UPDATE: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos recently joined thousands of fans at the Coldplay “Music of the Spheres” concert held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. The presence of the first couple was confirmed by Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, after a photo of Marcos at the concert venue circulated on social media. Both the President and the first lady were seen wearing white in the VIP gallery, capturing the attention of other concertgoers.
This is not the first time that President Marcos and First Lady Araneta-Marcos have attended a concert together since Marcos assumed office in 2022. In November of last year, the couple attended the concert of American singer-songwriter Daryl Hall in Pasay City. The first lady shared a photo of their “date night” on her Facebook page, which received positive comments from their supporters.
Apart from the President and the first lady, several politicians, including Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon and Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde, also attended the first night of the Coldplay concert. The event, initially planned as a one-day affair, had an additional night added due to overwhelming demand from fans, days after confirming Coldplay’s return to Manila.
The renowned British band first performed in the Philippines in 2017 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay City, where they showcased a mix of their old and new hits, from “Yellow” to “A Head Full of Dreams.”
During the concert, President Marcos was caught on video laughing and covering his face when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin mentioned the traffic conditions in the country. As the concert drew to a close, Martin expressed his gratitude to the audience for braving the traffic to attend the show. He humorously acknowledged the notorious traffic situation in the Philippines, stating, “We’ve seen some traffic, but I think you have the number one in the world. So thank you for making the effort to come through all of that bullsh*t to be here.”
As of press time on Saturday, traffic on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) had reached a congestion of 2.5 to 3 kilometers, with speeds below 50 kilometers per hour (kph). A live feed from the NLEX Corp. on Facebook reported a major buildup at the Balintawak Toll Plaza, spanning 2.5 kilometers. The traffic situation continued into the NLEx Harbor link interchange, with travel speeds ranging from 10 to 20 kph due to the increased volume of vehicles.
The NLEX Corp. promptly dispatched patrol teams to manage the traffic situation. It is worth noting that Metro Manila has been reported to have the worst traffic among metro areas globally, according to the TomTom Traffic Index. In response, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have pledged to expedite road projects to alleviate congestion.
In conclusion, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos were among the thousands of fans who attended the Coldplay concert in the Philippines. Despite the notorious traffic conditions in Metro Manila, the couple, along with other politicians and supporters, made the effort to be part of this highly anticipated musical event. The presence of such esteemed figures at the concert highlights the enduring popularity and appeal of Coldplay’s music in the country.
Source: The Manila Times
