folk festival

I was able to attend the Mission Folk Music Festival with some friends yesterday. It was held in Mission, about an hour's drive away. It's a city on the far east of Vancouver (I think). Anyway, it was my first time to drive in a highway! Hindi ko alam san ko kinuha ang lakas ng loob para magdrive sa isang highway dito.

So the Mission Folk Music Festival is a yearly festival that's been running for over 21 years. It's a weekend event and people go there just to relax and see different acts perform. Some even stay there for camping. I don't have pictures as I don't have any camera here, but one of my friend did bring his camera. Check it out here.

They setup the festival in such a way that there are three small stages, and one main stage. The main stage opens after 5:30 pm I think, but the small stages play a lot of different acts from noon time until main stage opens.

What's interesting about this event, for me that is, is that it's the first time I saw these people, gather in this park, and they are all so relaxed. They just bring their chairs, blankets, and watch. Some are even barefooted! The place is nice, weather is cool, and the people who attend it are really followers of the event. I even got to talk to a lady, who has been attending the event for almost 20 years. Then there's this other lady that has been volunteering for over 17 years already. This event is part of their lives.

In terms of the shows itself, I really enjoyed one act I was able to watch. It's a body percussion type of show, where there were three groups and 1 guy, who made music by just doing various sounds, using as simple as clapping and stopping, and voice blending. It was pretty nice. And the other guy, he can beat box and play so many different sounds.

All in all, this event goes down to my experience memories as one of the most interesting experiences I've had so far. It was a what I can call, a breath of fresh air.

bleed

naisama ko yung isang super dark jeans ko sa isang set of labada ko.
Nag bleed. Buti na lang ang apektado yung isang shirt lang, at isang kitchen na pamunas. The rest mga medyas lang at yung iba dark naman. Hayy

Living alone for a month

Starting tomorrow morning, I will be living all alone, by myself at my aunt's place here in Vancouver. The Ng Family is having a great big reunion in the Philippines this weekend and they're leaving tonight. Bad timing since I will be the only one who'll be missing the great reunion. Everyone from Canada is going to the Philippines to celebrate our Grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. Oh well. It's sad. But I just try to look at it at a different perspective - that I get to live alone for a month, which will be a great learning experience for me.

In fact, being here for a couple of weeks, I already learned how to wash my clothes, learned how to cook rice, clean the house, etc. In the Philippines, I don't do household chores. But here, I'm doing all those things! Hard, but it's something I believe any person should eventually learn.

My aunts have prepared a lot of stuff, food and everything for me. I think majority of them (and my mother, especially) are worried that I am left alone there. I don't know why I'm not that worried. Maybe it's just that I am excited because it's the first time I'll be doing that.

Earlier, they also let me drive their car, as practice. Since I would have to bring my cousin to the airport for her flight back to Toronto (she'll be going to the Philippines as well for just 10 days, then back here in Vancouver, then to Toronto where she lives). I can't pick her up as I have work the day she arrives.

Driving here is different. It's easier, but you can't drive "Manila" style here. You'd have to give way. People have right of way, and buses as well. So if there's a pedestrian, you better stop, unlike in the Philippines. Here, when they have a three lane road, it's three lane, and that's it! Although they told me I can use the card while they're away. But I think I'd rather not. Commuting here is easy and simple anyway.