After seeing Hope on the Stage Day1 in Seoul earlier this year, which you can read about here, I didn’t think anything could top it—but the Manila stop came with its own kind of magic.
J-Hope went on to tour the U.S. and Latin America after Seoul, and Manila ended up being the first stop for the Asia leg. I got tickets for Day 1 again, but this time, I was lucky enough to score the VIP Stage package, which included soundcheck and a special gift. Unfortunately, the gift was nothing to write home about—it was just a small portable fan you could easily buy for ₱200. The branding on it didn’t even look official, and it felt like a missed opportunity to give something more meaningful to fans who paid extra. Still, soundcheck alone made the upgrade worth it.
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| J-Hope during soundcheck |
Apart from being in the VIP section this time, the experience was really different from the get-go. In Seoul, ticketing only allows one ticket per person, so even if you're going with friends, you end up watching alone. There’s no guarantee that everyone in your group will even get tickets.
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| me dressed as Jack-in-the-Box Hobi |
In Manila, ticketing allows up to two tickets per transaction—whether through the ARMY membership presale, Smart presale, or general sale. It was still super stressful since everything sells out fast, and I didn’t get anything during the membership presale. But thankfully, I got through during the Smart presale and managed to grab two tickets—one for me and one for my friend.
Concert Day: April 12
The concert day itself was a mix of chaos and excitement. The organization wasn’t great, and there were multiple lines just to get everything sorted. First was the verification line for checking tickets and IDS, then a separate line to claim the VIP strap, wristband, and gift, and then another queue just to get inside the venue. We were numbers 516 and 517 in line, which sounded far back, but once we were in, we still managed to get really close to the stage and barricade. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked out.
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| our view was awesome |
Like in most K-pop concerts, giving out freebies has become somewhat of a tradition, and I joined in. I made and handed out my own freebies to fellow concert-goers, which added another layer of fun and community to the whole day. Little things like this make the whole concert experience feel even more special, especially when you’re surrounded by people who love the same artist as much as you do.
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| during Airplane and Airplane, pt.2 - my favorite performances for the night |
Watching this concert in Manila felt like a whole new version of Hope on the Stage. I got to see J-Hope up close, dance and sing with the crowd, and share the whole experience with friends, both old and new.
There’s just something about being in a sea of fellow Filipino ARMYs, screaming the fanchants together and soaking in the energy of a crowd that truly gets it. I love the solo adventure of flying to Seoul for concerts, but there’s also a special kind of comfort that comes with watching an artist you love in your own country. It felt more relaxed, more social, and honestly, more fun.
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| I swear we made eye contact here |
My friends and I got teary-eyed at some parts, and I definitely went home with a sore throat from all the screaming. My feet were killing me too, as I had to wear 4-inch platform shoes just to be able to see anything, since I’m too short for flat shoes in standing sections. But even with all that, it was absolutely worth it.
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| the stage is truly his happy place |
Even though I already knew the setlist and had seen everything once before, the Manila show still felt fresh. Different crowd, different vibe, and a lot more emotion. J-Hope really made the stage his own, and I walked away from the venue that night with a full heart and so many good memories.
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