This was shot at the Fundraising Event here in Beijing for the families and victims of the devastating typhoons in 2009. I wasn't supposed to sing here, wasn't even prepared. But, I was called out, together with Aretha, as the night's finale number.
Thanks to wideeyeshut for uploading this.
A Song for the Philippines - "I Will Survive" by Sarita
A Night To Remember: Party with Novak Djokovic
After the China Open 2009 match, we went back to the hotel and had dinner. I've been on a strict diet of green salad and fruits for more than a week but since it was our off day, I indulged myself to a sumptuous dinner. The best (or worst?) part of it was finishing 5 scoops of chocolate ice cream for dessert!
It was past 9PM. I just waited for Nole's SMS though I wasn't really expecting him to do so, since I know that the organizer might have a party for him and that they might be going back to the hotel late. Right after dinner, we went to Aretha's room to meet our singer-friends, Anita & Darren, who came to Beijing from Tianjin. As we were chatting and laughing, I got an SMS from Nole to meet him in the hotel lobby at 10:30PM. I rushed back to my room, pulled my new (and only) pair of pants, wore my hot heels and checked myself in the mirror to make sure I looked okay. Marl and I went down to the lobby to meet Nole, his coach, his trainer and his physiotherapist.
We all headed to where the action is - even on a Sunday night - at the Russian club called Chocolate. Marl and I were in the same cab with Nole sitting infront. His team followed us behind. Before leaving the hotel, there was a Chinese woman who wanted to get in the same cab with us. That crazy woman has been stalking Nole for days and she wanted to join our party that she tried to open the cab's door as it was leaving the hotel! Really crazy and scary! And yes, she got in another cab to follow us to the Chocolate Club as well!
When we arrived to the vicinity, we thought it would be a dead night because the surrounding
was sooo quiet. But we were ushered down to the basement where the underground club is actually located. Nole and his team liked the ambience and we were ushered to a VIP-like round couch. The Chinese stalker followed us but as Nole was being nice and never wanted to ruin his night, he just let the Chinese woman hang around the table.
Nole ordered for a bottle of Bombay Sapphire and some tonic water and we started drinking, singing along and dancing around our table. Aretha came an hour after together with Anita and Darren. We had good fun, and I
guess it was the best party I've been to so far. Private as it was, but everyone was in for a good night. Nole was of course enjoying the moment as he worked hard for the past 10 days, just isolating himself in the hotel most of the time when he's not in the court.
At midnight, there was a special show at the Chocolate Club and we had a great laugh and enjoyed it very much. Marian, Nole's coach, ordered shisha (hookah) to add in the fun. We were also given our own pipes to be used since the shisha was usually passed around. It was my first time to try it and all of us, including Nole, would really get excited when
our turn comes. But Nole just did a couple of puff since we don't really know what's in that bottle of heavenly smoke. The Russian band came back onstage and it was party time again. Nole and I, together with our friends, rushed to the dancefloor and danced the night away. While Nole would also dance with Anita and Aretha, I was his constant dance partner. :-)
It was 4AM when we left the club and after 3 bottles of Bombay Sapphire, most of us were already tipsy. The Chinese stalker never gave up and insisted Nole to take
the private car that the government issued (?) so that it would be safe for him. I don't think so, neither did everyone else. Nole insisted to take a cab, but this time, it was me, Nole (in the middle) and Marl on the backseat while Nole's trainer, Jiji, sits infront. Oh and yes, the stalker followed us back to the hotel, too.
When we reached the hotel, we all sat in the lobby and Nole was still in a party mood. He invited all of us in his suite to continue partying. The Chinese woman wanted to come up with us but I told the security to stop her. He turned on the sound system and we all had a great laugh
because he asked each and everyone of us to show what we got - for fun's sake. His coach Marian did a headstand, Darren did a split, Anita did a bit of a dance, Aretha did "ocho-ocho", his trainer Jiji did juggling, I did another split and Nole did a funny headstand. Nole broke down and rolled on the floor laughing when his physiotherapist Miljan took off his pants as part of the "deal".
And too soon we had to part. As much as we would love to give in to Nole's request and stay longer, we also know that they needed to get some rest before catching the flight to Shanghai in a couple of hours. It was surely a night to be remembered forever. I know Nole have met and will meet thousands and millions of other people but I know deep in my heart that he will always remember us, as what he had said, "the first persons from the Philippines I have met".
"We are the biggest U.R.B. fans" - Nole
It was past 9PM. I just waited for Nole's SMS though I wasn't really expecting him to do so, since I know that the organizer might have a party for him and that they might be going back to the hotel late. Right after dinner, we went to Aretha's room to meet our singer-friends, Anita & Darren, who came to Beijing from Tianjin. As we were chatting and laughing, I got an SMS from Nole to meet him in the hotel lobby at 10:30PM. I rushed back to my room, pulled my new (and only) pair of pants, wore my hot heels and checked myself in the mirror to make sure I looked okay. Marl and I went down to the lobby to meet Nole, his coach, his trainer and his physiotherapist.
We all headed to where the action is - even on a Sunday night - at the Russian club called Chocolate. Marl and I were in the same cab with Nole sitting infront. His team followed us behind. Before leaving the hotel, there was a Chinese woman who wanted to get in the same cab with us. That crazy woman has been stalking Nole for days and she wanted to join our party that she tried to open the cab's door as it was leaving the hotel! Really crazy and scary! And yes, she got in another cab to follow us to the Chocolate Club as well!
When we arrived to the vicinity, we thought it would be a dead night because the surrounding
was sooo quiet. But we were ushered down to the basement where the underground club is actually located. Nole and his team liked the ambience and we were ushered to a VIP-like round couch. The Chinese stalker followed us but as Nole was being nice and never wanted to ruin his night, he just let the Chinese woman hang around the table.Nole ordered for a bottle of Bombay Sapphire and some tonic water and we started drinking, singing along and dancing around our table. Aretha came an hour after together with Anita and Darren. We had good fun, and I
guess it was the best party I've been to so far. Private as it was, but everyone was in for a good night. Nole was of course enjoying the moment as he worked hard for the past 10 days, just isolating himself in the hotel most of the time when he's not in the court.At midnight, there was a special show at the Chocolate Club and we had a great laugh and enjoyed it very much. Marian, Nole's coach, ordered shisha (hookah) to add in the fun. We were also given our own pipes to be used since the shisha was usually passed around. It was my first time to try it and all of us, including Nole, would really get excited when
our turn comes. But Nole just did a couple of puff since we don't really know what's in that bottle of heavenly smoke. The Russian band came back onstage and it was party time again. Nole and I, together with our friends, rushed to the dancefloor and danced the night away. While Nole would also dance with Anita and Aretha, I was his constant dance partner. :-)It was 4AM when we left the club and after 3 bottles of Bombay Sapphire, most of us were already tipsy. The Chinese stalker never gave up and insisted Nole to take
the private car that the government issued (?) so that it would be safe for him. I don't think so, neither did everyone else. Nole insisted to take a cab, but this time, it was me, Nole (in the middle) and Marl on the backseat while Nole's trainer, Jiji, sits infront. Oh and yes, the stalker followed us back to the hotel, too.When we reached the hotel, we all sat in the lobby and Nole was still in a party mood. He invited all of us in his suite to continue partying. The Chinese woman wanted to come up with us but I told the security to stop her. He turned on the sound system and we all had a great laugh
because he asked each and everyone of us to show what we got - for fun's sake. His coach Marian did a headstand, Darren did a split, Anita did a bit of a dance, Aretha did "ocho-ocho", his trainer Jiji did juggling, I did another split and Nole did a funny headstand. Nole broke down and rolled on the floor laughing when his physiotherapist Miljan took off his pants as part of the "deal".And too soon we had to part. As much as we would love to give in to Nole's request and stay longer, we also know that they needed to get some rest before catching the flight to Shanghai in a couple of hours. It was surely a night to be remembered forever. I know Nole have met and will meet thousands and millions of other people but I know deep in my heart that he will always remember us, as what he had said, "the first persons from the Philippines I have met".
"We are the biggest U.R.B. fans" - NoleNovak Djokovic wins China Open 2009
Who's Nole?Last night at work, we were visited by Nole once more. Knowing that Saturday would be the last night he'd see us perform, he still managed to drop by, have a drink with his friends and enjoy our music for couple of sets. It was so nice of him to stay long even though he has a big match against Marin Cilic today at the China Open 2009. Again, he invited us to watch his match and promised to get us tickets.
Nole is Novak Djokovic's nickname. He's fondly called by his friends, family and fans as Nole.
We all woke up at 12 noon today and prepared to go to the National Tennis Center for the China Open 2009. What a luck we had since the taxi drive actually didn't know where the National Tennis Center is and brought us to the Olympic venue - The Bird's Nest. We wasted time going in circles, trying to find some traffic guy to give us direction to the Tennis Center. And after 30 wasted minutes, we managed to find it.
As directed by Nole, we again went to Will Call (a counter where the athletes can leave stuff or tickets to their friends) only to find out that there were no tickets left for us. Out of panic and disappointment, I tried to call Nole eventhough I know that he won't answer his phone. But I got a return from him, I answered with my sweetest voice and said, "Hello, Nole?". It's his physiotherapist Miljan and he said that he will send 2 tickets for us to get in. But we were 3 - Marl, Aretha and myself. Luckily, the guys in Will Call gave us entrance tickets to the vicinity and was instructed to wait infront the Center Court, gave me a number to call for the match tickets.
We waited for 20 minutes. We were able to get 2 tickets but it wouldn't be right to leave either one of them outside. And I for sure would want to get in as well. So to be fair, all of us stayed outside the Center Court and watched the match on the large screen - until the match was stopped and delayed because of the weather. What a luck!
We ate pizza, potato wedges, and Coke while waiting for the match to start again. And a funny thing happened. I was sooo in a hurry to pee that I've mistakenly entered men's toilet! LOL. It took quite a while for me to notice the urinals on the side as I headed directly to the cubicles. When I realized that I was in the wrong toilet, I turned back to go out but a young Chinese policeman came in, unbuckling his belt. When he saw me, his face turned white and I was also stunned by his presence. I then said, "Dui bu zhi, deng sha!" (I'm sorry, wait!). And he also followed me outside to check if he's also in the correct toilet. I was laughing sooooo much when he gestured a sign of relief by touching his chest. Hahaha! I swear that was the funniest bit that happened to me and that was the first time that I ever entered a Men's toilet. The reaction on his face was really priceless. :-)
Anyway, after 2 hours of waiting, the match has finally restarted. The crowd went crazier and excited this time around. The seat that we got were in the same section but different rows. And I was unfortunate to be surrounded by Cilic fans with matching Croatian flag. And I was there, the No.1 fan of Djokovic clapping everytime he'd get a point. The game went so intense especially when it came to the last part. And I was cheering aloud while the Cilic fans kept quiet. It was a well-played game and Cilic played very well, too.
But, of course, Nole played the best and he surely deserved to win this year China Open. And yes, I will always be his No.1 fan forever...
WALANG KOKONTRA! :-)
Sars meets Novak Djokovic
I know my life has been melodramatic lately as it ought to be but that doesn't stop luck from pushing its way towards me. We had a four day non-working holiday from October 1 - which isn't a common thing for entertainment bands like us. But we're in Beijing and hey, who wouldn't want to have that great chance to rest for 4 days?
During that time, just as the whole country was celebrating its 60th anniversary, the tennis superstars and players for the China Open 2009 began arriving. At our hotel! Yes, they all stayed in our hotel and had the chance to mingle some of them. And one of them is ranked as world's number 4 in Men's Tennis - Serbia's Novak Djokovic.
I remember very well that when we got back to work on Monday, October 5, we saw Novak and his gang (coach, fitness coach and physiotherapist) sitting in the lobby lounge. I approached him and asked him if I could take a photo with him and he gladly obliged. After we all took photos with him, he knew that we are the band playing at the bar and said he would check us out later. Few songs after we began our 2nd set, they transferred inside the bar and started to liven up the otherwise-so-boring-night, singing and dancing with us. We were all starstruck by him but he stayed grounded and made us feel like he's just one of us.
And that started it.
October 6, Tuesday - More players came to our bar as if Novak invited them all. That was the most fun night at the bar so far. Everyone was dancing, singing and enjoying the night away. The Russian tennis ladies really knew how to liven up the place. Rafael Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero were also there together with their own gangs. It was just a perfect night for us. Until the government police who was in-charged outside of the hotel for the China Open came in our bar after midnight - to put down the volume. Boo!
October 7, Wednesday - Novak had his match against Viktor Troicki at night as we had our 1st and 2nd set. But being the great "supporter" that he is to our band, he spent the rest of the night at the bar, listening to us and chatting with us things that are not tennis-related.
October 8, Thursday - We met him at the gym in the afternoon as he was having his training with his 'gang'. At night in the bar, since he couldn't stay long that night as he had to sleep early and prepare for his match the day after, Novak managed to drop by during our coffee break to personally invite us to watch his quarterfinals match. And our reactions? WAHHHHHHHH! We got crazy! LOL
October 9, Friday - The three of us got up at noontime and proceeded to the venue of the China Open 2009. As advised by Novak, we went to the Will Call counter to get the tickets that he had secured for us. We got in the Center Court just in time for his match against Fernando Verdasco. It was our first time to see tennis match live and we feel so lucky and thankful to Novak for making it happen. Watching tennis live is really
intense than watching on TV. You could feel how people held their breaths every time the tennis ball would swing left and right. But yessssss! Novak Djokovic won after 3 sets! After the match, we lingered a little bit more around the area to see the booths and souvenir shops. Marl bought a USB flashdisk with China Open logo on it. Aretha bought a red China Open T-shirt. And Marl got me a China Open windbreaker - as a belated birthday present. We went back to the hotel to rest and at night, Novak dropped by the bar to unwind and chit-chat a bit with us. We had him sign the souvenir 
items we bought but since I couldn't make him sign the black windbreaker that I have (coz the marker pen was black, too), I just asked him to sign a transparent plastic leaf off my songbook. He left me a sweet note. Awwwwww...
October 10, Saturday - I woke up to a great news that Novak Djokovic won the semifinals match against Robin Soderling. At night, it was great night at work and it's of course because Novak dropped by again for couple of sets. I made him sing his favorite part in the song "I Will Survive". Can you guess which part? Well, it's the "lalalalalalaaaa" part in the end! LOL. He again invited us to watch the China Open 2009 Finals - the biggest day for him in Beijing 2009! :-)
Novak Djokovic rocks!
Related posts:
More photos at Novak Djokovic, etc. Album
Novak Djokovic wins China Open 2009
A Night to Remember: Party with Novak Djokovic
During that time, just as the whole country was celebrating its 60th anniversary, the tennis superstars and players for the China Open 2009 began arriving. At our hotel! Yes, they all stayed in our hotel and had the chance to mingle some of them. And one of them is ranked as world's number 4 in Men's Tennis - Serbia's Novak Djokovic.
I remember very well that when we got back to work on Monday, October 5, we saw Novak and his gang (coach, fitness coach and physiotherapist) sitting in the lobby lounge. I approached him and asked him if I could take a photo with him and he gladly obliged. After we all took photos with him, he knew that we are the band playing at the bar and said he would check us out later. Few songs after we began our 2nd set, they transferred inside the bar and started to liven up the otherwise-so-boring-night, singing and dancing with us. We were all starstruck by him but he stayed grounded and made us feel like he's just one of us.
And that started it.
October 6, Tuesday - More players came to our bar as if Novak invited them all. That was the most fun night at the bar so far. Everyone was dancing, singing and enjoying the night away. The Russian tennis ladies really knew how to liven up the place. Rafael Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero were also there together with their own gangs. It was just a perfect night for us. Until the government police who was in-charged outside of the hotel for the China Open came in our bar after midnight - to put down the volume. Boo!
October 7, Wednesday - Novak had his match against Viktor Troicki at night as we had our 1st and 2nd set. But being the great "supporter" that he is to our band, he spent the rest of the night at the bar, listening to us and chatting with us things that are not tennis-related.
October 8, Thursday - We met him at the gym in the afternoon as he was having his training with his 'gang'. At night in the bar, since he couldn't stay long that night as he had to sleep early and prepare for his match the day after, Novak managed to drop by during our coffee break to personally invite us to watch his quarterfinals match. And our reactions? WAHHHHHHHH! We got crazy! LOL
October 9, Friday - The three of us got up at noontime and proceeded to the venue of the China Open 2009. As advised by Novak, we went to the Will Call counter to get the tickets that he had secured for us. We got in the Center Court just in time for his match against Fernando Verdasco. It was our first time to see tennis match live and we feel so lucky and thankful to Novak for making it happen. Watching tennis live is really
intense than watching on TV. You could feel how people held their breaths every time the tennis ball would swing left and right. But yessssss! Novak Djokovic won after 3 sets! After the match, we lingered a little bit more around the area to see the booths and souvenir shops. Marl bought a USB flashdisk with China Open logo on it. Aretha bought a red China Open T-shirt. And Marl got me a China Open windbreaker - as a belated birthday present. We went back to the hotel to rest and at night, Novak dropped by the bar to unwind and chit-chat a bit with us. We had him sign the souvenir 
items we bought but since I couldn't make him sign the black windbreaker that I have (coz the marker pen was black, too), I just asked him to sign a transparent plastic leaf off my songbook. He left me a sweet note. Awwwwww...October 10, Saturday - I woke up to a great news that Novak Djokovic won the semifinals match against Robin Soderling. At night, it was great night at work and it's of course because Novak dropped by again for couple of sets. I made him sing his favorite part in the song "I Will Survive". Can you guess which part? Well, it's the "lalalalalalaaaa" part in the end! LOL. He again invited us to watch the China Open 2009 Finals - the biggest day for him in Beijing 2009! :-)
Novak Djokovic rocks!
Related posts:
More photos at Novak Djokovic, etc. Album
Novak Djokovic wins China Open 2009
A Night to Remember: Party with Novak Djokovic
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