by Kenneth K. Ong
Davao’s weekends used to be so colorful and animated with many bars carrying different themes, people dancing, top notch service and the DJs, the gods that they are, spinning inspired tracks fresh from the many club music capitals of the world.
But today, I can only say that Davao’s clubland is a mere shadow of its former glory where bars charge an exorbitant cover yet does not make up for it in service, people are mere climbing wallflowers, merely standing about, afraid to dance and have a good time. Even worse, the DJ (I would rather call them spinners than besmirch the name of the true gods of the club) play tunes so commercial and irritating that you wish you had stayed home and turned on the radio instead.
These are dark times indeed as colors fade to boring black and white. It is a good thing though that Marlboro came into town and painted the already closed Metro Lounge red and breathed life into it once more, albeit though, just for one night. The Marlboro Red Party literally made the party scene alive again, with dancers, top notch DJs and drinks that flowed until you see the world in spirals like Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night.
And given that the party is thrown free of charge with an exclusive guest list plus strict age controls being enforced, I can only nod and dance in admiration for a job well done. Kudos to Patricia Joven and the dynamic people of Philip Morris for coming up with such a classy event that in gives Dabawenyo Urbanites something to party about. Too bad the Marlboro Red Party its just one evening out of 365, but I’ll take it!
