjoying looking at the clouds, God reminded me of His creations in Genesis 1:6. He created the expanse called “the sky” between waters. God is really amazing and He is the master of all arts!

20 minutes again passed by and I get bored already for some reasons. Maybe because I was so excited to see Taiwan. Despite of the feeling, I have also time to talk to God. Even I praised and thanked Him for giving us (NaCls) this wonderful opportunity that was very unexpected for all of us.

View more photos of day 1.