Okay it's just an exaggeration. I'm sleepy, I'm hungry yet I find it fitting to blog first before having breakfast and going home to catch some sleep. Yup I'm in an internet cafe now in the city blogging about this experience (few hours ago). I've got few more errands to do but this got to come first.
Anyway, I woke up around 5am and was already lining up for the tickets around 715am at the Freedom Grandstand. The moment I arrived there was this guy listing how many tickets everyone in line was going to purchase for a much better flow.
Then the line picked up and it was already in the bleachers of the Freedom Grandstand. A lady from the Dinagyang Foundation suddenly appeared together with guy who made the list appeared and said they already got their quota for the Dinagyang 2010 tickets based on the list and guess who was last in line: ME!
Then chaos broke out among those at my backwho also like me was lining up to get tickets for Dinagyang 2010. These weren't ordianry people who would expect to line up just to get tickets but excited balikbayans, professionals, student's, office workers, etc who really made an effort lining up this rainy early Wednesday morning. Some even said they were there since 4am!
I felt 1,200% lucky (that's how much each ticket cost for it is a package deal for both the Kasadyahan and the Dinagyang ati-ati competion next weekend). So I just sympathized with them thinking I could be one of them if not for my luck few hours ago.
Then some officers of the Dinagyang Foundation calmed them down by listing their names and assured them of being prioritized in the next batch of tickets but this time it's at the makeshift stage in the right side of the Grandstand that would occupy half of JM Basa Street.
Then the line slowly inched in and finally I can see the one selling the tickets at the table with around 10 people in front of me. TV crew from the local TV station were there to cover the said scene to create buzz over the upcoming celebration next weekend.
Then there "chaos" all of a sudden as people in front of started raising their voices to complain why all of a sudden they ran out of tickets for Dinagyang 2010 when there was even a listing done few minutes ago. Now my initial fears were coming true. Despite my luck of being the last one in line who was said to be assured of tickets today, I can't help but foresee the worst scenario that I may not be able to these tickets. And it came true - at least I was ready and took it easily. I just went with the flow of the more emotional people in front of me.
I just stood there listening to the valid complaints of my "group" to no avail from the lady at the ticket table. It seems that the people in front of the line bought more tickets than what they actually told the one who listed. That's the most probable cause - maybe since there was a 10 tickets limit so the ones who will be buying more might have requested other people in line to get more for them.
Then the "emo" ones ( I can fully understand their situation which was more difficult than mine) decided to take the matter to a higher authority and went in the Dinagyang Foundation/Iloilo City Tourism Office office located underneath the grandstand.
It was another chaotic scene as both sides trying to explain and listen with around 6 people speakign att he same time -lol. It was really chaos since some other groups of people - the ones behind me who were listed but refused to go home, those who came later,those with pilitcal connections and those who just came much much later- lol. TV crews who were just trying to get some news about the first day of selling of tickets got a juicier news than what they came for.
Then a high official from the Dinagyang Fundation sat with our group to discuss the possible solution. Now I let my voice be heard since he is a "high" ranking office not just, you know-lol. But the possible solution was still unclear for both sides offered and counter offered suggestions.
Then she came. With sleeveless shirt, stylish hat, big sunglasses and of course her foreigner husband trailing behind her. She demanded "Dinagyang tickets already sold out? How about us? We travelled all the way to Iloilo and arrived few days before Dinagyang only not to get tickets? How can I promote this Best Tourism event to my friends back in the States when even this simple ticket selling is not working?"
That's not en toto but that's the thought of it. She even joined the discussion in our table when she isn't a part of it. She even raised her voice more than once saying her dismay over what she saw, heard and felt. In the end she got her what she came for - a pair of Dinagyang 2010 tickets! But before you say unfair - the Dinagyang Foundation annually reserves tickets to foreigners and balikbayans to be seated onstage. This is different from the ones being sold.
But I hope that lady was dealt earlier though in all the chaos that happened she was brushed aside for there were bigger concerns than her "ego". LOL
Anyway, so what happened to us, we'll another official tried hisl uck and it seemed to work. He was the one in charge of the tickets and was also dismayed of teh chaos since it was not part of his plans - specifilcally the listing of the number of that created it all.
In the end , our group will get more priority in the next batch of tickets- better seating I hope. But we made sure of it all so we got the 1,000% assurance (that's the new price of the tickets) from the ticket in charge. We all have this special slip of paper to show when we get ours soon - hopefully very soon.
So how did I see this experience? Because I was ready, I was there all the time with no much emotions whatsoever. Listened silently yet fight for our "rights" during the right time and at the right manner - not like you know who LOL.
So who's to blame, personally I didn't blame the one who listed since he was just tasked to get them without given the right instructions - that is to have listed the name, the actual tickets, etc. The one who actually sold the tickets just acted like she was supposed to act - sell tickets. But she and the one who listed should have worked together to get reconsile the list before to the ones actually sold.
There is this rule that is first come, first served. And it stood today, it was this ireconcileable list-sell thingie that created all the chaos today. I must say that was no "who's who or whom you know" thing that happened today. Even those working for the foundation itself has people who lined up for them and some people in my personally knows Iloilo City Tourism Officer and former Dinagyang Foundation President Benito Jimena but never even for one second went and complain to him about this matter. Though I don't know what is happening now or what will happen tomorrow about this.
So around an hour later (after working on this blog entry), I'm getting more sleepy and hungrier by the minute yet I have to finish this blog entry to let it all out. I'll just update when I get my tickets soon. It only shows how BIG the clamor is for Dinagyang noto nly this year but also for the past years and for the years to come.
Hala Bira!
PS Have I mentioned that Sir Ben Jimena is my godfather? - lol.
Anyway, I woke up around 5am and was already lining up for the tickets around 715am at the Freedom Grandstand. The moment I arrived there was this guy listing how many tickets everyone in line was going to purchase for a much better flow.Then the line picked up and it was already in the bleachers of the Freedom Grandstand. A lady from the Dinagyang Foundation suddenly appeared together with guy who made the list appeared and said they already got their quota for the Dinagyang 2010 tickets based on the list and guess who was last in line: ME!
Then chaos broke out among those at my backwho also like me was lining up to get tickets for Dinagyang 2010. These weren't ordianry people who would expect to line up just to get tickets but excited balikbayans, professionals, student's, office workers, etc who really made an effort lining up this rainy early Wednesday morning. Some even said they were there since 4am!
I felt 1,200% lucky (that's how much each ticket cost for it is a package deal for both the Kasadyahan and the Dinagyang ati-ati competion next weekend). So I just sympathized with them thinking I could be one of them if not for my luck few hours ago.
Then some officers of the Dinagyang Foundation calmed them down by listing their names and assured them of being prioritized in the next batch of tickets but this time it's at the makeshift stage in the right side of the Grandstand that would occupy half of JM Basa Street.
Then the line slowly inched in and finally I can see the one selling the tickets at the table with around 10 people in front of me. TV crew from the local TV station were there to cover the said scene to create buzz over the upcoming celebration next weekend.
Then there "chaos" all of a sudden as people in front of started raising their voices to complain why all of a sudden they ran out of tickets for Dinagyang 2010 when there was even a listing done few minutes ago. Now my initial fears were coming true. Despite my luck of being the last one in line who was said to be assured of tickets today, I can't help but foresee the worst scenario that I may not be able to these tickets. And it came true - at least I was ready and took it easily. I just went with the flow of the more emotional people in front of me.
I just stood there listening to the valid complaints of my "group" to no avail from the lady at the ticket table. It seems that the people in front of the line bought more tickets than what they actually told the one who listed. That's the most probable cause - maybe since there was a 10 tickets limit so the ones who will be buying more might have requested other people in line to get more for them.
Then the "emo" ones ( I can fully understand their situation which was more difficult than mine) decided to take the matter to a higher authority and went in the Dinagyang Foundation/Iloilo City Tourism Office office located underneath the grandstand.
It was another chaotic scene as both sides trying to explain and listen with around 6 people speakign att he same time -lol. It was really chaos since some other groups of people - the ones behind me who were listed but refused to go home, those who came later,those with pilitcal connections and those who just came much much later- lol. TV crews who were just trying to get some news about the first day of selling of tickets got a juicier news than what they came for.
Then a high official from the Dinagyang Fundation sat with our group to discuss the possible solution. Now I let my voice be heard since he is a "high" ranking office not just, you know-lol. But the possible solution was still unclear for both sides offered and counter offered suggestions.
Then she came. With sleeveless shirt, stylish hat, big sunglasses and of course her foreigner husband trailing behind her. She demanded "Dinagyang tickets already sold out? How about us? We travelled all the way to Iloilo and arrived few days before Dinagyang only not to get tickets? How can I promote this Best Tourism event to my friends back in the States when even this simple ticket selling is not working?"
That's not en toto but that's the thought of it. She even joined the discussion in our table when she isn't a part of it. She even raised her voice more than once saying her dismay over what she saw, heard and felt. In the end she got her what she came for - a pair of Dinagyang 2010 tickets! But before you say unfair - the Dinagyang Foundation annually reserves tickets to foreigners and balikbayans to be seated onstage. This is different from the ones being sold.
But I hope that lady was dealt earlier though in all the chaos that happened she was brushed aside for there were bigger concerns than her "ego". LOL
Anyway, so what happened to us, we'll another official tried hisl uck and it seemed to work. He was the one in charge of the tickets and was also dismayed of teh chaos since it was not part of his plans - specifilcally the listing of the number of that created it all.
In the end , our group will get more priority in the next batch of tickets- better seating I hope. But we made sure of it all so we got the 1,000% assurance (that's the new price of the tickets) from the ticket in charge. We all have this special slip of paper to show when we get ours soon - hopefully very soon.
So how did I see this experience? Because I was ready, I was there all the time with no much emotions whatsoever. Listened silently yet fight for our "rights" during the right time and at the right manner - not like you know who LOL.
So who's to blame, personally I didn't blame the one who listed since he was just tasked to get them without given the right instructions - that is to have listed the name, the actual tickets, etc. The one who actually sold the tickets just acted like she was supposed to act - sell tickets. But she and the one who listed should have worked together to get reconsile the list before to the ones actually sold.
There is this rule that is first come, first served. And it stood today, it was this ireconcileable list-sell thingie that created all the chaos today. I must say that was no "who's who or whom you know" thing that happened today. Even those working for the foundation itself has people who lined up for them and some people in my personally knows Iloilo City Tourism Officer and former Dinagyang Foundation President Benito Jimena but never even for one second went and complain to him about this matter. Though I don't know what is happening now or what will happen tomorrow about this.
So around an hour later (after working on this blog entry), I'm getting more sleepy and hungrier by the minute yet I have to finish this blog entry to let it all out. I'll just update when I get my tickets soon. It only shows how BIG the clamor is for Dinagyang noto nly this year but also for the past years and for the years to come.
Hala Bira!
PS Have I mentioned that Sir Ben Jimena is my godfather? - lol.