Wanderland: The music fest we've been waiting for

MANILA, Philippines - From the first time I chanced upon Wanderland online, I didn’t really know what to expect from it. With a local lineup consisting of Up Dharma Down, Yolanda Moon, Pulso, Taken By Cars and She’s Only Sixteen, there was something that left me a bit hesitant to go. I didn’t know if I wanted to see them outside the gloom of their small gigs and bar tours. I just preferred the romanticism of half-hidden places to open fields. Then the foreign lineup happened. Temper Trap, Neon Trees, Nada Surf, Avalanche City, Colour Coding and Tully On Tully.  Knowing three out of the six bands just sort of reinforced a curiosity that made me wish someone would hook it up.

To my surprise, I found out I had a ticket the evening before the festival, so clearly, I didn’t have time to download discographies and lyrics so I could sing along and maybe for once fit in. All I was sure of was that I’d probably roll up in a ball and cry if Nada Surf played their cover of OMD’s If You Leave just ‘cause “Confidence, Cohen.” Unfortunately they didn’t.

The place filled up quite nicely with a sea of kids in all-over prints and flower crowns seated on plaid picnic mats on the grassy open grounds of the former racetrack, which now is called Circuit Makati. It felt like high school all over again — all they lacked was a kissing booth! A place situated between a clear view of Makati’s central business district and industrial remnants of Manila, it was such a gem of a location. There was an ease in the way things transpired throughout the day, and that was really refreshing to see. In a city that often opts to stay indoors, it was pretty cool to see people out braving the sun and all that.

Meanwhile, I found the ultimate Wanderland attraction. The sun was high (and so was I), the music was good and the drinks were cold and inebriating. And as the third or fourth band played their set, I asked two friends to accompany me, one to document the experience and the other to make me feel less awkward about what I was going to do: Try the Velcro wall.

At the verge of 24 and sweaty, I let one of my friends go first and later on joined her up on the trampoline. Finding my balance, I tried to gain some serious air and next thing I knew I was on the wall, sticking for a second and being dragged down by the reality that is my weight. It was the best couple of seconds of my life. It was beautiful and if it weren’t for that fateful Saturday, I, to this day, wouldn’t have done it.

Aside from my Velcro moment, being the cheapskate that I am, I loved the freebies! Free Magnum, free drinks and snacks! And if that didn’t keep your tummy happy, there were food trucks that catered to everybody’s craving.

From grade-schoolers to celebrities, everyone just wanted to celebrate good music in a not-so-highfalutin way. It was just genuinely a good time. With that said, I hope next year they bring in more popular acts and maybe have cleaner portalets. Other than that though, I’m really looking forward to seeing this festival grow. 

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