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Seeing Britney Spears in person was by far, the most surreal moment of my life. It was the 15th of June, Thursday, year 2017 at Seeing Britney Spears in person was, by far, the most surreal moment of my life. It was the 15th of June, Thursday, 2017, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Rewind to 1999.

I was a high-school sophomore in the province. This year, I was facing tremendous personal struggles – exploring my sexuality and a family situation that my brain couldn’t comprehend at that time. To alleviate my confusion and depressing thoughts, I turned to music. Back in the day, we only have the radio and television for entertainment. I love music in general, and I have this affinity to American country music since my parents used to play them a lot as I was growing up. The year 1999 was also the year that pop music entered my life. It’s the year when a slew of international female solo acts led by an American teenager who captured the nation and the rest of the world with her debut song that you’d know would be an instant classic.

Britney’s Baby One More Time.

I first heard it on the radio. It was a fun and catchy song. I just loved listening to it, and it got an enormous rotation throughout the Philippine FM radio stations. People are all over it!

Then I saw the video and saw the singer for the first time on MTV Asia. Right there and then, I already liked her. She’s young and is a teenager like me. Also, she’s so damn cute!

She then dropped her succeeding singles, including Sometimes, Crazy, From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart, and Born To Make You Happy, and I knew I was a goner. I’ve also accepted that I was indeed into boys, and Britney Spears’ music inspired me to reconnect with the real me for some reason. I already loved her by this time. I’ve got posters in the room, which I shared with my younger brother and my lovely Mom even bought me a cassette tape of her album. I still have that until now!

Fast Forward to 2011

The Femme Fatale Album Launch in the Philippines.

Roughly around six years ago, I met the beautiful individuals I’ve been talking to online over the years thru Pinoy Exchange’ Pinoys Heart Britney thread. This album launch is where I met fans like me who’ve been admiring Britney since the beginning. It was a lovely event, an exciting one, and meeting people like me who loved her as much as I do is like having another family. This moment was when I realized that the Britney Army is my other family.

2013-2014 My Blackout Years

I’ve had personal struggles and had to take a break from everything in my life, but I’ve kept in touch with what’s been happening in the world – at least a little bit and was glad that Britney keeps on slaying!

2017. Sneaking away to the Philippines.

It was a dream come true not only for me but for the loyal Britney fans. The announcement, just March of this year, took everyone by surprise. It was a hurried announcement and an unexpected one. Everybody couldn’t believe it! Britney is finally coming to perform for her Filipino Army! I was personally petrified for some reason. Is this a dream? Did I finally crack? And as the day of the ticket selling approached, I knew that it was fucking real. I was saving for an overseas trip but knew that I had to prioritize seeing “my” queen! Bye, bye Indochina Trip! Mama is coming home!

THE Day.

I was a wreck on the day of the concert. I was almost hysterical inside and was just way damn nervous. I guess I’m still in shock and couldn’t believe that I was finally about to see her in person. Like flesh and bones, and I’ll be in the same venue WITH her!!!

It was everything I was expecting. Britney didn’t disappoint. The Army’s dream of seeing her perform came true, and it was just EVERYTHING. I didn’t cry upon seeing her while most of my fellow Army struggled to keep it together. I was too ecstatic – almost hysterically thrilled watching her dance her hits away.

She was glorious, and the two decades of waiting for her to visit the country was just oh-so-worth-it. In one of my Instagram posts, I said that I didn’t know what surreal means until I saw her on stage doing her thing. It was a magical experience.

Post-Britney Concert Blues.

Some people may not understand why we loved Britney so much. They are criticizing her for not singing live and not dancing the way she used to. They said it wasn’t worth the thousands of money we’ve spent on her. That is where they are wrong. Our love for Britney goes beyond simply loving her songs and admiring her dancing skills. Britney is an inspiration to us. Britney unites us. Britney is part of our personal history. She’s a damn good mother and damn good human being!

She’s Britney, Bitch!

Seeing Britney Spears in person was by far, the most surreal moment of my life.

Thank you Britney Spears! I love you! We love you!