14 Hours in Manila I: You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet

YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET
14 Hours in Manila - Part 1
The Avril Lavigne Tour Experience

February 17, 2014. We did it two years and one day ago, and now, we do it again. Our second time to go to Manila together. For a concert. The same artist who made us “Smile” before is “Rock N Roll”-ing this time around. We are the Godsends, and this is our Avril Lavigne Tour experience.
 

We left Cebu at noon, and arrived in Manila at around 1pm. Unlike the first time, the flight didn’t give us a scare. It left on time, arrived on time. Thanks, AirAsia! Because we had around seven hours more before the concert, we decided to take a detour at the SM Mall of Asia. It was a quick ride from the NAIA Terminal 4 and the taxi billed us just P78.50.


Look what we found in the in-flight magazine!

We had lunch at MOA and afterwards, we were able to check out its ice skating rink and some stores in the main mall. The highlight: We purchased the Avril Lavigne Asian Tour Edition CD (which ain’t available yet in Cebu) at Astroplus and we won an Avril Lavigne shirt with their Pick-a-Prize Promo! Awesome, the concert hasn’t even started but the fun has already begun! Thanks, Astroplus!

Exploring SM Mall of Asia. And Avril was on the Astroplus TV monitors!

We left MOA at around 3:30pm and took our first jeepney ride in the nation’s capital and headed to the Taft Station of the MRT. We then took the train, decided not to take a picture of us during the train ride (may not be a smart thing to do), and disembarked at the Araneta-Cubao station. Fare spent: P8 each on the jeepney, P14 each on the train.

We then had dinner and roamed around the Araneta Center. When we bought bottled water, we readily transferred its contents to our containers as we know they won’t allow bottled water brought in at the concert venue.

Finally inside the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, we still had time to have some pictures taken before the concert began. Avril memorabilia (star sticks, keyholders, photobooks, shirts) were sold but were too expensive so we didn’t buy any (consider that our expenses already included airfare, so we’ll pass). This time, we had lower box seats, an upgrade from the upper box seats we had the last time.

Before the concert: All ready 'cause Avril's happening!

 

As the number of people grew inside the venue, so was our excitement. As we enjoyed The Black Star Tour previously, we can’t wait what Avril had in store for us that night. The minutes ticked and finally, the intro video was played... Here we go, the concert has begun!

To be continued in Part II - Rock N Roll.

Food Review: Uncle Kim Restaurant

If we had started sooner in writing about the food places we've tried, for sure there would be a lot in our many years of being together. But here's for a start.

Since we're both not really that adventurous when it comes to food (we'd rather have a good fill than try something new that would only make us regret and still hungry afterwards), Godsend and I would usually just pass by Uncle Kim Restaurant. Knowing that Korean dishes are spicy is enough to make us hesitate. Good thing we gave it a try though!

We ordered their Jumbo C meal, which is basically a food sampler of their menu. We got chicken, pork, fish and beef (with their Korean dish names of course). The good thing is that it's possible to request for a non-spicy version of their dishes, so we were able to enjoy the generous servings without some burning sensation in our mouths. Well, there was also the kimchi which was too spicy for us that we didn't even attempt to finish it (too bad this didn't have a non-spicy version).

So how did we find our Uncle Kim experience? The place is simple and clean, and even gives a relaxing feeling. The food was really flavorful and delicious. We loved its presentation and the aroma was so enticing. The staff are friendly, attentive and approachable. They even offered to take our picture first, instead of the usual scenario in other restaurants which leaves us wondering who we could ask to snap a photo of us.

Uncle Kim proved us wrong of our initial assumptions on how we won't like eating in a Korean restaurant. The food was satisfactory and gives great value for your money. The Godsends recommend this place. We'll definitely be back here when we want our fill of Korean style food.

Uncle Kim Restaurant is located at the 2nd floor of JY Square Mall, Lahug, Cebu City. They are open from 10am to 12mn. Contact number: 266-9688.

Wrapping It Up

The Black Star Tour Experience

Part 1: The Takeoff and the Touchdown

Part 2: Journey to the Big Dome

Part 3: Countdown to the Concert
Part 4: The Dream Comes True

WRAPPING IT UP
Part 5 of 5

No gimmicks. No fancy stage. No lip syncing. Just herself, her band and her music, live. Avril Lavigne delivered well. It was a very fun and really enjoyable concert! You enjoy so much that you are no longer able to keep track of how many songs were already sung. She then sings “I’m with You” and you become shocked when she says “Thank you, Manila!” and leaves the stage.

Then you realize it’s not just you feeling bitin about the concert. The people at the Smart-Araneta coliseum, in unity, shouted chants of “More!”, “We want more!” and two rounds of “Avril! Avril!” with stomping feet to finally bring Avril and her band back the to stage to perform two more songs for an encore.

Then the concert was finally wrapped up, but not the ecstatic feeling of the concert-goers. Pictures were taken around the vicinity where Avril posters or billboards were found. Out of the coliseum, we went to a nearby coffee shop, and our group talked about, of course, more Avril and only Avril.

The Godsends were then NAIA-bound via taxi by midnight for our 5am return flight. Since we got to the airport early, we were able to doze some before we boarded a PAL plane that would take us back to Cebu. (Our first time to sleep at an airport, and our first time aboard a bigger airplane, at least bigger than the Cebu Pacific ones.)

As we returned home, we brought with us an awesome story to tell about our amazing concert experience. The Manila leg of Avril Lavigne’s The Black Star Tour was definitely memorable and remarkable. Truly a night to remember!

Godsend Debbie after the concert.

Picture taking before leaving the Big Dome.

Aboard the PAL plane for our return flight to Cebu.

The Dream Comes True

The Black Star Tour Experience

For Part 1: The Takeoff and the Touchdown

For Part 2: Journey to the Big Dome

For Part 3: Countdown to the Concert

THE DREAM COMES TRUE
Part 4 of 5

By Godsend Debbie

Seeing how people have to stand and squirm their way among a crowd, I had this negative impression about going to concerts. But experiencing it in the big dome was an entirely different thing especially with a reserved seat.

It was a dream come true for me. I've always wished to watch Avril Lavigne live in concert. After a long time, it happened. So don't forget to wish and dream big like me! But of course I have my Godsend JP to thank for being supportive of me and my dreams. Having him and sharing the wonderful experience made it even more special and memorable.

Avril Lavigne performing, as seen on the coliseum's giant monitors.

I "patiently" waited for Somedaydream to finish performing. Although he sang the all too familiar "Hey Daydreamer" and it was nice listening to Godsend JP sing along, I couldn’t keep thinking that very soon I would see Avril walk on the stage and get on with her concert! I felt so excited and something else that I can’t quite put my finger on. Perhaps I was nervous too? But none of it mattered much anymore when I saw her, my idol artist for about ten years. I’m finally in the same place she is! 

Photo op with Avril.
Her poster, that is. ;)

I was feeling ecstatic and somehow just lost myself into her music when she started singing. Avril really performs well and knows how to make her audience have the feel of it. I even moved to the beat of her music whlie waving the glow stick. It was dark anyway and I just wasn’t able to stop myself from enjoying the moment. I’ve always said this, that listening to her songs cheers me in a way I couldn’t quite explain. Watching and listening at the same time was even more appealing. I was in a happy daze. I used the binoculars from time to time to get a closer look. During that time, my Godsend was more of observing - the crowd, the crew, the concert and probably me. He calls himself the "fan supporter" and I’m just really glad he was there with me. Hoping he’s enjoying too!

Trivia: How many Avril albums/CDs in my possession did Godsend JP buy for me?

Answer: All of them! That’s how supportive he is. Thank you, my Godsend!

Godsend JP
after the concert.

Basically all the songs that I wanted Avril to sing were included in the line-up. I sang along to each one of them. There’s "I’m With You," the very first song that lead me to Avril. Yes, even before "Complicated."

Songs she performed during the concert: "Black Star", "What the Hell", "Sk8er Boi", "He Wasn’t", "I Always Get What I Want", "Alice", "When You’re Gone", "Wish You Were Here", "Girlfriend", "My Happy Ending", "Don’t Tell Me", "Smile", "I’m With You", "I Love You" and "Complicated".

The night was a blast! I’ll always remember it for as long as I live.

Countdown to the Concert

The Black Star Tour Experience: Part 3

For Part 1: The Takeoff and the Touchdown

For Part 2: Journey to the Big Dome

At the coliseum lobby, Avril Lavigne merchandise were being sold. CDs, DVDs, shirts, and probably some other items. We checked it out in the hopes of being finally able to buy Under My Skin, the only Avril album we don't have a copy of yet. But guess what? It was also the only album they don't have! That means that CD is already very hard-to-find locally. So the search continues!

The stage is set.

Up the stairs we went, but the doors that lead to our respective boxes were still closed. There was another queue as we waited to enter Upper Box A. After a while, the doors were finally opened and we were even ushered to our seats. The reserved seating was nice, because we no longer had to rush to grab a good spot to be seated on.

It was still a little past 7pm at this time, so we had some time to spend before the concert. We were then joined by our friends, who also went from Cebu to Manila (mainly) for the purpose of watching the concert!

Robi Domingo.

Looking at our fellow concert goers, some were bringing official Black Star lights. We asked and they told us they bought it "outside" for P300. It was a little expensive, but we thought it over, and it would be a nice concert souvenir. So Godsend Debbie sent me "outside" to go get one. But unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any (or I didn't go to the correct outside). (Who I found instead was Robi Domingo doing his rounds for ABS-CBN.) So we settled instead for a P150 glow stick (we were told the glow would last for 24-48 hours but by the end of the concert, it had started to leak and we had to leave it behind).

Some assorted notes:

• Various binoculars were sold at differing prices. We took the affordable but good enough Eyemax binoculars for just P60.
• Pizza inside the Big Dome is very expensive. It's a good thing our stomachs were already stuffed.
• Vendors kept passing by us which got quite annoying after a while. And we thought they were already gonna stop when the concert started... they didn't!

Somedaydream.

At 8pm, front-act Somedaydream opened the show and sang three songs. I was surprised he didn't include "Delivery Boys" to his setlist, but he did sing his famous "Hey Daydreamer."

Fittingly enough, for Godsend Debbie, seeing Avril Lavigne perform live would no longer be just a dream for her. In just a little while, it would be fulfilled. She was ready for Avril. The whole Araneta was ready for Avril. The Manila leg of the Black Star Tour was on its way.

Before the concert.

Godsend Debbie and the glow stick.

Stamped!