By the time I learned that BTS will be having a Concert in the Philippines. I told myself that I needed to attend. By hook or by crook I needed to see them performing live on stage. I already missed their Red Bullet in Manila. There’s no way I’ll miss this year’s concert!
The Struggle of Getting #EpilogueConcertinManila Tickets
Bangtan Concert was the hardest concert to attend into yet was worth it. From gen ad ticket to lower box standing.
1st attempt: When the ticket selling started last June 19, my cousin and I lined up at the entrance of SM Makati as early as 9:30am. By the time we got there many Armys were already in line. I think they got there as early as 6:00am. So early right? When the Mall opens at 10:00am people started running towards the ticketing area at the 2nd floor, a girl even asked the guard out of curiosity “bakit sila nagtatakbuhan” (why are they running), then the guard answered “BTS Ma’am, Korean Concert”. But because I’m a weak girl, I walk fast instead. I was number 78 in line. Not bad, because we were around 200 there.
Unfortunately, line was not moving fast. There were only two cashiers assisting the Armys. And what’s saddening was that the tickets were being sold online and in other SM branches too, so if I’m number 78, how many number 78 were there in different branches including online. Yes, there’s a lot! A lot that even the servers can’t handle it anymore.
Everyone was updating on Twitter if the Armys buying in different branches as well as those online were also experiencing the same problem. And thankfully, they were! Because if not, were doomed!
The server got fixed a few minutes after and then the line kept moving and people started to come out smiling with the ticket on their hands. I rejoiced as I got closer, feeling the “fire” being played on the entire floor.
Excitement and nervousness were what we felt every time the line starts to move. Hoping that the ticket won’t get sold out. At 10:30 we were able to sit inside the ticket area as we wait for our turn. We were chatting when suddenly a man came out and announce that “General Admission tickets were already sold out!” I was dumbfounded for a second! Some girls in line started crying, clamouring for tickets. But I stayed, hoping that it will get open.
2nd attempt: I checked my money. It was still enough for me to buy upper box concert tickets. It was 11:00am, I’m already hungry but WTH I need to buy tickets plus I’m #10 in line. As we move, I heard the phrase I didn’t want to hear from the same man: “Upper box tickets are sold out. There are only a few tickets left for Lowerbox and VIP.” People started to leave the area. I still waited… And then when it’s my turn at 11:30 the teller told me that she’s sorry it was sold out. I left there hungry and sad.
All tickets were sold out at 12noon on the same day. And if you are going to check it, you’ll see that #teamnaubusan trended on twitter. And what we found out is that scalpers bought 20 tickets each. Bad right?
Inang Happee Sy, owner of Pulp Live World heard our plead and announced that they will check on the whole week if the credit cards used were legit. A week after good news VIP tickets were opened. Then after a week LB SRO tickets were being opened. On the third week 100 UB SRO tickets were sold. I am happy.
3rd attempt: I went to SM Aura as early as 9am to buy tickets. When the mall opened at 10am I literally run towards the ground floor I was 12 in line so The one in front said 12 tickets and bought for us unfortunately at 10:01 it was already being sold out. Strike 3 I know. I waited there for 11:30 hoping that it was just a server issue but it’s not. Out of sadness I literally ate a 600 meal. I was looking for a 120 meal and point out a wrong set at the food court. Gosh! What is happening to me.
4th attempt: In the afternoon I called my friend to check online and ask for a favor if she can buy me an LB ticket using her credit card which I’ll pay in full when we see at the office by Monday. She’s okay with it. 🙂 It’s timing also since she’ll be dropping by SM Bicutan in the evening!
It was evening, when I received a text from my friend telling me that she’s sorry because she wasn’t able to buy me tickets since she was told that there’s no terminal for events on SM Bicutan. That’s our fourth try.
I called SM if I can use my debit card to purchase ticket online but only credit cards were allowed.
My last resort the day was online, my friend will try to ask her sister if she can buy tickets the next day using her sisters credit card. But her sister’s flight got delayed and she has gone home late. So, I’ve decided to not buy instead of disturbing them too much. I let that sunday pass. Sad!
5th attempt: The next day, #btsinmanila #epilogueinmanila hash tags was so noisy on twitter, and I’m still bitter about not having a ticket. But I still read tweets anyway. I’m actually envious for all Vernon’s retweets of people showing off their tickets. I was hoping I can post mine too. Those posts trigger me to buy one! I realized that I can’t take not attending their concert. And that when I hear news that they are already here and I’m not going to see them makes me sad. And I don’t want it to happen. I need to attend a concert.
So, my cousin devised a plan. I’ll withdraw my savings + she’ll go see me at my office to get the money + she’ll proceed to SM Makati to buy tickets. I told myself if this time I will not be able to buy one. Then maybe we are not meant for each other and that I’m meant to see other groups this year.
A Day Before BTS Epilogue in Manila
I couldn’t contain my excitement when I saw that BTS boys posted a concert practice video on Twitter. It was so surreal they’re already here preparing for the big event. So, I myself had to post some snaps too to show how excited I am!!! 🙂
A video posted by karenmworld (@karenmworld) on
D-Day: BTS Epilogue in Manila
On the Concert Day, we’ve prepared our gears to capture the heart of the boys and the Most Beautiful Moment in our Kpop Lives. We readied our camera, our army bomb, and our feels for it! 🙂
A lot has changed since I first attended a KPOP concert in MOA Arena. And I could say that the changes we’ve seen in BTS Concert was a good one. The lines were more organized as compared to Bigbang Concert last year, the fans were more disciplined though you can see excitement in their eyes, the bouncers were more attentive to those concert goers that’s cutting into the lines, and the audio were now clearer.
Since the lines were moving slowly, we managed to talked to some Armys whose biases were V and Jungkook. They were from the province and if I remembered correctly they’re from Pangasinan. Imagine how far they traveled just to watch BTS (daebak!)
We got inside almost thirty minutes before the concert and I was really impressed by Armys practicing Save Me and Fire. Of course, we sang it with them as well. Earlier they practiced some of the songs like I Need You and Dope (watch video below). We need to practice these songs before the concert itself because you know we will sing these out loud from start to finish so our vocals need to be ready.
The moment the Arena’s light was switched off, we knew that it was the cue, the Concert was starting! Just like how it was cued in movie houses. The ARMY BOMB ocean was our only light apart from the screen. It was breathtaking!
A video posted by karenmworld (@karenmworld) on
We screamed our hearts out as we watched the VCR! The first song they performed was RUN. We just sang and scream the entire performance.
We got more hyped when they performed DANGER!!! You know, it’s one of their Album track lists and it’s so impossible not to get excited the moment you heard the first beat.
Then, they introduced themselves in Tagalog and English. Weren’t their Tagalog adorable?
We rest our voice a bit and just listen to BTS wonderful voices on the songs Dead Leaves, Tomorrow, Butterfly, Love is Not Over, House of Cards, and What Am I to You. Though we still sang if we know some lyrics. Their voice really got through our hearts, like it was beautifully pierced!
The second part of the Concert was my favorite! Because this is where we started singing, dancing, and really partying. I love it when we get to experience the whole Concert ourselves, like as if we were the one’s performing. haha Like when BTS will stop singing and let us sing as they dance to it! And it’s lovely to hear our voices on fancams.
Some of the performances on the second part were our all-time favorite: Boys in Luv, Save Me, Fire, We Are BulletProof Pt.2, and Cypher Pt. 3: Killer. The Cypher Pt. 3 was so lit with the three rapper line slaying those rap lines! They kill it… They’re really killing it!
When they sang If I Ruled the World Armys in the lower box area started raising their banners. The banners were part of the fanproject that we PH Armys have prepared for them. I was really nervous whether it will be successful or not. I’m so glad that it turned out great as almost all of them were holding a banner.
As if on cue, everyone automatically stands when they heard that it was Baepsae they were playing, and started singing along with the boys. I didn’t quite see the whole performance as they started dancing because I’m quite short and we were really a sardines in the Lower Box SRO (those armys in the same area as me will understand), though I can see some while they chill down. I heard the choreo for Baepsae in our country was different which makes my heart melt as I felt a bit special from that.
Their Dope performance were really 쩔어!
After that the boys asked us to do a wave and shouted “Kayo ang the best!” It was followed by Boyz With Fun, Attack On Bangtan, and No More Dream. No More Dream brings heat in our body as Jimin started showing his ABS. I really wanted to see his abs because hello, who doesn’t? And once I saw it, I literally had my mouth opened in joy shocked. No wonder it trended on Twitter on Concert Day! His ABS were truly a “pandesal”, we just need Nutella, and it will be perfect for our breakfast, lunch, meryenda, and dinner! haha
They had a talk in between and told us that it was already their last performance. Of course, we knew that there were still an encore but we shouted “Aww” and “BTS” to make them go back to the stage.
BTS Encore Stage were: Epilogue: Young Forever, Whalien 52, Miss Right, I Need U.
Young Forever is one of my favorite performance. During the first part, the rapper line were standing on the elevated platform. When the chorus came, the vocal line appeared and sang with the rappers. The platform went up as they sang altogether. It was so beautiful and memorable that I cannot hold back my tears from falling. I cried as we sang with them.
After we sang Whalien 52, Suga said “We are really touched to see everyone singing our song. Thank you so much!” (me *giggles*). This gives us energy to sing Miss Right with our hearts content as they throw the signed balls. Fans who got those balls were really lucky.
Our second successful fan project was the word formation. Armys from left and right lower box section raised the papers and the word formed: “Saranghae” (I love You) and “Gomawo/Komawo” (Thank You) which was noticed by the boys and even read it out loud. I really love that they were amazed and touched by what Army PH did for them. In fact, they were teary eyed as they spoke their individual message. Jhope even said “wow, I’m so happy”. Suga also said “Mahal ko ang Manila, Thank you Talaga!”
It was funny when it was already Rapmon’s part to talk when suddenly all PH Armys shouted “Iiyak na yan” like as if he will understand it. Haha You can see the confusion on his face as you watched the video below.
The last song they performed was I Need U. They sang it first in slow version so we can sing it. They pointed their mic to us to signal us to sing along. It gives me goosebumps whenever I remember it. And tears me up too! (tears of joy).
You can watch Epilogue in Manila 2016 performances below:
When the concert ended, I still couldn’t sink in my mind that I saw them, that We’re able to buy tickets and watched them performed. It felt surreal.
July 30 was The Most Beautiful Moment in My Life not only because of BTS but because it made a mark where I had my first concert experience. BTS, I will see you again next year and this time, I will be seating comfortably and see your face clearly.
A photo posted by karenmworld (@karenmworld) on
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