Seeing Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye Perform Live!

photo via Shutterpanda

It's 12:42AM, I just got home about half an hour ago, I still have morning classes tomorrow, but I know one thing for sure — I have to write this down. I'm afraid that if I hold it off, I'll forget the genuine feelings I'm feeling (there are a /lot/).


If I told my younger self that one day I'd be able to see my favorite spoken word artists perform live, young Andrea would never believe me. Honestly, present Andrea still can't believe it. I wrote about Phil Kaye last year, and since then I've grown more and more interested in spoken word poetry. I bought poetry books, I watched a /lot/ of slam poetry, and I even wrote some of my own. Poetry became some kind of obsession. Hobby would be too shallow a word.

When Project VOICE announced that Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye would be visiting the Philippines for two shows; one in Cebu and one in Manila, I knew I had to go. The world seemed to have been in favor of this decision, because my review classes for CETs was moved, our school's enrollment was held in the morning, and someone offered me fan passes on the same day it sold out.

There was quite an adventure hours before the show, but that's a story for another day.

The show started at 7PM and members of Words Anonymous, a local spoken word group, opened for Sarah and Phil. I was thrilled to finally hear them performing live! I've only been following spoken word poetry in the Philippines for a while, but I love, love how talented these people are. Shoutout to @sergiewonder, @abbey_orbeta, and @JihadMeAtMyBest!

The moment Sarah and Phil stepped in stage, I was on the verge of tears (yes I am that emotional). I cried so many times because the poems I heard on screen, as well as new compositions, are being performed by Sarah and Phil themselves. No screen, no buffering, no 5 inch Sarah or Phil. It was real. And it was breathtaking.

My love for poetry and words grew. I loved how in a room full of people I didn't know, I felt like I belonged. We all shared a love for words and the music they can make through poetry.

After the show, we lined up for the photo op and signing, it was a pretty long wait, but totally worth it. I was so starstruck I couldn't say anything. I've been scouring the internet for the photos from the Meet and Greet, but I'm afraid the official photographer of the event hasn't posted them yet.

I'm definitely looking forward to attending more events like these, and exposing myself more to the spoken word scene in the Philippines.


Originally written on May 13, 2017. Edited and published May 16, 2017.