David Cook and David Archuleta Live in Manila!

It was May 16, 2009 when I went to the concert, and I saw a lot of people! I also saw the producer of the concert, which is Jomari Yllana. The concert was supposed to start at 8:00 pm, but we waited for almost 30 minutes. I didn’t get tired of waiting, even though we came in there at 7:00 pm.

After waiting for 30 minutes, the concert started. I have no idea who’s going to sing first, but it was David Archuleta. He first sang “Touch my hand”. And when he was done with the song, he grabs a bottle of water and drinks on it. I noticed that the crowd laughs every time he does that. After drinking a bottle of water, he shouted “Mabuhay Manila!” The crowd became loud and everyone was shouting! He also sang “Stand by me” and “Angels” which he sang when he was still on American Idol. Besides the other 3 songs, he also sang “Don’t let go”, “My hands”, “Barriers”, “A little too not over you”, “Zero gravity”, “Your eyes don’t lie” and “Waiting for yesterday”. He also sang “To be with you” which is one of my favorite songs. He said that one of the writers of that song was the new judge of American Idol, Kara DioGuardi. As he was introducing another song, he said one of his favorites was “You can”. I already heard that song before, and it was really beautiful. I remember as he was singing “Your eyes don’t lie”, he does some “whistling” but it really is a part of the song. I also remember he said something after the chorus. He said “I hate this song” which made me laugh! As he was talking about his next song, we were all wondering what the song was. I don’t exactly know what he said. But I think what he said was “This is the first song I learned to play on the piano.” As the music started, the crowd couldn’t stop shouting! He sang “A Thousand Miles”.

But unfortunately, he sang “Crush” as his last song. The crowd became sad but he cheered us up when he said “Maraming salamat po” before he sang. He also said “Mahal ko kayo” as he was leaving the stage. I was so happy and I really had a great time.

Again, we waited for a lot of minutes for David Cook! But meanwhile, we saw a lot of fireworks which entertained us. Finally, David Cook came on stage! Everyone became loud too. While he was singing “Mr. Sensitive”, he took a short pause and said “Mabuhay!” After singing the first song, he greeted us “Magandang Gabi” and everyone just shouted! He told us he talked to David Archuleta backstage and he said the crowd was incredible! “He said I will have no idea what I was here for” he added. Some of the songs he sang were “Declaration”, “Kiss on the neck”, “Little Lies”, “Bar-ba-sol”, “Avalanche”, “Light on”, “Straight Ahead”, “Life on the moon”, and “The World I know”. He introduced a very popular song, which all of the Filipinos loved. We were all wondering what the song was. He said “We never played the whole song with the band before today”. As he started singing, the crowd started to sing along with him! He sang “Always be my baby “which he sang when he was still on American Idol. After a few songs, the lights were dimmed. We were all confused if the concert is already done. Everyone was shouting “We want more!” Then we heard someone saying “Oh were not done yet!” It was David Cook. Everyone was shouting! I remember his guitarist named “Neal”. He called him because he saw a girl holding a poster. The poster says “Marry me Neal”. So he decided to sing “Come back to me” and dedicate the song to the two people.

As his last song, he sang “A Daily Anthem”. The crowd became disappointed but he promised something. I don’t know the exact words but what I think he meant is “I’ll come back.” The crowd became loud again, especially when he called David Archuleta backstage. At the end of the song, all of the people were singing along with the two singers.

It was a lot of fun! I wish they can come back again here on the Philippines.

Awesome Banana

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS (Pre-menstrual Syndrome): Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach..

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium! And magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in “The New England Journal of Medicine, ‘eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! Besides those illnesses, the inside of the banana skin can be a quick shine on our shoes. Just rub it directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth.

When you compare a banana to an apple, it has

four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. I guess its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”