Ang Hindi Pa Huling El Bimbo

August 30 was one of the most anticipated day in my life. When the news came out two months ago, i freaked out. Knowing that the band that influenced most of where i wanted to be, is going to have a one-night concert. Rumors spread online like fire, making one REALLY BIG sponsor back out. Four days before the concert, it was announced that the free concert is still pushing through, but it wont be longer free, instead putting a 800 and 1300 price on the admission. the tickets were released on ticketnet two days before 30th so ivan, abhie, and i were texting each other on getting it early in the morning (considering that 9am is really early for me). And then Mamu (as usual... one of the people i hold really close in my heart by giving me unattainable things, making it possible for me to have those things that money cant ever buy) called me, telling that im on the VIP list.

Saturday morning has never been that sunny and i woke up anticipating all the songs that the Eraserheads will play. God there was no time to review those albums. But as Yeshyee would put it, those Eheads lyrics are engraved in our hearts. And it was almost the contemporary nursery rhyme for my generation. (Wow... ambigat naman ng dramz. wtf!)

5pm and i had mixed emotions going on inside me. I was annoyed with the rain, i was eager to be there in a flash, i was excited to jump and im really nervous, happy, emotionally weird to see the whole band together again. Thank God my sister's car passed by and they dropped us on Mcdo 32nd street to meetup with Ivan, Rochelle and Joan. Walked from there up to Hi Streets and went all the way to the VIP entrance. (oh yeah!)

Ivan and I were eating Fish and Co. after walking around saying to familiar faces and friends like Tonet and LuI, Tintin of Max FM, Lou, Cris, Chuckie, Meme, Jeff of Soapdish, Raymond Fabul, Enzo of Severo, Bryan of Taken By Cars, Chino of Silent Sanct, Miro of Stonefree, Carlos of UpDharma and Boss Darwin of Soupstar. Then the countdown began.

A big screen with a 20-minute digital countdown started making the crowd get more and more excited by the moment. And our guess was right, it should be Alapaap that would open this unbelievable night. The goosebump-induced sight of the whole band plus the BIG LCD Screens, lights and the fireworks started the concert with a motherfucking blast. Ivan said that it is VMA Material. Seriously, i wouldnt miss it for the world.


grabbed from Youtuber zarathustralf

Alapaap
Ligaya
Sembreak
Hey Jay
Harana
Fruitcake
Toyang
Kama Supra
Kailan
Huwag Kang Matakot
Kaliwete
With A Smile
Shake Yer Head
Huwag Mo Nang Itanong
Lightyears

I listed the songs coz i almost wanna make a paragraph on each. What we're doing, what we're seeing but come on. All in all, its just fucking crazy. Mostly the backdrop was showing old Eheads Pictures, Snow while they play Fruitcake, Kaliwete and With A Smile video (tangina memories nung 90s), Funny Komiks and a lot of veerry interesting visuals. Trip to Memory lane talaga.

When the screen had the countdown again, i was like... WHOA. may intermission? ilang songs ba to? they havent played ang huling el bimbo, superproxy, magasin, minsan, torpedo, pare ko, spoliarium and other songs that still plays in my head. sa first song pa lang, sulit na ang kung magkano man yon.

so i went outside the area when rae and dianne texted me. they were with ryan, ls, and jeff. the network was jammed coz i cant send a text and it was so hard to even connect a call. after a few minutes, mamu called me and weve met on the barricades between VIP and SVIP (na in my opinion should be called SVIPAI... Super VIP As In.) and took a few pictures, bumming 4 cigarette sticks to Tricia Pablo (lifesaver talaga. halos manghingi ako sa photographer nung nasa gitna pa ako), and got a free mini-burger and a glass of coke kasi LIBRE sa SVIPs ang Food. sabi ko kay Trish sana may dala akong plastic para kukuha ako sa waiter tapos ibebenta ko sa VIP area hahahahaha.

and when the timer was cut... then seeing the whole band without Ely made my heart beat like crazy. It's either  he got pissed when everybody was shouting Group Hug or something bad really happened. Unfortunately, he collapsed backstage. When he was singing lightyears, he had this look on his face seen on the screen. na akala ko iiyak. I guess he was feeling weird na when he was singing the 15th song kasi i kinda heard that he cant do long gigs. Then i got a message from Mamu na "Xav, uwi na. Eli collapsd backstage". And then... Lally Buendia read a letter.

that one minute they made us pray, i was thinking... God please... this shouldnt be over. please make ely get the reward of enjoying the success of making this country sing one song together. please make the whole band forget all the differences they had and end whatever fight they have. and i hope theyre still there as the new generation emerges making them their influence and keep the fire burning. please let ely be ok.

and 2am, i called Chill Figueroa and she said Ely was already stable.

Still... the Eraserheads arent destined to even end a "one-night" affair.

Hindi pa ito ang huling el bimbo.