THE gray color of dusk seeped inside this function hall where shadows are pushed to corners by soft-tone light bulbs.
Immediately after the doors closed, the body is hugged by the wump, wump, wump of electronic music streaming from 2×2 black stereo speakers.
The eyes adjust and set its sight on square tables arranged in the middle of the room where red plastic cups sit on top.
Then somebody yells: “Five seconds, walang malisya!”
Welcome to Happy Thursday. And to one of several pubs and bars that play the most important roles in making this day of the week no longer ordinary and took away from Friday the reason some thank God.
This function hall is one of the many that line up streets near this university on Taft Avenue, Manila, and one of the site where the “Happy Thursday” culture began.
It is here where college students or young professionals go on a drinking binge. It is here where they play “beer pong” and “five seconds.” The latter involves kissing someone, including somebody one just met that night, on the lips for five seconds.
According to locals, Happy Thursday is credited to students of the De La Salle University (DLSU).
“Happy Thursdays are on Thursdays because it is the last class day of the week for Lasallians [and when] they unwind and stay out later than the usual because they do not have to go to school the next day” Trisha Doragos, 19, and Mitchelle Mesina, 21, told the BusinessMirror. Both are DLSU students.
Dorago and Mesina said many engage in Happy Thursdays to unwind and have fun with friends.
Students of colleges around Taft see Happy Thursdays as “a reward for their industrious academic performance during the week,” said Alberto Joseph Quintana, a 19-year-old Civil Engineering student from DLSU.
“I just want to chill [out] and celebrate the end of a stressful week in school” said Samantha Florentino, a Dentistry student from Centro Escolar University.
“I go there to bond with friends and have cheap drinks,” said Zyrile Gomez, a 19-year-old Journalism student from the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
These young people, however, makes sure the Happy Thursday culture doesn’t affect their studies.
“Never ever make Happy Thursdays the center of your world in a way that you’re failing in school,” said Caitlin Canlas, a 20-year-old student from the College of Saint Benilde said.
“Get drunk but know your responsibilities. Do your homework and study for an exam” said Junela Manalang, a 20-year- old student from UST.
“Be responsible and don’t get yourself into trouble” said Kyra Santos, 19 and also from UST.
“It’s part of college life but just be responsible for all of your actions,” added Nicolo Bagon, a 20-year-old student from DLSU.
Jhoana Paula Tuazon