Hurts like hell

I am an avid concertgoer of the pop-rock duo LANY. I had seen the band four times before its announced visit to Cebu last March. As soon as ticketing portals opened, I hit my keyboard like there was no tomorrow to secure a seat for the Soft World Tour. Little did I know that I was lucky enough to be part of the day 1 crowd. For those waiting for the band’s return from Bangkok for the second day of its Cebu concert, organizers announced that the show had to be cancelled and tickets would be refunded.

Reading the announcement was heartbreaking. Imagine fans who sacrificed time and resources for a day with their favorite international act. The disappointment was evident in the band’s frontman, Paul Klein, who took to social media. He said he was on his way to the venue when he received news that a four-foot piece of steel debris had fallen from the roof. My anxiety kicked in. I could not wrap my head around the possibility that the same incident could have happened to us on day 1 --or, worse, that the debris could have hit someone in the crowd.

It took some time before the venue spoke up, acknowledging what had happened to its ceiling system. I am no structural engineer, but I believe standards must be followed to ensure that vibrations from a rock band’s speakers are not strong enough to dislodge the bearings in place. Fans are asking: why was this not spotted earlier? We have the same questions and deserve clear answers. That is simply unacceptable.

Despite assurances that a team is already working to repair the damage, the incident raises serious doubts about the venue’s safety. It was marketed as a world-class facility, often praised as a venue for major concerts but having a facility of this scale also comes with the responsibility to keep everyone safe. We cannot discount the possibility that this could happen again and if it does, the consequences could be far worse. The next series of shows is tailored for children, making a safety assessment urgent for families who have already purchased tickets.

Perhaps it is high time we became more vigilant about structural safety. We do not want to make the headlines for the wrong reasons. What happened is a disgrace not only to the artists, who flew from Thailand to be back in Cebu, but also to guests who travelled to our city for the concert. It is a blow to tourism and could affect our economy. People spend on tickets, transport, accommodation, and food. More importantly, they expect the venue to keep them safe.

Some things are not easily forgotten, and this incident may be one for the books. Concerts should leave us with memories of the music, lights, and moments shared with fellow fans, not questions about whether the roof above us can hold. Just like the opening line of the band’s hit song goes, it sure hurts like hell.