LOS ANGELES?A mere three days after the ?Cats? run ended, I was on a plane to the United States?and feeling sick.

I had felt a cold coming on beginning Tuesday night, which worsened on Wednesday morning, and culminated in pain and suffering that night. I texted my voice doctor to ask what medicines I should bring; he gave me a grocery list of antibiotics, anti-postnasal drip herbal pills and a few other necessities, most of which have come in handy.

Baseball game

I was a bit worried about this cold (actually, I worry about any cold) because I had to sing for the Padres-Phillies game at Petco Park in San Diego on Saturday afternoon, and do a concert in the Barona Casino, not too far away, that same night. I needed to be in top shape and, at this moment, I was nowhere near there.

On the plane, I asked the flight attendant to just ply me with glasses of water. She kindly gave me an extra pillow and, once the fasten seatbelt sign was turned off, I headed into slumber.

A journalist friend from another newspaper happened to be on the same flight and, seeing that I wasn?t doing well, helped me with my luggage as we headed to immigration.

Hard-boiled eggs

Once out of customs, I headed into a waiting car and passed by a drugstore on the way to my aunt?s to grab more meds to help me rest. At home, I made myself a couple of hard-boiled eggs, took a hot shower, drank my meds and passed out. I had a long drive ahead of me to my cousin?s house, so I needed to sleep.

Antibiotics

I wasn?t feeling much better when I woke up the next day, so I texted my doctor again to ask when I could start bringing out my big medicine guns. I got my instructions and started on the antibiotics and other supporting medicines the next day.

Miso soup, sashimi

After a few errands (and a bag full of yummy cherries), I drove to Chino Hills to meet my cousin Lou for dinner. She was a bit worried that I?d catch whatever she had, but since I was sick, too, we could comfort one another. She brought me to a really great Japanese restaurant where I filled up on miso soup and a ton of sashimi. After dinner we both headed home to sleep.

Little miracle

My concert was only two days away. Due to the dry weather, my nose bled whenever I blew it, and swallowing was a Herculean task. However, a little miracle was happening: I started to sweat out whatever it was that was making me sick. I woke up after naps to find my pajamas soaking wet, and the room wasn?t even that warm.

I knew that I was getting well. My throat was starting to find relief, and I wasn?t blowing my nose as bad. My voice was also feeling more normal.

That night, we set off for San Diego and headed to Petco Park in the morning for my sound check. Oh my God, that baseball park is gorgeous! All the seats face home plate and for a stadium of that size, it felt surprisingly intimate.

Filipino celebration day

Today was a Filipino celebration day, with the Consul-General making the first pitch. The game would start at 1:10 p.m., so my singing of the National Anthem would be at 12:55 p.m.

I sang right behind home plate. Cool.

I then returned to the hotel to get ready for the 7th inning stretch, during which I was to sing ?God Bless America.? For this song, I put on my official San Diego Padres jersey which had my name on the back. Cool.

Once my baseball gig was done, it was time to head to Barona. I met up with my regular band for a quick pickup rehearsal and sound check, after which I headed to my suite to warm up and get ready.

Checking out the casino

The show turned out fine. Thanks, everyone at Barona, for being so awesome! Oh, my face ended up on the felt of a few of the blackjack tables at the casino. Wicked cool. After dinner and quick shower, I hung out with my cousins and a couple of friends till about 4 a.m.

The next day we headed back to Chino Hills for some rest. We?d be getting together with the rest of my Southern California cousins for some seafood and catching up.

Right now, I?m sitting in my aunt?s living room watching cartoons. A load of laundry is waiting to get done and my suitcase is waiting to get packed. I head to New York in the morning for meetings, events and Broadway show watching.

Ah, the euphoria of ?Cats? all over and done with, my life picks up anew, as if it didn?t stop. I?m back on the road again.

Proud to be Pinoy

It is my right to feel outrage, anger and shame at the events of Aug. 23, but I will not let one dark and horrifying episode in our nation?s history define who I am, nor will I let it determine how the rest of the world defines me. I am a Filipino, and I wear this badge with honor and pride.