One word: UN-FRIGGIN-BELIEVABLE

Alright! Typing this up now while I still have some brain cells that aren't fried by fever. LOL! There were 5 of us inclusive of me who went to Manila from Singapore, the Singapore contingent so to speak. I'm sure there must've been more peeps from here that went but aren't active on the boards.

Mar and I left Singapore early Saturday morning for a 3.5 hour flight to Manila. The excitement was building. The closer we got to Manila, the bigger our grins got... we kept saying "he's theeerrreee!" Landed in Manila around 11am. I had done research prior to our trip and had booked The Heritage because of its proximity to the airport AND the Mall of Asia. Little did I know that we were closer than I even THOUGHT. The Heritage was literally 10 minutes from the airport and MOA was 2 minutes from our hotel.. barring Manila traffic of course SCORE! Thank goodness our hotel was close to the venue cos we ended up having to walk BACK to our hotel after the concert. lol

Check-in time was 2pm and since we were early, we deposited our bags at the hotel and headed out for MOA to take a look around. I'm telling you its like Cook country over there. David's songs were playing just about EVERYWHERE! Here in Singapore I internally freak when I hear any of David's songs played in the mall. Over there, they had the record on repeat! And everywhere we turned we saw posters and banners advertising the gig. I wanted to STEAL a poster...lol! Hey they had MANY! But we ended up finding a booth where they sold them along with recyclable bags.

Some of the pinoys had very kindly offered us help and told us of their meeting up plans. We went to check it out but didn't get a chance to meet them, probably a venue change but we didn't have internet access while we were there so we couldn't check. So we decided to check out the concert grounds instead. At around 1pm, there were already people queuing for general admission, in the blazing sun! That's dedication man!

We headed back to our hotel to freshen up and to meet up with Minzhi, Nis and her fiance (aka the rest of the Singapore contingent lol) later. Met them at 6pm, got our tickets from Minzhi and you couldn't wipe the smile of my face even if you tried, even after losing my sunglasses. We were at the venue early, around 6.30pm. There was a merch booth!! WOOHOO! I got DC wristbands, exactly what I wanted.

Then came the 2 hour wait for the show to start. We fiddled around with camera settings and micro SD's. I was trying to make sure I had enough to film David and a few songs of Archie's for my mom. There was a fireworks display. I'm not sure if it was part of the David and David concert OR that was what they did at the bay on the weekends. Anyway, very pretty!

We were flanked on the right and left by Archie fans, HEH..which was cool. At 8.30pm Archie came bounding out onto the stage dressed in a checkered blue shirt and black tie. He was ADORABLE! I stood up for his entire set. I'm not a fan of his music but let me just say here and now boy can sannnnnggg! And he's got a confidence about him on stage, so much more relaxed, not too much banter but you could tell he loved what he did. I said to Mar at least TWICE during his set, I was VERY impressed with his set. I cheered after each song eventhough I didn't know them lol! The Archie fans around us were kind of sedate. We had some that even flew in from China!

I watched Archie while at the same time keeping my eyes peeled in case David came out somewhere. I was on Platinum left and the tented area on the side of the stage where the crew hung out was directly in front of me. Archie sang great but at times my mind would wander, getting anxious and nervous for Cook to come out. And then it happened, I spotted David in the tent watching Archie!! *cue freaking out* and believe you me, even *I* surprised myself at my reaction, I'm not normally demonstrative in public! I'd recognize that profile and scruff ANYWHERE! He was right, he DID PERFECT scruffy chic! If you can't already tell, I have a thing for scruff on men.. hehe! We kept yelling David! DAVID!! I tried and failed miserably to take pictures cos it was dark in the tent. He was there for Archie's last 2 songs, watching his buddy on stage. Eventhough we were yelling for him, not once did he turn to us, and that made me admire the dude even more cos if he had acknowledged us in ANY way, it would've detracted from Archie on stage and we ALL know David's not one to do that. He's not one to steal someone else's spotlight. He'd be the first to acknowledge someone else on stage.

That's when Archie decided to sing his FINAL song, Crush and I went "CRAP! I wanted to record this for my mom!" So there I was camera pointed to the right trying to video Archie and sing along to the few songs of his I actually knew the lyrics too and at the same time watching Cook and trying to keep my eyes on him. We had been told that there would be a 20 minute interval between Archie's and Cook's set, but the minute Archie's set ended, we decided to inch our way closer to the middle and get further up front. Not very successful cos peeps weren't budging.. lol. We had figured Archie fans would return to their seats but oh well.

The crew started getting the stage set up. Kyle's drumset positioned front and center. The stage is actually pretty high and there's a HUGE gap between the stage and the front row. When we first arrived, I remember thinking David's not gonna like that, he wants to get as close to the audience as possible, which was exactly what he ended up doing during Straight Ahead.

I was trying to get a new micro SD in my camera and ended up pulling off the battery cover in my haste, I couldn't get it back in and because of that my camera refused to turn back on.. *sigh* That meant no pics and videos of Cook... dammit! I tried with my cell which takes GREAT shots but not on zoom which I needed. I guess that turned out for the best in the end cos it allowed me to enjoy the concert more without worrying about pics and videos, I had been in 2 minds about doing both.

They played random songs while the crew set up. A snippet of Declaration started and everyone sang along even when they stopped. Chants of "David Cook! David Cook!" started. And then it HAPPENED! The band came out into the tented area in front of me. Andy went out on stage. The crowd went BERSERK! The energy level in that place raised at least 10 octaves! SOOOO different from when Archie performed. People tried to surge forward but for the most part we stayed in our places. I was intently watching the tented area in front of me where the rest of the band were and guess where Mr Rockstar decided to make his entrance? YUP! From underneath the stage rocking his guitar and starting with TWIK! I knew he would start with that song! The crowd screamed their heads off!!

Then came HEROES!!!! Mr Sensitive!! And DECLARATION!!! I screamed every single lyric back at him, waved my blue lightstick in the air almost throughout his entire set. It was such a euphoria and yet at the same time, it felt surreal. I mean I could SEE him in front of me and at the same time I felt like this isn't real. LOL! And there was SOOO much to take in! Do I watch the jumbotrons? Do I watch the other gazillion screens on stage? I told myself watch the PHYSICAL Dave!! ROFL! We were in row 12, which was the first row we could purchase online and we were close enough to see his facial expressions.

I thought I knew what to expect from having watched the gazillion youtube videos out there of his Declaration tour. Little did I know that there was no way to feel the energy he was throwing out through youtubes! It was just palpable! We were dancing, jumping, screaming, cheering and just all out having fun. We were sweating bullets! I was like "why was I sweating when he's the one performing?" My apologies to the people around me for my constant screaming. I decided to record audio of the concert with my cell and let me just say I won't subject the rest of you to my screaming and trust me when I say I CANNOT sing! LOL! But I honestly did NOT care at that point. All I wanted to do was show David as much love and support for coming out to Asia and putting on a show for us.

Nis' fiance had originally been "dragged" to attend but let me tell you, he was one of the first ones to cheer each song and to start waving his blue lightstick in the air. I was right behind him for most of the concert so I witnessed it! LOL! Definitely cookified by the end of the show.

David announced that they were going to do a song that they had never played before as a band and everyone around us yelled ABMB! And just *goosebumps* hearing the entire arena singing back to him. KOTN had David going to the sides of the stage and waiting for people to make some noise. He was all school-teachery about it too! lol! When he didn't like what he heard, he went back and got the crowd to get louder. Of course my side needed no prompting! Then came the EPIC Straight Ahead which had David leave the stage at one point accompanied by security and with a spotlight on him go down to the first row of the audience. Everyone reached out and he just played with a couple of cameras, got people to clap along. Exactly what I thought would happen. He would not be satisfied with the barrier that was there between him and the audience. When he went back up on stage, the first thing he did was LAUGH into the mic! LOL!

I didn't think he'd do ANY MWK songs but boy was I wrong. They launched into Make Me!! I LOVE how that song starts! I gotta be honest and say not many around me knew the words. I felt people watching me sing along like "who is this crazy chick" but once again I didn't care! HAHA!

Avalanche!! *swooonnssss* Little Lies was another surprise to me, didn't think we'd get that. SOOOO thrilled I got to hear that one live, LOVE the original version as well. I'm not a big fan of Windy but how could you not THUD when Dave touches his hair when he sings the part about "wind in your hair" LOL! He had pointed out a fan with a "Marry Me, Neal" to Neal who came forward and actually said "OK!" NEAL SPEAKS!!!! LOL! David dedicated Windy to the newlyweds saying who knew they were going to find love! LOL! David had bantered earlier about "selamat" and "selamat po" and joked how he almost aced it! Right after Windy ended he said "selamat" then he got a really cute expression on his face kinda like "whoops" and went back and said "selamat PO!"

That's when the band left the stage. Now I knew that wasn't the end and that he'd be back for the encore. But there was STILL a moment there where I went "Noooo David, come back!" We started chanting "David Cook! David Cook!" And the archies around us went "Archie! Archie!" and we all laughed and continued cheering. Of course they came back on saying "You didn't think that was it, did you?" LIGHT ON!!!! WOOT! For Barbasol he said its the hardest song they have on the record and he wanted to see 40,000 heads rocking out to it. The band did their synchronized headbanging. The crowd, especially the guys, LOST it and that was the loudest it got in the arena!

When David did his guitar solo, he came to my side of the stage with his AC guitar, he kissed the initals and pointed to the sky. He headed back to the center and right after the guitar solo ended, he repeated that gesture. It was amazing to watch live, so poignant and speaks volumes of his love for his family.

I didn't dare hope for A Daily Anthem. I mean it was MEANT for an arena and 40,000 to sing along but I didn't dare hope for it. When he dedicated it to his brother and every single one of us in the audience.... *GOOSEBUMPS* We sang every lyric back to him, showed him as much love and support we could, cheered when he brought out Archie. Earlier he had said "give it up for Mr Archuleta, one of my best friends!" Archie came out and we all did the woah woah's part, David kept it going. It was magical when the music stopped and all you heard was the arena singing along.. dammit I'm tearing up.. lol! And I knew a lot of you guys were listening in on the cellcast singing along with us.. what a beautiful and memorable moment.

The Davids hugged on stage, thanked everyone and exited. We knew that was the end of the show but some fans chanted for "LIE! LIE!" It was an amazing AMAZING show to watch. Worth every single cent spent on flight and hotel accomodations! Worth even getting molested by customs on the way back! Cos that was their airport procedure, to pat everyone down.. lol! Okay maybe NOT worth THAT part! ROFL! I've heard his songs a million times now and nothing could've prepared me for the energy you feel in the LIVE performances. Palpable would be an understatement and would not be enough to describe the moment. I mean I saw David doing his signature "eyes closed and rocking out on the guitar" and yet it was all magnified. He knelt down a few times when he felt overwhelmed. The band LOVED that big stage. Mr Neal Tiemann.. what can I say.. he OWNED the stage and actually stole my attention away from David a couple of times. I kept going "Look at Neal! Look at Neal!!" I'm ashamed to admit I didn't observe much of Andy or Joey, saw Kyle on the jumbotrons.. just as I predicted.. no sleeves! HAHA! And oh! That was David's definition of dressing up.. we had discussed earlier when he said he'd be dressed up for the show, most of us guessed "vest and possibly tie" but nope t-shirt and jeans it was! LOL!

We were fighting our way out of the arena amidst 40,000 fans. There was NO way we could get a cab. Thank goodness our hotel was walkable, maybe about 2 km. We were all physically drained BUT on such a MENTAL HIGH! We stank and we knew it! Dave was the one who performed and yet I was drenched in sweat as if I performed. If there was a David concert on every night, that would be the PERFECT exercise workout man! We needed DRINKS.. FLUIDS.. just anything to quench our thirst. Fought with hellish Manila traffic to cross the roads.. how on earth do you pinoys do it? LOL! We actually followed a pinoy family cross the busy road cos we had no clue how to even navigate the traffic, thank goodness they were there and we just followed them.

Got back to the hotel and everyone collapsed on the floor, still on a high but bodies refusing to co-operate. Took pictures with our signs and relived the night through pictures and videos. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat! I almost didn't make it out there cos I didn't think I could justify the expense with real life commitments but I'm glad I threw caution to the win and just DID IT! To anyone who has the even the remotest chance of travelling and making it out to a show, if its within your financial means, DON'T THINK, just DO IT! I can't wait for an Asian tour, hopefully he'll tour the region soon.

I had lost my voice and my sense of hearing but I didn't care. I didn't even realise my voice was shot cos I couldn't really hear it. I got to freakin' watch DAVID COOK perform 15 songs LIVE!!! We were all kind of talking really loudly cos none of us could hear well after the show! HAHA! Kudos to the Singapore contingent, I had a BLAST with every single one of you!