A Brief History of Semender Parties

"THE ICE" ALBUM COVER. Highlights of this album include "Break the Ice" by Britney Spears and "All I See" by Kylie Minogue. These songs were already listed for inclusion prior to them being released as actual singles. Talk about successful hit predictions!

Party #1: THE ICE

Date: March 29, 2008
Venue: Perk's Place (now Spazzio), Maginhawa St., UP Village, Diliman, QC

My first attempt at a publicity poster. Thank goodness this wasn't actually printed. I know, pagbigyan niyo na. Hahaha!

In fairness marami ding pumunta nun... On the left and in the foreground are my geology block students.

The tarp I made for this party. Note my previous album covers lined up on top. I started the party with songs from my previous albums.

Me and Danikko showing them how it's done.

Parlor games. Haha. It was really fun though.

Me drinking my nth glass of beer.

SPICE GIRLS. My very supportive Chem 40,1 students performed "Never Give Up On The Good Times" as well as other songs from "The Ice".

Dancing to "Low" with Bick (left) and Rhay (center). We didn't really finish the whole song since we didn't have enough time to practice. I was too busy single-handedly organizing the whole thing!

Rallying the audience, psyching up their inner party animal.

Me singing "The Sign" by Ace of Base. Yeah, really. Me singing.

Bubbles and smoke and flashing lights! The audience were really impressed by these special effects.

"GUN" ALBUM COVER. Dark and brooding, my emo album was well-loved by my students. And this is one of my most favorite covers I ever made.

Party #2: "GUN"
Date: October 6, 2008
Venue: Kublai's, Katipunan

Another attempt at a publicity poster. What? I'm trying to look emo here for the album.

This time, I did not plan the party alone. This was the first semester when big classes were introduced to Chem 16, and instead of the usual two lab sections for each lecture class, it was expanded to four. I grabbed the opportunity to name each lab section after a Hogwarts House and called our whole class Potions 16. I took charge of Gryffindor house while Mayang Fernandez led Hufflepuff, Bick Lloren led Ravenclaw, and Larry Lico led Slytherin.

Modeling the album just before the event started.

Me and Bick emceeing, wearing our house colors.

With the Gryffindors, dancing to Kylie Minogue's "Speakerphone". This song was not included in the album. There are no danceable tracks in it actually since its emo rock.

Notice we are all showing our house pride with wearing our house colors red and gold.

Another publicity poster I made. This looks more legit than my previous efforts, right? A bloodied Hogwarts crest to fit the album theme.

Look at all these faces! I don't need to describe how much fun we've all had that night.

Preparing backstage. Every house presented an awesome dance number.

Bick with her well-loved Ravenclaws.

The finale was us instructors dancing to "Now or Never" from High School Musical. I suppose my biggest accomplishment here is making Larry dance! It was an awesome number we did and I remember someone from the audience saying "Wow! Parang totoo..."

Us thanking the audience and our students. What a very emotional and euphoric night it was!

"PLATINUM SOUL" ALBUM COVER. Glam rock is the best description for that sem's album. It celebrated hedonism and fashion. Very stylish. Ooh la la.

Party #3: "PLATINUM SOUL"
Date: March 24, 2009
Venue: Deck, Prince David Condominium, Katipunan Ave., QC

Unlike my previous attempts, we did print this poster on a tarp and it was hung near the ticket booth. This sem's Head of Houses include Harriet Caleja for Hufflepuff, Glen de Vera for Ravenclaw, and Joel Ballesteros for Slytherin. I still retained my Gryffindor House.

A major part of the event was a lab gown design contest. I even invited some of my past students to be the judges. This pair from Slytherin won for best design.

From Gryffindor. The students modeled their lab gowns accompanied by Heidi Montag's "Fashion", one of the tracks included in "Platinum Soul"

The models from Hufflepuff. Those in blue at the back were the Ravenclaw models.

At Prince David's deck. There is a band setup to the right of this photo.

Me and the Gryffindors dancing to Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" and Innerpartysystem's "Don't Stop". Me and my students were already loving "Paparazzi" months before it hit the airwaves.

Hufflepuff students getting wild on the dancefloor. The attire code for the whole event is the album's colors: black, white, and gray.

Obviously, I am already roaring drunk in this picture. I actually scared some of my students away. Aww, my baby's here. :/

So drunk, I couldn't even focus my eyes. Hehe.

Me and the other Alchemy instructors officially opened the dancefloor by performing "Rockstar" by Prima J, one of my faves from this album. We also opened the event by singing to "Wake Up" by Hilary Duff, but this song wasn't included in the album.

Signing a copy of "Platinum Soul". I didn't know what got into my students, but they wanted my autograph on it.

"HEART LIKE A WHEEL" ALBUM COVER. Amazing photo by Arlene Bartolome. This was taken in the then vacant lot where the new Centennial Dormintory now stands. The album is rather mellow, with songs mostly accompanied by piano and acoustic guitar.

Party #4: "HEART LIKE A WHEEL"
Date: October 12, 2009
Venue: White Avenue Bar, Tomas Morato, QC

The hottest ticket in town. The event was called CFP, which stands for "Cressa Fulong Party" since it was her official launch as a rising star.

Album publicity poster. See how I've improved in making these? Almost looks legit!

The ethereal publicity photo for the whole event. Photo taken in the secret IC fire escape. For the third consecutive time I led Gryffindor. MJ Cleofas led Hufflepuff, Glen de Vera led Ravenclaw for the second sem in a row, and Cressa Fulong led Slytherin, as befits her... venomous charms.

We opened the program by a worship song... Hahaha. No, we performed an acoustic version of "Nobody" by the Wonder Girls. It was my idea and it turned out great! My guitar-playing debut (it wasn't stellar though). Celine who was playing the box was our imported talent. Glen and Cressa sang while MJ rapped! Take that!

Charms instructors in action. See the TV's at the back? They were playing this video I made, and even those walking along Tomas Morato were able to watch them.

The Slytherin intermission number. They did this really funny, albeit overlong, faux dubbed drama.

Celine and Thommy having fun!

Students mesmerized by the lights in White Avenue.

Us instructors danced to "Celebration" by Madonna with really simple but innovative steps. We can still remember that particular step until now.

My girls getting wild on the stage while I'm coughing in the background. My new boyfriend was at the back too.

Cressa Fulong enjoying the spotlight. A new star is born!

With my Gryffindor students. Amazing attendance! Was anyone from us absent?

A sweaty me posing outside the bar with my Alchemy Ravenclaw students. So touched they still came even if they weren't my students any longer.

Cheers to the Slytherin Girls!

Hufflepuff students cheering me on. What awesome students I have!

"RUNAWAY" ALBUM COVER. Another photo taken by Arlene Bartolome. The album was mostly punk rock and featured Avril Lavigne, Adam Lambert, Pink, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy.

Party #5: "RUNAWAY"
Date: March 29, 2010
Venue: White Avenue Bar, Tomas Morato, QC

The first publicity teaser. I only posted this in Facebook. The picture with my chemistry friends is from the music video I made for the album's first single, "Runaway" by Avril Lavigne.

The actual publicity poster. Our pictures were drawn by Ace Santiago (far left) who led Ravenclaw house. The other Heads of Houses this semester were Rea Abuan (Hufflepuff), Julius Lopez (Gryffindor), and Yayik Fernandez (Slytherin). I did not handle any Gryffindors this time, so I was dubbed simply as the Sorting Hat.

Me with the Gryffindor students.

Posing with the girls as the DJ (who was rather rude to me) readies his playlist in the background.

Hufflepuff House winning the House Cup after an amazing intermission number with fire dancing courtesy of Ace dela Serna. He did send the audience in a bit of an awe mized with panic with all those whirling flames. Their proud lab instructor, Rea Abuan, holding the certificate.

Us Divination instructors dancing to Lady Gaga's "Telephone". The outrageous choreography (which involved me raising my legs up, playing Beyonce) was made by Rhay Porras-Valenzuela.

With my Chem 16 Lab students!

Me and my BFF, Lea Cardona, working the poles at White Avenue. Lea Cardona came all the way from Baguio just to be able to attend this event.

The ticket which cost me a fortune! The party was undoubtedly fun even if I had to cough up 10k due to low ticket sales. Blame it on Ondoy for extending classes for a week.

"808" ALBUM COVER. After "The Ice", I turned back my attention on dance, and this time it's feistier and sexier. The album features "Get Outta My Way" by Kylie Minogue, "XXXO" by M. I. A., and "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" by Katy Perry.

Party #6: "808"
Date: October 8, 2010
Venue, O Bar, Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig City

The first teaser poster, taken at O Bar.

The actual publicity poster showing the DADA insructors (from the left), Jenny Obligacion (Gryffindor), Ian Malgapo (Chem 17), Jo Mapas (Hufflepuff), Ruth Limcangco (Slytherin), and Beverly Pe (Ravenclaw). The "MiniSTOP" on my thought bubble is an inside joke between me and my students.

With the Ravenclaw gang wearing their House shirts. The back says "Lec ko naman si Sir Bry" with "lec" imitating the Facebook like button.

With Eunice "Mer" Garcia posing Gaga-ish on the stage.

My Chem 17 students. When they were still sober. Hehe.

With the Gryffindors.

With the Slytherins.

We danced to Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" which was the perfect song for the party since it was, indeed, our last Friday night together.

On this party, we had a T-Shirt design contest. Here are all the models onstage, waiting to hear the results from the judges.

Me and Marie Joy Olo teamed up to host this party. Well I think we did keep the energy level of the people high but we were no match against the unplanned dance numbers of O Bar's drag queens. Too bad I couldn't find any pictures of them.

With my bright and fresh DADA 16 lab instructors.

As usual, I ended the program with a speech. But that was only when the real party started. "808" is the best, not to mention, wildest party I've ever had in my whole life!

My farewell album is one of my most emotional ones yet. And needless to say, I've cried many times while listening to these songs and thinking of what I am going to miss when I finally leave UP for good.

Party #7: "WHEN TO SURRENDER"
Date: May 21, 2011
Venue: Route 196, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City

Me having an emo moment in an apparently empty laboratory - the perfect picture of what I was feeling at the time. What's funny about this though is that the date May 21 was popularized to be the end of the world. I had a laugh when I learned about it, and I used it to further publicize my event.

This time, I wanted a different party so I made it into a mini rock concert where my friends' bands can perform. Guest bands include Matilda, Billy Gaga, and the amazing Mayonnaise. My student Benedict Requejo also performed select Electrique songs together with his band. Jofel and Ate Babeh also sang. Louvy Punzalan and Arlene Bartolome performed, as well as Cressa Fulong and Reece Hugo.

For the second time, me and Marie Joy Olo teamed up to host this event. We already had practice introducing the bands since we also hosted RakChemRol the previous year so this one was a no sweat task!

 

 

 

One highlight of the event was the reunion of all Hogwarts alumni - teachers and students alike. Here is the Potions batch: Bick Lloren and Mai Fernandez dancing to High School Musical's "Now or Never".

Here's the Alchemy batch dancing to Prima J's "Rockstar" off the album "Platinum Soul". Harriet Calleja is not visible in this photo. Hehe.

The alluring Charms batch with MJ Cleofas and Cressa Fulong dancing once again to "Celebration" by Madonna.

And of course, who wouldn't forget that intense "Telephone" intermission number by the Divination batch? Yayik Fernandez and Rea Abuan clapping their hands to Lady Gaga's music.

Last but not least, the Cullens! Hahaha. It's the DADA batch grooving to Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" off the "808" album. At this time, the song hasn't hit the airwaves yet.

But the night wasn't all fun. In a surprise intermission number, Ate Babeh Dimayacyac made me cry when she sang "Torete", one of the songs I used to play in the guitar. She made me realize all the good times I will be missing once I leave. Aww, I still remember how she made me bawl like a baby.

Here is Ate Babeh singing her heart out while the IC Junior Faculty goes wild in support of her.

Bart and Louvy... Yun lang. :)

The amazing Billy Gaga with Michael Jackson up from the grave, no less! This is when the party really started kicking.

The one and only Cressa Fulong kept the momentum high by her medley of my favorite songs. In fairness, she did really well, probably because she was drunk. Hehe.

Me and my Crowd of Others students. :)

The amazing Mayonnaise mesmerized the crowd with their sheer awesomeness. Such a perfect cap to one of the most special days in my life. What's embarrassing was that while they were playing, my music videos were playing in the background.

We did not fill the place to the brim but the number of people were just right to not make my event seem a failure. Ahehe. What matters is that the people I care about came. :)

I also sang. Haha! Katy Perry's "Fingerprints" to push my message through after I gave my farewell (as in farewell) speech.

Aww, I still feel close to tears whenever I look back at that night. Thank you to all those who have supported me in my three years of partying. All these events wouldn't have been possible without all your effort. I want these to be a testament to our friendship, which will never fade with time. I love all of you!