PRICE TAG

"It's not about the money, money, money
We don't need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the Price Tag." - Price Tag by Jessie J

It's not about the money money money when it comes to doing the things you like or even love. Sometime 2nd or 3rd week of July when I got the Call from Darwin Chiang of Star Records for a Special Project; It'll be a Road Management/ Artist-Handling Job for a very sensational Artist coming from Canada - MARIA ARAGON. Here are some of my Road Manager Account on her 6-week stay:

20th of July 2011 is the Date of Arrival of Maria Aragon with her Family minus the Dad. A lot of Media crew has been waiting for her at the airport then right after she got out of the baggage carousel area, she gave a short interview to the press then we went straight to the PBB Haus for her very first Live Philippine Guesting on my (former) show, Music Uplate Live.

After the show, we went to their hotel Bellevue Manila in Alabang where they will stay for the rest of her Phillipine stint.

On July 22, she had her Contract Signing at 9501 Restaurant in ABSCBN with Ms. Annabelle Ragalado-Borja & Ms. Malou Santos followed by a courtesy call to Ms. Cory Vidanes. I then took her around the ABSCBN Compound and truly she was so excited to see the studios where all her favorite Shows shown on TFC are done. I went with them for an early dinner with her manager, Jeng Guiab and her Family at Eastwood.

First Sunday in the Phils. was a blast for Maria Aragon for her Debut Guesting & Welcome Prod. Number on ASAP Rocks with no less than the Popstar Princess, Sarah Geronimo. Everybody was so happy to see her and she was hugely amazed in see-ing all the "Artistas" she only knew from TFC. ASAP chillout came in next then we went on for her THE BUZZ guesting with KC Concepcion interviewing her.

After that, the next days were devoted to Recording for her Debut Album with Album Producer & Songwriter, Sir Vehnee Saturno and an early Tuesday Pictorial with Doc Marlon. Well, all that hectic schedule and the Philippine Weather setting in her system made her sick for a while but professional as she is, she went on with her Recording and engagements.

She had her fair share of Personal Vacation time with her Family in Boracay, Ormoc Leyte- the Hometown of Mommy Menchie, Laguna- the hometown of Daddy Veni and Mandaluyong where the rest of their relatives live.

Maria again guested in ASAP Rocks with a Production number with the funny Concert King, Martin Nievera. She had a very interesting and intellectual guesting with Tito Boy Abunda in Bottomline. An early morning guesting in Umagang Kay Ganda didn't stop her from singing her song Born This Way. Toni Gonzaga was so "ate-ish" to Maria when they sang together on Happy Yippee Yehey.

The adorable little girl got a dose of a huge concert audience with her guesting in Yeng Constantino's RakenRoll Jamming at the Aliw Theater after her TV guesting on Eat Bulaga.

Maria had her first Music Video shoot for her single Born This Way with Direk Raffy Francisco (soon i will post the full video here). She did a series of mall shows that kicked-off at SM the Block; and she even had a mall show in Davao. I remember, when she and her manager got down from the car straight from the Airport from Davao for a mall show in SM Dasmarinas, that she smelled like Durian. Hahahahaha!

Maria Aragon had her Album Presscon hosted by Bellevue Hotel and Last ASAP guesting was extra special because it's the Launch of her Self-titled Album with Nikki Gil & Toni Gonzaga. She also was part of the Gary V. special "With Love"; had popcorns in between takes with Mr.Pure Energy and Billy Crawford. Another memorable guesting was her Rated K interview with Ms. Korina Sanchez.

Maria also had her way to give back with her advocacy in ANCOP for the Global Walk in Mall Of Asia and her Benefit Concert at the Amici Restaurant last September 3.

Karen Davila got 2 interviews and singing session with Maria on Headstart and her DZMM show. We had our Radio Tour to promote her album for a day then went straight to the taping of Walang Tulugan with Kuya Germs.

She also recorded the themesong for the Kids Show Junior Master Chef and got to perform it right before the Advertisers and Bosses of ABSCBN during the Trade Launch in Hotel Sofitel.

Last Hurrah for her was a special recording and Music Video shoot for an ABSCBN Station ID (I'll post a Behind the Scene Exclusive as soon as I get an Approval) before we had her Farewell Party last Sept. 7 at a posh house in Ayala Alabang.
Truly, this girl has a bright future ahead of her. As My idol Martin Nevera said it "Maria Aragonna Make It Big", as long as she Follows her Dream.

"Follow your dream
The courage found within
Your soul is keeping you so strong
That you can rise each time you fall
And stand upon your own" - Follow Your Dream by Sheryn Regis/ Maria Aragon

<CREDITS to ALL the YOUTUBE VIDEOS included in this Blogpost. Thank You!>