Captain Marvel and Us Vs. AVM

It's as early as last year when I thought of doing a block screening for my 6th 'birthday' celebration, February 25....... But with only more than 3 weeks before my target date when I pulled the trigger and said "I'M GONNA DO THIS!"

January - I checked the lineup of the movies for 2019. I checked those around the said date of my rebirth day. February na  and with no solid plan, no strategy and basically not thinking this through, I make the event page in Facebook, with the date, the location, time and the movie - Captain Marvel. Click 'post' tapos bahala na.

Why? Because we were watching this Korean novelty show called "All the Butlers" or "Jipsabu" and they had a master teaching them about "RIGHT NOW!" mentality. You wanna try something new? You wanna go somewhere? You like to talk and visit someone? Do it RIGHT NOW. Get it? And since 2018, that idea of how will i celebrate this year has been bugging me and keeping me awake all night several times. How it can help and how much my target beneficiaries does need it, how I imagine saying thanks to all the people in the sold out out movie house (feeling ampucha)  and what kicks I will wear during the event. 😉

So fast forward to February 14, I followed that RIGHT NOW mentality. Inspiration can come from the unexpected source, right? 😁 And few days after, it hit me that shit's getting serious now. Then my friends showed support by clicking 'going' and 'interested' in the page, I thought with just three weeks I'll be one lucky crazy SOB to pull this off. But the same time I was thinking how to sell more, emotions and reality kicks in too. Also that's the same time we're in the middle of moving to a different apartment to make my schedule and commitment crazier. Pucha, bahala na pa din.

I first realize that I don't want anyone to thank me. I want, together with the selected beneficiaries to thank all those that will buy, support and believe in this event. Because I genuinely thought that this is not about me trying to do something good for my recognition because this is bigger than me! So no, not for any credits or merely attention. I will do this anonymously if I could but obviously that's impossible because I have to use my connections of some sort. And also, because of Vegeta. If my memory serves me right, the Z fighters died and all went to 'heaven' except Vegeta. Picolo then ask Kame where is Vegeta. So Kame explained it something like because though Vegeta is doing good for the humanity by fighting those who want to conquer it, he's still a bad guy that's why when he died he didn't go ot heaven kike everyone. Basically, you can still do something good even if you are bad.

First week of March and I'm still struggling to sell tickets, send out invites and to receive more confirmation,  "Man! I'm so bad at this and why did I ever put myself into this shit". I'm getting teary eyed out of nowhere na mukang tanga thinking there's no way I can nail this. The idea that I have to admit even just to myself first that the event failed is messing me up so much. But as amazing as it is during those down times, I'll also receive confirmation from a friend, a friend's friend and from unexpected people that will support this. Some will pledge to watch, to buy tickets, and even confirming their friends will be there, while some will  just ask for bank details where they can deposit and just pitch in. Wow! And just like that, I'm pretty sure we can do this!👊

March 9 - The day of the event. 98 confirmed plus around 20-30 people that bought tickets. We arrived by 3PM, set up the table and get ready. As one group invited by a friend first bought two tickets, we thought we were ready and still nervous. And then,  nagsunod sunod na. All the fear, the negativity were being kick out of me as one after another arrives, greets us and bought tickets! Ang saya! I'm all smiles trying to greet and say thanks to everyone. A moment of genuine happiness.💗 Plus SM cinema team were very accommodating and help us to sell remaining seats. 

The movie started by 5PM and I decided not to do a little program but instead just ask the cinema to play the video clip about Arteriovenous Malformation to give at least an idea about the condition and why were doing this. I waited outside the cinema til 6PM just in case some will still arrive. When I entered the cinema and saw the first time how we almost fill it up! Man! Never mind the movie, I wanna stare through though darkness and see their faces one by one to remember all these good hearted people. Yung mga tawa at ngiti nila na naging tulong para sa dalawang bata para sila naman ang tumawa at sumaya.

A little something pala about the beneficiaries. First is Jhezeiy Marise M. De Joya or Jam. She's twelve years old I think. Why? Cause since I found out my AVM I've been looking for some people with same condition. I'm not really sure why. I like to think its just instinct...? that I'm not that singled out in having this rare condition maybe. So back in 2017-ish, I joined and met some members of this group 'AVM - Philippines'. Yun pala, my high school batch mates daughter have AVM pala and I knew it just late last year. Imagine after how many years and after looking not only here in Philippines, I happen to know someone who is kinda-a-little-somehow connected to me that also have AVM!

Second is  Khaile Ivan George Reyes, he's the son of Georgette Reyes. So back again when I'm trying to look for people like me, I happen to know and talk to Ms. Georgette and this is even before the group. That she have a son with AVM, being a OFW and a single mom if my memory serves me right; that its really hard for her even just to keep up with the meds for her son. And I remember I told her that if I can, I'll do anything and to somehow extend help. I don't even know why I said that cause back then I'm struggling in diff aspects by myself. Probably because lowkey, that's what i want to hear when I was in that situation even though I'm not gonna immediately believe they'll actually do it. It's maybe the idea that someone wants to show that he/she is there for you...or something like that. IDK. So through this event..... even after several years, I included them.

And that's it. That's how I decided who I want to do this for. 1, I found out in my own circle there's someone like me and 2, I simply want to live up to what I said.

The event ended. My rough estimate is that we might have reach the target..... 


And we did. ✌☺

Again, I'm not gonna stop to be forever THANKFUL to y'all! You know and He knows who you y'all are. Good Karma is just around. 💝

But let me mention and say BIG THANKS to MC Dash Calzado, Quest, DJ Slick Rick, Riki Flo, Eri Neeman, Boobay and Kim Idol (Also an AVM Warrior) who didn't think twice in supporting and believing in this event though its just a random DM from a complete stranger. So anyone reading this, I would like to request to include them and their families and their love ones in your prayers tonight as a way of thanking them, please.

I've been trying to live my life since my I survived AVM but only last year when I realized that's not enough. That I should do something not just for myself. Definitely I can't  for everyone who's still fighting the same condition. But at least to some. To give hope that like in my case, AVM can be kicked in the ass. 

Hindi ko sinabi kahit kailan na 'madali lang yan, kaya mo yan' pag may nakakausap ako na may ganitong sakit. Kinaya ko pero hindi naging madali. Di ko din siguro alam kung paano eksakto ko nagawa yun. Pero sigurado mas mahirap sya labanan sa pag iisip kesa sa pisikal. Napaka laking bagay ng suporta at dasal ng pamilya at mga kaibigan. Pero higit sa lahat, yung kagustuhan at paniniwala mo sa sarili mo na magiging OK ka ulit.

I can never give enough emphasis na dapat may dahilan ka. Kahit gaano kasimple o kababaw na dahilan para sa iba  pero sayo sapat yun. Dapat may dahilan ka para maka balik. Yung solid na dahilan na paniniwalaan mo at kakapitan mo pataas kahit gaano ka kababa mapunta. Yung maniniwala ka kahit anong mangyari para susunod yung katawan mo mismo na oo, nagkasakit ka ng di kagaya sa karamihan at di biro yung pinsala pero gagaling ka at magiging OK higit pa kung hindi man kagaya dati. 

IKAW - at ang suporta at paniniwala mo sa sarili mo eh dapat mas higit pa kesa sa paniniwala at suporta ng iba. Hindi ka nag iisa pero IKAW magisa ang magpapabangon sayo.

At kasama din ang dasal sa Kanya. 

Again, I don't want to receive any thanks to anyone. I wish - together with those kids and their parents, we can thank everyone. 

So, I'll take a 'job well done' rather than 'thanks' with this one.