Up Dharma Down Gracenote's Eunice Jorge and Callalily's Kean Cipriano Callalily Franco Spotted: Karylle taking photos of Yael while reaching the crowd. Sponge Cola Rico Blanco Giordano's World Without Strangers Music Festival last July 4, 2013 at the Glorietta Activity Center was a blast! Great lineup of artists and a bunch of inspirational people made the world without strangers the happiest place to live in. Thank you Giordano Philippines for the free show! I wore my most favorite Giordano basic tee and felt comfortable all throughout the show. I didn't mind standing with the crowd for hours. x
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19 July 2013
Music Museum (Greenhills, San Juan) Director: Paolo Valenciano Since 2005, I became a listener of Sponge Cola. In 2006, I joined the mailing list and I officially declared myself as an ultimate fan of the band. I was high school back then and I can’t forget that I really catch them on MYX. For thirteen years, Sponge Cola decided to hold a major concert. They said that they have forgotten to make their anniversary concert on their 10th year. Since I’ve watched a major solo concert of a well-known OPM artist, I told myself that when it will be Sponge Cola’s turn, I should not miss it, not by any chance. Roughly one month before, Sponge Cola announced that they will be having a major concert. I only saw it in tweets, until such time that somebody told me to check Paolo Valenciano’s Instagram account to see what SC cooks for the fans. I am a July baby and I really want to celebrate my birthday in a not-so-ordinary way every year. This time, I really wanted to celebrate it with them. I wore my personalized shoes made by Tal de Guzman of Risqué Designs, which was inspired by Sponge Cola’s albums. My confusion if the concert will start at 8 or 9 PM was my first dilemma. Since I flew from my school to Makati to get my shoes and attend the concert, I really found a hard time of making things up. I don’t know if there’s a need for me to re-apply my make-up, if I should change my shoes or if I could call my friends if they should talk to the management and begin the concert a little bit later. Funny but those things came in mind. Luckily, I made it just in time. I had time to catch my breath. The band entered wearing neon outfits. Apologies for my blurred vision, I didn’t know that they already came out. I still asked, “Sino ‘yan, sino yan?” When almost everyone yelled, I knew that Yael, Armo, Ted and Gosh pumped up the stage. They first played the first track from their first album, Palabas, 22. Yael, wore a neon jacket with a large numbered-design caught my attention. They really exerted an effort in their pretty little details. Two fire-like, fans-blew props were the best line of attack for KLSP’s intro. The stage was equipped with two scaffolding-like structures where Armo and Yael went up to when they sang Tuliro. After that, they played their diamond-hit, Tambay that stayed in the MYX charts at the top spot for only two weeks because Zia Quizon’s first big hit, Ako Na Lang Sana took off the crown. But when Yael and Zia performed, I never thought that it was incredibly good! And as I looked to Armo, I said that, “oh my god, kumakanta si Armo!” Even he sang the backup vocals still, he had his voice be heard. I was happy with that. Lights off. A circle that looked like a disc with a microphone in the middle came down from the ceiling. When Yael sang Una, I remembered that it was their first video I really liked due to the effects. Yael said that in their next song, Nakapagtataka, he sat at almost 90% of the music video so he chose to sit on the stage box. Another steady and chill-out song was Di Na Mababawi. Former drummer and founding member of Sponge Cola, Chris Cantada surprised the crowd. He had sent me to tears when he appeared. He sang his song for the girl who makes his heart beat, Jillian. Just like the old times, Chris held the guitar as Yael gives the beat. Next was Gemini, where Chris played the keyboards and Ted came back to play the drums. From the audience, the Gary Valenciano hyped up the hit, Ayt! Plus the dancing skills carried out by Gary V. and Yael. Wearing the school pride, the UAAP theme song, Puso, along with the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion, went on high. A bench, lamp post and acoustic guitar, Yael shared their high school tambay story and sang the mellow to screamo song, Neon. Chill chill lang, then they sang Cry, Crazy for You, Heaven Knows and Jeepney. One guy on the stage caught my attention who was wearing hoodie and sunnies. It’s Ryan Bang! He asked Yael if he can sing for Chito Miranda in XGF but due to some technical difficulties, Ryan, as what he said, he didn’t perform well but the song went fun along with Los Magno. Funny Ryan Bang, he also performed Bitiw with Yael. Lunes, a song that never gets old was next. Grateful to everyone who came, Yael gave a short message and went down the stage. He gave flowers to Karylle and dedicated their last song, Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay to her. This song brought me to tears, thinking that they were able to stay for thirteen years strong and still, they have inspired a lot. The concert was never made possible without their supportive friends. I saw Karylle, Ace Libre, Champ Lui Pio, Angeli Valenciano, Kim Marvilla, Kiray Celis, Zsa-Zsa Padilla, Coleen Garcia, Robi Domingo, Gretchen Ho, Iza Calzado, Sidney Yap to name a few. Lights off, instruments down. I never thought that the concert will end just like that. It happened in just a snap, until some requested for another song, Pasubali. Til then I realized, how long was I as a fan and how long will I be as a fan? The answer will be forever. They have inspired me in a number of ways and they have given me this sky-scraping happiness every time I see them perform. For that, I am really grateful for the time that I have celebrated my birthday with them. x |