We were very fortunate to have been able to watch Bruno Mars live in concert last May 3 and 4, for two consecutive days. TWO. FREAKING. DAYS. I still couldn’t believe. We even got to watch both concerts for free!
The first day was sponsored by Pepsi. My cousin won a contest and he got 4 Upper Box tickets. He brought us along with him. We went out at around 3pm and met up with our other cousin who just came from school. We rode the bus straight to MOA. We were supposed to meet up with Pepsi at 5 but we arrived 30 minutes earlier so we went inside the mall first and my cousin bought himself a charging cable for his phone. Someone from Pepsi messaged us of where we were meeting up with them. They also informed us that food will be served at the venue and maaaan I was so stoked when I found out about that lmao. I even joked with my cousins that I was more excited for the food than the concert itself. I was starving okay. People say things they don’t mean when they’re hungry. Anyways, we found the restaurant which was called “Gringo Chicken Rib and Friends” at exactly 5. There were people inside already. There was a table when we entered and my cousin wrote down his name. We also did write ours as his company. They gave us each a wristband that says “winners”. Yassss queens! The people from Pepsi were very accommodating. They told us that we could sit anywhere we want. I chose the one with the couch because we’re extra. When we were settled in, they served us food right away. They gave each one of us a bottled Pepsi. We were approached by two of their staffs and they explained to us how we had to film a video thanking Pepsi for their documentation, which we filmed right after we finished eating. There were nachos, burritos, and some food I honestly don’t know what it was called lol. I tried everything though. I was happy and full before the concert. Goals. We even finished a pitcher of iced tea by ourselves. We were seated with the other winners too. Pepsi actually closed the whole restaurant for this. How cool. I even thought of Bruno Mars just appearing out of nowhere and surprising us. But Pepsi has done enough for us, that’d be too much. Huehue. When we were done eating, we went out to record the video. We went inside to send it to one of the staffs. We noticed that some winners were already outside lining up so we followed them. We were escorted by a guy holding out a sign which says “winners”. Again, yaaaass queens! There were cameras on the road and we were being recorded. Hi Mom I made it! When we crossed the road, there’s the MOA Arena already. I mean it’s not that far. HAHA. We walked all the way to the back though because that’s the entrance for the Upper Box and GenAd. When it was our turn, the security was looking for our tickets and we told them that we were winners and showed them our wristbands. Funny story! We really needed tickets. HAHA. I found one of the staffs on his phone and I asked him where we could get them and he told us to go back to the restaurant. It was super embarrassing lmao. We ran all the way back. We told those in the registration area that we weren’t given tickets. We thought that we were the only ones left. They informed us about the girl who was in charge of the tickets and we saw her. I approached her and told her that we haven’t gotten our tickets yet. Another embarrassing story! She said that it’s because she was just about to give them out and there were still winners inside. We were part of the third batch. Face palm. Just a few minutes later, she gave us the tickets. Then there was, again, a line and a guy holding a sign. And you already know what happened. Except this time the security didn’t ask for our tickets anymore. She asked us to leave our Pepsi though because it wasn’t allowed inside. I finished a bottle with the help of my cousin then we were officially inside. It was my first time in MOA Arena so I was really excited to explore the venue. A guy from Pepsi told us about the VIP lounge and that there will be endorsers there. He stressed that Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil might be there. Spoiler alert: they weren’t. Also side note, he cute doeeee. HAHAHAHA. Okay, back to regular programming. We rode the escalator and explored the venue. Thanks to Jollibee for the free tuna pie. I got four and I was able to feed my family LOL. San Mig and Selvarey were also serving free drinks but I don’t even drink so Pepsi pa rin. I also heard that Bruno founded Selvarey but I’m not sure if it was true. Well if it this, then why didn’t I try it?! Anyways, we got free temporary tattoos naman from Selvarey the next day so that’s what I am keeping in my memory box. It’s a gold gorilla. Very Bruno Mars. While strolling around, we found the VIP lounge and another funny story! I was talking to my cousin and she told me that she just saw someone that looked like Nico Bolzico, the husband of Solenn. When I turned around he was already behind me and I said “Hi Nico!” then he smiled at me. I was laughing at my cousin and she told me that she thought it was a different person because the girl he was with wasn’t Solenn. Up to this day, I still don’t know who that girl is but maybe she’s his sister or niece. Idek. When we looked at Nico again, a lot of people were already asking for a picture. We lined up but when it was our turn they stopped and told everyone to come back later. However, a girl from Pepsi noticed our wristbands and bij we were given priorities there. Yaassss queens! They allowed us to have pictures with Nico and Joyce Pring. My cousin’s phone was acting up so Pepsi just took our photos and posted it on their Instagram story. When we checked their IG, they also posted the vid we took outside Gringo. Shems kotang kota na kami. We love you, Pepsi! I also got to talk to Joyce and I told her that we were able to see her at IAGT. I also joked that we were expecting that she’d sing and dance and she laughed and told me there wasn’t enough time. After taking pictures, the girl who assisted us led us to the “Pepsi Tunnel” where we took another video and boomerang which they also posted on their IG story. It was super fun and the staffs are really nice. Pepsi you’re the best! The concert hasn’t even started yet but this was already one of the best and most memorable concerts ever! Before we entered the actual arena, we got a very important phone call. It was so important and it was a long story that I couldn’t even write it here LOL. Then we saw the Jollibee booth and the whole Jollibee squad was there so we asked for a picture. We rode the escalator again and we finally found our entrance. I was exactly at the Upper Box Section 406 Coral Row I Seat 15. There was a DJ to start the show followed by the Jabbawockeez. I was so surprised when they took off their masks. They were really great and I was so excited when I found out that they were the opening act. After the performance of the Jabbawockeez, it took almost 30 minutes for them to set up the stage. When the curtains were finally up again and Bruno started singing, everyone just lost it. We stood from our seats and jumped up and down. We were so hyped. Everything was just so perfect. The lights, the explosions, the backup/band, the camera angles which were super cool btw, and the man of the hour Bruno Mars himself. This guy is a genius. What can he not do?! I even lost it when he sang in Filipino. I wasn’t expecting that at all HAHAHA. When the curtains were already down, everyone chanted for more. Of course, the man is prepared. He had one more song and it was Uptown Funk. The stage effects on that one were just amazing! The fire behind him and the “firemen”. WHAT. A. CONCEPT. This concert is 11/10. I didn’t think he could do it all over again for the second day but seriously how does he do it?! He does not seem to get tired. I think I get second-hand exhaustion for him. For the second day, we entered the venue a bit later. We were waiting for our tickets and we got them at 8. While we were in line, guess who were just two people behind us? Karylle and Zsazsa Padilla. My cousin was shy at first but he was able to take a pic with them, also with Ronan Domingo and his boyfriend. We saw loads of celebrities there. The Kramer family and the dad buying some snacks, Rochelle Pangilinan and Arthur Solinap before we rode the escalator, Darren Espanto when we got down from the escalator after the concert (this kid is so tall), and then Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo who were seated just below us. It was funny how we found out that they were in our section. I was taking a photo of my cousin and he was raising both of his arms, eyes closed (he was wearing a cropped top) and when he opened his eyes he saw Juday pointing at him LOL. He wanted to take pictures with them but she was carrying her son so I just told him to let them have some privacy. Thanks to SMART for our second day Lower Box tix! Our seats were perfect. We got a really nice view of the stage. When we got inside, the Jabbawockeez were already towards the end of their performance. It was alright though. At least we got to watch them on the first day already. There weren’t free tuna pie anymore outside so we were hungry but when Bruno came out of the stage, I forgot about my hunger until it was through lol. Day 2 was just as perfect as day 1. Two sold out shows! BRUNO MARS DID THAT! SLAY, MY KING! I ALREADY MISS YOU! YOU WERE SO GREAT! WISH I COULD SEE YOU AGAIN ON YOUR NEXT SHOW HERE. SPECIAL THANKS TO PEPSI AND SMART FOR LETTING US HAVE THIS MAGICAL EXPERIENCE AND MAKING IT EXTRA SPECIAL! BEST TWO DAYS OF MY LIFE! I had an early class the next day, though. Ugh. How do you expect me to just move on and continue with my normal boring life?
0 Comments
Last January 21st, Sunday, I got to see this new English band called New Hope Club at Venice Piazza Grand Canal Mall in Taguig.
To be honest, I was not familiar with this band like I have only heard them before from my friend who is a fan but that was it. I never knew any of their song. The only reason why I wanted to see them live was because I did not want the “LANY incident” to happen again. “What’s the LANY incident?” you might ask. Well, there was a time when LANY had a gig in a mall near us where we wanted to go but we weren’t able to. Now, they’re coming back to do a show here but on a bigger venue and with a bigger ticket price. They have gotten way bigger and we regret big time not attending their first show here and that’s basically why we didn’t want the “LANY incident” to happen again. New Hope Club may be a bigger band someday and we wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity to see them right now. We went to the mall around 4 PM and I was surprised to see that there weren’t a lot of people. I mean they can fill up the venue but the queue wasn’t that long so even if I arrived late I could still buy some tickets unlike other shows where you really had to be there as early as you can if you want to score some passes. However, the mechanics for the tickets is somehow not ideal for me. From what my friend told me, you had to buy their CD at the venue and you get two tickets. That’s great, but then during the signing, only one of you gets to meet the band. What if both of us wanted to meet them? It isn’t possible unless I buy another copy of the album. It would be okay if I was with my mom but if hypothetically I tagged along another fan with me, then one of us had to make a sacrifice. For me, it’d be better if they sold it a cheaper price and it’d be fine if it’s equivalent to one admission only. At least it’s a win-win for the both of us. Each of us gets to keep our own copy of the album and meet the band as well. I’m sorry, enough with the rant. I didn’t even buy a ticket but you know, just saying, in behalf of my fellow concert goers who aren’t that rich and would like to go for a more reasonable and affordable option. Yeah, you read that right, I didn’t buy a ticket because as I have mentioned earlier, I didn’t even know them so I’d rather save money on people I genuinely listen to. I am not rich for the hundredth time, okay. Besides, it was an open venue so anyone can watch. I know I have been a bit harsh with the organizer of the show but there are pros as well. Bless you, MCA. Well the show was supposed to start at 5 and we still had one hour to spare. We walked around the mall which I would recommend when you go there because the view is very aesthetically pleasing like you’re really in Venice, Italy. I mean obviously I’ve never been there personally but this should give you a glimpse of that. You know, like a Walmart version, in millennial terms. I also listened to their album so I could get myself familiarized with their music before watching them. We got ourselves some coffee then fifteen minutes before the show we went back so we could find a good spot. Fortunately, we found a nice unoccupied spot in front of Chowking on the second floor. The view of the stage was great and kudos again to MCA, it started on the dot. The front act was Isabela Vinzon from The Voice. She sang three songs and she did sound better live. Not long after, the three members of the band went up on stage. They were all super tall as expected. They all had guitars wrapped around them. They sang right away and they were great performers. Although I didn’t know the first song I found myself enjoying it and dancing along embarrassingly. They did some subtle fan service here and there. I noticed some screams when Reece and Blake looked at each other. Oh yeah, I learned their names just an hour ago LOL. George kinda looked like my favourite from Lawson so that’s easy to remember. They were so comfortable on stage. They sound great live and they had distinct voices so it’s easy to recognize who’s who. Their individual voices sound awesome and really add up something to the song. I just didn’t become a fan right away but that’s just me. I think they’re way too young for me when in reality I’m just a year older. Still, they look very young in person. Although they’re so tall, they had baby face. They’re all good looking so I really cannot pick one that stands out. On the picture, Reece was the prettiest for me but seeing them in real life, one cannot help but to keep on swerving lanes. I also didn’t find a moment that’s like the highlight of the show. It went by so fast and I just wished it was longer. If I was younger, I think I’d be a fan. They’re like a mix of The Vamps and One Direction for me. All of them can play the instrument and all of them can sing as well. I won’t be surprised if they will become a hit soon. They’re songs are really catchy. I fell in love with “Friend Of A Friend” the first time I heard it and “Fixed” was also familiar and it’s that case where I just didn’t know they were the ones who sang it. I am not surprised that their audience are mostly teens. My 14 year old cousin became an instant fan. I’d probably watch them again next time given the chance but for now, I’m really happy I got to be a part of their first time performing here in our country. It was definitely memorable for us both. So you’ve recently seen your fave in a concert and now that it’s over, you think your world is also over and you don’t know how to continue with your life. It’s alright. It’s completely normal. That’s exactly how I felt when I saw David Archie for the first time after 9 years. I mean I waited 9 years so it was very hard to move on. I couldn’t function for a few days so if you’re like me, I hope these tips will help you because they worked on me.
1. Acceptance – You have to acknowledge that you have a PCD and don’t think that you’re weird crying over someone who doesn’t even know you. It’s normal because that band/person is important to you. Most people experience that and I can assure you that you are not going insane. 2. Talk to someone – Talk to your concert buddy, BFF, anyone. Let it out. Do not bottle up all these emotions on yourself. It helps because it somehow lessens the emotional baggage that you have. If you think your friend in real life doesn’t care, then go online. It’s actually kinda sad that there are more people who will support you there. Basing from my experience, friends that I met online are nicer. 3. Write about it – Jot down your experience. You can make a thread on Twitter, post a blog entry, or even write on your own journal. Relieve that moment and cry if you feel like it. It’s okay because it just means that it’s an important event in your life. After that, you will feel much better like a weight has been lifted off your chest. I personally thank myself I did that because now I can look back on that moment by reading my own story and instead of crying, I catch myself smiling. 4. Distractions – Try not to think about that band/person for a while. I know it’s hard but at least try. Don’t torture yourself. I’m happy that I found the Dolan Twins when I was dealing with my PCD. I watched their videos all day long and I forgot I was sad. Slowly I’m becoming my normal self again. I could watch the concert videos that I took only to hate on myself for shaking too much I got the worst footage ever. 5. Have something to look forward to – I have an event coming up this month, so my attention is on that thing. You need an excitement in your life to put you back on track. It could be another concert you’ll be attending or a new season of your favourite show. Anything that excites you will help you recover from the mess that you are now. 6. Time – If all else fails, then just let time do its thing. It might take 4 days, a week, two weeks, but trust me you’ll get over it. You might not be able to function right now but you will in no time. Stop stressing yourself out. You’ll be fine. That happiness you felt that day, you will experience that again. Warning: This is a suuuper duuuper long post. I love David Archie that much. Also I am writing in so much detail because this is one of the highlights of my life and I want to look back at this in the future and relieve my happiest memories.
Today is the 26th of October and I think I am finally ready to write a blog post about it without tearing up. I have finally recovered from my PCD. See, last October 20th was the best day of my life. It was the very first time I have seen David Archuleta in concert. I have been a huge fan since I was 10 and now I am 20. I have known and loved him way more than my friends in real life. All the people around me know that I call him my kuya because he is like an older brother I look up to. He made my childhood the best. Let me include here a few anecdotes. I remember collecting pictures and posters of him that I got from magazines or newspapers. I did not grow up in a well off family so just buying an album even took me several months of saving up. I will never forget that it was around Christmas time. My mother and I went to the mall. I brought my savings with me. I told her that I wanted to buy his album as a Christmas gift to myself. I think I purchased it for more or less than PHP 550 which is around 10 USD. It was a lot of money for me since as I have mentioned, we were not rich. We are still not rich tbh lol. My mom told me not to tell my dad about it because he will get mad that I have spent that much money on something that is “not that important”. My father is not really that supportive of my fangirling. Up until today. Well I guess that’s another story for me to tell. Still, I was the happiest when I got it. It became the most important thing I have ever owned. There was also this one time when I heard he was having a concert here with David Cook. Of course, I knew I would not be able to watch it because *surprise surprise* I could not afford it. I was already losing hope when I learned that he was doing a TV guesting on Eat Bulaga. I immediately told my mom we should go. I love how my mom has always been supportive with everything that makes me happy. She agreed and we were ready the next day. The thing was that my father asked where we were going so we had to tell him. He did not allow me to go because he thought there might be a stampede on the venue since it was David Archuleta, duh. Wow he actually thought David was a really huge star. I love it. LOL. I felt so sad at that time. I literally did not talk to anyone and I was mad at my father for ruining my dream of seeing my fave artist. My mom, who really is an angel, did not want to see me sad so she brought me to the mall instead. We played at the arcades. I got this cute stuffed smurf from the claw machine and to commemorate that day, I named it “Archie”. I would bring Archie everywhere with me. Like everywhere. To the park, to the rooftop, to the market, literally everywhere I go. My friends still remember Archie to this day and of course I don’t bring him everywhere I go anymore, but I still have him and he will always be special. I also remember when David released his book “Chords of Strength”. I saw it the first time in a bookstore and I think it was sold for around PHP1000 (almost 20 USD). Again, can’t afford. I would always return to the store and check the book if it was still available. I would come back during sale season and see if it will be discounted. Still could not afford. I would hide it behind the shelf or at the bottom of the stacks so people would not see it. 3 years later, there was another sale and I found that one last copy of the book and grabbed it immediately. I ran to the cashier without having second thoughts. It was like destiny really wanted me to get the book. It was definitely one of the happiest, proudest and most satisfying moments in my life. I still have a lot more stories to tell but this is already too long so I apologize in advanced lol. In 2012, David had to go on a mission. I never got the chance to see him while he was here in my country. I did not know when he’ll be coming back here. I grew older and many things have changed. I have met most of my favourite artists for the past years. Greyson Chance, Lawson, Connor Franta, Alex Wassabi, and a whole lot more. I have ticked off many things in my bucket list except for one thing. This one thing I finally got to tick off this year. I finally saw my most favourite person in the whole world. David Archie did not forget about the Philippines, after all. The timing was just very difficult for me. I promised myself that no matter what happens I will see him this time. I am in college now. I have a scholarship so I thought I would be able to afford it. The thing is that uni is messing with my fangirling. I had to spend loads on school requirements I was so broke during the time of ticket selling. I told myself that I would just borrow money from my friends. I have never done it so I did not know how I would ask. Just a week before the concert, a blessing in the form of 8List announced their giveaway. You just have to answer what’s your favourite David Archie song. There were loads of great entries and I have already lost hope in winning. It was the day before the deadline when I finally decided to enter and give it a shot. My answer was a bit cringey because of my bad jokes lol, but I had to do it because I want to get their attention. With the amount of entries, it’s impossible that they would still go through each one, so my comment had to stand out. To my surprise, I was one of the winners. I was literally shaking and crying when I found out I will see the love of my life. I haven’t felt that much happiness in so long. I am really grateful for the sponsor because they made my lifelong dream come true. I was counting the days and my inner 10 year old self is back. I was so looking forward to October 20th but surprisingly that was not the day I saw him for the first time. 2 days earlier, October 18th, I was informed that he will be at Venice Piazza Grand Canal Mall in Mckinley Hill. That was just one ride away from my home. Fortunately, we didn’t have a class that day and my cousin was dismissed early so we had this spontaneous adventure of going to the venue. There was a long walk before the mall but we already had a glimpse of the Wish FM bus which made us extremely stoked. I told myself “This is it! Your 10 year old self’s dream to see him is finally happening.” We were there at exactly 4 pm and the show was supposed to start but it was only after almost 30 minutes when he showed up. He was the most beautiful human I have ever seen to walk on this earth. I am not exaggerating. He looks so perfect. He is 26 and I look way older than him. I was shaking and I couldn’t control my hormones, I mean emotions, LOL. I was so close and the only thing separating us apart was the bus itself. He looked at me and I waved at him and he waved and smiled back and we had a moment there and I almost fainted I mean who wouldn’t?! The guy has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. Please don’t think I’m crazy. I was just really overwhelmed. He did a short interview and then he sang. His precious voice, oh my ears were blessed. He first sang “Up All Night” then I started to tear up when he sang “Invincible”. It has finally struck me that it was real. I am hearing and seeing him in person for the first time ever. He sang the songs beautifully and they’re so meaningful. I am so proud I admire the right person. It sucks that he had to leave at 5:30. I did not even notice the time. That was like the fastest one hour of my life. We were waiting for him at the exit and I was lucky that I was standing there the whole time so I was near like I was literally behind the security guy. The people behind me were just pushing me which was kind of annoying but I understand because we were there for the same reason. David and I were just like two feet apart. We are breathing the same air you guys. LOL. I was trying to reach his hand, the guy at my back was able to do it but my arms were too short. It was alright, though. I am just going to put that on my bucket list haha. It made me more excited for his actual concert. Our section was in balcony so we were farther from the stage but seeing him that day, just 2 feet apart, is already enough for me. It already felt like a meet and greet. The time has finally come. His concert was on a Friday which means it is a school day. I was so happy that morning which is rare because I am not a morning person. I even wrote a letter during our break time because I was hoping to give it to him personally. I also prepared some little presents for him but sad news I wasn’t able to do those things. Maybe someday. We were dismissed at 4 PM and I came home at 5. I changed to my concert outfit which is basically a Sherlock shirt with a denim jacket paired with black jeans. Thankfully, there was no traffic. However, when we reached the MRT, there was a long queue. I was just glad the line was moving fast. I had to go in the male section because I was with my cousin and can I just say that was the wildest ride of my life?! The train was so packed. It smelled disgusting and I could not breathe. I felt relieved when we reached our station so I could inhale some fresh air. It looked like I came from a war. We walked near the Araneta Coliseum and after a few minutes we found the Kia Theatre. It was my first time there so I didn’t know what to expect. We immediately went inside. Someone validated our tickets and we went up the escalator because our section was on the second level. The view wasn’t that bad. The stage still looked close and the venue is perfect for an intimate show. It was already 8 PM but the show has not started yet. We made some friends with our seatmates during the show. They were also winners from the contest which is great. This is also what I like about being in a fandom, it builds friendships. At 8:30, Tippy Dos Santos performed an opening act. I did not know her before but she sounds amazing. I liked her voice and I also realized that she was the one who sang “Dati”. Archie came out on stage by 9 PM. Everyone started screaming. His first song was "Up All Night". We were singing along and I just melted when he did his adorable dance moves. When he sang "Invincible", I cried again. I don’t know why but that song just hits me hard. I think it’s my anthem. David is an amazing songwriter. He also did a mash up of "Parachutes and Airplanes" and "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons which was unexpected yet it turned out to be so cool. He did a duet with Tippy on You Are My Song. They sounded great together and I told my cousin “that should be me” lol. It’s always special whenever he sings OPM songs and it’s incredible how he still remembers the words. He sang my favourites as well, "Elevator" and "My Kind of Perfect". It’s funny how he forgot the keynote on MKOP but everyone still continued singing along. It was surprising when he sang "Don’t You Worry Child". It was like an EDM concert with all those lights. When he sang "Touch My Hand", he literally touched the hands of some fans in front just like the music video. I wanted to jump from the balcony so bad. I will add that to my goals. No, not jumping off the balcony, but touching his hand on "Touch My Hand". Of course, it’s not a David Archie concert if he didn’t sing "A Little Too Not Over You". People went crazy when he sang that. It’s the song that makes you miss the ex boyfriend you never had. He said that ALTNOY will be his last song then he flipping left the stage. The audience shouted "More!", so he came back. He sang one of the most awaited songs of the night which is "Nandito Ako". It got pretty emotional real quick. He did tear up while singing and I got triggered I cried too. It will always be a special song between him and his Pinoy Archies. I remember that Jasmine Curtis Smith was also there which made it more nostalgic. 2012 was a great year. He then sang "Glorious" which I am honestly not that familiar with but it's such a beautiful, powerful song I knew I have to listen to it more. Everyone shouted "More!" after that and he thought he heard "No!" which is funny. He made a heartfelt message and said MAHAL KO KAYO which melted our hearts, before singing his final song which was... wait for it... the legendary CRUSH. Everybody just lost it when he started singing that. Hands were up in the air, swaying. It’s like we were all singing along to the Archies’ national anthem. It was so magical and I didn’t want the night to end. I did an ugly cry after the show. I didn’t want to leave. It was the best concert ever. If I could just go back to that night over and over again... well, I guess I’d just read this blog post. He sounds exactly the same live as he does on the albums. The stage set up was simple. He only has his guitarist with him. No live band. It was just him with his pure talent. His great voice really stood out. He looks like he’s having so much fun dancing around on stage. The most important thing is that he’s genuinely happy because I know it makes us happy too. It honestly made me sad when he thought he had to start from scratch because obviously we are still here. We will always be here. I hope he comes back ASAP. I made a promise to myself that when he does, I will be in the VIP. I will touch his hand when he sings Touch My Hand. I will have a picture with him. I will have him sign my CDs and his book. I wish nothing but success for this guy. He is so precious and he has the one of the best vocals in the world. His songs are keeping me sane in this insane world. Thank you for your music, David. I hope you never get tired of creating them. I will always listen to them because they make me happy. I hope you keep doing the things that make you happy, too. Last July 21, I was fortunate enough to be in the same room with Oh Wonder.
I thought we wouldn’t make it on time because I had to wait for my cousin whose dismissal was 7pm. The show was supposed to start at 8 so I was really anxious. It was already 7:30 and still no sign of jeepney. We had no choice so we decided to walk/jog/run until we reach the venue. Good thing we don’t live that far from SM Aura so we could go there even without transpo, we just have to walk for miles. It was a challenge we were not ready for. We took some shortcuts which means we passed some streets with no people and with dim lights. Did I mention it was also raining? I was ready to get sick for Oh Wonder. I blamed my cousin as we run and told him he should’ve just skipped school so we could come on time. I am the black sheep in the family, obviously. To our surprise, miracle happened. We reached SM Aura at exactly 8pm. I was still dreading it, though, because we had to climb all the way to the top just to reach Samsung Hall. When we got there, I wasn’t expecting a long queue but there it was. My feet hurt and we still had to stand in line. We were there for like 20 minutes. There were merch sold outside but I was too poor to buy any. One picture is Php500 and I still have school requirements to do so I should know my priorities. When we entered the hall, there were loads of people inside I didn’t even feel like I had VIP tickets. I am so short that people still think I’m in elementary. I couldn’t even see the stage. I was so gutted. I really hoped we could have gone earlier. I was also hungry but the food there were like gold. They were so expensive. One small bottled water alone is already Php35. I actually thought the food was free but sadly they’re not. I understand the prices, though. With events like this, it is just common. The show was started with opening acts from Reese Lansangan and Clara Benin. It was my first time hearing them. I don’t really listen to Filipino indie music but dude they sound so amazing. I couldn’t think of any other people that could open for Oh Wonder. They’re perfect. We went out for a while to buy just outside the VIP area. While we were buying, I heard High on Humans and people were screaming. Oh Wonder came out on stage while we were outside. We ran and bumped other people along the way. We didn’t care. We were on the way way waaaay back when we entered the room. We just accepted our fate. The vibes that Oh Wonder brought were sooooo good. I think I got high. I was only seeing some glimpses of them because I was, again, too short. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the show. People were dancing. Some were drinking. We were singing along. It was just so chill. It was the first concert I attended where the people were just cool and not freaking out LOL. The ones I attended before, there were loads of pushing and tugging. I think one factor that time was that we were at the back so people couldn’t really push us there. It was nice to see everyone just living in the moment. Some were taking videos but not all the time, only for a few seconds or during the highlight of a song. Props to whoever was in charge with the lighting, as well, because they definitely added to the vibes. I had the best time. Oh Wonder sang a lot of songs. Like a lot. Maybe 14. They sang my favourite songs. They sound so great live. It ended earlier than the supposed time but I am already so satisfied with the show. I even forgot I was hungry until it was finished. We went to Mcdonalds right after and ate with big smiles on our faces talking about what just happened. This is absolutely one of the best concerts I’ve been to. 10/10 would go again, if I could. Kudos to the team behind this, it went super smooth and everyone had the most magical time. |
just call her "G"when she can't say it, |