Taylor Swift. Image: Instagram/@taylorswift
Filipinos known for being “Swifties” notwithstanding, it was a “sad beautiful tragic” moment for local fans of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift when the Philippines was crossed out as one of the venues for her “The Eras” tour.
Swift took to her official social media platforms to announce the additional dates and legs for her “Eras” tour, where Japan (February 2024) and Singapore (March 2024) were the only Asian countries included.
“EXCUSE ME HI I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY [emoji] I can’t wait to see so many of you on ‘The Eras Tour’ next year at these new international dates,” she said in the caption.
Filipino Swifties, including host-actress Maine Mendoza, couldn’t help but express their disappointment with the singer’s announcement, although the former remained hopeful that she would visit the country.
“Eras tour in Manila cutie!!! Hihi try lang (let’s try),” Mendoza said on Twitter.
Eras tour in Manila cutie!!!
Hihi try lang…🤞🏻 https://t.co/TvebvKQiBz
— Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) June 21, 2023
A fan-account, who goes by the username @folkmoreoutdid, shared a snippet of an “Eras” tour campaign organized by the singer’s Filipino fans, which took place at Trinoma mall in Quezon City last month.
Among the highlights of the campaign include drag performer Taylor Sheesh doing various lip-sync stages of Swift’s hit songs.
Please consider The Philippines omg pic.twitter.com/jFht0xAdo0 https://t.co/LnOaSamPbg
— Leo (@folkmoreoutdid) June 20, 2023
One @sippingaugust hoped that Swift’s team would consider the Philippines in the tour, saying that fans wouldn’t mind an “acoustic eras tour.”
also @taylorswift13 where are the Philippines dates? if venues are a problem, I promise they will not mind if it’s an acoustic eras tour
— Hannah | 8/8 & 8/9 (@sippingaugust) June 20, 2023
Another @f4ggotism pointed out that Quezon City is one of Swift’s top listeners from September to October 2022, while sharing a screenshot from music platform Spotify.
5. QUEZON CITY PHILIPPINES AND NO PHILIPPINES SCHEDULE FOR INTERNATIONAL TOUR?! OH TAYLOR… https://t.co/Cl1qJzx7YK pic.twitter.com/RC37RX5GZy
— l*x 🥢💤 (@f4ggotism) June 20, 2023
‘Not feasible’
On the other hand, some fans seemingly understood why there were no Philippine legs in Swift’s tour. Washington Post reporter Regine Cabato admitted that while she’s “disappointed” over the singer-songwriter not visiting the Philippines, she said that it’s proof of how “concerts are political.”
Is it unfair? Yes, but Taylor Swift never playing Manila since Red tells you all there is about how concerts, too, are political https://t.co/hW6IPbzq2m
— Regine Cabato (@RegineCabato) June 21, 2023
Citing the production value of Swift’s tour, Twitter user @httpstnkrbltwt stressed that Philippine Arena is not a feasible venue.
The indoor arena, which has an approximately 55,000 seating capacity, became the venue for international acts’ concerts in the Philippines including Seventeen, Blackpink, and the upcoming shows of Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Twice.
Swift’s “The Eras” tour, however, was held in outdoor stadiums throughout its run, including the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Nissan Stadium in the U.S.
Philippine Arena isn’t doable. And most likely the capacity will be reduced in half with Eras Tour looking at how big the production is. PH Arena is built for indoor games. And ONLY if Taylor is willing to compromise her production, then Philippines will be included. https://t.co/nM2V3QOEme
— ❧ (@httpstnkrbltwt) June 21, 2023
It can be noted that Quezon City was named as one of the top 13 cities in the world who listen to Swift, per Spotify data from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, back in 2022 — which is a glaring proof of Swift’s massive popularity in the Philippines.
Image: FILE PHOTO
The “Love Story” hitmaker last visited the Philippines for her “Red” tour in June 2014.
Swift made a name for herself as a singer-songwriter since 2006. Some of her biggest hits include “You Belong With Me,” “Love Story,” “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” and “Dear John,” among many others. EDV