Niki World Tour 2023 - Being a Fangirl

I. Met. Niki.

The singer I have been listening to ever since my friend played her song, "Lowkey" on Discord. (Thanks, Eloise!)

The singer whose song, "Plot Twist" has been my favorite since day one.

The singer whose album was released when we were inside our homes due to the the pandemic and has been my comfort album since then.

The singer that I have been fangirling over for more than 3 years now.

The singer whose concert I watched live for the very first time.

The singer I have met and hugged before her concert.

Niki.

I never thought that this day would come. Well, to be honest, I expected her to return to the Philippines, but what I didn't anticipate was that it would be this year. I couldn't attend HITC 2022 in Manila, so I made a promise to myself: once she embarked on her own tour, no matter the obstacles, I would secure tickets.

✨ And I did ✨

First and foremost, I'd like to express my gratitude to my friend Fiona for her unwavering support. She lent me her account during the ticket sales because she had a better queue number. Without her, I genuinely believed that attending the show would have been impossible. I also want to give a special shout-out to my officemates, as I remember them having their computers queued up as well.

The ticket-selling process was incredibly overwhelming. I struggled to select seats and had a limited amount of time before the website would end my session. There were moments when I felt like giving up, but I knew I couldn't. I had been waiting for Niki to come here for so long, and I wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away.

Just a few days later, someone in the Niki Philippines group posted that they had purchased some meet and greet tickets. I thought, 'Wow, this must be for another country,' but then I realized that the meet and greet session was for the concert in Manila. I began to have second thoughts about whether I should buy one. It was priced at $200, which was around 13,000 Pesos including fees. I wondered, would it really be worth it? This upgrade cost more than my ticket itself. However, I couldn't resist. After all, it was Niki I would be meeting. Since I couldn't secure VIP tickets, meeting her in person seemed like a fantastic alternative.

CONCERT DAY!

Fast forward to September 13, 2023, I flew to Manila from Cebu on an early morning flight. I was worried there might be delays because it had been a rainy week in Cebu. I enjoy flying alone, especially in a window seat where I can contemplate a lot. Haha!

I arrived in Manila just before 8 A.M. and took a Grab with my brother to his house. I was still deciding what time I should leave for the venue (MOA Arena). The Grab ride would take about an hour at most. After having some breakfast, I organized my things, especially the clothes I would wear to the concert. I took a short nap and had a shower around 11 A.M., followed by lunch before we left.

When we arrived at the venue, it was still 1 in the afternoon, and the meet and greet queue wouldn't start until around 4:30 P.M. I had plenty of time on my hands. I should have explored the nearby establishments, but instead, I just enjoyed walking around. To be honest, I cherish the moments when I can spend time alone.

Around 4 P.M., I noticed some people already lining up in the area designated for the meet and greet. I asked the last girl in line if it was for the meet and greet, and it was indeed the right queue. Yay! The girl was clearly dressed in a High School in Jakarta-inspired outfit, wearing a skirt and a polo blouse as her cover-up.

The organizers began distributing wristbands, and one of the inclusions in the meet and greet package was an ID signed by Niki herself. One of the organizers informed us that the meet and greet would start at 5 P.M.

Fast forward to 5 P.M., and everyone was getting excited. We were finally let in.

The entire meet and greet was incredibly fast. I mean, really, really fast! I don't think it even lasted for 5 seconds. I quickly told Niki that I came all the way from work just to see her, which was true because I had only managed to get 4 hours of sleep! I also mentioned that I was wearing one of her very first merch items, the Moonchild sweater in White, which she released in late 2020. I remember her saying it was perfect! Of course, Niki! I will always be proud of you - from uploading covers online to setting up her own store and to finally having a world tour of your own.

To be honest, it was kind of underwhelming. 😅 Some might argue that meet and greet sessions are usually like that, but it cost $200 for just a very brief meeting. I was expecting at least a minute or two to chat with her. It wasn't cheap! Hahaha. Maybe it felt rushed because there were so many of us, and Niki might have been conserving energy for the actual concert, which was to follow the meet and greet. Next time, they should consider offering a limited number of slots. As far as I remember, they opened additional slots for the Manila meet and greet around July.

The other perks of the meet and greet were:

• Early Access to the merch booth - This was great because as soon as the regular queue started going inside the venue, the merch booth got busy and some stuff got soldout.
• Meet & Greet with Niki - That was probably the 5 seconds of saying hi to her
• Personal Photograph - The photo above was provided by Niki's team

The gates opened at 7 P.M., and I made my way to my section, which was in Lowerbox. The seats quickly filled up. I couldn't wait to sing, shout, and even shed a few tears during her performance. I was also eager to see her setlist!

A very beautiful crowd for Niki!

Here is a close up photo through the screens

Loved her outfit!

Overall, it was undeniably a core memory. I got the chance to hug her, say hi, and listen to her live. She performed "Take a Chance With Me," which was definitely a treat! As far as I can recall, she hadn't included this song in her previous concerts. Manila truly won this time! Niki absolutely deserved the sold-out arena tour, a first for her as well.

She was there in my major milestones in life, and her music became the soundtrack to many of my experiences. From coding all night during college to navigating the challenges of my first job, Niki's songs provided a comforting and relatable backdrop. It's amazing how music can weave its way into our lives, marking moments with a unique rhythm and emotion that's hard to replicate. Niki will always hold a special place in my heart for being there during those formative years.

Niki, I sincerely hope you come back to Manila! There are so many fans here who would love to hear your songs again. Maybe more than just one day when you tour next time?

I'll forever be a moonchild! 🌙✨