A night of fun at YouTube FanFest in Manila

Christian Melanie Lee
Last May, #BringYouTubersInManila hashtag trended on Twitter. A month later, talented YouTubers gathered for a spectacular night of fun during the first YouTube FanFest in Manila. It was held last June 26 at Marriott Grand Ballroom, Manila.


Been a follower of several YouTube stars such as AJ Rafael, and Kurt Hugo Schneider for years already, I was delighted to see them personally during the presscon and the fan fest itself. When I was inside their dressing room right after the presscon, I was supposed to chat with AJ but got nervous when I was infront of him. Hours before the main event, thousands of fans waiting for the gates to be open. Me and some of my colleagues in online media were shocked over the huge crowd. We're stunned over fan chant "Jaspoli!" while we're lounging around near the YouTube Pulse Registration area.






Bumped with local YouTubers such as Bogart the Explorer, Maputing Cooking, and Lloyd Cafe Cadena hours the main event. Dom Lau and Magic 899 DJ Riki Flo hosted the YouTube FanFest. I like the concept of YouTube which they gathered these YouTubers in one event. 

Oli White, Joe Sugg, and Caspar  Lee along with Bogart the Explorer on stage


Just before the event, I said "Hello" to Kurt and he waved back to me. I was like: OMG!


YouTubers Joe Sugg, Caspar Lee, Oli White, beauty vblogger Bethany Mota, singer-songwriter Kurt Hugo Schneider, AJ Rafael, and Macy Kate brought the house down along with homegrown talents such as Mich Liggayu, funny man Lloyd Cafe Cadena, rapper Abra, vblogger make-up artist Ana Victorino, Real Asian Beauty, Donnalyn Bartolome, Jireh Lim, Chicser, and Bogart the Explorer appeared on stage. I enjoyed the night while munching ice cream with fellow bloggers and friends from Google Philippines.


Mich Liggayu whipped it her booty on stage.

I admired Bethany Mota on how she reached out with her followers on Twitter, and YouTube.

Bethany Mota and Apl.de.ap cheered the crowd

Macy Kate rocked the #YTFF!


Fil-Am singer/songwriter AJ Rafael serenades the crowd.
One of the highlights of the event when Apl.de.Ap joined Mota on stage. One of our companions during the coverage of YouTube FanFest told us how Bethany reached out with her followers on Twitter. I was screamed my heart out when I saw AJ and Kurt performed on stage. I admired Mota when she sang Pitch Perfect 2/Jessie J song, "Flashlight" with Kurt.

Awesome YouTube FanFest in Manila

Hope there will be YTFF next year!