raging tHe nigHt aWay
We were led through plush doors, across the club, and above our heads was a glass dome, enclosing us in a snow globe-like fashion as it displayed Manila Bay’s skyline, resplendent during the night.
At 11:30 p.m., we were stuck in a traffic jam. Somewhere along the deep end of the purported Entertainment City in Parañaque was a standstill of vehicles headed towards different directions, but a sizable majority of them were preparing to turn towards the majestic Okada Manila, ourselves included.
Christmas rush aside, we hadn’t expected the traffic to be this bad, but of course, we should have known better. Steve Aoki was in town, and he was headlining the opening of Cove Manila, Okada’s much-hyped indoor beach club and nightclub that promised to revolutionize Manila’s party scene with a 9,000-square-meter facility enclosed in a glass dome replete with state-of-the-art technologies (top-of-theline sound systems and a kinetic chandelier that produces 10,000 special effects), swimming pools and cabanas with its own hot tubs — a venue that would not have particularly piqued the interest of this writer, had it not been for a recent binge-reading of the Crazy Rich Asians series. It was clear that everyone had come to see Steve, who was returning to Manila to play at the biggest venue the city has ever seen, in what is possibly the metro’s biggest year-end party.
After wriggling our way through the gridlock, we finally pulled into the driveway of the palatial Okada, but “palatial” is to be expected of a 44-hectare leisure complex. A dizzying flurry of tapestries, chandeliers, and slot machines later, it was hard to miss the throngs of partygoers lined up in front of a set of bouncers and velvet ropes, flanking plush doors.
What was hiding behind those plush doors was something else, entirely. We were led across the club, past the stage, the multicolored lights and the pools, to an elevator. Above our heads was a glass dome, almost enclosing us in a snow globe-like fashion as it displayed Manila Bay’s skyline, resplendent during the night. The elevator lifted us to the top floor of a three-story cabana complex overlooking the massive club, designed to mirror Ibiza’s seaside villas. Finally, we arrived at the entrance of a cabana, already teeming with people who were lounging over bottles of liquor and plates of food.
An hour and some glasses of champagne later, the crowd finally came to life when Steve Aoki stepped onstage. Flames were ablaze, lights beamed and phones were out, striving to catch a glimpse of the world-famous DJ, who started his set as hosts spelled out “AOKI” in front of the crowd.
It took a while for the crowd to get settled but they eventually did, later trading their smartphones for moshing and flailing around to each beat drop. EDM fan or not, it’s difficult not to appreciate Steve’s interactive stunts with the crowd, some of whom, during his set, waved the Philippine flag and delivered his trademark caking to ecstatic partyphiles. And try as one might to resist, one gets caught up in the immersive spirit of it all.
The experience might leave you a little weary — the party ended in the wee hours of the morning, and not even a 9,000sqm venue could hold the hordes of partiers who came and left. Was it an interesting night? Sure. Was it worth braving Manila’s notorious traffic? If only for Steve’s caking stint, definitely.