I Dream of City of Dreams Manila

“Soon they will no longer resist those who persist.”   This was our mantra on February 2, 2015, opening night of City of Dreams Manila.  It was unplanned but my officemates and I went to the event nevertheless.  We had this hope that by some means, “Lady Luck” would push us to the concert venue, sans tickets.  As for me, the force that drives me is Leonardo DiCaprio, who is one of the 3 International Club Kings that want City of Dreams Manila.  The other 2 being Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese.   Leo is my eternal crush, from What's Eating Gilbert Grape, to Titanic, to Romeo and Juliet, to The Aviator, to The Wolf of Wall Street, to eternity (Hehehe!). 

The International Club Kings

We reached City of Dreams at almost 6pm and were so excited by the thought of seeing Leo, whose image, along with those of De Niro and Scorsese, were repeatedly projected via spotlight on the upper left side of the City of Dreams edifice.

Our first sight of the City of Dreams Manila

At 6pm, first slap, our hope almost deflated when we were turned away by the guards from the street parking area.  We found ourselves parking at the back of a Jetti gas station near North Park.  No taxi accommodated us so we had a long walk from the parking area back to the City of Dreams.  The effort was tantamount to a 3k run.

Past 6pm, 2nd slap, back in the City of Dreams, we were denied entrance because we had no concert tickets.  We told the marshals and guards that the venue is not yet crowded and they could still allow a lot of people since the concert is free, but they still denied us.  We were at a lost, the marshal and guards seemed to be at a lost too when asked where we could get concert tickets or enter freely, for they each pointed us to directions that we were previously denied access to.   They seem to lack coordination.  

Rather than fret, we used the time as opportunity to get our free membership cards.  We passed beneath the moving chandelier, a long thread of seemingly giant golden coins that move in snake-like motion on the ceiling going to the casino, where we applied for membership and got our card and freebies.  I drew a limited edition City of Dreams Pillow.  Emman and Lin, well, they got that one thing the majority’s not excited about but drew, the City of Dreams carton fan (clap! clap!).  Well, curse is somehow easing on us.

I am now an official member of the City of Dreams Manila

Yay!!! I won a limited edition COD pillow (I prayed hard not to draw the carton fan while pressing the draw button! Hahaha!)

At 7:30pm, curse finally broken, the gate marshal finally gave us 3 Walk-in Guest tickets to the concert.  And we were just in time for the main event, Ne-Yo.   We were able to catch Ne-Yo sing 2 of his hits.  Not bad, considering it was the climax of the concert.   The timing couldn’t be more perfect.  The concert venue was not jam-packed, not sure if the organizers did it on purpose.

Free tickets were finally given when the show was nearing its height

The stage with the Golden Fortune Egg

Yo! Ne-Yo!

After the concert, the golden Fortune Egg was revealed by noted politicians and businessmen amidst prancing ballerinas.  

The VIPs revealed the Golden Fortune Egg

Another main event was the 10-minute fireworks display which was launched just above the concert venue, there was a sprinkle of firecracker splinters over the heads of the spectators.  Our eyes nearly got splinters, but I did not overhear anyone that his hair got burned from the firecracker drops.   The firecracker show was spectacular and I’m sure it turned away evil spirits. 

Exactly 8pm, after all the festivities, we had to walk another 3k to get back to the parking area.  So, that was a total of 6K unplanned walkathon.  Our legs were sored, considering me and Lin were wearing heels.  This wouldn’t have happened if we were allowed by the guards to park on the street when we first arrived.  Apparently many cars were soon allowed after all.  I could not say whether the event was a failure, probably I was just expecting a bigger blast, and comfort, considering it was the City of Dreams.  And Leo DiCaprio was not in attendance, in contrast with what has been rumored by the press promotions.  Anyways, we appreciate the experience.  What with Ne-Yo, the membership, the freebies, the fireworks show—not bad.  City of Dreams after all is not a City of Nightmares.