If you got to watch some of his TV appearances or got to listen to his radio interviews, you’d know he is a people person. He’s the type who will ask you how you are. Those lucky-to-get-to-sing-to-BB D Kapuso singers who gave him a tribute during his guesting in Sis caught Archie’s amazement he had to ask them, all of them, “how long have you been singing?”, and was just astounded when he found out they’ve been singing for quite a while. He even felt “stupid” (his own word) being there because he thought they were better than him! Oh man, that humility. One of them was his number one fan (I actually think there are a lot of people who think they are Archie’s number one fan… so I’ll just say I am number two! At least I am the only one! Haha!). He was stoned in Archie’s presence, then Archie said, “We should take a picture!” Such a genuine appreciation and interest in and for people makes him all the more charming and endearing. It’s not so hard to love David Archuleta.

He never regarded himself as famous; he always says he just wants to sing. He loves music – consider these diverse choices, such as David Cook, Natasha Bedingfield, and Sara Bareilles! – and shares it. That actually got me thinking that he can actually be a music promoter or publicist on the side. It’s just so natural for him.

My high regard (call it love, maybe? LOL) for him inspired me to dare myself to do something on the eve of their concert day. Magic 89.9 called for listeners and fans to txt questions for both Davids or post these in Facebook for the David and David Fan Conference. I couldn’t really cook up a question for Archie (and also for Cookie) at the time (mental block due to fangirl craziness?), then suddenly a light bulb switched on in me,

WHAT IF I SERENADE HIM?

The butterflies in my stomach suddenly got agitated by my ideas, and flew all over my system. I dared myself to sing to Archie on National Radio! You might think “who does she thinks she is?” Oh well, I’ve got an answer for that: I am a fan, a fan who wanted to give back to her idol crush by doing something contextually unconventional and special, even though I’m not really a “singer” and I only like to sing. Haha. A part of me held back a bit that time because of the enormity of my aim, but then I thought, “Why not go for something unique, something special? Knowing D, he would find something to appreciate in anything and everything. It won’t hurt to try.” I slept rehearsing “Touch My Hand” in my head, and slept soundly amidst the sudden riot of butterflies.

DJs would pick from the sent questions and they’ll call whoever the sender was. I patiently hoped for our phone to ring while enthusiastically recording his interview.

It didn’t ring.

With that experience and all the others that came before and after that, I thought that maybe it’s just not meant to be, at least for now, with all my due sportsmanship. Haha. If we don’t get what our heart desires, something must be in store (another thing I Tweeted and Plurked, in my attempt to spread some positivity to myself and to the virtual world). So I re-channeled my energies to a fangirl kind of anticipation to the concert day.

Around 40,000 to 50,000 people from all walks of life and fandoms, united in the night of May 16 by one name but with two persons. The moment I heard screams which felt like “this is it, it’s not like the two false alarms from screaming fangirls in the bronze area a while ago”, the lights on the stage opened, music started with beats from the drum and strums from the guitar, and fogs began to appear, I knew this was it. We knew this was it. Two and a half hours of waiting with Renz, Rina, Roby and Pinky, was over.

I think I could imagine my eyes bulging and unbelievably wide in disbelief. David Archuleta came out of the stage opening with “Touch My Hand”. veryone was just screaming in excitement and at the same time singing along with the song. I screamed my fangirl lungs out and sang to each of his songs. I loved every minute of his set, because with each song he sang his heart and soul out to reach out even to the farthest person from the stage. I’ve watched videos of his performances in other countries (via YouTube, of course), and I’ve observed that he has a way of giving a different flavor to his songs everytime. His concert in the Philippines was no exception.

Archie sang 13 songs: Touch My Hand, Barriers, A Little Too Not Over You, You Can, My Hands, Your Eyes Don’t Lie, To Be With You, Don’t Let Go, Waiting For Yesterday, Stand By Me, A Thousand Miles, Angels, Zero Gravity, and Crush. Majority of the songs came from his album. From this set he was able to show his two sides: the upbeat, floor-stomping, pop star, and the soulful, heart-melting crooner. He sat on the piano for “To Be With You”, “A Thousand Miles”, and “Angels”, which I believe is his best performance. There were several close-up shots of his hands on the piano, and I noticed he has beautiful piano hands. For a moment I wanted to be the piano. Haha! On the other hand when we sang “My Hands”, and gripped on the micstand the way he did, I just wanted to be the micstand, well, at least for that moment only. Haha, my pedo tendencies to Archie revealed.

Also during the slow songs we were able to get a good view of his face. I could hear girls near us mutter, “ang guwapo niya!”, and then a second later, “yikeee, ang guwapo niya!”, while I said to myself I wanted to wipe the sweat of his pearly white face (or did I say it out loud too? Haha).

When I wasn’t taking a video of him I was just staring on the LCD, watching and listening to him. That judge from Star Search was right when he said that Archie is the “Son of Soul”. He connects to his audience in a way that is inspiring, uplifting and thrilling all at the same time.

Honestly, I wasn’t really a big fan of the way he moved his hands and arms, and the way he grooved his feet back in his American Idol days. Post-Idol Archie came and I learned to love his groove, you know that kind of groove that owns the stage and makes you want to dance. I was totally in Zero Gravity when he did “Zero Gravity”, my favorite among his unreleased tracks (and a lot of fans love it too).

All the fans went, “awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww” (yes, that long!) when he said he was down to the last song, then he pulled us back to “squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” (yes that long too!) when he said, “Salamat Pow” and the band started playing “Crush”. I felt like I cried. As well when he left the stage with Cookie, which was such a pleasant, pleasant surprise and treat for us, going out to sing with him for the last few parts of “A Daily Anthem”. He only sang “Ohhh-ohhhh”“ohhh-ohhh” over and over but it was the most beautiful ever. Haha! It really happens to me when it’s my favorite artist playing before me. As a fan, moments like concerts, you don’t want them to end, because it’s one of the few events when you really feel that you are with your favorite. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Titanium or in Bronze, because in that moment, you are connected.

I’m also hands down to David Cook for that one hot and rocking set. He sang 15 songs: The World I Know, Heroes, Mr. Sensitive, Declaration, Life on the Moon, Always Be My Baby, Kiss On The Neck, Straight Ahead, Make Me, Avalanche, Little Lies, Come Back To Me, Light On, Fire Away, and A Daily Anthem.

Cookie’s concert was longer compared to Archie because he had a lot of long interludes, he even went down on the stage once and let all these Titanium girls feast on his sweaty shirt. But there was one who got really, really lucky! He took her camera and camwhored in front of the whole crowd! Now she’s got something really historical at that. I hope she’s able to keep that photo and that camera for keeps. Not everyone gets to have that chance. For any fan, that is something really precious.

I noticed, with Cookie, that he has a tendency, during interludes, to make contact with specific individuals, then winking at them, or gesturing something. He’s like a flirty rock star, and in a way, I find it kind of funny, but it’s cool.

Going back to Archie, my fingers and toes aren’t enough to count for the many “I love you Archuleta!”, “Archie ang ganda!”, “Ang galing, Archie!”, “Oh my God! Oh my God!” I screamed. The 18-year old kid has touched me. Deeply. And in the most epic sense. Oh yes, oh yes, I am a fan. A proud fan.