The moment I stepped onto the grounds of the Aurora Music Festival Gamezone, it already felt like the start of something huge.
Even hours before the main performances began, the venue was already alive with energy. Long lines of attendees patiently waited under the afternoon heat for entrance verification, but nobody seemed bothered by it. There was excitement everywhere—groups fixing their outfits for photos, fans carrying picnic mats and portable fans, creators filming content near the entrance, and friends hyping each other up for the night ahead.
And once the gates finally opened, the atmosphere instantly shifted into full festival mode.
Inside, the grounds felt like a massive playground for music lovers. Booths lined almost every corner of the venue, each offering games, prizes, and interactive activities that kept attendees busy while waiting for the main stage performances. There were colorful sponsor setups, challenge stations, and food stalls filling the air with the smell of grilled food, snacks, and cold drinks, perfect for the warm Clark weather.
One of the loudest and most crowded areas throughout the day quickly became the GameZone booth.
At first, it looked like a typical arcade-style attraction, but the energy around the now-viral punching machine challenge kept drawing people closer. Everyone wanted to test their strength and see if they could beat the existing high score reportedly set by none other than Manny Pacquiao.
Then came the moment that unexpectedly became one of the biggest highlights of the festival.
When Rayver Cruz arrived at the booth, the crowd immediately gathered around him. Phones went up almost instantly as people anticipated what would happen next.
With a quick warm-up and a playful grin, Rayver stepped up to the punching machine. The crowd counted down loudly before he delivered one powerful hit that echoed through the booth area.
Seconds later, the screen flashed his score: 859.
The crowd exploded.
Cheers, laughter, and shocked reactions filled the area after it was revealed that Rayver had officially surpassed Manny Pacquiao’s previous score of 782. People around the booth immediately started replaying videos, reacting to the result, and jokingly declaring Rayver the new punching machine champion of Aurora Music Fest.
What made the moment even more entertaining was Rayver’s reaction afterward. Laughing with the crowd, he joked that maybe Manny simply “wasn’t using his full power” during his turn. Despite the playful comment, it was obvious he genuinely enjoyed the challenge, even trying out other games around the booth after the now-viral moment.
@lionheartv @Rayver cruz na-beat ang Score ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao sa Punching Machine nitong nakaraang #AuroraMusicFestival #GameZone Booth! #RayverCruz #LionHearTV #RawrNation ♬ original sound – LIONHEARTV
Honestly, it perfectly captured the spirit of the festival itself—fun, spontaneous, and full of surprises.
As the afternoon continued, the venue slowly filled with even more attendees, spreading across the grounds. Some stayed near the booths and activity areas, while others searched for good spots near the stage. Groups laid picnic mats on the grass, casually sharing food and drinks while waiting for the performances to begin.
Before the major acts took over the stage, attendees were surprised by the appearance of XONARA, the rising P-pop group under 1Z Entertainment. Their performance instantly energized the crowd and gave fans an exciting early glimpse of one of the newer names in the growing P-pop scene.
But once the sun started setting, the atmosphere inside the festival grounds completely transformed.
The stage lights grew brighter. The crowd became louder. And suddenly, thousands of people were singing together under the open night sky.
Armi Millare brought a wave of nostalgia and emotion to the stage, while December Avenue turned the entire grounds into one giant sing-along session with fans passionately screaming every lyric back to the band.
Then came Ben&Ben, whose performance felt almost cinematic. Looking around during their set, all you could see were phone lights glowing in the dark while thousands of people sang together in unison.
The energy shifted once again when SB19 finally appeared onstage. The screams were deafening. Fans jumped, waved lightsticks, and sang along with explosive energy from beginning to end.
And just when it felt like the night couldn’t get any bigger, IV of Spades closed the evening with a performance that blended nostalgia, chaos, and pure festival adrenaline into one unforgettable finale.
Although Sarah Geronimo was originally expected to perform, attendees were informed earlier in the day that she had to cancel due to health reasons. Many fans expressed sadness online and around the venue, but the crowd still fully embraced the festival experience and supported every artist who took the stage.
As the night deepened, one of Aurora Music Fest’s most breathtaking moments finally happened.
The hot air balloons scattered around the venue slowly lit up, transforming the entire grounds into something almost surreal. People stopped to take photos and videos and simply admired the glowing balloons against the night sky while music continued playing in the background.
Somewhere between the laughter at the GameZone booth, the emotional sing-alongs, the picnic moments on the grass, and the glowing lights surrounding Clark, Day 1 of the Aurora Music Festival became more than just a concert.
It became one of those nights people will keep talking about long after the music fades—especially the moment when Rayver Cruz unexpectedly beat Manny Pacquiao at the punching machine challenge and turned a simple booth game into one of the festival’s most unforgettable memories. (with reports from Aldrine Benitez)
