The vocalist of Coldplay comments on traffic in Manila
CHRIS MARTIN – The vocalist of Coldplay found humor in the notorious traffic of Metro Manila during the band’s “Music of the Spheres” world tour at the Philippine Arena, situated approximately 30 kilometers from the capital.
The venue, notorious for its challenging parking situation, often results in cars getting stuck in expressway traffic, only to encounter the usual heavy congestion within Manila. Despite these challenges, the band returned to the Philippines after seven years.
At the concert’s encore, Coldplay performed “Sparks” on a makeshift stage in the middle of the crowd. Chris Martin took a moment to express gratitude, thanking the opening act Jikamarie, the concert crew, arena workers, and everyone who endured the traffic.
In a light-hearted moment, Chris remarked, “Thank you to all of you for coming through the traffic. Holy sht!” as he shared a laugh with the audience. He jokingly acknowledged the city’s traffic reputation, stating, “I think… We’ve seen some traffic, but I think you have the number one [worst traffic] in the world. So, thank you, thank you for making the effort to come through all that bulls*t to be here!”
Chris’s observation aligns with a recent traffic index by TomTom Traffic, labeling Metro Manila as the worst in metro traffic globally. The study reported that in 2023, drivers in Metro Manila spent an average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds to cover 10 kilometers, making it the slowest among the 387 metro areas surveyed.
The same report highlighted that an average driver in Metro Manila spent 240 hours on the road last year, with 117 hours attributed to traffic congestion. While the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority questioned the study’s methodology, it did acknowledge the significant traffic problem in Metro Manila, citing record-high private vehicle sales, road repairs, and government flagship projects as contributing factors.
Related Post: Lolit Solis Defends President Bongbong Marcos for Using Government Chopper to Watch Coldplay Concert
