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How I met Joe Jonas: Day 4, Greenbelt

Needless to say, the Trinoma show left us on an amazing high. Eira was hungry, I was hoarse, Kitkat was happy and Nissy was extremely smitten. 

After the 4pm show at Trinoma, we headed to McDonalds to grab a bite. Eira and I decided to go on to the Greenbelt show for which I had a media pass plus a spare ticket to give her. 

We felt really tired on the train ride going to Greenbelt. The concert at Trinoma took the life out of us and we felt really sleepy. 

When we got to Greenbelt, it was already around 6:00pm with only an hour left before the show began. We basically power-walked to the venue because I still had to get my pass and the ticket from the wife of a friend of my mom’s. 

We got there at 6:20 and the place was literally jam-packed. Greenbelt was a more intimate venue, with barely any space between the seats and the stage which we noted would be a good thing. Still, there were a TON of fans both seated and hanging around the venue. If you were outside the seating area, you probably couldn’t have breathed. 

Eira and I were seated at around 6:30, and we got AWESOME seats! Our VIP seats were much closer to the stage than our Trinoma Blue seats! We saw JBnoys like Samantha, Bethany, Bettina and Elise, and even Kate!

And again, we waited in anticipation for the show, and when the lights dimmed and the music grew louder, my heart started pounding in my chest again, as if I didn’t just watch Joe Jonas a few hours ago. 

But man, they weren’t kidding when they said every concert feels like your first. As Joe came out singing to Love Slayer, the crowd went wild and a mosh pit formed in front of the stage. I am proud to say Eira and I were proud of that. 

The screams were deafening, much more than the Trinoma show. Joe looked so happy and pleased at the sight of the most pit, and he was literally just three feet away from us! He looked out into the crowd and I’m DEAD SURE he saw Eira and me because he looked into my eyes with a flicker of recognition for all of two seconds before he moved on. 

Yeah, I died. 

There were hands all over me, boobs I didn’t know behind me, and that 10 minutes left me sweatier than a 30-minute treadmill run at the gym but it was THE BEST THING I EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY LIFE NO JOKE. 

Eira told me that she was glad we were able to do what we did at the Greenbelt show because in the US, getting moshpit tickets that close would mean spending thousands of dollars which we did not have. 

What was even MORE amazing was the crowd singing along to every single word of See No More! It was extremely audible since the Greenbelt show was held in a smaller, more congested but open-air area, and it just literally gave me goosebumps all over. 

Seeing Joe smile at the crowd going insane made me feel so proud of him! I think that is what he really wanted—to connect with his fans. He looked so hot, both literally and figuratively (outdoor park has no aircon) and I could see a bead of sweat dripping down his neck. That close, man. His eyes were alight, his smile was genuine and he looked like he was having a great time. The moshpit didn’t happen at Trinoma, sadly. 

After the awesomeness, Joe sat down once again for an interview where pretty much the same questions were asked. He did mention Winston though, and commented that Winston was supposed to be a miniature bulldog but ended up being not so miniature after all. 

The highlight of this show was when they talked about how Joe loves his fans. A picture from the airport was shown onscreen, and Cesca, who hosted this show as well, asked the crowd if any of us were at the arport. Naturally, Eira and I got excited! We sort of stood up and told her that we were there. 

I was carefully observing Joe rather than listening to Cesca. When Eira and I stood up, he did this almost imperceptible double-take, as if confirming that indeed we were the girls from the airport. I was floored. 

I know I have a recognizable face, but for Joe, who has met thousands of fans, to recognize us twice or thrice in the past three days was just amazing. Just goes to show that he really WAS looking. He really WAS paying attention. 

That moment sent us into a high we couldn’t even explain! After the show, Bettina and Kate and my friend Rose got meet and greets with Joe. When they got their picture with Joe, she pointed out her sister Elise to him, and he also glanced at me and Eira who were not too far away. 

We also met up with Inna, Issa, Pauline and other friends. Some of them had to go as Joe left Greenbelt. Inna, Issa, Rose, Bettina, Elise, Eira and I ended up going to the food court in search of drinks. 

“Thank you for talking me into going!” Eira told me giddily after the show. I just smiled. Indeed, sobrang sulit ang pagpunta namin. Imagine, we just expected to listen to him and he gave us reasons to fangirl more. 

It would be an understatement if I told you that I felt so giddy and special. We were so tired when we got home, but everything was worth it. So extremely worth it. 

Day 4 of Joe Jonas in Manila and he was already deeply embedded into my heart. Day 5 would be his last in my city, and I still had two more chances to see him. 

oceansofdesire asked: Your posts about seeing Joe Jonas have been really amazing. Your writing is vivid and sincere. Your heart for him is stunning. Thank you so much for sharing. You will be among the first people I follow if I make another public blog. God bless, Sherry

Thank you so much for your message! Seeing him, watching him perform and listening to him talk was a surreal experience and I’m not even halfway done recounting it, but I hope that through my blog, other Jonas fans understand how much we love him too. And maybe, hopefully, remember that dreams can come true. 

How I met Joe Jonas: Day 4, Trinoma

May 25 had arrived much too soon for my liking. This was it. Joe’s first day of first shows in Manila, for his fans. 

It really was a day of firsts. Friday started insanely early for me. Work had to be done as usual, but all I could really think about was that night and the weekend. 

To be honest, I was really afraid that people wouldn’t come to the show. I mean, I know the Jonas Brothers are really popular and they have a huge following if Jonas Pilipinas’ metrics is the basis. I was just tense because a LOT of people were basically giving up on going to the shows if they didn’t have tickets, not understanding that this is a mall show and just because they didn’t have tickets didn’t mean they couldn’t see Joe. 

All I wanted for Joe in Manila (and I was really praying for this) was not just a sold-out show, but a show so jam-packed that people would be hanging off the railings and banisters and escalators until the fifth floor just to catch a glimpse of our tousle-haired dream boy. 

I went to Trinoma after work at 2pm, not knowing what to expect in terms of the JBnoys and, well, Joe. I thought I could maybe catch a glimpse of him at the meet-and-greet at the Bench store. 

When I got there, I was pretty shocked at the crowd that had formed. 

Hundreds of fans were cloistered together at the ground floor and at the second floor, eagerly waiting Joe’s arrival at the Bench store. I tried to muscle in but gave up after a few minutes. Instead, I went to the Trinoma Activity center to look for Eira and Kitkat, who was so kind to give me a ticket to the Trinoma show. 

It was a good hour before anything happened. We all took pictures, messed around a bit with markers and stuff while waiting for Nissy, who was coming from a retreat in Pampanga just to see Joe. (!!!) 

After a seemingly endless wait, the moment finally came. We were all on the edge of our seats as the lights dimmed, the music grew louder, and out came… 

Cesca Litton. 

LOL another awkward moment. 

Cesca was the host of the show, which we understood to be more of an interview than anything else. So she made all  the introductions, and then…

A GOD in a tight white polo and jeans comes out in all his swag, singing the lyrics to Love Slayer.

Let me tell you, it was a different feeling to be in Trinoma, surrounded by thousands of Jonas fans and freaking out like hell because the moment we had been waiting for was finally, finally here. 

The crowd was deafeningly wild. There were shouts and screams and everything else all over the place. It was wonderful to be in the middle of that madness, one that I had been dreaming of for years. 

Like the presscon, Joe sang Love Slayer, Just in Love and See No More. His voice live is fucking flawless. There are no other words. I know so many people underestimate him and his brothers for what their music is, but his angelic voice that sounds exactly like what he sounds on the album made me realize what a total performer he is. He really gives fans what they came for. 

Even if he was alone, Joe carried the stage so well. He teased, danced (like a dork) and made love to the mic stand where necessary. More than that, he was all smiles throughout the entire thing as he saw the sheer number of fans that came out to see him!

Trinoma was packed, with people watching from the fifth floor too!

I can’t believe this dude thought he was unknown here. He is crazy. 

He smiled a lot more when people were singing along to his songs as well!

After he sang, he sat down for an interview about his life, music, family and fans, and Joe was just so nice through the whole thing. I will post the highlights of the interviews in a separate post because they are too good to be buried here.

What I loved so much about Joe was the way he smiled and acknowledged his fans as the interview went. JBnoys kept screaming “I love you!” and he would smile in their direction, do this little nod and say “I love you too,” in that smooth, sexy, calm voice of his.

Joe was more shy during the interview, though he did have his funny moments. It made me realize that he has definitely grown up since being a teen hearththrob in 2008, just as I have grown up. I mean, we don’t lose that sense of immaturity, but we have other qualities which we put at the forefront—it doesn’t mean that we lose ourselves in the process. 

He gamely answered questions, telling the audience “Mahal ko kayo” and reading fansigns. He candidly gave information about his brothers and where they are right now as a band.

I loved the part where he talked about his family, and he was so overwhelmed with emotion when he started talking about his mom. <3  (Joe: I have 3 brothers and 2 parents-es. LOL)

I was so amazed at Joe and how he is in person. As the hour-long show drew to a close, and I went near the stage to take pictures of him as he did meet and greets. I observed the way he is with fans, and all his actions suggested sincerity and openness. He readily accepted and gave hugs. He never snubbed anyone. The best was when he would take pictures with kids—he was so caring!

He looked a LOT less tired too, which I was very happy about!

I didn’t get a meet and greet that show, but I was really happy. Not only was this my first official ever non-press Jonas concert, it was an enlightening moment for me. 

Seeing Joe and watching him perform live and listening to him talk about his life made me realize that everything I believed in for the past six years was real. I can’t express how reassuring that thought was. In fact just remembering it now makes me tear up. All the sacrifices I made as a friend, a person, a fan leader… Everything I stood for because of them or by him and his brothers is true and genuine and I was experiencing it with Joe. 

But the day wasn’t over yet! The flawlessness would continue on into the evening, at Greenbelt. 

How I Met Joe Jonas: Day 3, Another Detour

By this time, it had hit me that Joe has spent more than 36 hours in my country, has eaten our food, breathed our air and used our water. 

Cue ziplock bags to collect Joe breath. 

Kidding aside, Day 3 wasn’t much except a huge buildup of anticipation. Since part of the reason Joe came to the Philippines was to endorse a clothing brand, May 24 was set as his photoshoot date, as predicted. 

Joe tweeted pictures from his photoshoot, but had to take it down possibly because Bench wanted to be as secretive as possible. Whatever. Fangirls work fast and it was all over the internet in a matter of minutes! 

Apparently, the studio where he did the shoot is extremely near a place where I work part-time. Not that I would have known how to get in and sneak into the studio, but at that point I just didn’t want to leave Joe. Ever. 

All that happened was a mental preparation for Days 4 and 5, which were wild rides in itself… 

How I met Joe Jonas: Day 2, Press Conference

Day 2 began early. I had work, as usual, but I was extremely excited because I managed to find a way to get a pass for Joe Jonas’ press conference at Makati Shang. Desperation and no money can definitely get you places if you try. 

I wore my Lovebug-esque dress and gold flats just to feel nice that morning and not look like what I usually look like: stressed. Haha. 

So at 11am I was on my way to the Rizal Ballroom of the Shangri-La Makati to meet up with my fellow JBnoys and cover the launch as a member of the press.

When I got there, the excitement was evident. I stayed with my JBnoy friends first and we took pictures and videos and other fun stuff. The impatience was getting to us; it was around 12 at the time but still no sign of Joe Jonas.

It was nearly 1 when Kit and Eira and I went to the “other side” aka the side of the hall which had the press people and was nearest to the stage. We got a good vantage point near the front of the stage and just as we were gonna get background photos, the screaming started. 

It was Raymond Gutierrez. 

LOL. Talk about anxiety. 

But no, ten minutes later after all introductions were made, the lights were dimmed, and the screaming began anew. 

As the opening music to Love Slayer started, I seriously thought that Joe would just be making an entrance. Boy was I wrong. He made a really swag entrance, singing TO Love Slayer. 

And for the second time in as many days, all I could think was GRABE. 

Joe was wearing a white shirt under a fitted black jacket and jeans. In my eyes, he had never looked so simple but he looked so incredibly amazing. He still looked tired but as he was performing, he had this energy, this undeniable swag that completely lit up his face as he sang. 

And then I realized that in that moment, after six years, I was finally watching and listening to a Jonas Brother perform LIVE. 

It was sad that the crowd in front was made up of the press who didn’t really know Joe’s songs, but it didn’t matter. I sang along to every song, feeling elated that Joe looked so happy to be performing in front of a crowd. He connected with the people in front, looking them in the eyes and smiling sincerely while singing. He even touched Kitkat’s and my hands!

I think it felt like a Twilight Zone moment of some sort. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I almost teared up then and there. 

The fans went wild when he performed. Everyone was screaming and shouting and singing along. When he was done, he smiled at the fans at the back of the room, and took his seat for a short interview. 

Here I noted that Joe seemed quite tired. He answered a couple of questions from the press, but his voice seemed quiet compared to when he was singing. Jet lag and 18 hours on a flight would probably do that to a person. 

After the interview was over, he had a meet-and-greet with some fans and the press. I didn’t know if I had a pass to meet him, but I lined up anyway. He was so incredibly nice to everyone.

When I approached him and met him for the second time in two days, I felt my heart pounding. Before I could even say anything, he smiled and said, “Hey, nice to see you again!”

I could have died right then and there. 

Joe Jonas recognized me. 

I swear to God the universe was so kind to me that day. 

I replied “Aww Joe, thank you so much for coming to the Philippines!” to which he said “Thank you.” I said a bunch of other stuff which I can probably recount later on. I then asked him “Can I get a hug?” to which he laughed a little and said “Yes, definitely!” 

When I hugged him, I couldn’t feel anything else except his arms around me and his really hard muscles. Also he smelled REALLY nice. When I pulled away for our photo, I looked at his face again and his beautiful eyes just left me floored. 

It was over too soon. He turned to me and said thank you, and I thanked him too and told him he needs to come back with his family. 

I went down that stage and I wasn’t the same anymore. 

We had maybe four more minutes of Joe before he was ushered away (despite a mob). 

That evening, I wrote my article about the press conference, and when I got home, I found this:

No words. GRABE ANG BAIT NI LORD SA AKIN. 

In one day, I finally saw a Jonas perform live, Joe recognized me and hugged me, I wrote about the experience and Papa Jonas tweets about it. 

May 23 was awesome, no doubt. The next few days would prove to be even more wonderful.