Daily Tribune: A Summer to Remember

Written by: Gabrielle R. Borromeo
Published in the Daily Tribune (Life Style section) on Wednesday, 25 May 2015.

The music festival CloseUp Forever Summer 2016, held on May 21, Saturday, at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, was the big finale to a trilogy. It was sure to be fun; it was sure to be packed — and I was right. 

When I arrived, the line to the entrance was still astonishingly long considering it was already past 10 in the evening. (The gates opened at 4 p.m.) It took the security personnel a while before each concertgoer was given permission to enter. Everyone had to go through at least more than two checkpoints before getting into the venue, not to mention the registration booth. The security was tight; every person’s bag and pockets were checked diligently. 

That being said, however, I would imagine that it was close to impossible to find small packs of drugs if it were hidden well unless one goes through an x-ray machine. With an estimated 14,000 attendees, it was not like security had the chance to go through each wallet and small pouch of each person.

If not for the devastating incident that happened in the early hours of Sunday, the music festival that was CloseUp Forever Summer would have been the brilliant, happy memory it had been in the past two years. 

The energy of this event had always been upbeat and positive and the spirit of this recent party was phenomenal. The lights that covered the concert grounds were breathtaking, there were columns of white light that hung above, as well as a rainbow of lights that you could walk into. It was magical, romantic and musical. People could be seen enjoying the array of food and drinks on offer, no matter how long they had to wait for their turn. Everyone was high with the music--but now, as we know, others, too, but with illegal substances.

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of five concertgoers at the same party I was also in. It didn’t feel right, and it didn’t seem justifiable. Parties, no matter how wild and uninhibited some become, are events where people are supposed to just have fun, not lose their lives. 

It is obvious that the organizers meant for it to be completely wholesome — minors, after all, were allowed inside with supervision. Unfortunately, sometimes we lose control of what goes on in events like this. Not only was there smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol, but crazy hormones apparently ran rampant as well. There was torrid kissing going on (even if ironically the brand promotes getting intensely closer) and a lot of dirty dancing (the kind that you just wished they got a room). All are definitely R-18, if you ask me. I don’t agree that minors should be exposed to such as it may make them believe that all these are okay, plus their “experimental stage” will be given a kickstart and will only be heightened. It does not pose a good example especially to the future decisions they will make. 

There is danger here because today’s generation is different. I would know, I am part of it. It does not necessarily mean, though, that I participate in the drug craze. I believe there are other ways to have fun without risking your physical and mental well-being and hurting your loved ones.

But, as a part of this generation, I know what goes on in the inside and it’s not pretty. The youth today is wildly into drugs, be it “natural/medicinal” drugs or “chemical” drugs. And guess what, they talk about it as if it weren’t illegal. 

That’s not even the worst part. It is that most of them find nothing wrong with experimenting on drugs and eventually becoming users. Some act as if they are proud of it like it’s some feat? as if if makes them more of a person. All these, just to be part of the in-crowd because acceptance is everything. This is where the downfall begins.

There is hope, however, for every soul on earth that lives. There is always a chance for everyone to have a better future. I believe the moral of the story is tragic though that it had to end this way. And for other rave parties to have their security be thrice more stern in checking of the possessions of event-goers, as well as the age limit. Maybe the presence of security dogs would even help prevent drug issues.

Our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the event.