I remember I was in 2nd grade, around 1993, when our class adviser called the top students in front and handed each one of us what seemed like a certificate. It turned out to be a ticket to the Royal London Circus, something I had never heard of before.

Fast forward two years, another circus came to town: the All-Russian Circus. It was nothing like the first. This one had animal performers. I still remember seeing a puma, kangaroo, and a camel for the first time.

Unfortunately, the All-Russian Circus ended in a fiasco. The performers and animals were unable to fly back home after being duped by a local promoter, and they had to set up a mini zoo in Bajada to raise the money needed for their return. Since then, no circus has ever visited the town.

Both circuses left such a lasting impression that, even after all these years, some of the stunts are still vivid in my memory. They were surreal and magical. 

So when the Euro Xtreme Circus came to town almost thirty years later, I was eager to relive that magic all over again.

When we got to the Davao Global Township and saw the huge red-and-white striped tent, it totally brought back memories. I felt like that 8-year old kid all over again.

We were seated in the VIP area—right near the action. It’s funny how I had to avoid eye contact, especially with the clown, hoping to stay off his radar and out of whatever crazy act he had planned. My friend Olivia, who was sitting right next to me, wasn’t as lucky and got pulled into a silly dance.

Bless the clown though. Because every time things got too intense, he’d show up to remind us to breathe and loosen up after being so tense from the death-defying stunts happening right in front of us.

I’d love to write about every single act in detail, but I might not fully convey how amazing the circus experience was. You might end up not wanting to see it in person. But I can tell you the whole show was an insane mix of breathtaking, heart-stopping, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping stunts. Every act had us either gasping, screaming, holding our breaths, or laughing. Trust me, it's something you need to experience firsthand to really appreciate its magic and adrenaline. And the best thing about it? No animals are involved.