Konnichasssu!!!

We now fall to this final instalment of my concert live report for ONE OK ROCK Live in Manila. It has been quite a journey but hey, we all enjoyed it and this report sure brings back memories. ONE OK ROCK, what have you guys done with our hearts and souls?!?

Before we end this final instalment of the concert proper live report from yours truly, a few reminders!

The photos included in this report are credited to their respective owners. If you wish a copy of any photo, please drop by at http://facebook.com/kazeshishou or use my contact page so I can speak to you about it. If you wish to feature this live report, please do the same process.

And, before you start with this final instalment, please do bring out your tissues, hankies or whatever because Mei will take you back to where it all began. Please also refrain from throwing any dangerous items, including your phones or computers once you do finish these parts for the sake of your family members and yourself because it is likely these posts will involve tons of random emotions. You have been advised accordingly.

If you do have any comments, suggestions, confessions and all those sorts of things because of this live report, do post at the end of the blog entry. I would love to hear from you guys just how much these four major posts will affect you all.

Are you ready to start? Good! Let’s begin!!!

Additional notes: This is the longest instalment and photo plenty! Yeah, I love you loads thats why.

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The Beginning – Following ‘Suddenly’ is this song I am sure many of you are well-aware of because ONE OK ROCK live in Manila would never be complete without it.

Almost everyone in the Arena know this song by heart considering how much we loved the Rurouni Kenshin Trilogy and the man who played the titular character (just so happens to be Takahiro Moriuchi’s friend, Takeru Satoh). I think most fans also learnt about ONE OK ROCK because of this epic song and to hear this live is something we won’t ever forget. Admittedly this is the first song I heard from ONE OK ROCK and everything went from there.

Before they began and as the instrumental beats of this song were played in the background, Taka shouted to all of us “Thanks for coming out tonight, we had a great time. Thank you Manila!”. Cheering came after all that since wow, we were all so thankful too. Taka then said “We can’t say that the world is at peace right now, but we are still here and believing in the power of music. We will definitely be back to here. That’s a promise Manila!” When he said those magical words, WOW! WE JUST WERE ELATED! We done something completely epic, to have ONE OK ROCK promise that to us! WOW! The crowd cheered so loudly and even my ears would ring because the cheering was just immense. We want them back alright! This won’t be the end.

Taka continued on as everyone continued to cheer “Two songs left and let’s end it with a bang! ARE YOU READY EVERYONE?!” We did end it up with a bang and sang along to this iconic song. To hear Taka sing this was just memorable and all of us just sang so loud – me included. I love this song so much because it was genesis.

The VIP areas came alive and the Pinoy fans just sang so loud alongside Taka! We didn’t miss a beat, we kept singing even in the high notes. I could remember we would raise our hands and and wave with the beat. Some jumped as well since this song is like a national anthem! Taka would keep shouting for Manila to keep our energies up and the other three weren’t idle too. Toru displayed total prowess with his guitar as he danced along his area. Ryota also showed his rockin’ face and his baggy pants as he played with the beat. Tomoya also flared in this song with the intensity of his beats, adding more flare to this iconic song.

Taka

Taka singing his heart out! Man! I love this vocalist! He is just epic!

Toru

Thinking about how great Manila is to you guys? We’re thinking about how great you guys were Toru! Photo by PULP Live World (JHG Photography)

We would sing louder when Taka would call for us to be louder. The lights just added more drama to this song and I am so happy I got to sing along as well despite the slamming within VIP 2. It was really really surreal to be in that crowd while the song is being played before us. Defining moment it was! (If only Tomoya has a moving drumkit! He would have joined the others in the ramp)

Taka, Ryota and Tomoya

Dancing around the stage a plenty Taka! Ryota and Tomoya are also joining in for this photo! Photo by PULP Live World (JHG Photography)

Mighty Long Fall – Finale to the main setlist track and if they sang Heartache after this, you got the whole trilogy of the Rurouni Kenshin soundtrack in chronological order! But oh well! We headbanged, sang and cheered in this song just like in ‘The Beginning’. The lights are just extraordinary for this salvo since it did reflected flames since they just went off randomly like fireworks. Unfortunately, we were not able to do the Wall of Death in VIP 3 (We’ll do best next time! I think not all of us are aware of the handsign or what it was. Proves to show we need more of these concerts!). Regardless, we sang sang sang! And in the end, and I am so lucky I saw this! Taka gave each one of us a flying kiss that practically screamed love for all!

Toru

This is how close I was to the ramp… hahaha, very close enough to see Toru at this angle!

Taka and Tomoya

End it with a bang Taka and Tomoya!!!! Both Ryota and Toru are in their respective corners in this photo XD Photo by PULP Live World (JHG Photography)

After that, they left the stage.

The lights around the stage went into blue not long afterward and all of us chanted “More! More! More!” then later on “Encore! Encore!” because come on, we want more love! I think we even did “ONE OK ROCK!” all over again.

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The blue lit stage!

We were supposed to sing “Notes N’ Words” for the band as a thank you for them coming here but I think we all blanked out at this point after seeing them and singing with them. Later on, I thought, it was better we actually missed it because to overwhelm ONE OK ROCK with us singing continuously with them and even in the Japanese parts, I think that was an achievement in itself and it showed just how much the band has shaped all of us in that arena.

After a few more chants, they came out again and Taka asked “Wanna stay with me more?” The obvious answer we all shouted was “YES!” and we gotten one heart- melting smile from Taka who replied “Me, too. I want more.” (WHO WOULD NOT MELT WHEN HE SAID THAT!)

Wherever you are (Acoustic) – Like in Heartache, Taka and Toru did this song on acoustic and like in Heartache, we sang along even in the Japanese parts. For me, this is yet again another excellent highlight of the live because we showed ONE OK ROCK that we know their songs by heart and even the Japanese lyrics. At the end of the first half of the song, he gave all of us a heart sign with his hands and another heart-melting smile before preparing for the second stanza.

Taka

One of my best shots for this song… definitely one of the most romantic and emotional scenes of this concert!

Toru and Taka

Toruka moments anyone? Yup! This is on full view! This photo is by my wacky friend Jumi!

Of course, Taka did ask us to sing with him when it was close to the long Japanese lyrics in the song. We obliged his requested and he counted with his fingers before we took over. When we sang the first line in Japanese without missing a beat, his smile was just too wide and said “umai” (Japanese for great) while we sang. He was even nodding his approval at our singing! We actually missed a few beats but Taka would just smile and entice all of us to continue while his mic was up in the air. He also placed his other hand on his chest, as if taking in all our love. We also gave them another sea of lights without being prompted. I heard it was asked by Taka before in the other shows but I’m not so sure. Ours, we never really took prompting at all. Toru gave us one heck of a smile and his eyes shown how much he loved it! Cheers came in when the song ended, and Taka just said “Thank you so much, we love you guys. You guys are so beautiful, thank you so much!” You are also beautiful Taka and Toru!

Crowd

Crowd love as Taka sang Wherever you Are! Photo is by PULP Live World (JHG Photography).

NO SCARED – from the acoustic, we went back to high power as the band performed another iconic piece from their repertoire. Taka asked us if we wanted to listen to a couple more songs (Taka, sing more than 2 and we’re the happiest fans you will ever see). He even asked us if we wanted to get crazy, hell yes!!! If Answer is Near was done, wow, perfect night! Or Let’s Take it Someday!

VFX on high power for this song as it danced as the crowd jumped to catch the balloons!!!! YAY! BALLLLLLOOOOONNNS! I saw the 35XXXV Japan Tour clips with this song and those balloons. I wasn’t able to touch the balloons until the end of it as a friend of mine managed to get one for herself.

ONE OK ROCK
The balloons are UNLEASHED!!!! Yes, air balloons with the current symbol of ONE OK ROCK. Photo by PULP Live World (JHG Photography)

But the intensity of that song and how all of us jumped along with that song was just surreal! Taka would often times kick the balloons reaching him and Toru and Ryota would join him in the ramp giving us one damn good show! We would all sing with them for the chorus with our hands up joining the beat. I wonder if the flaming sequence would have done, what would that have felt? That would have added more flavor to the performance! Next time!

Taka

Seeing one of Taka’s signature poses! That man can really sing and hit notes properly!

Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer – The grand finale! We didn’t even have a breather from ‘NO SCARED’ but who cares?!?! We jumped, we screamed and sang! I loved it when Tomoya would add his epic backup vocals for this since everytime he does have a backup part, it was always hilarious. Thank God it was included in the setlist because since it was recorded for Niche Syndrome, this song became a crowd favorite. We all cheered in the end when we managed to end the song still singing and seeing everyone in the band smile despite their exhaustion from the live was all worth the jumping, hoarse voices and that whatnots.

Taka

One of my few clear shots of Taka. Ahh, the others are etched in my memory (especially one or two scenes).

Ryota

Close up of Ryota and his killer abs! Thank you to my friend Jumi for this photo!

Taka

The jump! YES! I GOT THIS SHOT! YESSSS! You will see the front version of this jump in the photo below!

At the end of the performance encore (it was done already!? NOOOO) and everyone was still cheering for the band with their love and cheers (I kept shouting Taka, Aishiteru! hope he heard me), Taka reached for the official banner made by the Philippines’ ONE OK ROCKers – signed by fans who got to sign it – and posed with it as seen in the photo below. Hopefully Ryota does see “Ryota I love you” this time unlike in Fool Cool Rock! (Someone did write it if memory serves me right since I told everyone in our discussions when the banner was being discussed that he didn’t see one before) But heck! See that crowd (I’m there somewhere actually).

Tomoya and Ryota

Here is another shot of the banner, held up by Ryota and Tomoya! This is Jumi’s photo of it. I was quite far away from the stage for this.

Taka had also done a selfie with his phone as he normally does and it is clear in his video that the crowd just went wild with him! I wanted to cry at that point, it all happened and I was there when it happened.

Taka and Tomoya
I see you Taka! Lovin that smile as you check your phone!!!!!

His caption for the video selfie is down below!!!

Before they left the stage for the last time that night, all four of them walked to the platform and did a 20 second bow to us while holding hands (I actually have a video of this but with my bad internet, I cannot upload it). I don’t know if others saw it but it was etched in their faces – from my view- just how happy they all were and the emotions that was running in their minds at that moment. It was amazing to see that bow as well since I only see them bow like that in their Japan shows and if we could all bow like that before them, we would have done it longer. They have done so much for us and in turn, we gave them so much to look forward to in their next live in Manila. Another fan from the Philippines ONE OK ROCKers also had the same idea as I did (Hello Angel) and if we had time and that chance again, we will definitely do this to thank the band.

ONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK thanking and waving at everyone for coming!

ONE OK ROCK

Taka taking another bow with Toru watching him. We will do this next time! as a thank you! *imagines the fans shouting “Hontoni, arigato ONE OK OK ROCK!” then this bow. Wonderful*

After that long bow, Taka said to all of us “See you next time!” and before we can even answer that (the process was just too quick!), Tomoya had done his piece as he does on any live and shouted ‘Mahal Kita’ to everyone before they all went to the back stage. That made the crowd go wild again! Everyone was in a state of shock and were all glued in their places as the lights went back on everywhere. We all found it very hard to realize that that ONE OK ROCK Live in Manila just happened right in front of us. It was a surreal experience and for me, the realization that the live was as high in intensity as those in Japan and it was done here was just mind-blowing.

I also think that we also didn’t realize that it wasn’t just us that gotten one hell of a show, but also ONE OK ROCK as they posted several photos of the show and how they loved their experience. I loved how Tomoya said that it was a treasure he would never forget. Ryota’s comment was also cool as he said they had a blast in Manila. Of course, we will never forget Taka’s ever lingering promise they will come back to the Philippines again (Can it be now Taka? Onegaishimasu!!!)

Later on, I did find out that the official photographer Julen (whom I unfortunately wasn’t able to catch for an autograph for my Primal Footmark but did take a photo of him in one part of the live) had commented to a friend of mine in a Facebook comment she made on one of the Manila shots that the band couldn’t stop talking about the Manila crowd and how much blown away they all were after the show! Virtual hugs for everyone!!!

Even Amuse (as seen in the link in the first part of the Concert Live Report) and PULP Live World President Vernon Go just got blown away on the power of ONE OK ROCK fans in the country. Here is his post, see, its not just girls who are pulled into the ONE OK ROCK phenomenon.

Here are some photos I took after the concert. If you are in them, please do let me know by putting a shoutout below or in my Facebook page!!!

Crowd from ONE OK ROCK Live in Manila

Immediately after the concert. Yes, we were, as they say, jampacked! Next time, we will fill this arena!

Mei and Diane

Saw one of my kouhais Diane, who is also from the Fans on ONE OK ROCK: The Interviews First Wave! I’ll see you in Taft when I visit little kouhai.

Stage setup for ONE OK ROCK Live in Manila

This is the stage after the concert… Wow, it was done already?! WHY!!!

Mei and Jumi

Posing here with my partner-in-crime Jumi! I will miss this wacky friend of mine. Though we always chat online now. Hahaha.

Raki of Asterysk

This is Raki of Asterysk. Next time, I’ll get the photos of the rest of the band!

Philippines' ONE OK ROCKers Admins

Outside, I saw the leaders behind this whole thing. These are the administrators of the Manila, Cebu and Davao chapters of the Philippines ONE OK ROCKers fan group. Without their efforts, the idea of ONE OK ROCK Live in Manila will not exist! Thank you so much you guys! I love you all!

Outside MOA Arena

Many still remained, all of them were talking about the live they just witnessed. I actually got stalled also since I did my statements for PULP’s video message for the band!!!

Mei and Ysa

Selfie with Ysa before I walked away from the Arena! See you on the next live Ysa!!

Fans, of course, also had nothing but praises and love for ONE OK ROCK and the live they just experienced. Here are their statements below. I tried posting all of them but you guys are so many! The longer ones will appear in my sub-blog “Love for 10969” and I’ll try to find a way to get these voices transferred to ONE OK ROCK. We need to tell them our personal messages right? They were so many guys! Almost 150 people commented! WOAH!!! Imagine if we included the others which were not in the thread I made x_X The power of Pinoy ONE OK ROCK fans should not be questioned again after the success of ONE OK ROCK Live in Manila and I have every bet the next one will be sold out.

As the lights of SM Mall of Asia Arena slowly closed and we were slowly ushered out of the Arena in a drizzling night, the realization that the most historic concert for Japanese music lovers has sunk in and its grip into the hearts of fans is quite strong. But with a clear resounding promise made hours earlier, ONE OK ROCK definitely gave their fans something to look forward to in the near future (if trends are to be considered, we will hear something from them in 2 years… maybe even earlier than that!)

We’ll see these boys again in the near future doing this exact same pose before us and maybe next time, we will hear Taka say ‘Mahal namin kayong lahat’ just like how we all melted when Tomoya said ‘Mahal Kita’. Rushi did point out to me this is the first time since the Asia Tour began did the band do a long bow before a foreign audience. I haven’t backtracked their recent performances but if its true, wow! We did a lasting impression! Pinoy fans are the best!

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ONE OK ROCK: The 2016 ’35XXXV’ Asia Tour: Live in Manila was brought to us by PULP Live World, 28 Black and Amuse Asia Inc. Event partners also include Monster Radio RX 93.1, MYX, The Philippine Star, Inquirer.net, Animax, Otaku Asia Magazine, Primer, Astroplus, Odyssey Music Video, Pulp Magazine, G/ST and SM Mall of Asia Arena.

For more details regarding this event, visit either http://pulpliveworld.com/shows/2016/one-ok-rock

or

https://www.facebook.com/events/964161710306885/

Have I pulled your heartstrings minna? For the full version of this entire report without commercial breaks, please wait after an hour and it will appear in this blog too XD I guarantee, once you read these four tiers in one go through that post, its not just tears that would fall off you guys! Let me hear your love here or in my social networking accounts!!!

I still have one more post to pull off before I can call this coverage a wrap so see you when I post the last one for the series!

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About Mei

writer by trade, writer by passion
likes her earl grey with sugar
currently writing her manuscript

3 Comments

  1. Geez! it did help reminisce everything that happened during that epic night, the feels is like it happened yesterday I guess there’s really no moving on hahaha. Mei-chan thank you! I saw my post wieeee XD

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