The set of Lunar Lights followed. The space rock group performed some originals, such as “Lihim”, “Masilayan”, and my personal favorite “What Your Heart is Made”. It also did a cover of Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Going Down.”
After this set, representatives from Smart announced that San Juan, La Union would be a Smart hotspot. That meant Smart subscribers could expect better signal when surfing in San Juan.
This announcement was followed by the set of Barbie Almalbis, who was among the most awaited artists that night. The crowd went crazy as she started performing classics like “Ambon”, “Just a Smile”, and “Torpe”. She even sang her own rendition of the “Overdrive”, wherein she changed a part of it to, “Magada-drive ako hanggang sa La Union tapos magsi-swimming do’n sa beach.”
While all these were happening, SONY Silent Disco was also taking place at the San Juan Surf Resort. Using SONY’s groundbreaking technology, participants enjoyed the music of great DJs like DJ Cam, DJ Abdel, DJ Callum, and DJ Badkiss.
After the silent disco, these DJs also showcased their talents on the main stage, for everyone to enjoy. They partied till morning!
The next day was equally fun. Smart prepared an outdoor archery activity. Meanwhile, some preferred to simply chill on the beach and check out what the booths were offering. Lots of guests also surfed and went on food trips and sampled the famous dishes offered by San Juan restaurants, while others went to the car show that was also part of the festival.
Before sunset, DJs Kirk & Prim impressed the crowd with their energizing music. They were followed by Indio I, which also captured the heart of the festival attendees.
Alpha Caeli performed next. There was so much feels as the band played some originals like “Intertwined”. The group also did a cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow”. Indeed, it was a great experience to listen to these heartfelt songs while spending a lovely night on the beach.
The overall mood was suddenly uplifted when Stellar began its set. Apart from its notable cover of the famous Beatles song “Come Together”, it also wowed everyone with some original songs.
Next to perform was Hilera, a band that provided just the right amount of chill and feels that night. Of course, this group of talented musicians performed “Pilit”, a true crowd favorite. It also played its very own version “Kaliwete”.
Benj Orcinio also rocked the night. Participants danced the rest of the night while also enjoying the refreshing sea breeze.
Although these two days were packed with activities, we could tell that the people were not tiring at all. LAbor Union Festival 2017 provided just the right kind of fun—enough to break life’s monotony, but not too much. In fact, we were happy to see that people were still responsible and eager to protect the environment, something that the local government, the organizers, and even the artists appreciated a lot.
Of course, we also appreciated the involvement of the whole community throughout the event. Apart from the visitors from all over the country, the locals, including the indigenous people and the surfers, also had fun. We all came together for music, arts, and sports.
(Photos and video by Jemina Mission)