The following are some suggestions that I found online:

• Remove and replace the lens – Did that. No success.
• Remove and replace the battery – I removed the battery to charge it but I still got the errors
• Clean the contacts on the camera and the lens – I’ll try this as a last resort because I’m too scared to try it.

I did a test to see when the problem occurs. Initially, I noticed that the error happens when I set my lens to shoot at 18-24mm, but never when I go beyond that. Many of my search results show that people get this error while using different lenses, so I had to look for someone who had the same setup as I have. I found a short thread on Digital Photographer Philippines, with some suggestions on what to do.

According to one of the replies, if the contacts are clean, it is possible that the error is caused by a faulty aperture mechanism. He suggested to shoot at the widest aperture available, and see what happens.

My current settings are ISO 800 and 1/320. I kept changing the aperture and recorded the results. For the first round of shooting test, f4.0 and f5.0 showed errors, while f3.5, f4.5, up to f22 didn’t get any errors. My second test, I decided to just shoot using the aperture that got errors. So far, no errors up to f5.6. A third try on the ones that had errors worked fine. I’m back to not knowing what the problem is.

I am a little confused as to what’s going on. I don’t have any other lens I could use as a test, but I’m pretty sure it would work ok. My camera has taken a few knocks since I got it, so I’m hoping nothing got damaged. I guess if the same thing happens again and I can’t fix it, it’s off to the service center.

Here are a few forum threads that talk about this problem.

This year was a little different. I did something for the first time: Run a marathon. And it’s not just any marathon. I had to chose Outbreak Manila for my debut run. I figured it would be fun to go be chased after zombies. What was I thinking, right?

On my birthday, I woke up early and headed to my cousin’s house so we could head out to Nuvali together. The closer we got to Sta. Rosa, the more apprehensive I got. Confession: I wasn’t prepared. In the month leeway I had between registration and the actual run I didn’t even try to train myself. Running? Did it only once and I got breathless in less than five minutes. I’ve got an athletic build, but my stamina isn’t the best.

We were in Wave 7 but we arrived an hour early on race day. The air was cold and I was shivering. Maybe it was from excitement, maybe it was from fear. I looked around to check for other unprepared newbies like myself. I felt like I was the only idiot there. Thankfully, I finished the race (even though I was towards the last because I was running with the first few folks of the next wave) with one life. Much thanks to my cousin Miel who gamely stayed by my side even though I knew she could’ve easily ran the entire thing and left me in the dust.

Zombie in the fields
A quick search on the Internet will give you an idea what kind of run Outbreak Manila is. Although it’s the first one held in the country, similar events have been held in other countries. Basically, you run through a 5k course and you come across zombies along the way. The zombies will try to get the three tags around your waist (which signals your life). Lose them, you’re dead (but not a zombie). You can get extra lives along the way by doing certain tasks, but there are a lot of zombies around in that area which puts you at the risk of losing a life as you gain one.

At the start of the race, everyone was huddled in one big mass. The logic there is the middle part is the safest, as the zombies will most likely attack from the sidelines. However, the first zombies will run right down in the middle of the crowd, breaking it up. Then just as you think you’re safe, they come running after you. At this point, no one has made any strategy yet. We all ran around like chickens avoiding the zombies and keeping our flags intact.

It was hard to remember that you weren’t supposed to touch/hurt/maim the zombies, who were mostly kids in costume. Many of them were really in character, and coming across them in random places would make you stop and think. Screams of terror — along with loud laughter — would break the Nuvali’s silence.

Some of the zombies were nice. One let us pass just because we asked. Another group bartered our lives for some water (hey, they get thirsty too). Some of the zombies just stood there, and only a handful actually would run after you. It was like playing a patingtero, with a freaky factor.

One strategy that my fellow runners and did was to run through the zombies together. Sort of our version of the hoarde. Mind you, we didn’t know each other but it was fun to work together to outwit the zombies and come out with at least one flag. This strategy worked against a group of zombies on a wide space, but at the small, tight paths, good luck.

I thought that I lost all my lives, including the bonus one I got, so I sailed past the zombies declaring “I’m dead! I have no life!” (yes, I know it sounds pathetic haha). Some of the other runners used me as a shield so they could get past and keep their lives. Towards the end, I realized that I still had one life and it was tucked in my shirt. Yay for luck.

I’m happy that I survived with no injuries. No medal either, but hey, I got the shirt. Next year, maybe I’ll join but I’m definitely going to build up my stamina first.

Thank you for letting me finish my first marathon today, and that I ended it with my body still whole.

Thank you for giving me my great family: Parents who tirelessly support & love me, siblings who keep me grounded, cousins and aunts and uncles who remain the best friends anyone one can hang out with, as well as inspirations in life. Thank you for a beautiful niece who continues to dazzle me as she grows.

Thank you for the friends who make up the family with no blood ties: Friends who have been with me for as long as I can remember, friends I just recently met but are wonderful and just as cherished, friends that I rarely see or talk to, but I know are always there. Friends that I can be silly with, who will gamely join in adventures and travels without a murmur of “I can’t do that.” Friends who do not give the advice that I want to hear, but the ones that I need to hear.

Thank you for keeping a roof above me head, food at my table and money to pay for the bills.

Thank you for the travel opportunities this year, the new places that I’ve seen, the delicious food I’ve eaten, the new experiences and the people I have met along the way.

Thank you for giving me the chance to listen to three artists whose music I so greatly admire.

Thank you for the freelance opportunities that keep coming my way. Thank you for the employment opportunities that are also coming up, and the people who remember me when the need comes up.

Thank you for keeping me healthy. Thank you for keeping my family healthy.

Thank you for the cool wind tonight that will help me sleep better.

Thank you. Thank you. I can’t say it enough.

I apologize in advance if this would be an incoherent post. I spent the whole morning trying to find a witty opening line for this post, and I can’t. I still have a “Hanson hangover” from last night’s concert. “Witty” and “creative” opening paragraphs are far from me right now.

Big confession here. Obviously, I am a Hanson fan. Not so huge that I am not a member of their fan club, I skipped their concert back in 2004 in favor of Jars of Clay and didn’t go to the signing activity last Thursday — but a fan enough to not miss this opportunity. My friend and former co-worker Day convinced me to get the most expensive seats in the concert, and while I was still rolling in dough, I did.

My love for the music of Hanson started in 1997. Mmmbop was always playing on the radio, and it was impossible miss this young band that was different from the other boy bands around. They were younger (Isaac is the oldest and he is the same age as Nick Carter and Justin Timberlake), they played their own instruments and wrote their own songs. Not to mention that their songs were pretty mature for their age.

Like the boy bands, they sing about romantic love and heartbreak, but they also sing about life and death. Their song With You In Your Dreams is a tribute to their late grandmother, while Yearbook had a more dramatic theme of a schoolmate who suddenly gone missing. My favorite songs were Minute Without You and Madeline, but I can (still) sing along to every song in that album.

For me, the best thing about Hanson is that they are not just flash and bang. It is not all about the show (but they do deliver a heck of a good one). They lasted twenty years in the business, which is a major feat, and show no signs of stopping. The fact that they are brothers can be a contributing factor, but then again, we’ve seen bands with a similar set-up come and go *coughthemoffatscough* With the Hanson brothers, music really comes first. It’s who they are, it’s what they love.

Back in Manila
Nearly eight years after their first visit to the Philippines, Hanson is back. When you think about it, it’s a big deal for them to travel all the way from the U.S. and be the only concert they perform in the general area of Asia and the Pacific. I mean, the next gig I see is in Australia for September. So yeah, thanks guys.

Day and I were in no hurry to get to Araneta. However, it was already past 8 PM and the seats were not even halfway filled. I figured there were a lot of latecomers — or not that many tickets were sold at all. True enough, the Patron section was full, but the Upper Boxes up to the GA section were very nearly empty.

Still, that didn’t stop us from having a good time. Robin Nievera and his band opened the show, and they were a good surprise. Robin sounds a little like his dad (if Martin ever sang rock songs), but his songs are more John Mayer and Dave Matthews rather than the typical OPM his parents favored. One song they performed had an opening riff that sounded like The Kooks’ Naive, but the similarity ends there. I heard enough to be impressed, and will be picking up his album soon.

Waiting for this
It was past 9 PM when Hanson took the stage. When Isaac, Taylor and Zac walked onstage and played the opening of Shout It Out, the crowd surged to the front, heedless of the seats and the security manning the area. A sturdy metal barrier blocked us from climbing the stage. No one minded the crush, because all we wanted was a close up look at the guys who we’ve been fans of for so long.

I’ll get this rather superficial commentary out of the way. The boys are far more good looking than their pictures show. Ike was very dapper in his suit, rocking the Blues Brothers look. Taylor and Zac were more casual and laid back in their choice of clothes. Zac in a short sleeved polo and jeans, Taylor in a white shirt (similar to a camiso-chino) that showed off his chest, a red bandanna and tight blue jeans that should be made illegal. I’m sorry, but I’m a girl and I had to notice. Their wives are pretty lucky women.

Needless to say, the show was one big sing-along. The boys played one song after the other, and the crowd sang along with them in every single one. The audience was an enthusiastic bunch, some dancing like crazy in the faster songs (guilty), while others just sat back and enjoyed the show. Like a lot of people, I tried getting videos and photos, but I found myself more into the listening and dancing part (plus, my camera was crappy).

I think the boys were surprised by the crowd’s response. Taylor even said, “So it’s true, you guys can sing” much to our delight. He was a firecracker, bouncing around the stage while singing and encouraging the crowd to sing along (not that we needed it). He’d go back to the piano, then later he’ll be playing the tambourine or what looks like a salt-shaker maracas. Isaac would walk to the center during his guitar solos. Zac had his turn on the center stage when the boys did an acoustic set, and he manned the kahon instead of playing the drums at the back.

For two hours, Hanson entertained us. But I guess it’s safe to say that we entertained them too. While the crowd wasn’t as many as I had expected, we had an amazing time. Down to earth as they may be, I think the boys revel in the spotlight too, and you can clearly see how much they loved what they were doing. They thanked us for coming to watch them. I thank them for making the long trip and finally coming back.

It had been fifteen years since I first heard these guys, and my first (hopefully not last) time to see them live. It was really worth waiting for. I hope it won’t take them another eight years before they come back. Even so, I’ll definitely go see them again.

Thus ends my March music madness. I’ve seen three amazing artists perform, and loved every minute of it. What’s next?

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

I’ve seen plenty of toe’s live performances online, but I wasn’t prepared for the intensity of their performance. From the start, they captivated the audience with their synchrony. Everything was well executed. You can clearly see how in-tune the guys are with each other, and you know that the moment one stops playing and is replaced by someone else, it would all sound very different.

It was also an absolute pleasure to watch them. As their songs don’t have lyrics (with the exception of a few, and that’s with a guest singer), you would expect them to be pretty boring live. However, the guys exude such passion when they play, it’s difficult to keep your eyes off them. Kashikura Takashi is a very animated and accurate drummer, involving his whole body as he plays. Mino Takaaki and Yamazaki Hirokazu on guitars complement each other, and get very involved with the music. In contrast, Yamane Satoshi on bass is the most low-key in his movements, but makes up for it with his playing.

I can’t remember the order of the songs they played, but I remember the following songs: I Dance Alone, I Do Still Wrong, Long Tomorrow, New Sentimentality, Goodbye (no Toki Asako though), and Ordinary Days. Before performing Ordinary Days, Yamazaki-san spoke. I couldn’t quite understand what he was saying because his words were mumbled, but I think he was telling us about the song’s background and how it was used to raise funds for those affected by the March 11, 2011 tsunami.

It was a long wait, and the band played for only an hour, but it all worth it. It was a great to see and hear toe perform. Can’t wait to see these guys again, and I really hope they do come back.

Side trip: The group’s roadie went onstage earlier. The first time he stepped out, he pointed his camera on the crowd and took a picture. The next time, he tested the instruments except for the drums. The crowd was clapping and cheering him on.

Warning: Long, rambling post ahead.
I thought I was going alone to the concert, but my online friend Ren said she wanted to go too. We thought it was funny that we’ve been online contacts for a while now, but our first meeting would be in Hong Kong. We agreed to book one room in order to save money, and we were happy with the hostel that we got.

We didn’t really plan anything for the trip. I guess we both had the mindset of “concert first, bahala na whatever after.” In fact, we spent the afternoon before the concert just going around Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui. Around 3 PM we headed towards the Asia World Expo Arena. It was actually quite a distance away from where we were, but because Hong Kong’s trains are very efficient, it wasn’t a difficult trip.

In the train, we saw a few other concert goers. There was a pair of Japanese girls who said that they followed the band from their previous location, and will continue to Taiwan and the other places. They also had various memorabilia on them. Talk about hardcore. Ren talked to them and I just smiled at them because I couldn’t really understand what they were saying (I still need a bit more levelling up on my Japanese skills).

When we arrived at the arena, I was surprised that there wasn’t much people yet. I mean, I had expected that there were more people loitering about. My first goal was to find the merchandise table, but I didn’t find what I wanted and the CDs were sold out. I ended up not buying anything, which is fine.

People watching
Ren and I went around, looking for a place to eat as well as observing the others who were there for the concert. We spotted a few Pinoys, but none whom we knew. We signed one of the banners that some fans had, and took random photos. Later on, we met with two girls also from the Philippines. We waited at the side of the staff entrance in hopes of seeing the band come in before the concert started. No such luck, but it was fun talking to them and doing some people watching.

It was amusing to watch the fans go around in various costumes to show how much they loved Laruku. There were so many girls who were in Gothic Lolita dresses we joked that it was a Lolicon with Laruku as special guests. Some girls even sported braids similar to Hyde’s. Too late I realized that I should’ve worn a white, short-sleeved polo with a necktie. Or Filipiniana. Now that would make me stand out. Then again, we were the “mature” fans, because we wore normal clothes hehe.

We deposited our stuff for safekeeping (mostly because we were lugging around SLRs and the concert organizers didn’t allow cameras inside during the performance). We were giddy as we made our way to our seats. While Ren and I bought our tickets separately, we found out that we were just a few seats apart. My seatmate is Jennifer, the girl from Malaysia I bought the tickets from.

Are you ready?
The concert was slated to start at 8 PM, but it was nearly thirty minutes after it when the stage sprung to life. The crowd was screaming as the huge LED screen lit up, showing a butterfly flying around a city (reminded me of Final Fantasy). The screen then showed a globe flashing the names of the countries included in the tour. The screen then changed to four copper-looking panels that had the name of each band member (it was so steampunk-ish). When it opened, it showed four people curled up and sleeping in some sort of pods (again, another FF reminder for me). The butterfly landed on the hands of a guy with braids, and you knew that it was Hyde. After a bit more of this fantastic sequence, the band went onstage and kicked off the concert with Ibara no Namida.

Right now, my memory of the concert is pretty fuzzy. I can’t really remember the proper sequencing of the songs, but magnetic-rose.net has the set-list (great for reference).

Thoughts:

• The first “glitch” of the evening was during the performance of Honey. A little into the song Hyde suddenly stops singing and tells the audience “Please wait”. Then they start again. Rather than be pissed at the interruption, the crowd just clapped.
• Hyde’s dancing and outfit brought to mind a hybrid of Axel Rose and Captain Jack Sparrow. If you don’t know who Axel Rose is, then that means I am old. Haha.
• Hitomi no Juunin wasn’t one of my favorite songs when it first came out, but I loved how they performed it during the concert.
• I was waiting for Stay Away the whole night and as the last strains of Driver’s High faded away, I noticed three huge, Dalek-looking speakers behind Tetsu, who was still playing his bass. Right then I knew they were going to play my favorite song and when they did, I just wanted to cry. Disappointed that Hyde didn’t dance, but he did gyrate a bit so I guess that would do.
• The solo of each member is pretty awesome, especially when Yuki started banging those drums after Ready Steady Go. Ken’s was also very moving during the start of My Heart Draws A Dream, and the song was made even more memorable when the crowd was singing along with the chorus.
• Hyde and Ken tried to talk to the audience in Cantonese. This is where I was thoroughly confused because I can’t understand it. Ren was able to ask her seatmate what they guys were saying. Earlier, Hyde was trying to say “Let’s rock!” or something, while Ken told the audience about how he saw a lot of Angry Birds merchandise while he went out shopping. He handed a plastic bag to Hyde, who had this “WTF” expression on his face when he opened it. Tetsu threw some bananas, and squirted water to the audience using a banana shaped water gun.
• There was a lull after Ready Steady Go where the band exited the stage and it was quiet for about 15 minutes. The crowd was restless, continuously clapping and shouting “encore”. What I found amusing was when everyone started doing the huge body wave. The guys at the front (near the stage) would start, and everyone would follow. Afterwards, everyone would clap and laugh and do it all over again. Some folks at the stands would start stomping their feet, and everyone would follow.

What an encore
Anata was the first song of the encore set, moving on to Winter Fall. I was pretty stoked when they played 4th Avenue Cafe, which was one of the first L’Arc~en~Ciel song I ever heard, thanks to Ruroni Kenshin. Link and Niji rounded up the concert line-up, and then, it was over.

It seemed that a lot of the people didn’t want to leave just yet. The merchandise booth was still open, and they were selling off the last of the stuff that was there. On the second floor, there was a line to buy various Laruku cds, which I had to pass because I didn’t want to wait. Suddenly, I was tired. Ren and I had a long train ride ahead of us, so we made our way back.

Curiously, I didn’t have that high feeling that I had normally after I watch a concert. While I enjoyed myself, there was a part of me that was a little detached from everything. Still, we couldn’t help relive a few of the fun moments in the show. If the guys ever decide that they want to perform in Manila (ha!), it would be a riot to hear Hyde and Tetsu try to speak in Tagalog.

Not exactly the best photo I can get right now, but that’s what my view is (at least, about thirty minutes ago).

I’m here at NAIA Terminal 3 and trying out the free wi-fi courtesy of Globe (this is not an advert, by the way). Flight’s going to be called in a few minutes and in two hours or so, I’ll be in Hong Kong.

I’m pretty excited for this trip. It’ll be my first time to see the Hong Kong, and I’ve done virtually no research about it. Well, maybe a little. The place we’re staying in is far but it looks great. And tomorrow… L’arc En Ciel!

I hope I can get some sleep.

It’s always nice to go to Max’s Restaurant for a meal. They’ve been around for generations and are known for their “sarap to the bones” fried chicken. My tita never fails to have a meal or two at Max’s when she’s here in the Philippines. I too have fond memories of parties and celebrations held at Max’s restaurant. They have grown so much over the years.

This year, Max’s adds a three new dishes to their menu in time for the Lenten season. We all see this time as a testament to our faith, and we all know how hard it is to stick to the “panata” of not eating meat. Max’s understands this, so their new dishes will definitely work well for us.

There’s the Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce. The sauce got my attention from the get-go, being a bagoong fan and all. I was a little skeptical about how it would taste, but it worked well with the crispy breaded cream dory, shrimp and squid rings. The sauce was sweet, but you an definitely taste a hint of the saltness associated with bagoong.

Kids rarely eat tofu, mostly because it’s so bland. But Max’s Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu is a twist to our regular adobo, minus the meat. Fresh kangkong leaves, button and shitake mushrooms are mixed with sweet adobo sauce and stuffed in to deep fried tofu blocks.

The pièce de résistance for me is the Cauliflower Puffs. Had I not known what they’re made of before I tried them, I would’ve thought it was shrimp or fish. Cauliflower dipped in special batter, then fried to a crisp and coated with a special sauce. A lot of the kids at the restaurant happily ate it with no complaints.

The best thing about these dishes is that they’re not expensive, and each serving is good for 2-3 people (unless they’re gluttons hehe). So if you’re craving for good food but you want to keep your “panata” of not eating meat, give these dishes a try.

Many thanks to Bright Idea Events Management and Sir Bobby of Max’s Ad Circles Inc. for the invite to try these dishes (as well as the photos, because the ones I took didn’t look quite as nice). Babalik ako!