As some Filipinos continue to be a sore loser over our collective failure to bag a Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert deal, I have become more and more convinced that even if we did have the budget to bribe the pop superstar’s production company the way the Singaporeans supposedly did to bag the deal that made them the only venue in Southeast Asia, there was still no way we could’ve pulled off a proper concert, based on the simple reason that our country and its events and public transportation infrastructure are nowhere near ready for something as big as that. In other words, even if we did manage to convince Ms. Swift to hold a concert here, the total experience simply wouldn’t be the same.
This conclusion is based on the accounts of some Swifties who were at the concert in Singapore.
Unlike the Philippines and other car-centric societies, most concert goers go to the venue, the National Stadium, via MRT, as it is the most practical mode of transport for that event. Taxis or getting a Grab are also available options, but it isn’t as popular because everyone expects traffic and the surge pricing that comes with it. Private cars are of course an option too for some concert goers, but are a minority and unnecessary in that city which has one of the best and most efficient public transportation systems in the world.
Based on the experience of some Negrense Swifties, the concert had just ended during that night when torrential rains fell. Mind you, it was the serious type of rain that would cause flash floods here in the Philippines. However, since it was Singapore, there were no worries of that, and that is not the point anyway. But the point is, the combination of 60+ thousand people trying to get out of a venue and heavy rains is usually a recipe for disaster, which is something most Filipinos are familiar with.
However, because it was in Singapore, they were able to make it back to their hotel within an hour, using public transportation, without getting too wet or having their shoes ruined by floodwaters.
Granted, the girls were fortunate to have a local shepherd who also watched the concert the same night as them. My sister in law helped them by pointing out a not-so-obvious route to the Stadium MRT station where they wouldn’t get soaked by the rain, as the most obvious way involved being exposed to the weather. Their shepherd also pushed them forward while they were too busy and distracted, basking in their post-concert high, to make sure they got to the trains without losing each other in the massive crowd that efficiently and safely moved forward.
It was impressive that despite the inclement weather and the massive crowds, they were able to make it out of the Stadium area easily. The girls were at the city center, where their hotel was, within an hour, while their shepherd, who separated and transferred to a different train, was back to her home in the suburbs within more less the same time.
Aside from the convenience, speed and efficiency at making it back home despite the inclement weather, it was also a minor miracle that they made it back to their hotel relatively dry, as they didn’t have any umbrellas or rain jackets because of venue restrictions. Umbrellas were specifically prohibited, and the bag size limitations and the non-aircon venue meant bringing rain jackets were not really a priority. Although, for those who were laging handa, disposable ponchos did the trick.
It was amazing that the most inconvenient part of their trip back to the hotel would’ve been crossing the last two streets where there was no shade from the rain and they would’ve gotten wet for sure. Fortunately, by the time they got to that point of their trip home, the rain had slowed to a more manageable level. However, even if the rain hadn’t stopped, their adults had already prepared umbrellas, ready to meet them halfway, which was just a short walk from the hotel. Or, at that point, they could just brave the rains by then be at the hotel within minutes, where they could shower and change into dry clothes.
If the same thing had happened to them in the Philippines, the trip home from the concert would’ve been agonizingly long because of the concert traffic, which is already expected to bad, even in good weather, but could’ve reached carmageddon levels in the type of rain that they had that night in Singapore.
For the concert-goers who have never been to one in a first world country like Singapore, our typical concert experience includes being stuck in horrendous traffic jams which is considered part of the package. If we only knew how much easier it could be if only our government were capable of building a proper public transportation system and placing the necessities and even luxuries of a developed society within that system, we would probably be ashamed to bid to host a blockbuster event like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
Maybe it’s a good thing we missed out on that one, so the shame of missing the chance and our butthurt government officials will have reason to work harder to make our country a more viable venue for such events that could generate hundreds of millions in revenue from foreign and local tourists and fans.*
