A letter to my future child, part one of two
Dear Future Child,
This is going to be a very long letter, so long it may tire you while reading. But I divided this into two parts and have included some interesting pictures, so you will know what and what not to do with your life when you get to my age.
On Valentine's Day 2017, the forty-ninth birthday of your grandmother, was also the twentieth anniversary of heavy metal* band, Slapshock, one of your mom's favorite local bands.
Two days before, one boring Sunday afternoon, your mom stumbled upon this post in Slapshock's official Facebook page:
Out of, of course, boredom, and a slightly funny (for your mom, at least) childhood memory, your mom sent this quite long comment, which she had edited not a few times.
On Monday evening, your mom found this in her Messenger.
She was thrilled AF to read this, but she was torn between staying at home with your grandma for her birthday and attending the first-ever advance listening party of her life (and meeting a favorite band in person). So she texted the Manager** to know if she could give the Slapshock party a go.
As your mom lined up in Forum Robinsons's Department Store Business Center to pay her bills, the Manager replied with the time of the thingy: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Later that night, when she got home, he texted her the venue: Shock Sounds Studio, Slapshock's own studio(!), in Project 6, Quezon City,
Although she was still thrilled, she was now doubting if she could make it to the party. She could not stand the thought of breaking your grandma's heart by attending a band's party on her birthday, a day when her daughter, your mom, is supposed to stay at home and celebrate by gobbling up much of the food your grandma's church friends brought when they visited her. Your mom could not make up her mind, although she knows blood is thicker than water--her mom matters more than her favorite band, of course. She thought of just texting the Manager the next day, a couple hours or so before the party, that she's soooo sorry she would not be able to attend due to an emergency, but she would still get an autographed copy of Slapshock's upcoming album Atake as soon as it's out, right?
She settled for that at the moment. But she was not sure if it was the thought of not attending the party or the bus and road traffic that's giving her a queasy feeling.
When she woke up the next day, the party was the first thing she thought of. She kept rebutting that for the rest of the day with the decision she made last night. The truth is, she was still confused. To attend or not to attend? Suddenly it became a matter of life and death.
#nowplaying Slapshock - "Direction"
Later in the morning, when she got to the office, your mom gushed about the invite to her closest colleagues. One of them advised her, "Go!!! It's a once-in-a-lifetime event!"
"But it's Mom's birthday today," your mom told her.
"Ay, yun lang."
At that moment, your mom experienced the Sartrian anguish of having free will: "Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does." You have Jean-Paul Sartre to thank for that.***
Later that day, it dawned on your mom that she is going to get home late anyway, as always. So she decided to tell her parents that she would be out that night in a company event, and she might get home late. Very late. (May your grandparents and uncle forgive me for this in case the word gets out.)
Despite the butterflies in her stomach, she made her final decision. She did not reply to PR Guy's text, but that night, she set out for Shock Sounds Studio in Project 6, Quezon City--terra incognita--where the night of her life is going to happen. Freaking happen.
What happened that night, I am writing in the next letter, so as not to cause you any eyestrain or some such inconvenience. Till then, brace yourself.
With love,
Your Future Mom
PS.
* I will use the more general classification, since I might get into arguments with some other metal fan or disser if I try to assign a specific metal subgenre for them. Slapshock actually started out with rap metal, which others consider as nü-metal, and their sound grew heavier and heavier with each album. Their upcoming album, Atake, has metalcore, thrash metal, and even deathcore feels!
** Most Slap Army people know him. But since I don't want anyone to stalk him or something for anything non-Slapshock-related, he will be referred to in this letter as the Manager. And yes, I have censored his name and number in the screenshots here. If in case you are of our kind, err the Slap Army, and need to get in touch with the band through him, check out the band's official FB page for contact deets.
*** By the way, my future child, I have a copy of Sartre's book, Being and Nothingness, which you will inherit later in your life. You will see the complete quote there.
This is going to be a very long letter, so long it may tire you while reading. But I divided this into two parts and have included some interesting pictures, so you will know what and what not to do with your life when you get to my age.
On Valentine's Day 2017, the forty-ninth birthday of your grandmother, was also the twentieth anniversary of heavy metal* band, Slapshock, one of your mom's favorite local bands.
 |
| Here is a picture of them, my future child, in case you need one for my biography. From here. (From left) Jerry Basco, guitarist; Chi Evora, drummer; Jamir Garcia, vocalist; Lean Ansing, guitarist; and Lee Nadela, bassist. |
 |
| Happy rocking 20th! And on the Day of Hearts. From here. |
Two days before, one boring Sunday afternoon, your mom stumbled upon this post in Slapshock's official Facebook page:
Out of, of course, boredom, and a slightly funny (for your mom, at least) childhood memory, your mom sent this quite long comment, which she had edited not a few times.
On Monday evening, your mom found this in her Messenger.
She was thrilled AF to read this, but she was torn between staying at home with your grandma for her birthday and attending the first-ever advance listening party of her life (and meeting a favorite band in person). So she texted the Manager** to know if she could give the Slapshock party a go.
As your mom lined up in Forum Robinsons's Department Store Business Center to pay her bills, the Manager replied with the time of the thingy: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Later that night, when she got home, he texted her the venue: Shock Sounds Studio, Slapshock's own studio(!), in Project 6, Quezon City,
Although she was still thrilled, she was now doubting if she could make it to the party. She could not stand the thought of breaking your grandma's heart by attending a band's party on her birthday, a day when her daughter, your mom, is supposed to stay at home and celebrate by gobbling up much of the food your grandma's church friends brought when they visited her. Your mom could not make up her mind, although she knows blood is thicker than water--her mom matters more than her favorite band, of course. She thought of just texting the Manager the next day, a couple hours or so before the party, that she's soooo sorry she would not be able to attend due to an emergency, but she would still get an autographed copy of Slapshock's upcoming album Atake as soon as it's out, right?
She settled for that at the moment. But she was not sure if it was the thought of not attending the party or the bus and road traffic that's giving her a queasy feeling.
When she woke up the next day, the party was the first thing she thought of. She kept rebutting that for the rest of the day with the decision she made last night. The truth is, she was still confused. To attend or not to attend? Suddenly it became a matter of life and death.
#nowplaying Slapshock - "Direction"
Later in the morning, when she got to the office, your mom gushed about the invite to her closest colleagues. One of them advised her, "Go!!! It's a once-in-a-lifetime event!"
"But it's Mom's birthday today," your mom told her.
"Ay, yun lang."
At that moment, your mom experienced the Sartrian anguish of having free will: "Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does." You have Jean-Paul Sartre to thank for that.***
Later that day, it dawned on your mom that she is going to get home late anyway, as always. So she decided to tell her parents that she would be out that night in a company event, and she might get home late. Very late. (May your grandparents and uncle forgive me for this in case the word gets out.)
Despite the butterflies in her stomach, she made her final decision. She did not reply to PR Guy's text, but that night, she set out for Shock Sounds Studio in Project 6, Quezon City--terra incognita--where the night of her life is going to happen. Freaking happen.
What happened that night, I am writing in the next letter, so as not to cause you any eyestrain or some such inconvenience. Till then, brace yourself.
With love,
Your Future Mom
PS.
* I will use the more general classification, since I might get into arguments with some other metal fan or disser if I try to assign a specific metal subgenre for them. Slapshock actually started out with rap metal, which others consider as nü-metal, and their sound grew heavier and heavier with each album. Their upcoming album, Atake, has metalcore, thrash metal, and even deathcore feels!
** Most Slap Army people know him. But since I don't want anyone to stalk him or something for anything non-Slapshock-related, he will be referred to in this letter as the Manager. And yes, I have censored his name and number in the screenshots here. If in case you are of our kind, err the Slap Army, and need to get in touch with the band through him, check out the band's official FB page for contact deets.
*** By the way, my future child, I have a copy of Sartre's book, Being and Nothingness, which you will inherit later in your life. You will see the complete quote there.
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