from left: Adam Clayton, Bono Vox, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr.; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
Written and photographed
by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista
Epilogue: Before anything else, I’d like to thank my cousin Chris Lizo for giving me tickets to this concert which is a fulfillment of a life long dream of mine. I’d also like to thank my other cousin Adrian Apostol who allowed me to join him and his friends going to the Philippine Arena. Chris Lizo is CFO of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, that manages NLEX and SCTEX. They are part of Metro Pacific Investments under Manny V. Pangilinan and their sister company PLDT SMART is the main sponsor for the concert here. Thats why Smart subscribers were able to get tickets ahead of everyone else. Again, salamat from the bottom of my heart. I could look back at this as the greatest night of my life!
The sea of humanity on the right side of the stage. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
How do I write about a band I’ve wanted to watch since I was a child and not talk about it as a life long dream? The answer is I can’t. Their careers have spanned my life time. Their library of hits innumerable. They could have a 12 hour long concert and not run out of original songs to sing. An achievement in itself considering the penchant for remakes these days. Bono said it himself, “I was told this is our 2,050th show. I don’t know why it took us 40 years but we’re here now in the Philippines!”
The standards that U2 is measured is beyond the number of songs performed, or which songs performed, special effects, dance choreography, production value, inevitably though we will get to that. They’ve earned countless Grammies, American Music Awards, nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globes. U2 has transcended all the usual accolades for musicians / artists long ago.
Adam Clayton on screen; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
Starting from the early 80s, their music has always been political. From singing against war and violence in their native Ireland: SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY, NEW YEAR’S DAY to against the arms race even the greed of televangelists: BULLET THE BLUE SKY, to songs against apartheid SILVER AND GOLD and remembering, honoring Martin Luther King and JFK in PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE).
Philippine flag on screen at the end of the show. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
For this concert they were able to customize the message especially for the Philippines, and hopefully help us see our place in the context of the world, of humanity. The greatness I’m referring to are the current causes and the advocacies that the band is known for and even more. They’ve incorporated them in everything, the lyrics, the songs AND as we saw in this show, the multiple causes are all visible on the giant LED screen set up, easily bigger than a whole basketball court. OR for better size perspective, 8 movie screens horizontally, another 4 vertically. (That comes close to describing it, give or take)
As visually overwhelming as that may be, there was this perfect synergy between what was going on the screen, the music and the musicians. The message was of positivity and coming together, building up not taking down.
Bono with spotlight harkens back to the Rattle and Hum Tour 1988 when they first did it. This time a video camera is mounted on the spot light to show Bono’s point of view live on screen. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
In a press conference immediately before the concert one reporter was goading Bono to comment on President Duterte and his war on drugs. Everyone knows Bono is an outspoken advocate for human rights. He was even a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. And he didn’t take the bait. He kept on his message of support for the Philippine Red Cross and the Filipino workers and volunteers as the true heroes. He talked about Zipline, the new drone technology that allows Red Cross etc to get a lifeline and resources to disaster areas. There was a part of me that thought, maybe he has gotten soft. Maybe he’s abandoned the fire he once had in his younger days.
ONE BILLION RISING and Ellen De Generes were among women leaders shown on screen during the song ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
That was before the show, what I and the tens of thousands saw IN the concert was where the band put across, everything that they believed in and more, in a way that supports people rather than taking them down. It sounds cliche until you see it experience it. We were all witnesses to the power of music, how it can bring people together and inspire. IN THIS sense, U2’s JOSHUA TREE WORLD TOUR, December 11, 2019, the Philippine Arena, Bulacan was the greatest rock show ever.
from left: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
Blessed Are The Truth Tellers
Their Irish Catholic roots give U2 a special bond with Filipinos. Bono had a stirring rendition of Ave Maria several world tours ago. He said, “We want you to think of some heroes who are with us here tonight. Yesterday I met some incredible volunteers from the Red Cross. Keeping people safe across this country specially after typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy to us here). Red Cross are in the house tonight, volunteers. Let’s keep them in our prayers. The ones that keep us safe from physical harm. Also in our prayers let’s keep the journalists, the truth tellers, the activists who keep this country spiritually safe! I salute you truth tellers! Everyday heroes! Women and men, to see the nights, to see the stars in an endless sky.”
Martin Luther King Quote on screen during PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
U2 made sure the music was inspiring. From BAD WIDE AWAKE Bono went into David Bowie’s HEROES repeating the chorus, “We can be heroes just for one day! We can be heroes just for one day!”
They followed with PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) in the middle of the song he urges, “For Civil rights we sing! For human rights we sing! For those who protect our rights! For Amnesty International we sing! For Dr. King! For Dr. King in a time of fear he was faithful to justice, to compassion, to peace, to community. Look at our community.”
Martin Luther King Quote on screen during PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
There’s good reason to pray for journalists, their persecution is a worldwide phenomenon. One of the most recent and spectacular example is Washington Post columnist Jamaal Kashoggi who is suspected to be murdered by the Saudi government. Trump has vilified the media and made it fashionable. He habitually calls any unfavorable report as fake news but himself lies on a daily basis both verbally and in his tweets. So to have the influence of U2 call to light and clarify something the world doesn’t want to think about is a monumental help.
Bono on screen; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. (10)
Maria Ressa
In the Philippines there’s one prominent person where freedom of the press and women’s rights intersect. Bono said, “Oh yeah incredible women! Women who light up history. Your Maria Ressa is an incredible woman. The extraordinary thing is even Maria Ressa would say it’s not about individuals. It’s about collective action. It’s about social movements. So then all of you can grow up to be the President or Maria Ressa. That is the wonderful gift that is the Philippines. Goodnight God Bless You.”
Maria Ressa was among women leaders shown on screen during the song ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
Ressa isn’t someone Filipinos want to think about. The truth is our country is the one of the most dangerous places for journalists. Justice has been long delayed for the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre, the Guinness Book of world record’s most number of journalists killed (32) in one time. The so called charges of tax evasion, tax fraud, even libel against Rappler founder Maria Ressa is largely seen as harassment by the government.
For most Filipinos however, it’s not an urgent cause for concern. The irony for me is that neither Ressa or Rappler are scathing critics of the Duterte administration. PDI Columnist, Economist and former NEDA Secretary Solita Monsod, whom I greatly admire, is far more openly critical.
b&w landscape footage shot by Anton Corbijn who also photographed the iconic album cover of Joshua Tree. He also shot the album of one of my favorite bands DEPECHE MODE. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
Rappler as a news website have dedicated themselves to writing facts, the real story, whether it’s the real data on those killed in the war on drugs or the factual coverage of Malacañang. Which makes one wonder, is it the facts that the government finds so objectionable?
I’m proud to call Rappler correspondent Pia Ranada who was banned from covering the presidential Palace a friend. Hence Bono’s quote, “Blessed are the truth tellers… May they not have to worry about what they write.” The message of support, Ressa’s face on screen, are more powerful than any verbal criticism.
Sojourner Truth, Begum Rokeya were among women leaders shown on screen during the song ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
HER-STORY
For the song BEAUTIFUL DAY, Bono was able to articulate several causes: human rights, freedom of the press and women’s rights. “Look at you beautiful! Beautiful! When human rights challenge human wrongs that’s a beautiful day. When sisters around the world get to go to school and their brothers thats a beautiful day! When journalists don’t have to worry about what they write, that’s a beautiful day! When women of the world unite to rewrite history as HER-story, THAT is a beautiful day! When women of the world unite to rewrite history as HER-story, THAT is a beautiful day!” Almost like a song he repeated the last line and said it slower, to create emphasis in the minds of the audience. Even Bono’s prose sounds like poetry.
Melchora Aquino, SARI SQUAD were among women leaders shown on screen during the song ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
When the band played ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY), portraits of women leaders starting from historical figures to modern times were flashed. The faces of courageous women shown, towering three stories high above the tens of thousands. The effect was electrifying and powerful. They started with women heroes from centuries past from different countries: Sojourner Truth, Begum Rokeya, Mary Wollstonecraft, Akenehi Tomoana to our very own Melchora Aquino, Corazon Aquino to Senator Pia Catyetano even Lea Salonga, Melinda Gates and Ellen De Generes many more. It was so much to digest, there could be one article dedicated to that one video and one song from the concert.
Corazon Aquino and Pia Cayetano were two Pinay women leaders shown on screen during the song ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
On the screen too were women’s rights organizations, from the earliest suffragettes to ONE BILLION RISING, the all female Russian punk band PUSSY RIOT, SARI SQUAD, WOMEN OF ICELAND to #BABAE AKO, GRRRL GANG MANILA. U2 was able to show that the current #metoo movement is the result of older struggles of women. Feminism is alive and well in our very own country and around the world. These are all names, faces, that we should learn from. These are organizations we should join if not support as well.
from left: Yusra Mardini, U2 bassist Adam Clayton and Greta Thunberg; Mardini and Thunberg were among women leaders shown on screen during the song ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
Our One Home
Among female leaders shown on screen is climate change activist Greta Thunberg. The message of protecting the environment actually ran throughout the show. From the opening songs, vast mountain ranges, various landscapes of remote wilderness almost enveloped audiences because of the massive screens. The footage so moving, it gives you the experience of being there.
Lea Salonga, Hilda Flavia Nakabuye, Havana Chapman Edwards were among women leaders shown on screen during the song ULTRAVIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY). U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
The Joshua Tree album (1987) image was taken from the Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, Southern California (not Joshua Tree National Park). A number of the landscape shots for the concert including the East Sierra Nevada Mountain range was taken from there.
East Sierra Nevada Mountain Range footage shot by Anton Corbijn who also photographed the iconic album cover of Joshua Tree. He also shot the album of one of my favorite bands DEPECHE MODE. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
How Bono is able to make Filipinos specifically think about protecting the environment is inspiring, “This country is a miracle of a place. Look what you’ve done! Look at your archipelago it is an incredible thing to witness. The excitement the kinetic energy of this country. Thank you for letting us be the guest of the nation, a great nation. Now many of us consider our homeland to be God’s Country. Whilst we should be careful because in the blink of an eye even the most beautiful landscapes can turn ugly if we don’t watch out. So let’s stay awake to dream. This is GOD’S COUNTRY!”
Adam Clayton on screen; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
The Climate Change Crisis is a problem that no one nation can solve. The whole of humanity needs to come together. Singing their hit ONE, Bono made it their parting message, “So from our single island to your thousand islands. Thank you for making us feel so welcome. On your islands you’re making a new history for yourselves. The truth is none of us are an island. What happens in one country affects a country the other side of the world from typhoons to droughts. The way we live in one country affects life in every country. There is no them there is only us. We are…ONE. Turn off the lights will you?”
U2 is shot by a sea of cell phones.U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista (20)
The crowd went crazy when they saw the live shot on screen of Larry Mullen Jr’s T shirt- PHILIPPINES w momentous date of concert. If you look at bottom of pic you’ll see their actual size compared to the screen. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
They cheered even more when he turned around to make the peace sign. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. (22)
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foreground: Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. and Bono. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
LOVE IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING IN ITS WAY; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
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Bono with The Edge on Keyboards. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
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Bono is shot by a sea of cell phones. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista (26)
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Bono jump; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
The sea of humanity on the right side of the stage. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista (29)
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The Edge; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
from left: The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr, Bono and Adam Clayton. U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista (31)
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from left: Bono and Adam Clayton; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
Sumali sa ONE.ORG ; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019.
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The Edge and Bono; U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
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from top: Bono Vox, Larry Mullen Jr, The Edge (w cap); U2 Joshua Tree World Tour was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, December 11, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
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