The Web Warrior

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.