Code Red: Archuleta Fans Run Wild Version 2011: The Fail, The Win, The Epic

- July 20, 2011, Wednesday.

- Once again, David Archuleta is back in Asia for another concert tour. I was surprised that he was back in Asia - and the Philippines - just a few months after his album promotion last November. My neighbor Dianne and I wanted to buy tickets for his concert, but a biblical sign told Dianne to "keep the money" (it's a long story, but it was really a message from the Bible.)

- Dianne and I initially thought that we might be able to get free tickets to David's concert in Araneta, but we were never given free tickets by "Dianne's connections." Still, I was OK with not seeing David this year, because I've seen him for two consecutive years.

- Dianne and I came to know that aside from his concert, David would be having mall tours in SM branches, with the very near SM Lazaro being one of those. Dianne told me about it, and I was initially hesitant to go due to school stress and depression. Thinking twice, however, made me realize that I need to go out more often, so I won't stress out too much on school work and stuff. I needed a diversion.

- I met Dianne this afternoon at her house. Dianne quickly prepared, so we could go to SM San Lazaro earlier. We both wore red, because the official announcements of the mall shows encouraged fans to wear red.

- Dianne and I arrived at SM San Lazaro around 2pm. We located the mall show venue, and asked for the mechanics. The salesperson told us that if we purchased our David Archuleta CDs at that moment, we'd still be able to make it to the first 500 CD purchasers. We both did not hesitate to buy David's "Other Side of Down (Asian Tour Edition,)" which was a repacked version of his "Other Side of Down" album, with many bonus tracks and karaoke tracks. The CD (err, more like DVD) was worth 525php, which was really cheap for a DVD.

- The salesperson assured us that we could go around the mall and come back later, since she already handed us our number stubs. I was number 244, and Dianne was 245. YAY!!

- Dianne and I had a second lunch at Kenny Roger's, and roamed around the mall a bit. Dianne also went to National Bookstore to but her own paperback copy of David's book, "Chords of Strength." I should've gotten a copy too, but I figured that I'll just buy my copy next time; I might run out of cash for the day.

- While both of us were "in line" - not knowing if that was the end of the line of not - a lady approached us and sold us baller bracelets of David Archuleta. I initially didn't take interest, but was convinced to buy after Dianne bought her own. Cool.

- We both roamed around once more, looking for the mysterious end-of-the-line, because the "line" we were in was not moving, while the staff were already letting people in. We both searched and searched, until I head someone call my name. I was surprised to see Kimberly, Jimmy, and Jayzie, high school friends, at the venue. We immediately stuck together, and shared out excitement over David Archuleta. We also realized that we were positioned in another wrong line. Gladly, the woman who sold Dianne and me the baller bracelets directed us to the right line. Thank you kind lady.

- The five of us were finally in the audience place, and waited for David to arrive. Dianne soon told me that we should go to the back and wait for David to pass by, and hopefully take a picture of him too.

- The mall show began without any sight of David Archuleta. There were two front acts, and I didn't know both of them. Dianne and I weren't able to see the front acts because we were still keen on waiting for David Archuleta's "grand entrance."

- At around 6pm, David Archuleta, heavily guarded, walked briskly through the crowd, and prepared himself at the backstage. Dianne and I were on our way to go back to the audience place, when one of the managers ushered us to the VIP area. The VIP area was the area directly in front of the stage with chairs; the audience place at the back was not provided with chairs. Win moment!!

- Dianne and I got to see David Archuleta up close, but not too close though. The VIP area just made it easier for us to take pictures without too much people in front of us. I tried to wave at him, but he was usually looking at the other side of the audience. Haha.

- David didn't sing, unlike his album promotion in SM North EDSA last year, but he was kind enough to sing a part of Everything and More (a bonus track) and a part of Something About Love. GOODNESS. It was my first time to listen to David Archuleta sing a capella live, and I can really say that he has a nice and powerful voice. Now I really wonder why he didn't win first place in American Idol back in 2008. Haha.

- After he met and greeted us, Dianne and I tried to sneak in at the back stage, HOPING to get a photo with him. The Facebook contest winners and the staff were able to get their photo ops with David, but sadly, Dianne and I weren't able to have a chance.

- The epic moment however, was when David passed by us, preparing to go on stage to do the autograph signing. Dianne and I quickly said hello, and David, startled, said hello to us. Dianne and I couldn't believe that David just said hello to us, and realized that that could have been the PERFECT MOMENT to ask him to have a sneak-photo with us. Well, we couldn't blame ourselves for being too star-strucked with David. Dianne told me that David really had that "angel aura," which was what made him "special." Hahahaha.

- Later on, Dianne and I were able to have out turn with the autograph signing. Just like last year, photographs were not allowed. Dianne tried to sneak a photograph of me with David, but the guard immediately caught her "red" handed.

- While I was in front of David, I remembered my friend Eric's reminder to shake David's hand, since I wasn't able to do so last year. This time, I forgot to talk to David, but remembered to shake his hand. Haha. I also wanted to take a photo with David's dad, but "we are not allowed to," David's dad Jeff said.

- I also wanted to take Dianne's photo with David after my turn, but she already left after I readied my camera. Fail. Haha.

- Dianne and I lurked around the area, thinking of ways to stalk David. At first we decided to hunt his car in the parking lot, or maybe try to sneak in again at the backstage or something. In the end, we decided that it might be impossible to stalk him, so we thought of going home.

- Just as we were on our way out, Kimberly and Jimmy told us that the even't official photographer (from Great Image) was viewing the photos at the photo studio at the lower ground level. Dianne and I hurried to the photo studio, and hoped that the photographer was somehow able to take photos of Dianne and me during the autograph signing.

- Upon arriving at the photo studio, we both realized that the photographer was having problems with his memory card, since a lot of the photos from the latter portion of the event weren't loading properly - two of them being the David's photo with the Facebook contest winners and the SM San Lazaro staff.

- Dianne and I hoped for things to go well, but thought of going back another day, since it was getting late already. We both asked for business cards, and left San Lazaro at around 8:30pm.

- Dianne and I decided to have dinner at the Shakey's branch near our house, relax for a while, and talk about the wins, fails, and the epics of the day. While reviewing the photos and videos that I took, I realized that my camera was on MUTE mode, and so the two videos that I took of David were voiceless. It was the BIGGEST FAIL MOMENT of the day. (To think it they were my first two a cappella videos of David Archuleta. DRAT.)

- Despite the big failure, I was still happy that I got to see David again this year, got to have my CD signed, got to talk to him and his dad, and got to shake David's hand too. I was happy that Dianne was able to see David up close as well.

- My night became a bit better after seeing my friend and neighbor Bless, with her sister Melody, enter Shakey's. Hurray for neighborly bonding.

- Dianne and I, as well as other Archuleta fans, hope that David will come back again next year. And just like other fans, Dianne and I both hope, pray, and wish that we'll have our own photo op with David in the future. (Talking to him and his dad, shaking his hand, and letting him sign my CDs were good first steps though. HAHA.)


** Dear Dianne, thanks again for inviting me to go with you to David's meet and greet. I honestly wasn't keen on going due to depression and stress, and considering I have evening classes tomorrow. I decided to go because I needed some time to unwind, and so I could bond with you also. I did not regret going with your decision and and my decision of following the Biblical message of "keeping the money." This was definitely more worth it than the concert itself (and cheapter too!!) Thank you once again for the day or fun and fan-desperation. We weren't able to have our photo with Archuleta, like Jenna and Trisha last year, and just like in my dream, but it was already a big blessing that we were miraculously ushered to the VIP area. Truly, we were showered by God's graces. :) :) :) :) To more adventures!! :D:D:D:D


**** Hello!! This is Gilbert from July 26, 2011, 6 days after the Archuleta meet and greet. I mustered enough courage to check the videos I took during the meet and greet. APPARENTLY, my camera didn't fail me, and the videos clips I shot were not soundless just as Dianne and I fount out in Shakey's. THANK YOU LORD!!