My very first experience of a fan meet was that of Hyun Bin’s, in the middle of the pandemic. Although it was a virtual one, I found myself smiling and laughing, so much so that my mom, who was in another room, thought I was talking with someone.

When news of the Kim Seonho meet up came about, I knew I had to go. I had such a nice time with the Hyun Bin one, and technically I wasn’t even there, you know what I mean!

Fortunately, this lula has a highly resourceful friend, a veteran of countless fan meets here and abroad, who not only purchased the tickets but also gave me very specific instructions on what I should I bring, what time I should be there, and what to do next; every fangirl should be so lucky! That’s how I found myself celebrating Chinese New Year at Mall of Asia, with a gazillion other people.

The fan meet experience begins the minute you make yourself known. In my case, it was when I donned a Kim Seonho headband snagged from a street vendor at P150. Walking to the Arena, people were suddenly smiling at me, and not just the ones wearing the very same headband. The fans were very chatty, making small talk at the lines to get strapped, to go to the CR, to enter the venue, and to do the goodbye sendoff. The vibe was happy, the mood relaxed. Though everybody had their masks on, you can tell by the light in their eyes that they were smiling, which I still am, admittedly.

What struck me initially was how excited and LOUD the crowd was. When fans thought KSH was about to enter, they shrieked in wild anticipation. When finally KSH went onstage, the decibel level went through the roof. Good Boy was visibly surprised, and so was I actually. For a moment, I thought to myself: What the F am I doing here?!

I am a fiftysomething mother of four and grandmother of one. I have grey hair. I do serious stuff at work. I have hypertension. What the F am I doing here? Mwahahahaha

And that’s when it struck me. That’s exactly why I should be here! I am a 55-year-old woman who can do whatever she wants! Life’s too short!

Of course, in this fangirl’s heart, KSH could do no wrong. He could have just stood there, and I would have been happy. As it turned out, they made him do all sorts of things. Apart from singing, posing, speaking in Filipino, and answering “kilig” questions, he did a lot of stuff with the fans. He danced with a fan, who to his surprise was wearing a wedding gown. There were quite a number of “brides” yesterday, a nod to the wedding shoot in Hometown Cha Cha Cha. He played a staring contest with another fan, who also wore a wedding dress. He challenged another to stand on only one foot. This particular fan was so crazy excited that the host had to tell her to calm down.

In one segment, KSH had to play a relay with three teams. This part had him catching a ball with a basket on his head, jumping rope with a fan, and doing the sipa. Boy was breathing heavily after one set; and lay down on the sofa at one point. He must not be working out, mwahahahaha

What made my experience of this fan meet so enjoyable, as much as seeing KSH of course, was the happy energy of the fans. Sa Tagalog, nakakadala yung vibe! Remember the decibel levels through the roof energy? It never let up, it was that way for the next two hours. So caught up in the moment was I that I’d find myself screaming and shrieking, not knowing whether I was hearing my cries or everyone else’s.

When KSH chose pancit over sinigang as the Filipino food he likes more, I shouted “Ipagluluto kita!” When we fell in line for the goodbye sendoff, I was dancing so excitedly that the guard asked the younger ones behind me, “Alalayan ninyo si Mommy, masyadong excited!” When finally KSH was mere inches away from me, I shouted “Hong Banjang,” waving my hands excitedly.  He waved back, and for a mere moment my eyes locked with one of the persons/characters who helped relieve some of the stress caused by the pandemic, and I was just grateful.

Life is good!