Chito Miranda, the charismatic frontman of Parokya ni Edgar, took to social media to express his heartfelt gratitude after the band’s highly successful concert at the Coca-Cola Arena on September 1, 2024. The concert, which marked the beginning of the ‘BER’ months, saw thousands of Filipinos from across the UAE gather at the arena, despite it being a Sunday with a workday looming ahead.
In his post, Chito candidly shared the band’s initial apprehensions about filling the massive venue. “Maraming salamat, Dubai!!! Grabe yun. Isa na siguro yun sa mga pinakamasayang gig ng Parokya,” he began, emphasizing how the overwhelming turnout and the energy of the crowd turned the night into one of the most memorable performances in the band’s history.
Chito revealed that the band was nervous at the start, fearing they might not draw enough people to fill the arena. “Honestly, kabado kami nung simula…akala namin hindi namin mapupuno yung venue. Di namin akalain na ganun kadami yung pupunta at manonood sa banda namin,” he admitted. However, any doubts quickly dissipated as the arena filled with enthusiastic fans who sang along from the first song, “Para Sa’yo,” to the last note of the night.
The emotional connection between the band and the audience was palpable, with Chito expressing deep gratitude for the unwavering support they have received over the years. “Never nyo talaga kami pinabayaan. Sana talaga nag-enjoy din kayo…sa uulitin,” he wrote, reflecting the joy and appreciation he felt from the night’s performance.
After returning to the Philippines, Chito and the band were still buzzing with excitement. In another social media post, he shared how the experience left them with a “hangover” from the Dubai gig. “Pinas na kami. May hangover pa rin kami mula sa Dubai gig. Salamat sa lahat ng naki-enjoy, nakikanta, at nakitalon kasama ng banda namin…sobrang saya masyado!!!”
Chito also took a moment to reflect on the band’s journey, marveling at how far they have come since their early days in a high school classroom over 30 years ago. “Akalain nyo? Mula sa isang highschool classroom more than 30yrs ago, hanggang umabot sa Coca Cola Arena 30yrs after. Hanggang ngayon, hindi kami makapaniwala,” he wrote, expressing his disbelief and gratitude for the incredible journey that led them to perform at one of Dubai’s most prestigious venues.
The Dubai concert, organized in part by The Fridge, was described by Chito as one of the biggest, most memorable, and happiest gigs of Parokya ni Edgar’s career. His final words in the post encapsulated the band’s deep appreciation for the experience: “Basta….maraming maraming salamat talaga.
