My friend Ninfa sent me this e-mail and it is too good not to blog: I got this email just before the Christmas holiday. It was forwarded by a friend who used to work the visa windows at the US embassy here. Anyone of you who has ever tried to apply for a US visa in the Philippines is very familiar with this process. All of you who have sat behind that plate glass window having those application papers shoved over to you are well aware of the tremendous amount of incredulous story lines being fed to you. You will find this incredibly amusing and for the right reasons.... To get the full effect, click on this link AFTER you've read the entire text below. Click on t his link AFTER you're done with the one above. Enjoy! It's going to be a fun few minutes... Ninfa
Subject: Funny story..... ….and apparently true…. From an A-100 colleague…. I have a nice holiday story to share: (Apologies to Snider who's now heard this 14 times, but hey, your stories aren't getting any newer.) Months ago a band shows up at my window. It was Lemons and Oranges, or something fruity. Asked why they would play a concert in Seattle. They claimed some following there. I asked about their music; looked at their posters, CDs, etc. At the end of the interview, they were saying, "come out and see our show tonight." This invite was probably due to my withering questioning, and since they thought they were hot stuff, pride was wounded, etc. etc. It turned out that the venue is actually on the way home from the Embassy, only ten minutes away. So I says, "I can't take any free tickets yada yada yada but maybe I'll pop in." It was a Friday. I went with two LES. We got a table, ordered some beer, fried chicken and so on. The opening band comes on. They were called "Zoo"--this I'm sure of, since I'm from Kalamazoo, the name stuck. The Zoo starts rocking out to 70/80s tunes, like Foreigner, Night Ranger, etc. But the coup de grace was indisputably when they busted out Journey. I mean, the singer was not just good--95% of all Filipinos are good singers--he was really dern good. I couldn't shut up about it. I was telling anyone who would listen, "Dude, not only does this guy have pipes, and range, he's got perfect pitch. He has only missed a few notes on some of the hardest power ballads in schlock n roll history." The LES grudgingly agreed, but they've been desensitized to the regular displays of amazing karaoke you get in Manila, so maybe they were just humoring me. Since I'm from Michigan, I had an older brother who sported a mullet and wore softball t-shirts. His first 8-track was Styx. Ted Nugent is referred to simply as the Nuge, or Uncle Ted. The Silver Bullet invokes Bob Seger not Coors. In short, I'm qualified to judge this kind of thing. The performance was poignant for me... Images of Camaros and pegged jeans danced in my head... definitely surreal. Then.. then!... Lemons and Oranges comes on and, frankly, they were a bit of a let down. I mean, their music was Edie Brickel / Natalie Merchantesque. And that's fine --it has its place-- but let's be clear: it is a metaphysical transgression to go from Journey's "Separate Ways" into Lisa Loeb's "Stay..." The next week I'm sitting at an NIV window next to a soon-to-be legend of an officer name Singer. Singer and I were doing FMJs and so we would trade off regular NIV applicants occassionally so that we got fair share of student visas. Singer loves the three things: the FAM, movie quotes that might cost him an EEO violation someday, and cases that make sense. Things that don't make sense, make Singer an unhappy man. I hear Singer say, "Journey? The band Journey?" He flips through papers. He sounds unhappy. I butt in: "What's that all about?" He turns off his mic and looks over at me. "I don't know. This guys says he's going to try out for Journey." I'm puzzled. "Journey? The band Journey?" Singer goes, "That's what I just said, [EXPLETIVE]!" "Great, another nutjob. I'll take it." Singer takes my student, I take the nutjob. I look over his stuff and say "purpose of travel?" and all that. I start to scrutinize more carefully and realize its the guy I saw from the night before. "Hey, does your band at Bagaberde?.. ." He confirms and he goes on to tell me the story of how he uploaded some clips of his band that he recorded to YouTube and contacted Journey's manager, having heard they were looking for a new singer. He says they called him up and invited him to the U.S. to try out. Given the malarkey you get at a Manila NIV window, this story only got points for being original. He produced some flimsy emails and letters, etc. So I go, in my best dubious voice, "Yeah? let's hear Wheels in the Sky!" He belts it out for the whole waiting room and for the staff to hear (I made sure to take off my headset and let the speaker play it because what I was really doing was covering my butt). I said, "Look sir, there isn't a person in this Embassy who would believe that story-- going to try out for Journey!-- not a soul would believe that. Except for me. I saw you sing last Friday and I couldn't shut up about how your vocals were perfect Steve Perry. So I tell you what. I'm giving you that visa. You're going to try out. And you're going to make it...." And the rest is rock n roll history, my friends: Happy holidays http://www.journeym usic.com/ index2.html  | what a wonderful stroke of luck!! he was meant for the job... otherwise he would have gotten a consul who didn't know what he was capable of. loved the story. thanks for the forward |
 | I've actually gotten to know quite a number of consuls (I used to teach scuba in Seafront) and their horror stories from the visa front lines were amazing. That said, they also did understand that they had the power to change lives - and this story wonderfully illustrates that.
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 | wow great share and a wonderful story:) |
 | thanks for sharing this dennis! having worked at the same department before, seeing the sometimes heartbreaking denials, this one is so heartwarming! what can I say? clearly divine intervention! |
 | yeah... too good not to blog i'd say... |
 | wow, what a great story! thanks for sharing. |
| Hey, I guess this means my blog scooped PDI! |
 | samjudy wrote on Jan 14, '08, edited on Jan 14, '08 didnt arnel say "hayaan nyo pag naaprun ang ang visa ko america. GOD heard it kahit hindi sya tinulungan ni risa :)...the consul who interviewed arnel heard him sing and believed that he was not some nuts dreaming the american dream by auditioning for journey...twas all PROVIDENTIAL! |
 | nigen wrote on Jan 14, '08 GOD! NAKAKAKILABOT! Am in tears now, courtesy of the blogger's sharing...but who damn care shedding a tear or two for the Pinoy guy who'll make the WORLD look at Pinoy musicians with more RESPECT NOW! |
 | I'd like to quote the first few lines of the song "Eversince the World Began" by the Survivor.
I'll never know what brought me here
As if somebody led my hand
As if I hardly had to steer, my course was planned
It's destiny working, I guess.
Sorry for butting in by the way. Found my way here through you tube. Napasulat na rin ako ng reaksyon sa blog pages ko at napa sign up sa ilang websites upang maka komentaryo dahil nasaling ang pride chicken kong Pinoy sa mga panlalait ng mga puting ayaw tanggapin ang katotohanan na magaling ang ating kababayan.
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 | Simply a heart warming story. The 'JOURNEY starts when you believe. To GOD the GLORY!!! |
 | I've read Arnel Pineda's story over and over in PDI first and then afterwards in other papers and can't seem to get over it. Such a heartwarming story! But THIS post makes the whole thing an even more amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing this. I am so proud to be PINOY!!!! Rooting for Arnel all the way! What a divine blessing! |
 | merrr wrote on Jan 14, '08 |
 | Going to the US embassy has always been unpleasant for me. I mean, the consuls and other staff are always very professional and polite, but the desperation in the air is so thick you can cut it with a knife. People would line up and absolutely believe that all their hopes and their entire life is hanging on one single interview. I'm sure Arnel Pineda would've been ok had he not been granted a visa. But I'm glad it turned out otherwise - aside from the fact that it makes for an absolutely amazing story, it affirms my belief that God has a plan for everyone :) |
| Here's a sure sign of success. There's now a fake Arnel Pineda Sex Scandal video on YouTube, with almost 500,000 hits! Click here if you want to add to the hits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma5ounYfFB8&feature=relatedIt's clearly a fake and the description is quite forthright about stating that it really is a fake. The sad thing is that Arnel's name was used to draw so many to the video. For every heartwarming story about human nature, there seems to be another about the dark side of our souls. |
 | How do I share this page to my contacts? Great story! |
 | 'twas really a great story! it is God's way that it happened. Praise God! |
| Just copy the URL and forward. :-) |
 | what a piece of crap. the story is bogus. i don't know why people buy this stuff. you're all been taken for a ride. obviously, a lot of people doesn't know the protocol in granting US visas. Ang mga Filipinos ang hilig maniwala sa mga tsismis at ang mga sabi sabi na na receive sa emails becomes gospel truth. amen. lol
Without Journey's proper invitation coursed through the proper channels (not like the emails, etc that was purportedly shown to the consular officer), Arnel will not be granted a visa just by singing "Wheel in the Sky" not with Homeland Security's paranoias nowadays. |
| actually, ARNEL PINEDA's WORKING VISA TO THE US is already being processed! if you still dont believe it, i can make arrangements for you to interview the american consul who interviewed ARNEL and gave him the tourist visa to audition for journey... |
 | i've become arnel pineda's fan, just want to thank you for sharing this, and yes GOD has plans for everyone. |
| Thank you samjudy. My source, who knows the original e-mail writer, also assured me the story is true. |
 | Amazing story!! may i share it with my friends?? thanks for sharing |
|  actually, ARNEL PINEDA's WORKING VISA TO THE US is already being processed! if you still dont believe it, i can make arrangements for you to interview the american consul who interviewed ARNEL and gave him the tourist visa to audition for journey...  Really now, what will the US Embassy say now since people at their employ are forbidden to tell anybody about their work (esp. individual cases or events) inside those walls especially at this age and time? Obviously a lot of people here doesn't know the protocols of the US Government where confidentiality is of utmost importance. FYI, Arnel already got his working visa because if not he is openly violating the US Labor Code since he already recorded several new songs for the new Journey Album that will be released this year. This was confirmed by the Kevin Shirley a.k.a. the Caveman who has work with the likes of Bon Jovi, Phil Collins, etc in his diary entry on December 7, 2007..." Just got back from Vegas last night, after mixing seven new Journey songs. They are outstanding. Here's the press release below. For the record, I think Arnel is "the business!" - the guy can really sing! He handles the ballads with SO much heart, and belts the rockers as hard, and melodically, as anyone I have heard. The songs are sensational - wonderfully crafted and deep, and so focused, you may wonder where they all came from. And I'm being serious......." http://www.cavemanproductions.com/dec2k7.htmI was in San Francisco where Arnel attended a Filipino gathering and was requested to sing. He only did so by asking every body not to take pictures/ videos while he was singing because Journey now prohibits him singing in public. And FYI, he is being treated like royalty by JOurney, hatid- sundo sa hotel by a limousine. |
 | galing! goosebumps reading this! :) |
 | cillever wrote on Jan 27, '08, edited on Jan 28, '08 mahilig kasi maki ride on ang mga pinoy lalo na pag sikat na ung tao.kesyo ganun , kesyo ganyan. nung kumakanta pa lang si arnel sa mga bars eh wala ka namang maririnig na gantong comments . we should be proud for Arnel, wag po sa mga sarili natin. |
| sugahmamma80, SO WHAT'S YOUR POINT????? |
| Thanks kensamor. It's nice to get third-party confirmation on the story. Sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction! |
 | You're welcome, hkpirate! Have you heard of his Chilean visa story? He almost didn't make it to his first concert. Because he's still holding a Philippine passport, he was required additional documents to enter Chile and he and his management didn't know. Well, somehow he managed to satisfy the visa requirements. Guess what? He was also asked to sing by the officers. He sung a song by Nat King Cole! |
 | jhert wrote on Apr 22, '08 Thank you! 4 sharing this story..We Filipino's here in the US supporting Arnel all the way,sa dami ng hirap na pinagdaanan nya he deserve's na maging successful! |
 | 123ven wrote on Jun 13, '08, edited on Jun 13, '08 Hey, sugahmamma80: By now, you should know already that the visa story is true.."direct from the horse's mouth" during the CBS interview of Journey in the U.S.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_2UivtEhs (around 5:15 in the timer) What do you say? Did you apologize already for saying it was a bogus story? |
| hkpirate wrote on Jun 14, '08, edited on Jun 14, '08 Thanks 123ven! As Arnel himself says in the YouTube clip, he sang "Wheels in the Sky" for the whole room. BTW it's a great YouTube clip. Thanks for sharing and "Don't stop .... believing!!!" |
 | regor0210 wrote on Jun 14, '08, edited on Jun 14, '08 Great story...worth writing a book about when this all ends hopefully a few years from now....way to go Arnel!!! YOU make us all proud to be Filipino.
Thanks for sharing. |
| 123ven, i think sugahmamma80 doesnt have the integrity to do that. otherwise, she should have done it long time ago.... |
 | it may sound a fairytale but this visa officer sucks. why he has to ask arnel sing in the open while he knew it was a legit application. this is how these officers pick on filipinos applying for us visa. look how proud he is for giving arnel a visa he deserved. thanks but arnel is bound for greatness even without you mr officer. |
 | It has been a year since I bookmarked this page and became a fan of Arnel Pineda with Journey. Finally, the dream of seeing Arnel perform live with Journey will come true. I will be seeing them on March 9 at the Tokyo International Forum. Yeheey!! |
 | Hi favor, I think this event may be newsworthy for your blog, please mention it if possible. If not, thank you anyway - Marie.
Manila & Cebu Manila Internet (14 hours hands on) Marketing Workshop/June 12-13, June 26-27,2009
I’m sharing this event with you --in case you’re interested, I’ve been learning from Jomar Hilario (the speaker) for a few weeks now and I can say that he has really helped me start this internet business....
Event details:
Learn how to:
1. Create a 2nd source of income via the internet so you don't have to rely on your work income 100%
2. Create an internet business - a 3rd source of income by creating online stores using the supplied bonus ebooks (worth P 20,000) you can sell.
3. Popularize your websites for greater income and exposure to your market
Start getting out of the rat race via the internet.
The Manila & Cebu Manila Internet (14 hours hands on) Marketing Workshop
Resource speaker: Jomar Hilario (/www dot jomarhilario dot com)
When: June 12-13 (Cebu), June 26-27,2009 (Manila), 10:30am - 5:30pm, Friday/Saturday
Contact: cebuworkshop at gmail dot com / manilaworkshop at gmail dot com
Venue: SM City Cebu / Cubao, Metro Manila
Full details :
Cebu:
internetmarketingworkshop dot blogspot dot com/2009/05/cebu-14-hours-hands-on-internet dot html
Manila:
internetmarketingworkshop dot blogspot dot com/2009/05/manila-internet-marketing-workshop-june dot html
Or Learn Via The Internet:
www dot homebasedbusinessphilippines dot com
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