Portalets: know that these things are some of the most important facilities at the fair.

Thursday last week and for the first time in more than five years (I think), we visited the University of the Philippines Fair, a one-week celebration at the UP Sunken Garden featuring top local bands, plenty of food stalls, and cheap fair rides.

The annual UP Fair has this special appeal to me because it always features big-name performers and the atmosphere reminds me of the old college concerts from days long past. I’m also glad to see that some of the start-up bands from those college days (such as Urbandub, the Itchyworms, and Silent Sanctuary) have made it to the big stage now as the fair’s marquee performers.

That superband Franco.

There’s one band I admittedly anticipated to play more than any other band that night, and that is Franco. I’ve bought their album a couple of weeks back and I found myself really addicted to their music. While they didn’t play my favorite track (Seasons), the three-song set they performed still rocked and drew a lot of cheers from the crowd.

Franco played Touch the Sky.

Castaway.

Song for the Suspect.

Kamikazee’s Jay Contreras brought the house down with his usual showmanship. “Adik,” people called him out, and he responded appropriately. I wonder if anyone, and I mean anyone, would have the guts to do something like what he does on stage for a Rockeoke performance? Probably not.

Ambisyoso.

Sobrang Init.

As usual, Parokya ni Edgar was warmly welcomed by the crowd, and they responded by showing a lot of class and apparent respect for their listeners over the years. From the whole UP Fair week, the band only played on the day we were there: Yesthursday. We considered ourselves quite lucky, as Parokya ni Edgar isn’t regularly seen in concerts nowadays (I think), and they command one of the highest costs in performing at private events.

We were lucky that Parokya ni Edgar chose to join the Thursday set at the UP Fair.

PnE plays their classic hit Buloy.

Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee team up for Ordertaker.

Will I be back next year, and the year after it, and the year following? I don’t know. I might be getting too old for these university fairs but I just might: should I need to feel young and rebellious again, I’ll definitely be back.