I wanted to do something fun for my sendoff. I had planned to close a bar or pub and sing a few songs for my family and closest friends. When you have a mother like mine and friends like Toff De Venecia and Ejay Yatco however, nothing is ever small scale.
I never imagined it would be something of this magnitude. Thinking about it makes me want to shit in my pants, to be honest. Then again, James told me something that allayed my fears somehow. He told me to approach it with nothing else but gratitude. Nerves and pressure aside, I should be grateful for all the opportunities coming my way. This concert. Life in London. And whatever else comes after that.
For once in our 8-year relationship, he might be right. Hehe peace, James. 😉
Before the madness of blocking/TDR looms over the horizon, I wanted to thank a few people who pushed me off the edge and forced me out of my shell.
My Family – For never giving up on me and treating me like a queen, even on days when I’d feel like the biggest loser on the planet. Thank you for reminding me to dream big. Thinking about being away from you kills me but I know that I’d be crazy not to take the opportunity. Thank you for bearing with the daily vocalizations, the humidifiers, vaporisers, my tower of meds and all that jazz. Yn, thank you for being my marketer and ticketing manager for this. I will miss you, my roomie! Huhu bahala ka na muna. Hold the fort. Hehe. Love you, my ponies!
Mom and Dad- I don’t think I would have pushed through if not for your prodding, physical presence and support during the international auditions. I’ll always look back and remember that trip (when we were out in the cold waiting in line for food, or when Dad almost walked into my interview with the director haha). Thank you for supporting every single endeavour of mine. I hope I’ve made you proud. I will do my very best and go all out while there. I will miss you both terribly. Please be good and take your meds? I love you both so much.
Sir Lionel – For bearing with me a total of 5, 6 years? I am so sorry for being stubborn and vain. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn’t do it for myself. Thank you for your patience, selflessness and love for your students. Thank you for helping me find my voice. For years, I tried to make it smaller than it actually was. I will now learn to embrace the space and soar. 😉
Toff – My theater husband and partner in life. I remember sitting in Bugsy’s BGC, half-crying, half-laughing as I struggled to tell you that I had to leave Sandbox because I wanted to perform again. It was a pivotal moment in our lives. You were going to gear up for congress and I was going to start from scratch. Whatever happens, I will always be your theater wife. I will do my best to Rachel Berry my way into stardom. Love you, kuys.
Ejay – Grabe ka. You really took my “Break me.” message to heart. Haha thank you for making me realize the potential of my voice, for pushing me and making me realize that not all songs call for pitch perfect “placement”. Thank you for putting your heart and soul into this production and not settling for pwede na. I can’t wait for people to hear your mashups and medleys. I mean it ha. Pag-uwi ko, I’ll be your ballerina. I’ll lose weight muna and train in London. For now, I’ll “take off”. Love you, Ejay!
Andrei – We will always have Rodic’s, Maginhawa. Hahaha. Alam mo, it remains a dream of mine to be directed by you. I hope the stars align and we get to work together in the future. Thank you for doing this on such short notice. I know that your schedule is crazy. You have the Fringe Fest and The Pineapple Kingdom needs you. CHAR. Kidding aside, thank you for being one of my bluerep idols. Mahal kita, shet ka.
Maine – The provocateur, child prodigy. Nag-promil ka ba? Thank you for being the cool kid to my lost lola. I perpetually need you to translate things for me because let’s face it, I’m getting old. Haha. I love you, Maine. Thank you for everything. From Sandbox to No Filter to this, you will always be THE graphic goddess to me. Keep shining! I’m so glad the world is finally taking notice. Love you, Sharmaine Joy. Hehe.
Pauline – Ateh/Tita. Thank you for taking charge and running the show. I could not have handled this without you. There are so many things to think of. I’m getting so overwhelmed as it is so thank you for taking the “chip off my shoulder”, as big as a boulder. Haha. I will keep breathing, don’t worry. “Large na white, Manang!!!”
Anissa – Watch out, world. This child is special. Special??? Hahaha anak, thank you for helping your Mom with this “concert”. Ewww. You are the most efficient teenager I have ever met. Don’t let the world dull your sparkle. It’s SabJoe/Frida + Anissa Forever!
Kayla – Another Child Prodigy. My god, what do you kids eat??? Thank you for doing this for me, despite everything on your plate. I will miss you! See you in London?
Joseph Matheu/Hues N Cues Lighting – Your FB message was like an answered prayer! I didn’t think you guys were serious but thank you for keeping your word! Thank you for doing this for me. I am so so grateful.
Cai – My childhood love and pambansang bestie. I know how busy you are, with work, the hubby and the baby. Thank you for doing this for me despite your schedule. I will miss you so much. Huhuhu. I really hope lumabas si inaanak, Hbib while I’m in town hehe. Can we please FaceTime? I want to be there for all the milestones. I love you, Caicai! Let’s do this! Kiss__pookie!
Sarah – I am so so proud of you. As I said. “Girl, you on a roll!” You and I have been through multiple productions together but I know it was everything off stage that brought us together. Thank you for doing this for me. Thank you for being there the whole day yesterday. I know how sick you still are. Feel better! Let’s do this!!! I love you, Sars!
Nel – Teacher Nel!!! I don’t think I would have survived that walang tulugan phase in my life without you. (BlueREP Shared Spaces + 9WT Teen Workshops +AI). Thank you for being my co-teacher and partner. Your passion and work ethic is something I hope to imbibe. Waaaah I’ll miss you and Sars! Til our next prod together! Love you, Teach!
Oli – Carolipol! The nicest and best in Kleek. Joke lang!!! Thank you for agreeing to do this. I know you’re super busy also. Let’s do our best not to cry during our song? I’ll never forget what you told me years ago because it rings true to this day. You said, “You want me to be honest? I think you’re not given roles because you’re insecure and directors can sense that.” Thank you for being like a sister to me. You are the Anna to my Elsa. Love you, Lee!
Gab – Gaaaaaab! Don’t you just miss me in Clowning? Haha I swear, one day I’ll be Anna and you’ll be Kristoff na. Thank you for doing this for me! You’re my favorite Kleek extension/friend of Kleek hehe. Thank you for sharing your amazing voice with me. I hope we remember the cutoffs and do the mashup justice hehe. Don’t quit na hehehe. Love you!
Bym – Don’t you just love the title of the show? Pinanindigan ko talaga siya haha. Thank you for doing this, Bymbeau. I know naman you miss me and the theater scene eh. Hahaha. Although you’re now making waves as a copywriter, I hope you never forget your roots (aka bluerep and KLEEK) haha because really, we gave you your wings. CHAR. Love you, panget.
Anna – You’re the “ate” I never had. Thank you for guiding me and being there with me every step of the way (as I took on roles of performer, teacher, marketing director, managing editor). Thank you for being the captain of the ship. I would always look to you for support whenever Sandbox work was getting too overwhelming and you seemed to have it all together. Then I realized why. Hindi ka natutulog. Hahaha. Thank you for everything, Anns! When I return, I promise to give back. Love you, Santi, Ianna and the palace pets! 🙂
Robbie – My mentor, director and friend. I maintain that I would not have gotten in without your recommendation letters hehehe. Thank you for seeing me through. I still have a long way to go but I feel like I have won half the race by pushing through with this. Thank you for encouraging me and believing in me. Working with/for you unlocked skills I didn’t even know I had. Haha. Like teaching, assistant directing, or even cartwheeling, twirling a baton and splitting when I did Patty for Grease. Haha. Thank you for sharing the 9Works Family with me. You guys will always feel like home to me. Love you, Rob!
James – You didn’t think I’d end this post without you, right? You were the voice in the wilderness, the Jiminy Cricket I ignored for years. You would always tell me I had it, that I was good enough and that it would only take some time for the world to take notice. Thank you for being my very own “right hand man”. Thank you for pushing me and giving me your “objective” criticism whenever I ask for feedback. Although puro naman “It sounded good.” Haha. No need to apply for Legal Ninja in London. Hehehe. I’ll be back, I promise. I love you.
Lord God – For the gift of my voice, the gift of theater and life. I was selfish and vain for years but now allow me to share the gift you have given me. Take over, take charge, take the wheel. I hate that I got sick and lost my voice this close to the show but I know that your miracles are more powerful than any flu. Let me sing with truth, generosity and love, all for your greater glory.
Now that I’ve rattled off names and said a mouthful, I might as well do some shameless plugging. I really hope you can catch my first solo recital/sendoff this Saturday! It’d mean the world to me!
Waiting in the Wings is directed by Toff De Venecia and Andrei Pamintuan, with musical direction by Ejay Yatco. Featuring Cai Cortez, Nel Gomez, Gab Medina, Sarah Facuri, Anna Santamaria, Oli Del Rosario and Bym Buhain. Come watch on September 10 (Sat), 8 pm at the Carlos P Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City . Tickets are at P500.
See you at the theater?
I AM SAB. 
I extended my stay just for this, my dear. **hugs** Break a leg. Break all our legs. You can do it! ❤