I cannot believe what had just happened the past two days. I still gotta crazy hangover from it all.hehe. Sunday night, we were off to the airport with our church bus. Usually we pick up missionaries but this time, it was uhm...rockstar missionaries! They arrived 12 midnight at the Ninoy Aquino Airport. So we met SWITCHFOOT & for me it was too unbelievable to get starstruck. The reality of it just wouldn't hit me but now finally I do get struck talking thinking it. Were these really the guys on the CDs, MTVs & posters? Was this really happening? Anyhow, we loaded up their gear & then everyone got on. They were real nice guys & humble rockstars they were. They seemed real excited to be here, especially Jerome(the Filipino) who hasn't been back since he was 3. Right away we taught em some new words & took as many pictures without annoying em. They already knew kamusta & mabuhay. I said that's old school so I taught em "astig!" which later they'd use alot. We brought them to the Diamond hotel where they stayed & after dropping them off, headed to Cuneta to drop off their guitar & stuff.

The next day, we went to pick em up again in the morning to show em around Manila as fast as we could before getting to the Astrodome for the presscon, soundcheck etc. Ako na daw ang bahala, so I had become the official tourguide of the group, something that I wasn't really expecting & but so glad it did. From the hotel, took them to Walled City, Intramurous. On the way, told them how traffic was a way of life, explained things about our culture & answered their questions about the Philippines.
I must've failed my Philippine History classes otherwise I'll use my being in the States for Grade 1-6 as an excuse for being so bad at it.  I probably know more about American History which is why I struggled to explain to the guys some of our history. This experience has challenged me personally to go back & relearn these things because I was caught off guard at the moment, I better be ready next time. We went to Fort Santiago. Spent time walking around there, reading the history, taking pictures etc. Now I know about Jose Rizal, it's just that it wasn't that clear to me where exactly he was shot at by a firing squad. So the real funny embarrasing thing happened with me when I explained that the footsteps on the floor in the fort were Rizal's. That it was his death march or final steps to his execution. So somehow I ended up telling them that if we follow these footsteps , it would lead us to where he was shot. But the problem was, the steps ended at the exit. They asked, did he get shot here? I said he must've escaped! I had no idea at the moment, but later on I got to explain that it happened at Luneta where the monument was at. Maybe I suck at the history teacher part but at least the tourguide part went ok.

We had lunch back at the hotel. Turns out they served balut there but only on Wednesdays so too bad. They really loved the mangoes here just like all the rest who came before. We had to be quick because we had to be back at Cuneta by 2. I felt kinda sorry for them because their touring time was really limited, they didn't even get to do any shopping except for the Jeepney Sovenir hat Jon bought at Fort Santiago. After lunch, took them to SM Mall of Asia. We didn't get to walk in  or around the mall, but we just went around it by bus, then got off the parking lot, there got on a Jeepney ride that would take us back to dome. The guys really had fun with that. Taught them how to pay(bayad po) & get off(para po). Even taught Joh how to surf(make sabit).

When we reached Cuneta, we went backstage & prepared for the presscon. Btw, watch out for their interview on MYX, Mo Twista's segment on Magic, & of course Perfect Rhythm & Against The Flow.  After the interviews, they did their soundcheck which was already really rockin & got me more excited for the night! Then, had the meet & greet with the street team who did a great job selling tickets & promoting the event. Then later, they went back to the hotel for dinner. I stayed put to help prepare with some things going on here.
The concert started around 8:20pm. An IJM person came on stage to say some words about this cause which was a reason for this concert. Then Salamin came on & totally rocked it! I just knew these guys were perfect to do the front act that's why when I was asked who would be a good front act, I highly recommended them. The crowd was already blown away by that. Then after some minutes, Switchfoot came on stage & gave us the best rockin concert we've ever seen! Too bad for those who missed it. These guys rule! The crowd wasn't as great as we expected it(in fullpack soldout size) but they were great in the sense that the band loved em. They told me the energy they felt coming to them on stage was incredible. I'd say the Philippines got the best crowd regardless the size.

The story behind that goes like this. We've been talking about balut alot eversince the other night. Turns out, Jerome had already brought it up to the guys & dared them. I told them about the balut club & said it'd be cool if they joined it. Jon said "I'll do it". At first, he meant at the hotel.  I suggested why not during the concert. They said nah but then I go "But ya know, if you guys did it, you would be the first foreign rock act to ever eat balut during their concert. Think about it". Started applying peer pressure then sang Dare you Balut...Dare you Balut.. so it was a dare to which suprisingly later, they took. I didn't really think they would, so I had to ask em twice. I asked backstage, "do you really want to do it?" They said ya. Then I had to ask again just before they went on, "you're really gonna do this?" & when it was confirmed, I got the balut bought & ready. So in the middle part, we had the balut club presentation. I came up & brought them the stuff. Taught em how to eat step by step. Everyone went wild over this part. Switchfoot eats balut! The first foreign rock band to do such a thing on stage. Chad's the man though, because he finished his completely but later after watching the video, I found out it was only Penoy which is less gross than Balut. John, Tim & Jerome only had like half & that was still cool, but Drew didn't have some because lucky for him, we only had four(originally only John & Jerome were gonna do it.) Still it went great. This Balut portion was definitely a great highlight for everybody. You can watch the complete video here. I think I'll make it my goal/mission now to try & get every foreign artist who comes here to eat Balut!hehe.

The concert over-all was simply the best. These guys really know how to put on a show. Everything from their music, to their showmanships. Who wouldn't love these guys? They played everything we wished they would play. Oh yeah, they even asked me about their final line up if it was cool, how cool was that? After the concert, we had a hard time getting them outta there because everyone wanted pictures with them & autographs. Alot hung around hoping they could come in at the back or that they would go out because I was told that they did do that before.
I stuck around the hotel & didn't get any sleep that night because we would take em back to the airport early in the morning. We decided to stay put instead of going back to Taytay. The band was in their rooms, either passed out or watching TV. Around 3, I thought I'd go out for a bite cause I was a lil hungry. Saw Drew come out & so I asked him if he wanted to come with me & Jomar to 711. So he came along. We let him try Siopao & Taho which he really liked. Then we just hung out & talked for a bit. Then, got back at the hotel. I went in the organizer's room for more "Tales After the Concert stories". Dang I was sleepy. Soon we took Chris(the Road Mngr) to the airport first. Then, went back & waited a bit till it was time to bring the guys. Later on the bus, the boys did their final autographs & pictures. We all were like zombies.  I shot them singing Happy B-day to Tuesday & it was real funny because it was like a solemn version. At the airport, got their bags & gear on the trolees, said our final goodbyes. We're sure gonna miss these guys. That was that & thus the end of an awesome adventure. They said they wanna come back so let's pray & watch out for that. Let's keep supporting these guys in their music & in our prayers. God bless Switchfoot!

My friends are going to hate me for saying this, pero nagsawa talaga ako sa Switchfoot.haha.J/k. Sorry for the inggit. Excuse me for bragging rights, I really tried to say these things as humbly as I can. I felt like the reporter kid from the movie Almost Famous. I guess it would be gay for me to be any more happy so I'm trying to hold in all the excitement of this. I tried to keep calm & my composure because deep inside, I'm screaming like a little girl!

So in 1 day, 7 hours, I've been a tourguide, roadee, bodyguard, balut instructor atbp. for this rock band. Not bad. I could live like this. I'm gonna have a long hangover for this one. Astig! I've hung around em so much, when my friend asked "kamusta"? I said "eto, amoy paa na". I say ok lang siguro sa akin mangamoy paa basta foot ng switch.hehe.