30 Seconds to Mars in Manila

      They say that the best things in life are free. And can I just say that last Friday was a testimony to that. Last Friday was the much-awaitd 30 Seconds to Mars in Manila Concert at the Trinoma Open Parking Lot. It was July 29, right in between my mom and baby brother's birthday. A month before the concert, Mariel and I decided not to go for we had so many things to pay for around that date -- Harry Potter Screening, Harry Potter Shirts, etc. Also, I was thinking that I would have to go home that Friday so we can celebrate my mom's and brother's birthdays. So I made peace in my heart that I wasn't gonna see Jared Leto in all his glory. Mariel and I have been fans of 30STM since we were in high school... way back when they weren't as popular.
      So anyway, the day before the concert, my friend Mado posted on Plurk that she had 2 free tickets to the concert. A friend of ours, July, got complimentary tickets from work, but he wasn't a fan of the band so he just gave it to Mado. I joked to her that she take me with her instead, and by the end of the day, I was officially Mado's date to the concert. Would you believe it, my first ever FREE CONCERT!!
      On the day of the concert, I lined up in front of Conti's at around 2:30 PM and Mado just arrived around an hour before the gates opened. I think I was the 20th person in line and my 4-hour waiting time was all worth it, for we were right at the barricade in front of the stage.

       
Mado and I in line outside concert grounds and a baller I got while waiting in line
      I was so happy we decided to buy raincoats for the concert for it was raining the entire week. As soon as we got to our place in the ground, the rain never stopped pouring the entire night. But can I just say, as soon as the concert started, it was like Mado and I forgot that we were together. We just spent the entire time staring at Jared and singing along with him.
      Despite our raincoats and zip lock for our cameras and phones, by the end of the concert, we were both soaking wet that our fingers were like raisins and we looked we just came out of the shower with all our clothes on. It was such a hassle 'coz we had to change our clothes for Carlo's birthday celeb in Malate (BTW, it was my first time to go to a gay club, and can I just say I had so much fun). But all I can say is that it was all worth it, especially since we didn't pay for our tickets. HAHAHA

       
Jared in all his glory, my ticket got torn and disintegrated after getting wet inside my back pocket

      Although the band only played around a dozen songs, I still think it was all worth it. I mean, Jared's and everybody else's energy level were so high I doubt it if I could've lasted the rest of the night if they did 20 songs. Jared Leto was so amazing I could've cried. He was a performer, more than anything else. If all singers were as good as him in terms of performance, I would lose all my money, just buying concert tickets.

The Script in Manila

Am I better off dead? Am I better off the quitter?
      Last night was the most awaited The Script Concert in Manila. My Yakal friends have been waiting for this concert for months and bought our tickets ahead of time. We just got Gen Ad tickets, thinking that they're not Maroon 5 that we have to be so close as to I have to see the every contours of Adam Levine's abs.

      To start of the day, Charu, Ate Lea, Ash and I had a late lunch in Bigoli Trinoma before heading off to Araneta Coliseum for the concert. After lunch, we proceeded to searching for a nice polo for Charu's brother as a grad gift. However, our search was unfruitful is there such a word. We then left for the concert at a little over 5PM, since Cambels said that the line was getting long already.
      When we arrived at Araneta, the line was too long we couldn't even see the gate. We ended up stuck between this couple wherein the guy looked like his gay and the girl looked like a minor and then this mother and daughter where the mom looked so horrified of the couple in front. LOL When we got in, the huge mound of people got separated into 3 smaller groups going in separate gates so we still ended up sitting in the first row of gen ad. Lucky us!

me, ash, ate lea, charu
      The concert started around 8:30PM and ended past 10PM. It was my first Araneta concert ever and I think it was the first time in my entire that there was literally a ringing in my ear. The past concerts I've watched were in SM MOA so the fans' shrieks and everything get diffused to the air and the rest of the world. But this time, Araneta is a closed space so our shouts and shrieks just stay inside and reverberate coming back to our ears. HAHAHA It was a good ringing though. :)

      I would want to elaborate on the songs and the events of the concert, but I still can't put them into words. All I can say is that I'm so happy we went to that concert. Though our barkada wasn't complete and Nanay, meaning Ate Edge was there through phone patch, it was still one of the best nights I've had with my single ladies. :D So happy.