FOR a little over three years, the Philippines suffered as all face-to-face events with large crowds were banned for everyone’s safety from COVID-19. Concerts were one such event affected by this, and for years people had to settle for Zoom sessions and Spotify playlists, though everyone knew that it just wasn’t the same.
Thankfully, though, as COVID-19 restrictions have been eased, things have seemingly gone back to normal when it comes to live events. Artists like Blackpink, the Arctic Monkeys, and Harry Styles are just some of the people who’ve come to the Philippines recently to share their music with the masses.
And there’s a lot more to come! It’s also been announced that Sabrina Carpenter, Rex Orange County, Mayday Parade, Coldplay, and many other artists will be gracing the country with their presence within the year.
With these, it looks like concert culture is back in full blast in the Philippines, and we can only imagine how excited avid concertgoers must be now that one of their biggest sources of happiness is back!
Supporting your faves in the time of a pandemic
MK Sto. Tomas, 21, is currently in her 3rd year as an Education student at the University of Santo Tomas. She does freelance work in her spare time, and she’s been attending concerts since 2017.
Her first one was the BTS Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour in Manila.
Pre-pandemic, she was able to attend a total of three concerts, all for K-pop artists such as BTS, Super Junior, and Sandara Park. At the time, she found herself paying around P7,000 to P9,000 for her tickets.
But when the pandemic hit, Sto. Tomas felt herself sink into a deep pit of depression. She felt isolated all of the time, and her mental health worsened as she found herself trapped at home and trying to find ways to try to entertain herself.
During those times, one of her coping mechanisms would be to listen to music. The only bright side of isolation was finding new artists through her friends’ recommendations and shuffling through Spotify.
When the restrictions finally started to loosen up, it was as if a weight had been lifted off of her chest.
“I felt so excited about the concerts that will be announced – so thrilled about the new experiences [to] come,” she said.
And she’s definitely making the most of the experience, especially since she’s now able to support her love for concerts financially given that she’s started working. Since the pandemic struck, she’s attended seven concerts, with some of them being Wallows, The 1975, and Bruno Mars.
Buyer’s blues
Sto. Tomas noted that since the start of the pandemic, the price of concert tickets has considerably increased.
“Some were not even reasonable anymore,” she said. “I just justify it by looking at the worth of the artist.”
Aside from the price, the stress of buying tickets can be hellish, too.
23-year-old Silliman University student Mikaela Zayco, who’s been attending concerts since she was only 14, said that buying tickets online often feels like a gamble because of how many scammers there are roaming the internet.
But buying from the site itself can be difficult, too, given the long online queue, said Sto. Tomas. Onsite selling is an entirely different level of difficulty: there’s the possibility of tickets selling out early if you get to the line too late, or scalpers getting in line ahead of you to buy out tickets to sell them for triple the price.
In the end, though, she said the moment you secure your tickets makes all other struggles seem worth it. It’s just a matter of being willing to wait.
Some tips for survival
Aside from the financial complications one may face when buying tickets, there are also a number of issues to be encountered on the day of the concert itself.
Take, for example, the issue that happened back in 2022 during rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival; due to several people in the crowd suddenly rushing forward toward the stage, nine people ended up dead, trampled, and left unnoticed by the rest of Scott’s fans.
According to the US Magazine, around 17 people had to be brought to the hospital. Officials said one reason that caused the surge was mass panic because many were trying to run for safety.
And the Philippines isn’t devoid of its concert mishaps, either. In 2018, for example, over 50 people fainted with one person getting seriously injured due to a sudden stampede that occurred during a free concert in a Pasay City mall.
Though these may not be common occurrences, it’s important to be mindful of safety during concerts and to plan ahead for possible mishaps.
Here are some tips that avid concert-goers Sto. Tomas and Zayco recommend for others to follow:
- Always consider the venue.
The layout of each concert venue in the Philippines can be vastly different, and your preparation for the concert should always take this into consideration. One thing Sto. Tomas always does before the concert is to check out the venue so that she knows how she should prepare beforehand.
“By knowing that, you’ll know what to do next [about] accommodations, transportation, things [you’re allowed] to bring, etcetera,” she said.
She also checks the weather forecast before the day of the concert to know what outfit to wear on the day itself.
- Make sure you have the essentials.
Though this will always depend on what the venue you’re going to will allow you to bring inside, you should at least carry the following with you to make sure that you have a good time:
- A powerbank
- Earplugs
- Water
- Pocket money
- An umbrella
- An extra change of clothes
- A portable fan
- A valid ID / some form of identification
- A willingness to endure whatever’s to come in the next few hours, whether it be while standing or seated
- Remember: there’s no shame in going alone.
Sometimes, you may see your favorite artist coming to the Philippines, but then dismiss the idea of attending their concert because you don’t have anyone you can go with. But why is that, exactly? What’s wrong with going on your own?
Sto. Tomas herself has attended concerts solo, and she enjoyed every moment regardless.
“I attended my first-ever concert alone; it was terrifying but very worth it, as I got to meet other people who shared the same interests as me,” she shared.
“It’s one of the magical things [a] concert brings: connecting diverse people more than ever.”
