"Enjoy memories, yes, but don't be a slave to who you wish you once had been. Those memories aren't alive. You are."

-Brandon Sanderson. Tress of the Emerald Sea.

the other side of A

They tune the instruments, make sure everything sounds perfect, write the set list, bring coffee and food, and generally just help lighten the load (quite literally sometimes, in fact). They are the men in black, dressed as such so you don't notice them and distract you from the main attraction. They are the men working behind the scenes; without them, the show would probably not go on. 

They are Dennis,  Tonton, and Carlo, the unsung heroes behind one of the country's greatest bands, Side A. Dennis joined SideA back in 1994, making him one of the longest tenured in the band, third only behind Naldy and Ernie. Tonton and Carlo joined a few years later.

I have been a fan of SideA's since the early 90s and for as long as I can remember, Dennis has always been a part of the band. Even then and until now, like any other member of SideA, he has never treated me and my friends other than as his peeps. And despite sometimes (or maybe because of) inappropriate comments and questions, he has made this very socially awkward person somehow comfortable chatting with him about life and everything else under the sun. haha! 

And because of him, I got to experience a once in a lifetime, dream come true, bucket list item moment -- to be a SideA PA for a day. Or probably closer to a very low level apprentice because I don't actually have a clue about any of the technical stuff associated to that role.

As I hovered between feeling uneasy intruding on what should have been their private band time AND feeling extremely grateful to be allowed (or at least tolerated) to intrude, I tried to make myself useful or at the very least, not be a nuisance. Meanwhile, all of them, being the wonderful human beings that they are, tried to make me, someone who's rarely at ease in social situations, comfortable and welcome. 😅🥰

I will not go into details because quite frankly, I feel I've imposed on them more than enough. But it was everything I could have ever hoped for, perhaps a lot more. I know it was and is a great privilege I will never take for granted. And I am wholeheartedly appreciative of them putting up with me.

To Ned, Leevon, Yubs, Ernie, Naldy, and especially Dennis, Tonton, and Carlo -- thank you forevermore!!! I have no words enough to express my gratitude. I will die on this hill... ipaglalaban ko kayo hanggang uugod ugod na ako. 😆🤗🥰

"So if this isn't really what it seems,

please don't ever wake me from this dream."

-Until You. Side A.

"never stop, no matter how many failures. when you know you're doing what you're meant to do, you have to try."

-Ted Lasso. Sunflowers (s3e6).

"mercy buckets." 😂