After two years, Chicane is back in Manila. 

That evening was packed with a lot of Metro on-goings.  My feet walked into 2 events in a span of 2 hours, URCC University Challenge @ A-Venue Hall and Attica Launch in the same area.  But the big story of the night is the Chicane event presented by Big Fish Manila and Nokia.

My Sabiclub friends –or family if I can put it more appropriately, were raving about Chicane since a month ago.  Although I appreciate house/trance (I can’t even differentiate between the two) music, I grew up knowing about the ‘90s baggy jeans.  Hip-hop and RnB are really the music I can easily relate to.  Carlo and I used to banter back when we were officemates which one really rules the scene.  Of course, my loud voice always won over the debate.  I’ve attended several Big Fish events in the past most of which are the annual Cream Halloween balls and in time, house music steadily gained a higher level of respect from me.

I have to remove cobwebs off my ears though because it’s been almost 2 years since I last attended their event.  The last one was Cream Halloween 2006 –and Bubba, as a friend then, bumped into our group and kept getting my drink from me!  What a flirt!

(Music)

Well If U Love Ya Girl
And Wanna Keep Ya GIrl
Don’t Be Walkin Up And Askin Me To Meet Ya Girl
‘Cause I’m Well Enough A Flirt When I Speak To Girl

My apologies for the commercial break…  Back to tugs tugs tugs ugs ugs…

The Sabi crew planned to all attend the event except for a few (pointing at Yssah) –which made it so tempting for me to go since I miss these guys.  What a delightful feeling it was when I opened my email and read that I won two tickets from Spot.ph!!!  

E-L-A-T-I-O-N (and I don’t pop!)  Just natural high baby! 

World Trade Center.  Surprisingly, the line for media/VIP guests was longer than the “selling ticket” lane.  15 people were ahead of us.  It didn’t “cramp the style” (let it pass.  No more heef haf language after this) anyhow because it took only a mere 10 minutes to get our names crossed out the list.

Two familiar faces by a cocktail table flagged my sight, gorgeous couple Phoebe and Jayvee.  From Plurk info, I think Nina was supposed to cover the event too.  A few chats, snaps snaps and a handful of UFO blings later, each couple went their way to meet friends.  We got inside and saw the group near the stage.  I hugged Camille tightly because I missed her so!  Carlo enjoying the music… NA looking fab in her chic dress… Shiela and Bubba whispering and laughing heartily on the side… Shiela has the sweetest smile ever.  Even in a dark room full of blasting music, I can feel the softness in her smile.  Drinks drinks drinks… John Boy Lee prepped the crowd.  Dance, dance, dance… sauntering from one area to another…  I’m so glad we had the VIP wrist badge that granted us access to the VIP area.  My feet weren’t so tortured.  I was able to rest in a couch if I need to.  We also bumped into Mark Nep, Yvette, Lala and Richie.  Then back to Sabi peeps…  At one point I saw Ricky Dakker on stage.  We went to the ABS-CBN reserved area where Bubba hung with his friends.  Then back to Sabi peeps… Staring at the stage and basking on the music… Celebrity spotting: Bianca Araneta with husband Mr. Elizalde.  Phoebe gave us Nokia blue light necklace thingies… sweet! 

We saw Trina too, CW former officemate in Asia Brewery Inc.  We were on our way out to go to the Johns when we heard loud shouting.  “Chris! Chris!”  (It sounded like an old man’s voice!  Haha, just playing Antz!)  We look up and saw Antz with Mark’s group @ the ABS area, waving his hands summoning us to go up.  Chicane finally came on stage around 3am.  I also bumped into Fritz somewhere in the night –or morning.  Too bad that the band encountered some technical problems –but it totally didn’t spoil my cake.  We left a little past 3 hungry.  We went to Burger Avenue to cap the long but fun night.  I received an SMS from Martin or Martini as I would call him that he caught one of the drumsticks that the Chicane drummer threw –awesome memento of Chicane in Manila 2008 for him.

What a fantastic time it was!  It’s been a while since we’ve been out and this was the ultimate resurrection!  I had an absolute blast going sway sway shake shake wave hands up the whole night! 

Much love to Spot.ph (and Karl Bustamante) for the two (2) VIP tickets!