Ever since they announced that One Direction will be having a concert here in Manila on March 2015, it has become my sole mission in life to be able to buy 2 tickets for my younger sister and I. Nothing else mattered.
Frustratingly enough, fate decided against me on my mission. A week after the official announcement, the organizers of the event decided to have a so-called Launch Party for the advanced selling of tickets. My initial reaction? What. The. Hell. (actually, it was more of the vulgar version but I don't want to post it).
I have 3 reasons as to why I was so frustrated with the news -- and I know other One Direction fans agree with me on this:
- It's too freaking early! The concert is next year for crying out loud! They announced the confirmation of the concert a week before. How in the world will we, especially the younger fans, be able to save up enough money to buy decent tickets?! Where's the logic in that?
- It is 10 MONTHS early!!!
- MoA Conert Grounds?! Are you kidding. Either the soil under the reclaimed area caves in from all the weight of the ten thousands of screaming and jumping girls kills us or the heat of the weather. I mean, come on. Have you been to Manila on March?
But you know what? I decided to give fate a taste of its own medicine. I decided not to mope around and feel bad about myself and did what I do best:
be a spoiled brat.
I called my parents and practically begged them to lend my sister and I some money so we can buy tickets. I knew it'll be SOLD OUT faster than you can say the longest word in the Dictionary (I can't spell it to save my life).
If I didn't go and buy the tickets in the Launch Party, I knew my chances of scoring some tickets at the ticketing office of SM were slimmer than a regular sized ruler.
So. The rules were simple really.
If you're NOT there by 8AM on Friday, May 23, 2014... You'll surely run out of tickets.
I planned it all. As soon as my parents sent the money (Thank you, Mama and Dada!♥), I bought some snacks that I'd bring along because I intended to camp outside the Mall of Asia Arena at around 4AM on that day. I figured that not that many are willing to wait outside at such an ungodly hour.
But the joke's on me. I obviously underestimated One Direction fans here in the Philippines. As I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I came upon this photo:
By 7PM on Thursday, May 22, 2015, the lines were already THIS long! People were actually camping outside. My initial reaction, again, was WTH?! And I thought that I was too excited to go there when the sun wasn't even out...and yet there are people willing to sleep on the ground outside an arena just to secure tickets?
2 hours upon seeing the photo, I was one of the people in line.
I didn't mind that I was alone. I had my iPhone, a book, and a bag full of snacks to accompany me. I was so used to staying up all night that I knew I can survive waiting in line for more than a couple of hours. I didn't care that it was only 10PM and that they'd only let us in at 8AM the following day. I didn't get afraid that I was sitting and lying on the ground with strangers beside me. We all had one purpose: to be able to buy tickets with good seats.
The only thing I was afraid of was the running out of tickets for the seats that I can actually afford. I didn't have extra money. I'm unemployed and my parents sent me just the exact amount for the tickets of my sister and I. So I knew that if the tickets I can afford ever ran out, I can only afford a downgrade. Which totally crushes my heart.
All night, I prayed in silence.
What I didn't expect was to actually meet people and be friends with them. How amazing is it that for our common love for One Direction, we actually interact and make friends with one another? I find that fact awesome. Especially since I'm not exactly an approachable or friendly person.
So here's a photo of one of the 4 awesome girls I got to meet and make friends with while we waited in line from 10PM-8AM. Her name's Sophia. We mostly talked about everything under the sun. Just so we won't feel the time slowly pass by. We wanted so desperately to fall asleep at least even for half an hour. But we really couldn't. Lying on the floor was probably our only comfort for those long hours.
Here are the photos of our camping out!
A photo with my other new found friends! CJ, Sam and Shy. Oh and Pachig arrived and decided to accompany me at around 4AM.
Panorama shot of the waiting area at around 7AM. The lines extended up to the outer skirts of the building. But since I got there a bit early, I was one of the few who were able to wait at the covered and fenced area.
Thankfully, they opened the gates an hour early. Although, I was able to purchase my tickets at around 9AM, some seats were already sold out! How crazy is that? And thee I was thinking that I'd be able to surely buy some tickets but really, with all these fans, there's no saying.
I can't wait to get THIS One Direction E-Plus Tap card...with my name on it!♥ It's like souvenir for those who actually fell in line for the crazy Launch Party.
And of course, I HAD to take a photo at the photobooth section. Excuse the awkward smile and pose. Too many girls were waiting to have a go at the photobooth. My friend had to push me forward so I'd be able to have the area for myself. Some were even rude to pose beside you even if they're total strangers!
Finally, the fruit of my labor!♥ It still hasn't sunk in that I'd actually get to see them next year! Yay!
A.
