Ben Madilynn
October 14, 2024 | 12:00am
On Saturday, Oct. 5, Olivia Rodrigo electrified the Philippine Arena with her “GUTS” concert, drawing a crowd of 55,000 fans from across the country to celebrate the Filipino-American superstar. Among the lucky attendees were my daughter Gabbie (23), her best friend Clarissa Chua (22), and my niece Alli Tuviera (13), all of whom were accompanied by my brother-in-law, direk Mike Tuviera. They all made the trip to the Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan for the much-anticipated event presented by the premiere concert producer, Live Nation Philippines of Rhiza Pascua.
What was it like to be there that night? Gabbie shared her unforgettable experience in the following paragraphs.
Tito Mike, Alli, Clarissa, and I all piled into the van and left Taguig at 2 p.m. Though there are many who dread the long trip to Philippine Arena from Metro Manila, the ride was honestly one of the best parts of my day. With coolers packed full with snacks and drinks (shoutout to Tita Penny!), it was a chance for my teen cousin, best friend and I to bond and chat about everything under the sun! By 5 p.m., we finally arrived at the venue.
Olivia Rodrigo has become a fashion icon, known for her punk rock aesthetic and edgy statement outfits. It was no surprise that when we got to the Arena, we were greeted by a sea of fans embracing their inner Olivia. Everywhere we looked, people were dressed in miniskirts, tank tops and chunky boots, perfectly channeling the pop idol’s signature style.
The hitmaker is beautifully perched on a crescent moon as she serenades her 55,000 fans at the Philippine Arena.
As we settled into our seats, the excitement in the air was palpable. By 7 p.m., when the lights dimmed, the entire arena buzzed with anticipation. Olivia burst onto the stage in a sparkly, matching cropped top and skirt, opening with her hit song, Bad Idea, Right? The energy was electric, and the crowd erupted. I honestly can’t remember the last time I experienced a concert in the Philippines that was that loud — the screams and cheers were nonstop throughout the entire show as Olivia performed hit after hit.
When she sang the song that catapulted her to stardom, Drivers License, the audience was so loud and emotional that Olivia herself admitted that she felt like crying. She was visibly moved, expressing awe and gratitude multiple times. She mentioned how special it was for her to perform in the Philippines for the first time — a place she’s always wanted to visit — and how much she appreciated the love and energy of her Filipino fans.
My generous brother-in-law, direk Mike Tuviera, brings his daughter Alli, my daughter Gabbie Planas, and her best friend Clarissa Chua to watch the Filipino-American pop superstar.
One of the most magical moments of the night was when Olivia sat on a floating crescent moon that gracefully glided across the arena. She looked absolutely delighted up there, waving and saying hi to every section, and her genuine excitement was so uplifting. You could see how much the performance meant to her as tears welled up in her eyes — understandable, considering this was the biggest crowd she had ever played for in her career!
What made the moment even more special was knowing that all the ticket proceeds would go to Jhpiego, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare for women and girls in the Philippines. It was such a heartwarming gesture, and it felt like we were all part of something truly meaningful that night.
My personal favorite performances of the show were Deja Vu and Favorite Crime. As soon as those songs started, they transported me back in time, filling me with a sense of beautiful nostalgia — it was like a part of my 2021 self-found moment of healing.Another standout was her performance of So American, which had the entire crowd singing along; the energy was just so infectious! But the best part was when Olivia shared how proud she is to be Filipina before diving into the song. She talked about indulging in her favorite Filipino dishes like lumpia, halo-halo, and adobo, and even mentioned that she’s been taking Tagalog lessons! It was amazing to see her embrace and celebrate her roots, and the crowd loved every second of it.
The “GUTS” concert was a thrilling two-hour spectacle of fun, singing, dancing, and stunning costume changes. A unique tradition she’s embraced for this world tour is wearing a tank top with a special phrase related to each city during her encore. For the Manila/Bulacan show, she emerged wearing one that read “Pinoy Pride,” causing the entire arena to erupt in cheers. You could truly feel the Pinoy pride radiating from every corner of the Philippine Arena, and it was such a unifying moment. It felt like the perfect homecoming celebration for the one and only Olivia Rodrigo, and a night that no one in the crowd will ever forget.
