A DAY IN THE LIFE

"… Mitch’s last gig."

I sat frozen in disbelief for a few seconds when Vincent mentioned those words to the crowd at their Hard Rock gig last Saturday night. But then I realized that Vincent gave me a hint a few months ago that this was something inevitable.

Mitch Singson, Sugarfree’s drummer, is leaving the band.

Although I had to commute all the way from Laguna on a rainy night and spend more than my usual budget for a gimik night, I’m glad that I still decided to go to that gig (kinulit din kasi ako ni Ms. Torres). It was my first time to watch them in Manila (not counting the Dramachine album launch) and I never thought that it would also be my last time to watch the band with Mitch as their drummer. I also had the chance to hear a couple of their new songs which will be included in their new album that will come out in a few months. One of them, entitled "Reunion", was inspired by our high school batch’s 10th year anniversary reunion held last 2003 and is dedicated to our barkada. Vincent even shared to the audience what we usually tell him during our recent get-togethers, "Kay Panday may kanta ka pero sa barkada mo wala." Hahaha! Vincent also introduced me to his girlfriend, Paula, who was just sitting beside me. She’s very pretty and also a nice person. Vince, ibili mo na sya ng helmet! Hahaha! Kaka, the band’s new drummer, also played that night. Paula told me that he’s from a Cebu-based band called Pandora and mentioned that he’s also a very good drummer.

Mitch delivered his farewell speech in the middle of their set (Up dharma Down played earlier). It was such a sad moment. The band also played "Unang Araw" which was fit for a farewell song for Mitch with its sorrowful lyrics, "Ito ang unang araw na wala ka na." Actually, it was Mitch’s last Manila gig because they will still perform this month in Cebu. Since it was Mitch’s last gig here, picture-picture of course! I told Mitch that he resembled Ainah’s eldest brother kaya talagang dapat may picture sila, hehehe. After we had our picture taken, we high-fived and I wished him good luck. Between him and Jal, it’s usually Mitch to whom I’ve always had the chance to talk to (si Vincent lang naman ang hindi ko kinakausap sa kanila, hahaha). I remember in their MTV Homecoming performance here in Laguna last year, he told me that he just got back from a month-long leave from the band. I wanted to ask him the reason why he took a long break but I didn’t. It is because I am aware that he is also a father like me.

Here is an excerpt of Mitch’s post earlier this month in the band’s mailing list:

"Many will say… Why let the band go knowing na nasa taas ka na? Why leave if your’re in a position where you’re already able to enjoy the fruits of your hardwork? Bakit ka aalis eh ang dami mo nang isinakripisyo para maabot mo ang kinalalagyan mo ngayon?

Ito ang sagot ko… It is because of these sacrifices that I’ve made that I’ve realized that I have to go. To help Sugarfree to get to where the band is right now, my time with my family and friends have suffered a lot. And as most of you know, when I say family, this includes my son, and my son is my most dearest possession … Right now, I’m in a situation where I think my family and friends need my time and focus more."

I guess we all know that Mitch made the right decision. He had spent enough time rocking our world— it’s time for him to be with the ones who rock his.

Thanks for your tug-tug-paks. They will be missed. Good luck to you, pare. Kitakits!

Tuesday last week, we played our second basketball game in this year’s inter-organization sportsfest. Early in the first half as I was driving strong to the basket, an opponent stood in front of me and took the charge. Thud! He then tumbled across the court and the ref whistled and gestured that infamous offensive foul signal. I wanted to complain about the call but I felt this pang in my chest a few seconds after the collision. The following morning, the pain worsen, my right chest was tender and I found it so damn difficult to move my body without grimacing. The area ached everytime I coughed and laughed. I also had trouble breathing these past few days but I thought they just might be my usual panic anxiety attacks. After more than a week (of pain, discomfort and scary mental images), I finally decided to go to the doctor yesterday.

I went back to the doctor this morning for my chest x-ray results. I stared at the doctor’s face while he was examining my x-ray. I waited anxiously for him to tell me the bad news— that it was a fractured rib, that I would have to rest for two months without any strenuous activity and I could be put in a cast depending on the severity of the injury.

The doctor looked at me and said that it was just a bruised rib. I breathed a sigh of relief (the kind of relief you get after seeing that blue minus sign in the pregnancy test kit of your girlfriend).

In the past four years, I had my shoulder scraped, my fingers jammed, my ankle sprained and my wrist fractured— all from playing basketball. Old age? Maybe. I hear my own voice whispering the word "retirement" behind my ear. I can no longer play the way I used to. I’ve also had enough of injuries. Especially that of not winning a championship since I started playing in this tournament ten years ago. Yes, that kind of an injury will heal in time. But the pain will never go away.

Time flies. Actually, it soars.

Almost two months have passed since my last entry. It seemed that I took a breather, sat on a couch and watched the world pass me by…

Miami Heat bagging its first ever NBA championship.  My son turning nine. Kuya realizing his dream of becoming a successful photographer (some of his beautiful photos were featured in an article in GMA Pinoy TV and he was recently asked to be the production designer for a short film in NYC). Powerhouse Brazil getting eliminated and Italy winning its fourth World Cup title. Our youngest brother getting married. The passing away of a dear family friend and just yesterday, of another high school teacher.

I convinced myself that the world will move on without me.

Then I saw the couch.