EPThttp://amandathoughtaboutyou.tumblr.com/post/13791592266/heartfelt-from-me-to-you
Hi! I’m Amanda like THE Amanda from the “Clive and Amanda stuck in hotel” entry in Team Liquid, Reddit etc.
I’m a 25 year old who’s quite the nerd. I hoard gadgets BUT I refuse to discard my 5 yr old Mac. I looooove video games. I got about 23 games right now at home for the PS3. I used to be pretty good at Tekken. I play COD every break time from work and well after work, probably more COD on my PS3 or DOTA at a LAN Cafe near my house.
This was how I met Gus about a year ago. Playing DOTA in a LAN Cafe. I haven’t been back to the said LAN Café. I guess I’ve had to face the reality of having to burn bridges - permanently or just for the time being.
I’ve been working for the travel agency for about 3 years. I haven’t been working on full load since I want to try other things. They did let me; hence, helping out with the IPL 4 Qualifiers last Nov 7-8 2011. I’d always say I’m not doing much or anything at all as I really wasn’t. It really felt like bum time as I never had downtime from school.
I have always wanted to help e-sports here. I remember back in college, my closest encounter to any e-sports thing would just be local tournaments here. Nothing big. I did get to meet teams like Flow, Mineski, Pag-ibig, Ninja etc. – the local classics. I didn’t get the chance to do much e-sports in college as I studied a full load course with duty to boot until PPSL and Gus. I felt that it could be the big break that I’m looking for.
So Gus did tell me that he and his team was to be sent to Atlantic City for SC2. I told him that’s great and like I’m happy for him that he gets to do what he loves on the side. I even asked him to get me a sticker to place on my iPad. He did let me in on news about a tournament that’s been set up with ads from major newspapers for publicity and radio ads as well. I was wowed by the idea, as we’ve never really had a tournament as big as an IPL event. I was offered the job early October then at the end of the month I became a member of Team AZK.
He started officially inquiring about fares and tickets Oct 31. So from October 31 to November 5, I was doing all air arrangements for some casters, host, pro players and coaches to come to Manila from the US, Korea, Taiwan and Australia. He created an email for me in the “azk domain” via google mail.. Transactions were made through the email amanda@teamazk.co.cc. Emailed e-tickets to respective people and used PDF formats for each e-ticket sent. I was also offered to be staff, a player liason, during the event.
It was really FUN when everything seemed smooth sailing. We ate at a small Japanese restaurant called Isshin with Seltzer, AZKziek and Torch when they arrived in Manila Nov 4. We had like a session in Bubba Gump wherein BeeDuck, GunRun, Tastosis, Seltzer and Torch were there and several Team AZK members. I know the session was intended for a general meeting, however, it didn’t really happen November 5. Tasteless and Artosis also had this Street Fighter battle opera in a nearby Timezone. We even went to Cable Car with intentions to play beer pong, no one was able to play though. That night was when Rossi arrived. I actually made a mistake as I told Clive Sen was to arrive that night as well but he was still booked on the 6th T_T . The next day was when players from Korea were to arrive. For some weird miscommunication, Clive, Verde and I waited at the airport but we only saw 4 as they were Team AZK and well, were to stay at another Team AZK member’s house. Apparently someone already picked up everyone else and brought them to Tower Inn. Clive and I brought Seltzer and Torch to a different hotel that afternoon as Gus said that someone sponsored for their stay at Picasso, along with the rooms for Tastosis then Allyn’s room was to follow the night she arrived.
We actually had demo games in Power Square with some players the afternoon of the 6th. We drove them to Greenhills after for a little bargain shopping then I picked up Sen and his coach. Since Tower Inn was full, we had to settle them in Guijo Hotel. I could only shell out two nights worth as that was all cash I had in my pocket. I went back to the airport with Gus and Ziek to pick up Allyn. We then brought her to Picasso and had like this clown moment as we took awhile to figure out how the key and door worked. We then went to Outback in Glorietta 4 to meet up with the group. We did get to take a peep into the venue a little after 12mn of Nov 7.
So the infamous Day 1.
Wore my staff shirt, transported the group in Picasso to the venue. I think I started pretty early like 845am or so. As soon as I got the 2nd group into the venue, I parked and made my way up. I was tasked to stay at the VIP area and collect Php 500 (about $12) for VIP passes and to give out goodie bags to those who paid. We did manage to get about 62 VIP purchases so that’s at least Php 31,000. We used some of the money to buy water and some materials. Gus did eventually take the bag of money which contained the VIP revenue. I know there was someone else assigned for the HON registration and several teams did arrive to register and participate in HONslaught.
Time passed. Originally I knew 1030am would’ve been the start. Lunchtime came, 1pm, 2pm… the event started without Gus. He called me past 12 noon to tell me he “crashed”. He got to the venue around 230pm, 3pm tops. Then everything just started to show flaws one by one. Faulty internet speed, faulty PC’s, well… we ended up having to transport several players to a computer shop here just so we could finish bracketing. We did save replays after the matches in a USB. We couldn’t stream the matches from the shop. I know show matches were shown at the venue and that some pc’s were actually playable. HON tournament never happened though. I know the players were seriously displeased as a small group discussion was happening when I got back to Glorietta.
At the end of Day 1, the staff was to have dinner. Okay food was supposedly free. So for 13 staff members, we were given Php 1000 or about $20 to split amongst ourselves – wooohooo! And Gus had the remaining cash. That was a little bit of a WTF moment for me.
So Day 2 came. I got to the venue 930am. I wasn’t the first one there really. GunRun was there at 8am. JC and Reyds were already fixing the computers, testing some out to see if they’re patched and if the RAM problem was already solved. I’m the 4th person. The production staff who’d been playing Street Fighter with the celebs was yet to appear too. I asked people what they needed. I got worried so GunRun and I spoke on the side. I told him basically there’s like a problem brewing especially money issues. I actually wrote some sort of SOS on the AZK group wall to ask where everyone was. Before the event started, we had draw lots done which explains why there was a new bracket. We started near noon. To be honest, Torch stepped in as the stage director T_T I know he only went to Manila to look after Rachel really. Torch asked me to make some sort of chart for people in charge of the arena. We divided it into stage people and main arena people. I know Gus was writing something in one the pc’s but I didn’t bother to ask what it was I did feel like there are other things to be done. He did give that “we made it” speech sometime in the afternoon. Well we also had a staff speech that day. We were only informed onsite that there wouldn’t be any compensation – so dude WTF.
I stayed behind during egress with several people to pack up RAZR peripherals. After packing up everything, we did the recount and well SEVERAL items were missing. Im not particular with the arrangements with the sponsor.
John from the production was asking about the whereabouts of Gus and I wasn’t so sure what to tell him. So I went to the after party wherein some Team AZK people were. There was an open bar selection.
B-Day. Nov 9 was BILL DAY. Clive brought Rachel to the airport by 6am first. Then he went back to Picasso. He then brought Torch to Tower Inn. When Clive step foot in the lobby, that’s how he pretty much got stuck. He calls me at 830am with a pretty distressed sounding “Amanda are you up?”. Basically the call was if I could go to Tower Inn. So I went. As soon as I got there at 9am I was like why is everyone in the lobby? People are supposed to be moving to the airport by now. Clive handed me a thick bunch of paper. He simply went. “They’re in my name. None of the rooms were under Augustus Ledesma. And there’s an outstanding bill of about Php 40,000.” So somewhere between talking about the bill and all other unsettled things, GunRun offered if I’d like to talk to IGN via Skype and this was how I got to talk to Mr David Ting. Funds worth $7000 was then frozen for the time being, the 2nd half of the contract with Team AZK. Against our hospitality, I was compelled to ask the coaches to pay for miscellaneous such as phone calls made, food and drinks-Verde did the translating. GunRun arranged for vans to transport everyone to the airport. I then proceeded to talk to the Manager on duty that morning to ask her if there was any way for Clive to be allowed to go out of the hotel. She said bill has to be settled at the end of the day and that Clive can’t leave. I was in tears after the conversation as I did feel pretty helpless and I didn’t know what to do or say anymore.
I called my uncle who was a policeman in Makati. He went to Tower Inn to try to calm me down and coordinated with police stationed in the area that we plan on taking Gus to the precinct. Since Clive and I didn’t hear from Gus that morning, GunRun offered us the option if we would like to go public about the incidents; hence, the Team Liquid post. I sent Gus a text and told him that legal action was to be sought due to non-payment. It was the only time Gus actually sent an SMS that he was fixing the problem at Picasso about unpaid nights as well. Gus called me and I was like just get here because we need to settle the bill or at the very least Clive can’t leave. He was telling me over the phone that he made special arrangements with Tower Inn that he can pay 30 days later - honestly how’d you even do that?
GunRun shouldered the bill before he left for his meeting. Gus arrived at Tower Inn at about 3-330pm as he said he was only commuting. Clive was eventually able to leave. I stayed as I really wanted to bring him to the precinct. I waited for what Gus had to say. He simply went he only had Php 10,500. Gus asked me to write a narrative about the incidents in the lobby with regards to the hotel management and so I did. His lawyer friend and fellow Team AZK member arrived while I was writing. They took my narrative and went to the front desk. I had to tell Gus that GunRun paid already and he asked me how did that happen. I just left after that. I couldn’t bring him to the precinct anymore as a lawyer was already there.
Days passed. I still didn’t know how to pay off my $12,000 office debt. Gus wasn’t really being clear about how he will pay. I’ve actually created beef with some Team AZK members when I came out with the incident. I just felt like I had no other way to go. Unless someone from the Team can tell me that hey I’ll pay so can you shut up already. But no one did. I’ve actually squabbled with some Team AZK member because he said stuff about the staff.
My first email from IGN was dated 11-11-11. Basically they were asking for a waiver by Gus so that the remaining $7000 in the contract to be directly deposited to me. After some emails, I did tell IGN that more than jail time, my main concern was office operations. I wasn’t the only staff. And if payment wasn’t met, office ceases functioning until the balance has been turned over to the airlines - no ticket issuance, no bookings, nothing. IGN asked for the replays as well.
I had no idea a fund raiser was going to happen on my behalf. I received an email from IGN asking for a narrative a few nights before as to what the status was in Manila. A few hours from the fundraiser, I get a Skype meeting with Alex and Lani of IGN. Basically the way it’s to be conducted was some of the replays we submitted will be streamed and a donation button will be in the bottom. Proceeds will go to me and if it makes more than what I needed, we can use that to pay the others. From this point, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t think it was going to happen. A fundraiser will be held to raise at least $5000. I never saw it coming and I had no idea it was even in the works. I made accounts so I could respond with as many thank you’s as I could such as Twitter, Team Liquid, etc.
Mr David Ting of IGN made a special video message on YouTube regarding the IPL 4 Qualifiers. (date posted 16 Nov 2011)
The fund raiser announcement was posted on the Team Liquid wall last Nov 15,2011 by Alex from IGN, 2 hours before the fundraiser happened.
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=285511
The main objective of the fund raiser was to raise at least $ 5000 in addition to the $7000 IGN already had as stipulated in the contract to completely pay-off all the tickets. If any amount is earned beyond the $5000, it directly goes to the unpaid parties such as casters, talents, staff etc. I followed the thread and it was closed as soon as $ 5000 was raised. Tried to post as many thank you’s on it but during the middle of the event, I had to do go to the Bureau of Immigration to do work-related things.
He did text me after fund raiser because I accidentally pressed the call button on my phone. He asked me how much we got and I said no info reverted by IGN. The midnight before Gus’ interview on CSinsider, I got kicked out of AZK.
Gus’ Interview on CSinsider (16 Nov 2011)
As clarification, all bills with the travel agency have already been paid off completely thanks to IPL and the SC2 community since 21 November 2011. Receipt has been issued for IGN as instructed.
To date, I have not received anything from Gus. He has thus far killed his Twitter, deactivated his Facebook. An admin did the password reset on several @teamazk.co.cc emails. I did manage to back up before this though.
Honestly, it’s already Dec 6 and I’m so not over what happened. The experience is ironically both the best and worst I’ve ever had. And well… I can never express my gratitude to everyone who helped out. T_T I am still pretty lost. So I guess blogging things might help.
Right now, I want to use my blog to thank as many people as I can, especially those who did more than they should and moved mountains.
First of all, I’d like to thank IGN for what they did for me and ultimately got me out of uber hot water:
To Mr Ting, who in the time of my crisis was calm, collected and compassionate and did all that he could to help me out. I am extremely grateful!
To Lani who became the correspondent and Alex who was the one who informed me and explained the fund raiser to help raise the $5000 heap of money needed.
To Lolita who helped me track the funds deposited for payment to the office even during the Thanksgiving holiday, even at the middle of the night.
Thank you GunRun – you are like a HERO! Seriously.
Thank you Torch (Trevor), for stepping up and being the stage director/manager on Day 2. I don’t think Day 2 would’ve run as smoothly as it did without you. I know you’re job was to actually look after Rachel…
To Rachel and Allyn for being hella great hosts during the event and are like the bomb to hang out with in and out of the event
To Tastosis (Dan and Nick), the awesome casters who did a great job even and casted as much as they could even if they had a flight they had to catch at the end of day 2. I think a barrel of laughs and fun is an understatement!
To BeeDuck (Jessi and Livvi), the sweetest casters I’ve ever met! GLHF at casting the games to come!
To Jason Tugman and the team behind iHeartesports who donated a cool $600, Your stickers are like the bomb!
To Team AZK, I really had a bomb while I was still part of the group. I did meet a number of members who were there to listen and help me out, thank you so much.
EDIT: To Dox, for all the pieces of advice you gave throughout this whole thing!
Thank you so much again SC2 community for all the donations.
I was really in need and I understand that my problem was only as important as the next person but still a lot of compassion has been given to me and I’m very grateful. Thank you to all the people who made sacrifices for this cause and for e-sports. I’d like to thank the folks who had to skip a nice dinner with their special someone, friends and families. Thank you to the people who sacrificed their six-pack beer packages and donated the money instead. I’d like to thank all the people who spared me a slice of their pizza, heck even the whole box. I’d like to thank the hardworking people who earned that money with their time, and along with their contribution shared a moment of time of their lives to me. Thank you to people who sacrificed things in order to help me out. Thank you to everyone who kept as many PC’s and laptops running the streams, some even skipped school and work. It’s been a touching and humbling experience which is still greatly overwhelming. I feel I was important and I mattered at that fragment in time.
Special props to the following (posts on Team Liquid)
FlamingTurd (United States)
Posted : Nov 15 2011
Okay, I literally just told my wife we’re not going out to dinner tonight because I gave $10 on this ahhaha. She was pretty mad until I explained what it was for more clearly and of course had to make it up by making her dinner now… Took 1 for the team.
—— thank you so much! I feel bad about the dinner thought L hope she didn’t get toooo mad T_T
turdburgler (England)
Posted: Nov 15, 2011
if i told my gf i was spending money on another woman rather than her, i wouldnt survive long enough to get the explanation out : l
—- Thank you sir! I hope she didn’t chase you down the road with like a battle axe or like the kitchen knife >.<
Nagisa (United States)
Post 15 Nov
63$ donated! The money I was going to spend on Skyrim! Where is my round of applause
note - my parents never give me money because they’re asian and im 14. T-t
—— I hope you were able to get Skyrim already… Thanks a lot!
Canikizu
Posted: Nov 15 2011 You either feel good by eating a pizza tonight, or feel good by helping a person tonight, your choice.
SuperYo1000
Posted: Nov 15 2011 Donated $10….virtually like a fast food combo….I think I can sacrifice the 2000 calories for tonight :D
—— Thanks a heap. ^^
blitzace (Philippines)
posted: Nov 15 2011
I don’t have paypal to donate but here I am, cutting my classes and watching! hands down to IGN!
—- Thanks a bunch … hope you didn’t get into trouble though
ODieN
Post 15 Nov
Donated $250
——Maraming salamat! (Thank you very much!) I know its a lot of money I realllyyyy appreciate it…
I want to write 5000 thank you’s to all the kind hearted people who donated and write a shout out to everyone but really… I don’t think that can suffice for what everyone did for me. I never dreamt this happening to me in my lifetime. Truly, people are still made compassion, generosity and integrity. I am very lucky.
Thank you soooo much everyone.
Much Love (forever indebted, and never to forget)
<3 Amanda
read it all and it was an interesting read.
