Dearest Maine, Let’s Celebrate the Gift of Your Life (2nd of 4-Part Blog Series)
May 30, 2018 is the date set for #DearestMaine event at Relish restaurant. The program will start around 6:30pm. We have to be there earlier to take care of the details. Aside from this, I have to be hours earlier too to familiarize myself with the venue since i am one of the hosts. It helps in taking out the nervousness once you are at home with the venue before hosting the event proper itself.
I arrived there at around 5pm. The venue is a two-storey establishment. I told the staff the name of our contact person who booked the venue. Then he replied with, “Ah yun kay Maine po? Dito po kayo akyat.” I went up the stairs, maybe around 12-15 steps? I felt delighted upon seeing the venue but there are no one yet around but I heard voices inside a separate room. I knocked at the door and stepped inside. The other members of Maine Group of 18 are there, decorating the room, checking the technical system, and looking after all the details. I smiled at them and it felt like I just met respected colleagues from the same field of literature, linguistics, and creative writing. They all have warm smiles and I am more convinced that time Maine is indeed blessed to have supporters like them. I won’t divulge more description here about them to retain their mysterious anonymity.
I went around the venue and marvel at the intimate and elegant set-up. The main function room is probably around 30-40 sq. m, good for maximum of 50 pax. The 9 tables were arranged close to each other that you may only walk around through the center aisle. You can call the attention of a friend sitting across on the other table and he’ll still hear you well. The centerpiece is a beautiful and elaborate centerpiece made up of hardbound books, laces, pearl-like beads, flowers, and scrabble tiles spelled with Dear Maine. At the back, fanarts of Maine as the subject were displayed as these were tied on to the LED one-colored Christmas lights. Also,the trio band were rehearsing there. The trio is composed of a professional keyboardist, cellist, and violinist.
At one side, artworks inspired by Maine are placed as if those are for art exhibit. At the other side, the porcelain plates attached on the walls are included in the Relish restaurant venue. What these creative members of the Maine of Group of 18 did was to turn those plates into a photo gallery. Various pictures of Maine from her social media posts and taken by her skilled supporters in photography brought more life to the decoration of the venue. At the right part of the front side, a white marble stand holds the copies of the Dear Maine:A Testament of Love, Happiness, and Miracles book while on the left side, there were the antique decorating items like the treasure chest box, circular intricate red carpet, lamp, and old telephone unit, figurines, and candle holders on a short glass-top table. Seeing the lounge chair where so close to attendees made me excited because supporters can see Maine that near. A bouquet of yellow roses was placed there too for her. Outside the function room is an extension of the venue wherein the Relish staff arranged the buffet catering and the set of cupcakes topped with strawberry which served as the birthday cake.
As the clock tick nearing 7pm, more attendees were coming. I saw those creative people too behind the fan arts like @nimfasmacabitas and skilled official photographers like @tius_day and @shewishU who all love Maine. These photographers are some of those fans who capture different shots of Maine in her public events, barangay, and interaction with other fans. Their expertise is noticeable with the way their actions is familiar with their DSLR camera, as if those were extensions of their body.
The management team of Maine and the Mendoza family came around 6:30pm. I thought I’ll be shy saying Hi to them but their presence feels like they’re a family friend whom we personally know for years. That’s how down-to-earth the Mendoza family members are.
I noticed a copy of the program printed out by Relish staff so I ask for a copy to practice the flow of hosting I’ll do with another member of Maine Group of 18 too. I went out of the function room to release all my nerves. I am used to speak in front of a crowd but I always have that nervous moments minutes before the event itself.
Not long after, we got the cue to start the program by inviting the attendees to have their dinner. We were hyping up the mood of the event by interacting to the attendees and making them more excited for the event when suddenly....
A lady in crimson red giddily rushed inside the room, bent down to hug and play with Matti...and there I was silently stunned as my brain immediately processed and my heart recognized at once who she is.
Besh, di ako naorient nandyan na pala si Maine!!! KALOKA!!! HAHAHA!!!
I don’t have time even just a jiffy to get my brain stuck while thinking what I’ll do next and looking at her. “Focus RJ, co-host ka dito, bawal mawala composure.”, I told myself. Good enough, it was my second time around to see Maine so I already knew the feeling rather than being overwhelmed on the spot as I am co-hosting the event. I realized more at that moment how casual and private this event is to see Maine more in her candid and outgoing character. It helped me lessen my nerves knowing the event isn’t very formal and I can do more of my makulit and kwela kind of hosting. The attendees took out their phones and captured photos and videos of Maine while their smiles are so wide I felt that for the whole year of 2018, they will not be sad again. Nakalimutan na nila kumain at wala na yata gusto kumain hahaha! So we reminded them they can now proceed to the buffet catering for the dinner. I told them “Bayad po yan, kakain tayo lahat!” hahaha! The attendees were serenaded by lovely sets of songs from the trio band. The way they played those songs soothed everyone. It gave an ambiance of a fine dining experience.
After the dinner, we started the program with a doxology from a talented duet. Then we thanked everyone and acknowledged the distinguished guests for the event. I want to commend her as my co-host for her composed aura and words of wisdom shared while explaining or commenting in the event. She gave the balance to my makulit and kwela hosting that night. She shared a glimpse of the book and how we, the Maine Group of 18 came together for this purpose. In the next part of the event,my co-host transitioned that Ma’am @fiddlerOc has sent an audio message about the background of the project. Again, let me reiterate that she is the one who thought of the coffee table project as a birthday gift for Maine from us, her supporters. She is living in another country with her family but the distance did not feel she was far with the heartwarming message she shared, especially for Maine.
The next portion of the event is a special AVP video made by a member of Maine Group of 18 from another country. The AVP has the “Success” poem of Ralph Waldo Emerson while screenshots, pictures, and videos for each line highlighted its significance. Here is the poem:
What is Success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am in awe as I was so amazed with how every second of the AVP became a storytelling in itself. For example, in the line “ To earn the appreciation of honest critics”, there were screenshots of tweets from the likes of respectable personalities like Sir Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. as he fanboy over Maine. It was an AVP less than 10 minutes but I witnessed a glimpse of how Maine evolved within nearly three years in showbiz industry.
What came next is the sharing moments of the live testimoners. This is one of my favorite part of the event, especially when I saw they shared their own experiences that night through a Twitter thread. Reading those threads from @imjessiebarrios @dearfriendcan @adopted_weasley and @ThinkingParrot made my heart lighter and warmer. Another testimoner is from a wise elder who also is a huge supporter of Maine.
That part of the event wherein they presented live testimonies felt like showing Maine an excerpt of the book. They were given time to tell Maine everything they want to say, most of them have prepared letters for her while they read the message. What was Maine’s reaction? Let me share about that more in the next part of this blog series. Everyone listened intently to each of their testimony.
Different stories. Different backgrounds. I observed the similarities between the stories of the 5 testimoners and this was what I concluded:
They are like us too. They are like everyone else who experienced the challenges and pains in this life. At some extent, they were pushed beyond their limitations. They experienced the lowest points of their lives and even doubted themselves if they can live again with joy, passion, and enthusiasm. As they struggle to fight back and get back on track, they found out about Maine through different ways. (Aldub, dubsmash videos, etc) She has a certain pull of charisma wherein they found themselves looking forward to see more from her. They noticed slowly they were smiling, laughing, and embracing their lives again.
We may have our different reasons and stories but one thing is for sure....she has touched our lives.
In that moment, I heard again how Maine became a Bearer of Light.
The testimonies are so moving that you will be in awe how God orchestrated everything, that there are no coincidences, but rather His grace, will, and chosen time to send inspiration and motivation.
For the last testimoner, @dearfriendcan is one of those who spearhead the ADN Scholarship Drive. She shared how initiatives from countless fans made it all possible most especially in challenging times. They meticulously choose their recipients as well and I am glad that one of the beneficiaries is with them that night. If you want to know more about their moments, you may visit their twitter profile or ask them to share the thread of their experiences in #DearestMaine
I am in awe witnessing all those moments that everyone of us were blown away. I know how much Maine and us, her supporters, love and care for each other. What I didn’t know is the magnitude of Maine’s influence and with God’s guidance, she touched lives, fans started initiatives and created friendships.
Of course, since not everyone who contributed for the book project can attend the event, an AVP of their messages was presented. Fans from all ages and different parts of the world send their greetings to Maine, most are in video while the rest are in audio. There’s this kid in that AVP whom I can’t forget as she proudly showed in the video all the medals she received from her achievements in school and thanked Maine for the inspiration to study well. Again, I’m fighting back my tears for how the AVP moved me.
For the last AVP presented, it was the preview of the Dear Maine: A Testament of Love, Happiness, and Miracle book. We saw a quick glance on the chapter highlights of the book for Maine to have an idea of its contents.
If you saw the picture of Maine (courtesy of @tius_day) in dim lights and black and white filter effect from that event while looking somewhere and smiling, that’s the time she saw those AVPs.
Nearing the end of the event, the two copies of the books were turned over to Maine. Afterwards, Nanay Dub and Tatay Dub gave messages. They reiterated their gratitude for everyone of us as we continue to support Maine in thick or thin, and despite all her flaws and imperfections. Tatay Dub remembered how Maine is really used to do a lot of facial expressions since she’s younger. Little did they know it will be a way for her to be known, as he said. As for Maine, she thanked us all again for the acceptance, she hopes that our support has “no expiration”.
The event ended on a high note. Since the attendees is a small number, everyone was able to approach Maine, talk to her, have a selfie, asked for a video greeting, etc. Maine is very energetic and sobrang kulit at kwela that night. I forgot the times she mentioned she is an introvert. hahaha! I guess, she is more comfortable with a smaller group in an event? Well, that’s just my guess.
Before they leave Relish, Maine went closer to the porcelain plates with her pictures displayed. Of course, it was a chance for us to take more pictures of her into which she gamely posed and projected for the camera.
May 30, 2018---One of the best moments of my life both as a believer of God and a supporter of Maine. I promised myself that moment will be one of the reminders how goodness can still prevail in a world dimming in chaos. The #DearestMaine event brought together people who believe in goodness and continue to live and embrace life in the best way we can.
Thank you again Maine Group of 18 for making it all possible! @LiveGiveLive @fiddlerOc @lola_valeriana @MYRNS25 @0HunnyPot @earnestviewer @akosiliyann @sheisthecomet @ndeicm @deivisuals @candey_waley @Mommies4Maine @reallyrabbit @wanderlust1222 @leezasm @offofunofficial @eun_caien @rj1421
Thank you for reading Part 2 of this Blog series!
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