the michael jackson memorial

it was 10:00am in the US and already past midnight here in the Philippines. it was Tuesday morning in the US and it was already Wednesday dawn here in the Philippines. despite the huge time differences and the huge need for me to get some sleep, i still watched the Michael Jackson memorial live through GMA7 and ABSCBN2. i watched Ces Drilon interviewing Gary Valenciano (who is said to be the Philippines' Michael Jackson) but i watched the whole service in GMA7 because they were able to show the beginning and that ABSCBN has very poor reception and is delayed for a about two minutes.

anyway, there were singing and speeches commemorating the King of Pop. Michael Jackson was lying inside a pure gold casket and was placed in front of the stage. there were a lot of people in the Staples Center, LA. and just like what Pia Guanio said in her Twitter, Michael Jackson can still drew crowds even in death.

Mariah Carey had a hard time singing "I'll Be There" due to the uncontrollable emotions she has inside her. but her voice still soars through the song just like the first time she sang it in MTV Unplugged. he was dubbed as the "greatest entertainer that ever lived" and i'm sure no one can say anything against that. he was surely way beyond his time. it seems as if he had already done anything that can be done in the music industry, leaving other artists with nothing left to do. however, the people couldn't get enough of him.

and to remind everyone that his death was all to sudden, Stevie Wonder said, "This is a moment that i wished that i didn't live to see come." well, he was older than Michael Jackson, as well as Berry Gordy, who founded MoTown Records, and Smokey Robinson. even up until now, his death was a shock filled with a huge amount of disbelief, Smokey Robinson also said, "You don't think you'll live to see them gone..."

there were a lot of amazing performance - John Mayer's guitar performance of "Human Nature", Usher's "Gone to Soon" and Jennifer Hudson's "Will You Be There?" - and long, reminiscing speeches of how Michael Jackson was a friend and artist, the whole service came down to a very brief statement that came from Michael Jackson's daughter Paris.

the said statement that was done towards the end of the memorial service didn't even last for a minute. it was so simple and genuine. she just walked and stood before a mic, and said, "I just wanted to say, ever since i was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine and i just wanted to say I love him so much." after that, she was embraced tightly by Janet Jackson.

Michael Jackson was never a "Daddy" to the public eye. it was not because he's a bad father, it was just his parent side was never seen by the public and that everyone's view of him was limited to as the King of Pop or Wacko Jacko. though the latter is filled with so much negativity, the former conceives a perception of a legend, immortality, unreachable, etc. he was to the greatest performer/artist/dancer of all time to the eyes of all. hence, with Paris referring to him as "Daddy", it sorts of reminded us that Michael Jackson was still, indeed, human. it was new and perhaps, it is a name/label that he was most proud of.

i've read an article from New York Post entitled "Uncovering the Lives of Michael Jackson's Kids after His Death," it described how Michael Jackson as a father. though he was an unconventional father, he did his best , in his own way, how to be the best father to the eyes of his children. he taught them to be humble, he kept them well-grounded, he taught them good manners and respect despite all the luxury that they have experienced being the sons and daughter of the King of Pop.

thus, Paris' 12-second speech was perhaps the most unforgettable moment in the said memorial service. on the bright side, it was good that Michael Jackson left behind three adorable children that will still remind us of his existence. it was just sad that they have lost their father at such an early age...i hope they remain under Katherine Jackson's care.

[picture from OMG! and USMaganize.com]