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Friday, August 17, 2007

Mica's Myx History, Part III

And the next MYX VJ's are..

by Mica Froilan

Where to begin....

The Myx VJ Search finals night drew closer and closer and as each of the finalists closed every challenge left, there was an air of tension that hung despite the good energy we all so desperately wanted to maintain. It was after all, a competition and although the 3 and a half weeks certainly brought us all closer - it was clear as day that we all wanted to win.

I began to consider the glaring possibility that I could lose. After every challenge and taping, I left a little beaten and a little weary thinking, again I didn't stand out. I was awkward, shy, often too quite for my comfort and so "behind the scene." And as the "next times" were beginning to dwindle all I felt I could really do was to sincerely pray for God to grant me the strength to accept whatever the result would be. If winning was really not in my destiny at least give me the strength to accept my defeat gracefully and with sincere happiness for the winners.

I guess it was the constant praying that kept me calm as the days inched closer and closer because otherwise the tension would have driven me insane. The last few days of text voting were so wild that I did not dare to open the television. All I wanted, was to go through the last few days with the finalists with no competitive tension, no hate, no preference, no bad vibes - just chill. Prayers really work.

The finals night arrived. As we waited in the wings with bated breath, I could not help but think how this experience ultimately brought out really beautiful qualities among the finalists (whoops, Miss Universe moment!). Atom became the "kuya" of the group (because dude, you really are - if you know what I mean.. haha!). His maturity and experience brought some direction to an otherwise wacky bunch. Jet - the intense / insane ball of energy brought comic relief when our nerves were getting the better of us. Dianne's consistent positive energy was almost contagious and helped us all get along. Odessa was always friendly and warm - which put all of us at ease. Sandra was the calm and the cool and was everyone's baby. Sanya the crazy wacky girl who made us forget that it was a competition. Igi - whose hand games were everybody's stress reliever. Drei (partner!) made sure that everybody was ok, happy and sane. Nico who amazed me with his "air drumming" (man he sure gets those beats). And Max whose silly antics always made me laugh.

It was hard to realize that this was going to end. That after saturday night our paths will change, some will be winners and some will not. Before we went up on stage for the last time I said a quick prayer to God to please help us all understand the end result - whether we liked it or not. And that afterwards, whatever disappointment and bitterness will fade away as quickly as it appeared. After all, what really mattered was the experience - not so much the end result (again, hello Miss Universe).

So it happened. In what seemed like an eternity, the 4 winners were finally announced one by one.

Drei Felix.
Sanya Smith.
Igi Guerrero.
Mica Froilan.

Shock - is an understatement. And that is all I can say right about now, because I am still not believing it. =)

Thank you to everyone who believed I could make it. You gave me the confidence whenever I seemed to lose mine. Which was most of the time.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shout outs: My family - my rock and especially my Mom who knows more about the Myx Daily Top Ten now more than I do.
Fritz - because your crazy competitive tension gave me the boost and more importantly took my tension away.
Celine, RB (your cellphone rocks!), Oj, and Gino (too-too-too) - you guys keep my feet on the ground by still making fun of me - thank you.
To the CS team - you guys are my comfort pillows - thank you for waking me up when I doze off at work, and to everyone at OSMA for that matter who voted even if they didn't know me. =)
Miko and Li - for GIVING me ALL your accessories (diba akin na lang?) - you guys made me look stage worthy that night. Volts - because you weren't scared to scream like a chick when Kamikazee went on stage.
Tina and Shi - my patrons / sugar mommy and daddy - even if I have not heard from you guys for a while now, I know you know I know. Thank you.
Sis - ano, wish you were here?
To those overseas who wanted to vote for me but had no way... UMUWI NA KASI KAYO!!!!!

To those who text voted like crazy (are you crazy?) and to those who didn't (why didn't you?)

To everyone else, friends and strangers, know that every little thing you did to make this a reality for me will be something I will always hold dearly.

Most importantly, to my CJ (the "friend" with benefits. I'm laughing.) for holding my hand every.step.of.the way, for being there, for the sacrifices, for EVERYTHING - thank you from the bottom of my achey-breaky heart.

First, Myx. Then Bollywood. And then, HOLLYWOOD. =)


The Mother's Take, Part III

That's true. She didn't pray for victory on the night of the Finals. She prayed for humble submission to the will of God. Maybe that's why God picked her. Which contestant wouldn't pray to win?!?

I remember looking at the other families. Which one of us would step out of that place with a big smile? Okay. If she loses I'll say, "Mica, you're a gorgeous butterfly out of a cocoon. Now your life begins!" If she wins I'll say, "Mica, you're a gorgeous butterfly out of a cocoon. Now your life begins!" There. It really didn't matter which field that butterfly flew in. As long as she was a butterfly. The Myx experience was a nuclear reaction for her, a change from call center atom to vj atom.

A week after she won she again swerved towards the word 'ordinary'. "Mom --" she began. "Mic," I finish her sentence, "now you have to do your homework. Research. You have a long haul ahead of you. This is not just about being pretty and perky. This is all about interviewing souls. As a writer that's what I discovered. Souls want to speak. In every artist there's a secret rummaging for Self, the 'who am I, what do I want to say, and why'. Please don't ask them what their favorite dessert is.

Then I start to sing the top songs on the Myx list and we have a good laugh. "Break na tayo! Break, break break na tayo!" "I hate the way you smile, I hate the way you look with those big brown eyes." Oh boy. Maybe I'll write songs someday. Ones with better melodies. My soul is aching to be interviewed by VJ Mica.




Mica's Myx History, Part II

Of Mall Tours and all that Attention

by Mica Froilan

I think that, since the beginning of all this, the moment that made me realize how unprepared I am for all this attention was when we did the first mall tour last Sunday. It was a Penshoppe event where all the Myx finalists sort of tagged along with BIG BIG bands like Chicosci, Stone free and the ultimate BAMBOO. You know that feeling when you want the hosts to just stop yapping and get on with the band? Well, I guess when you get 11 raw and inexperienced finalists co-hosting a big show like that it will be inevitable for the audience to start chanting GET OFF THE STAGE, GET ON WITH THE SHOW!

But I'm being to hard on ourselves. The audience was receptive and even kind - considering that we were pretty much nobodys. And I'd like to think, at some point we pulled it off quite nicely.

The "attention" part was when the show ended and shockingly (for me at least) the crowd gathered a bit to take pictures and autographs with the finalists. THAT - was something I wasn't prepared for. That, was something I thought was only reserved for the big big celebrities. Though you could sense that some of the people were hesitant, thinking, er... should I take a picture with this finalist? Is it worth it? (that happened mostly to me - modesty aside)

My friends who were there instantly knew my insecurity was making me a complete awkward and anti-social dork. After the whole thing, they disappointingly advised me to think of it as "campaigning" and to basically work on acquiring a thick face. I promised them I would on the next mall tour.

So today was that next mall tour. Lo and behold, I became the same awkward, anti-social dork. See, the funny thing is, I'd never think I'd be one to freeze in front of people. I know for a fact that I can have a thick face. But I guess I'm learning that I become annoyingly shy at the wrong time.

Anyway, this really leads to the realization that the whole idea of being a Myx finalist has not entirely sunk in yet and yes, that I have about a thousand and one things to learn about this industry.

It's fun.

"If I were Myx," I told Mica, "I'd choose you. Because you're so 'moldable'. You have nothing to unlearn. You're a fresh canvas on which they can draw anything. So keep learning and roast just right. Don't worry."

She's always been a good study. Mica puts her mind on something and she transforms. I promptly recorded her Myx specials and gasped. My, my, she sure is shy. Whoa mother. Shut up. Let her cook long, don't stress the rawness. Be humble (ump! I was the Firebird and my daughter is being passed by the camera) or she will LOSE. So ominous, that restraint was. She won. The Phoenix has risen.

Mica's Myx History

Main | Of Mall Tours and all that Attention »

Pre-Celebrity Shindig

It's been only a week and so into this celebrity-induced life and I find myself panting with exhaustion - physically and mentally. I always thought the artistas had a relatively easy life. Sure they work late hours and get into all sorts of intrigue but the pay and freebies always compensate. But no.

So I went out on a limb and auditioned for this vj search. I figured that because at 24, I have not been discovered yet despite my efforts (i.e hanging out at friends homes, sleeping, working and living a normal ordinary life), it's high time to start auditioning for something.

It was almost like destiny when my good friend Fritz told me about the auditions. Told me to come with him and have our pictures taken professionally (because I insisted on submitting my neo-prints) and audition (for 8 hours!!!!!!!!!!). Though I thought I sucked BIG TIME, somehow I miraculously managed to do something right because lo and behold I'm one of the 12 vj finalists (truly.shocking ).

So it's been a week since that memorable audition. And what a week it has been. This whole new world seems to magnify all my flaws: my lack of nice clothes (ayan kasi, tamad mag shopping), my lack of anything interesting to say (unless it's about the corporate life - I can totally give you a power point presentation of the data I input in Excel regrading stats, metrics and net profit) and my steady, sedate personality - which in this industry is a BIG BIG NO-NO. I mean, I had illusions that I was perky. But after being with the other finalists / energizer bunnies, I realized how I am such a drawl.

Add the fact that I work graveyard shifts and go straight to the shoots. I mean where in the world am I going to get the extra energy??!!! Speaking of work, it so happens that the big boss from the US is in town. So not only do I have to be energized during the "celebrity" part of my life, I need to be in top performance when I get to work at night. It ain't funny. One time I dozed off right in the middle of MY presentation.

Anyway, so I saw myself for the first time on national television last saturday. EEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Yun lang.

But hey if there is one thing that excites me about this - it is the work itself. The fact that I get to be this close to music, than I have ever been before thrills me to no end. Sure the music I love might not always be showcased (modest mouse, nyko maca, red hot chili peppers, the strokes) but the fact that I get this window of opportunity to maybe play one video from them is enough for me to go through this gruelling task (naks!! music lover daw!!).

So that's the story. I am so thrilled to be able to go through this - though at this point I still have to carry my own things and take the MRT after every shoot (in full make up. Panalo!). At the very least I have one more interesting thing to tell people aside from corporate trivial issues.

The road to my Oscar award has begun.

** So ok, I'm one of the finalists for the MYX VJ Search 2007. Vote for me if you think you can stand the sight of my face long after the finals on August 4. =)

The Mother's Take

I wrote an article for Star when Mica graduated from La Salle titled, 'Sunrise, Sunset'. There I candidly wrote her apology to me and my husband. "I'm sorry I'm ordinary."

From the time I took her home as an infant I knew she would one day be extraordinary, a perfectly imperfect Someone. She will rise like a phoenix from the humdrum childhood I strained to impose on her and her brother. That statement of hers told me I succeeded. Mic, I'm so happy you're ordinary, I thought to myself, because once the limelight discovers you ... oh boy.

I basked in her obligatory mundane youth. Barbie dolls, D's in Math, funny love letters from awkward teenage boys. In college I expected the torrential makeover and was disappointed she only won the highest votes to become Batch President of the student council. That's it? Again, she thought she was the most ordinary leader. How deep did I drill that word in her psyche? susmaryosep.

In the corporate world she often confessed ineptitude but her self-assessment startled me. How very mature it was. Ordinary again? until we had her three American superiors over for dinner. The first thing they whispered to me was, "You know, your daughter is quite extraordinary." The whispering part confirmed their sincerity.

I don't have to write about how she felt about being a Myx finalist. You can see how she's able to laugh at herself. Pat, pat pat. Good mothering, Edna. I'm proud of her. More reaction on Mica on her next blog entry.


Thursday, July 26, 2007

Mica Froilan


My daughter Mica Froilan was chosen as one of the 12 finalists of the MYX VJ Search 2007. Funny that when she was 2, her Tita Den (choreographer Denisa Reyes) started her out as a vj by handing her a ballpen to serve as a mike. "Good Morning Manila!" Den would start and Mica would babble nonsensical words, really - it was hilarious. One day my husband decided to video us so we dressed up for the 'taping'. She interviewed me well. She had perfect timing, was gracious, a good listener and quite a talker. Who would have known ....

My husband and I were ballet dancers for a good twenty years. I wished Mica and our son, Raffy, would pursue another career. I never saw them awake. We had late nights and mornings and it broke my heart not to see them grow up. I secretly wished Mica wouldn't like ballet. I gasped, "Gosh I don't think I can stand watching another family member dance Swan Lake or Giselle ... and have to pray for another pirouette." But if she wanted it I told her we'd support her. "Better be ready for brutal honesty," I said, "because ballet is PERFECTION."

When Mica took up Political Science in La Salle I sighed relief. Right after her graduation she decided to go for a call center job, "because Mom, you stopped giving me allowance and I am soooo broke!" she said. She ended up staying there longer than planned. Her American bosses loved her and brought her to the States several times. She also got several promotions. Even if call center people have this that's-all-you-do? stigma to deal with I encouraged her to stay there. "You're learning from Americans and they have excellent work ethics. Humble yourself and LEARN."

It's the hours that bog her down. Working all night and sleeping all day is just a bit too abnormal for a beautiful girl of 24. One day I saw her dressed and fully made up and I gushed, "My, my. How pretty my daughter is. Too bad no one can see her." Then her friend dragged her to this Myx competition and well ... good morning Manila?

I saw her on tv several times and she was very good in the portion with one male contestant, Drei. When she had to grapple the mike - shared with the other girls - she failed dismally. "You know me, Mom," she explained apologetically, "I always give the floor to people if they want it." I had to reply, "Anak, that's excellent when you're interviewing someone but not when you're competing ... ?" Actually I appreciated the fact that she wasn't a hey-look-at me VJ. There are two kinds of people, one that says, "I'm here!" and the other one that says, "There you are!" Mica is so there-you-are!

After a seemingly endless career in the arts I don't mind stepping into stage motherhood. What fun! I tell Mica that in those twenty years of being on stage I learned that everything was just a process. The significance of fame and fulfillment diminishes each time I get older and what remains in my mind is the process of achieving them. Parents would tell their children, "You're special and unique so you're a winner." I'd rather tell mine, "You're special and unique but so is everyone else. You'll always be a winner in God's eyes if you keep growing and developing."

Please vote for Mica by texting: Myxmatch 8 and send to 2366. This is until August 3, 2007. And as for her being corporate ... yeah right.