Mark the date. It was January 20, 2006, a historical landmark especially for a die-hard BSB fan like me, wahahahahaha. View my PHOTO ALBUM on my Multiply site, though you must have an account in Multiply first and be my friend before you can access it because it's restricted.

It's been a great day for most of the Philippine-based BSB fans because we've waited for almost ten years for this concert. Their first concert in Manila was in October 1996. As early as 8AM, fans were already at the concert arena, Araneta Coliseum, for the concert. I was at the back gate at that time and waiting for the Backstreet Boys to arrive for their soundcheck. We've talked to some crew there, including Bob – a part of the BSB band crew. He informed us that the BSB will arrive in the afternoon. Me and some of the other fans waited patiently, talking about our own fandom and just cheering each other up. It was about 4:20 PM when the BSB arrived at the back gates. This is my first time to see them in person and boy! All of them were so good-looking. I noticed Howie's serene face, Brian's doll eyes, AJ's calm countenance, Kevin's relaxed look and Nick's smile. Damn! I made an eye contact with Howie because I'm at the side of the coaster van where they are into and he waved at me. Lucky for us, we were just about 12 fans who waited at the gates at that time and they noticed everyone because the van stopped at us. However, the security didn't allow the BSB to greet us anymore because apparently, they were late for the soundcheck.

Anyway, me and my friends went to the main gates to wait for it to open. The BSB are having soundcheck inside. The only fans allowed inside are those who won to the BSB contests that went on for the previous weeks prior to their concert. After the soundcheck, there were loud screams because Brian and Nick goofed around and were seen running down the arena's lobby and waving at us. LOL. It surged an excitement among the fans and continued when the gates were finally opened for admission.

The concert was a successful one! It's great and BSB really had this power to arouse an intense adrenalin among us. Everyone sang to their songs, cameras were everywhere, screams were nonstop. They performed their old songs which is way back to their Asian album, Backstreet Boys, to the Chapter 1 Hits, as well as their new songs from Never Gone.

When the BSB went onstage, the crowd went wild, screams were louder. Those who seated at the back ran towards the edge of the stage while those seated in front stood up on their seats. The crowd at the back were standing as well. Fans consist of average people, famous celebrities, businessmen, parents and grandparents.

On their song, THE ONE, Kevin made a sweet-tone greeting of "I Miss You" to us, pertaining to the almost past 10 years since they haven't been in the country. They started their fan base in the Philippines in 1996 where they had their first concert only in a bar. The evening turned into a super party full of reminiscing and reunion-like with old acquaintances.

Kevin also asked us to light up our cellphones, just like what he did to the other Asian countries. It's very magical and I felt like I was in galaxy at that time. The arena's lights went out and you could only see our phones hanging above our heads as they sang Incomplete. It's very solemn. Brian and Howie had this overwhelming expression on their faces as they sang the last notes of the song, staring up at us and to the entire arena. It's very beautiful.

Also, at the time when the guys were chilling after they sang Weird World, there's a fan who threw a glowstick on them – almost hitting Howie on the arm and Brian on the face. I guess it wasn't meant to be that way but Kevin turned to look where it came from. Playing to be a big brother again, eh? Hahaha. Anyway, Brian impulsively joked and acted like he was really hit hard and fell himself off from his seat and then shouted afterwards, "I'm fine. I'm okay!" We all just laughed. Trust Brian to make some situation turn into a cheerful one.

Nick threw water on the fans in front of him. He's a little naughty on stage, playing with his guitar and introducing it to us as his girlfriend, HELGA. I was laughing about the time he threw about the water to the fans because the girls there were so overwhelmed by his attention and I was wondering, will they ever take a bath since Nick already blessed them with his drinking water?

All of them played around the stage and it's very happy to see that they're enjoying themselves as much as we do enjoy the entire show. This is going to be an experience I will NEVER EVER forget in my life and I will cherish it forever! If only I could turn back time and repeat it all over again. It was an awesome night that made one of my dreams come true...

SET LIST:
The Call
My Beautiful Woman
More Than That
Climbing The Walls
Crawling Back to You
Shape of My Heart
The One
I Still
I Want It That Way
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
Larger THan Life
We've Got It Goin' On (video montage)
Siberia
All I have To Give
As Long as You Love Me
I'll Never Break Your Heart
Just Want You To Know
Weird World
Drowning
Quit Playing Games
Never Gone (tugtog lang with video clips)
Incomplete
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

NOTE: When we were at the back of the stadium and waiting for the Boys, there were two mails received by the guards and it came all the way from Europe and addressed to the BSB. I took pictures of it and I was like, wow! How did it coincidentally arrive in the Philippines at the time that the Boys are also there? Amazing. We told the guards to give it to the Boys and scared them off that the Boys will be mad if they didn't receive it. I wished they did what we told them though ...