Event: 3rd Pyromusical Competition at SM Mall of Asia - UK vs Spain

Finally, after wanting to watch a fireworks competition for years, we were able to catch one of the installments of the 3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition held every weekend (starting from February 11 to March 17, 2012) at SM Mall of Asia. United Kingdom and Spain were the two countries slated to showcase their pyromusical entries (a combination of fireworks and music) that night.

Thanks to an Ensogo deal, I got the whole family 10 silver tickets at 50% off. The location wasn't the best, but it was good enough to witness and enjoy as the night sky dazzled in colorful and mesmerizing display of fireworks. It was magical.

The show was advertised to start at 7 p.m. but due to some technical problems, it was already past 8 p.m. when it actually started. UK was the first to perform, which lasted for almost 20 minutes. Spain performed next after about 45 minutes.

Silver and Gold areas are standing room only so I suggest to bring something to sit on, if you can, during the interval. Of course, that won't be the case if you're in the VIP/Patron area or if you opted to reserve seats at the one of the veranda restaurants.

Event: Celebrating Chinese New Year 2012 at SM Mall of Asia

We trooped to SM Mall of Asia last night, January 22, to celebrate this year's Chinese New Year. My holidays were rather dark and gloomy and I had been wanting to uplift my spirits and be happy again. So I thought that maybe watching a live Lion and Dragon dance, and see some fireworks in action would allow me to savor the last hurrah of the season.

Prior to going there, I checked the mall's lifestyle website for the schedule of activities. The Lion and Dragon dance was scheduled at 5 p.m. and the pyromusical display (not the competition) at 7 p.m. 

We left the house at 4 p.m. and got there at 6 p.m. so we weren't able to catch the dance. Traffic was already building up near the entrance of the mall and parking areas were filling up, too. We parked in the basement parking of the SMX Convention Center, which was a big mistake because it's far from where all the activities are.

After disembarking from the car, we headed straight to the bay area and checked out the booths that they have there while waiting for the fireworks display to start. There weren't a lot really, just a few stalls selling lucky charms and Chinese delicacies like tikoy and hopia, a photo exbihit, and some booths where you can register to enter a raffle draw.

Event: Tanduay Rhum Rockfest IV

This is not really a review, but a narration of my experience at the recently concluded Tanduay Rhum Rockfest IV held at SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds. This is my first ever rock concert, and I'm not really a rocker. I am your average mellow/acoustic/light-rock/easy-listening music listener. But I happen to be married to one who loves rock music, the band Wolfgang especially. And when he learned that they will be playing at the 4th Tanduay Rockfest installment, he bought us two VIP tickets (bought 6 bottles of participating liquor products to secure 2 VIP tickets actually).

And that is how I found myself lining up at the entrance of MOA's concert grounds at 4 pm yesterday, October 15. To be honest, I was a bit scared and unsure of what to expect, being a first time rock concert attendee. I know rock concerts are identified with mosh pits and body slams, and all sorts of those rowdy behaviors that can lead to accidents or to somebody getting hurt. But my husband was there with me, so I felt a little safer.

Still, when we were just outside the concert venue, waiting to get inside, and I saw the type of crowd that we'll be rocking with, I couldn't help but be fearful again. They are you're black-clad, sporting Chuck Taylor sneakers, I-don't-care-if-I-hurt-you-as-long-as-I'm-having-fun-looking, smoking, ready to trash and bash and mash and squash type of rockers.My only relief was that I was wearing black myself, so I sort of felt I was "in" with the crowd, with the wardrobe at least. But other than that, I was afraid I don't have enough 'rock' in me to get through the night's big event. But I didn't want to spoil my husband excitement so I had to brazen up.