The truth is, the event turned out to be worth more than we bargained for. There weren’t any “surprises”, no member suddenly appearing, no video message even. The event was all about getting input from us, the fans, about how MNL48 should be formed and run, even getting to such minute details such as theater ticket prices.
And that’s big, because the J-idol concept is virtually unknown in this country. We know the songs, we’ve read about the experiences of other fans, but Filipinos have never really dealt with such a merchandise-oriented industry.
Sitting inside the Movie Stars Cafe was a blessing after standing in the heat for almost an hour. We had unlimited iced tea, and I get to meet three individuals who I sat with for the next three hours. My social skills were never really great, but it was a nice feeling to know I won’t be sitting alone.