Countdown begins... to Beijing

We've been traveling and performing in different Shangri-La Hotels in China, Malaysia, and Philippines nonstop for the past 10 years now. And we only go home once a year to spend at least 2 weeks to a month with our families especially to see our daughter. But this break has been different in many ways and has become an indefinite fun holiday for us.

After our successful gig at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for the 7th time, we went back home to take a break while waiting for us to apply visa for our next booking to Shangri-La Beijing in China. However, it wasn't an easy wait. There were lots of hindrances and there were lots of visa denied to our sister bands and other musicians who wanted to go to China for unknown reasons. Not to mention with what happened to the recent hostage tragedy and numerous drug trafficking cases in China. But a few lucky ones with new or renewed passports managed to go through. So, we had to wait for a month - plus a hefty agency fee - to have our passports renewed. And based on our new passport numbers, we had to wait for another month for Shangri-La Beijing to get us our permits to apply visa. Wait, wait, and endless wait. And now that we've been here for more than 3 months, the wait is finally over. We have applied for our Chinese visas yesterday and got a call in the afternoon that we got approved and will get visas early next week. Yayyy for that!

Although it was a long wait, we didn't waste a single moment. We moved to our condo which we have rented out for the past 3 years. So finally, we have a small abode that we can call "home sweet home". We spent quality time with our only daughter, Selena, and enjoyed my domestic job as the "superhotmomma".

The model & the photographer

We weren't ready for an indefinite holiday financially. We thought it'd just be for a month and a half but we're now approaching our 4th month. Fortunately, these different activities have really helped us survive in many ways. I did some jobs that I enjoyed doing like photoshoots, castings, events, and whatever "rakets" or sidelines our friends can help us with. We have worked with creative and talented people along the way and have been to places we haven't been to before. So to those guys who have helped us and whom we have worked with especially to Cedric Nicomedes for the events and Manny Librodo and his protégées for the fun photoshoots, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the opportunities! Hope to work with you again in the future.

The copper chick at the Hair Asia show

The countdown to Beijing begins. Mixed feelings about it. I'm happy because we're going back to work but sad that we'll have to leave our daughter again. Also, we're gonna miss all the fun that we had during the past 3 months that we've been here. Mushy mushy time. Huhuhu! When are we going back to Manila? We don't know. :(

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