New A'tin Story

Hello guys, baby A’tin here. Gusto ko lang ishare paano ako naging A’tin. I’ll try to make it short pero pag humaba sorry na agad.

It was one fine afternoon in August, the sun rays piercing through my windows as I work my way through endless deadlines at work. Despite the good weather outside, I was a mess, like a lost and empty soul just trying to survive another day. It’s been almost 3 years since I migrated to EU, and while I’m already used to the new environment, I still miss home, and it’s one of those days when I miss it more than usual, and the hectic work schedule is not helping at all.

So, to YouTube I went and started typing OPM music. I clicked the first mix thumbnail I see, and I let it play in the background, humming silently to songs I know, while I went back to working on my budget model spreadsheet. Board meeting is coming up soon and I’m not even halfway through my preparation that you can almost feel the dark pressure all over my room.

And being the overthinker that I am, I started to create different scenarios of how I would fail my first ever board meeting outside of home. I was paralyzed and the pressure is starting to eat me alive. And suddenly, a new tune started playing in the background, “Rotting in bed, numb and upset…”  it caught my attention, “the hands on the clock are moving along.. Feels like I’m dead” and I was like WTF?!!

I hurriedly clicked on that minimized button at the bottom of my computer and 5 men sitting on wish bus flashed through my entire screen. I was dumbfounded and confused and overwhelmed ALL at the same time. The lyrics of the song spoke to me like it was written for me and only me and I listened to it at just the exact time that the universe wanted me.

And then Ken started singing his part and I was like adhfsakdfhksagksljf who are these guyssss? What have I been missing? Why are their voice speaking to me and demands that I use all my senses to hear them? And then Stell telling me that “your best is enough, it won’t hurt to try” Like man, how do you know just the words that I needed to hear? I seriously broke down while listening to this song. It felt crazy but I just need to hear that my best is enough.

And of course, you know what happened next, I went into the rabbit hole that is SB19. I fell deep and when I say deep, I mean ends of the earth deep. From their interviews, music videos, reaction videos, you name it, I have combed the entirety of the world wide web looking for contents that has the slightest hint of SB19 in it.

Their music carried me through every single day since I knew them, they lift me up and they make me feel that I can do whatever I set my mind to. And I think the best thing about them is that they don’t just make music, they embody their music. And that’s what makes them inspiring.

I have spent many a day and night since that fateful day listening and watching them, they’re on constant loop as I drive to work and the more I dive into their discography, the more I appreciate each and every one of them as a singer, as an artist, a musician and most of all, as an individual.

I just can’t get enough of their music and after a few days of losing sleep because of them, I finally gave in and booked a ticket to Dubai to watch their SaW concert (moshpit kasi gagastos na lang tayo eh lubusin na natin). I’m never a person to impulse buy anything but these boys made me do it. I actually questioned myself after buying the concert tickets and the flight tickets but every time I hear their song, I know I made the right decision. It’s just one of those things that I know I must do.

And syempre, nanghatak ako ng friend from PH to meet me sa Dubai and join me to watch them, it took a bit of convincing (mga 30mins) kasi casual listener lang sya haha pero sabi ko baka mag topless si Stell so ayun, nagbook din sya ng concert ticket and flight nya hahaha. Can’t wait for October 11.

Sana magkaron ng EU leg yung SaW please! I’m going to all stops na kayang puntahan, pramis. They can take all my money. I’m willing to spend irresponsibly hahaha.

P.S. More than anything, I’m also so so proud na dahil sa SB19, napatunayan kong kaya pa pala nating mga Pilipino maka appreciate ng totoong talent when it comes to music.

Another P.S. Natapos ko yung budget and approved ng board so thank you SB19! My best is enough nga. LOL

Salamat sa mga umabot sa dulo.