Yesterday, our name (Sheila and the Insects) was heard over the radio. It was an ad for a New Wave concert this Saturday. We'll be appearing with True Faith and another band. I guess I can say we're pretty much excited.

Hearing our name in Cebu on the radio is quite ordinary but here in Manila, its pretty exciting. I hope this means we've finally got a foot in the door of Manila's band scene.

Tonight, Marg is coming. She says she'll take us to meet and play for the producer/s of this Saturday's show.

For lunch we had pochero. Sort of a belated celebration for Blair's birthday. Great soup. I guess I had too much. I'm feeling sleepy.

I stayed home all day. The rest of the guys went out at one time or another during the day. I didn't feel like going out. Even for a movie.

I see no point in spending when you're not earning.

I finished a paperback today, so I'm starting on another book.

Surprisingly, in spite of my idleness today, I still felt fit and active. No drowsiness. It may have helped that I didn't eat too much during meals. I wanted to stay lean. And I still do.

I hope the Sept. 11 show in Cebu pushes through. I want to go home and see Yani again. I hope the producers get me a hotel room so I don't have to stay home all days during my stay in Cebu. And I get free privacy too.

I guess I'll continue with my book until I feel drowsy. Or wait for Yani to text me, whichever comes first.

I'm getting used to all these. I don't know if that's good or bad. Maybe both.

I woke up to Blair's excited announcements. I could overhear them in the kitchen (which was just beside my room). Blair was saying he just got word that we had been booked for 2 shows (Friday and Saturday) on September 17 & 18 in Iloilo by Ronald. Great news.

P20,000 for both shows isn't bad and we could definitely use the money for our bills here in Manila.

Were also scheduled to perform in Cebu on September 11 at Marina and they'll be paying for our transportation. I'm looking forward to all these shows. The real reason I'm so excited of course is I get to see Yani again. The best thing to happen amidst all these is that she's scheduled to take her vacation leave on September 13 to 16. And I'll be spending all that with her. I'm so thrilled.

(deleted portions)

Can't sleep. I'm supposed to sleep early because we have an audition tomorrow at Zu Bar in Makati.

This will probably be our first audition with a very real chance for us.

We were recommended by Artistation (a big name here in artist management) and I think we have a good chance.

I just hope my voice will be in good condition then.

Still can't sleep. I've gotten so used to sleeping very late. I guess I can't force it.

I guess I lost track of the days. Forgot to write down an entry. Not much has happened anyway since I last made an entry. The Zu Bar audition had gone well except for Blair's stupid drums. He ended way too early which caught all three of us off balance. He insists it was because of his weak monitors but I knew better. He simply forgot the song sequence and panicked. He blew it. Period.

We only heard later that we had passed. A schedule was coming to us. Great news. Maybe after September when we'd have finished our Cebu and Iloilo shows on 11 and 17-18.

We also did an audition at Formula Sports Cafe. What a place. I liked it a lot. Our audition gig went well too. Although there were only around five or six tables occupied, we got the audience going.

I just hope they book us for shows. We desperately need the cash.

A few days back something funny happened. A bat flew into our apartment. I was a bit afraid but more amused. I'd never seen a bat up close before and here was one flying around in circles in the kitchen. I had so much fun when it chased me around. I trapped it in Ian's room (Paul and Ian were out for a movie) Benjie and Blair watched it circle the room through the window and a slightly opened door.

The fun started when Ian and Paul came back. The bat was coaxed by Benjie (using an umbrella) to fly out the room. The four of us went wild as the bat invaded the kitchen and we all ducked and huddled together in a corner. It was fun. We were all screaming half in fright and half in amusement. I enjoyed every second. We later found out that we woke up our neighbors who thought there was a fight going on. (Good thing they didn't call the police)

I finally let the bat out through the window. It looked sick. I guess it got tired chasing us around. It looked like a mouse with wings. Yes exactly like a mouse.

I woke up feeling dizzy. No one was around. Nobody was in the kitchen. Blair and Ian should have been there. Way too early for them to sleep. Faintly, I could hear their animated voices. They were downstairs, I finally concluded.

I was right. I joined them. They were drinking cold beer. With a little prodding, I managed to get Ian to buy me a bottle. D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. An hour and a half later and I've downed four bottles already. I can sleep better now.

Tomorrow we play at a small club in West Avenue. I can't remember the name. It's a paying gig so maybe that was why we had a small celebration.

2:00 A.M. -
I'm so tired. We just got back from playing a three set gig. That's three staggered hours. The club was Bilz and Tabz and it turned out to be a new club owned by Jonathan Buencamino of Introvoys. The place was ok except for the fact that there weren't too many customers. During our first two sets, there were probably three or four occupied tables. And it was hard to gauge the audience's response. We drew applause on some songs.

I guess the best thing that can be said for this gig was that Paul overheard Jonathan mentioning to the lightman that the band, our band, was good. I think he meant it. We're playing there again this Monday.

We had loads of fun on stage. Even Benjie was moving a lot this time.

They're drinking beer in the kitchen. I'll join them for a few shots then I'll sleep early. I need to rest my voice.

2:00 A.M. -
Tonight we played at Mayric's. It was a New Wave show. We called at the last minute and were lucky to get ourselves inserted in their lineup of bands scheduled for the night. We opened the night and played only five songs. 3 covers and 2 originals. I felt good about our show. The main man of the production, Aldrin "something" approached us after the show and said he liked the band. ( he asked us to play one more song at the end of our short set. We happily obliged) He said he wanted to include us in their future new wave shows, which is good news for us. We need all the exposure we can get. The crowd was ok. The place was filthy. Well, Mayric's is Mayric's.

At least now we know where we stood musically and performance-wise against Manila's other new wave acts. After seeing them play, I concluded we weren't at all bad.

All we need is a good break. If we keep the band in circulation long enough, we should get lucky.

1:30 A.M. -
We just got word that we had an audition set scheduled for this Friday at Garage Grille. None of us had ever been there but I sense this is something big. The bar is in Makati and everything in Makati is....big.

The good thing about this is that "Enchang" or whatever her name is supposed to be, got us this audition sked with full knowledge that we're a new wave band. If the bar owners are allowing us to play on a regular night in front of their regular crowd (Friday night is a big night) then they should be open to the idea of recruiting a regular new wave band for their club. Now that's a big departure from the norm in Makati clubs which are known for their showbands who all play pop, R & B, disco, and retro. At least that's as far as I know.

All we gotta do now is play a great gig. That shouldn't be too much of a problem. Hopefully.

I'm crossing my fingers. Oh, Yani called me three times today. She sounded great over the phone. Sweet and seductive. I miss her a lot. It won't be long.