One Ok Rock Ambitions Asia Tour Live in Manila Recap
Lights off. Ambitions intro was played, it sounds like waves of water, slowly drowning me in my emotions. One Ok Rock was welcomed with deafening screams containing our longing hearts for the past two years as they entered the stage. It was stunning to see how beautiful the colors in the dark is (kudos to the people behind this fan project) and with everyone’s anticipating heart, the Arena was shaken with the exploding first song- Bombs Away.
With the exceptional lightings, huge screen displays and smoke-effect that matches the beat of the song, everyone was left jaw-dropped. I began to feel nauseated being overwhelmed with their presence in front me. I calmed myself down as the reality that they’re meters in front of me is sinking in.
Continuing the heavy start follows the sensational song from Jinsei×Boku=, Deeper Deeper. Everyone was hyped as we joined Taka, Toru and Ryota’s synchronized headbanging while shouting “We never! We never! We will not stop!” Taka’s eerie screamo drag us in the depths of the world. He knelt and bowed down as Tomoya hit the last beat and all the lights switch to red at the same time. I always watch how Taka dictates the ending beat, he’s like a captain that is controlling the helm of the ship.
Next song was a crowd-favorite, we flew high as we sing-along with Taking Off. I love the way it hurts, can't get enough of Taka's enticing sways and Toru's alluring grin while showing off his guitar skills.I lost it when Taka walked nearest to our corner, I could see clearly see his gentle ageless face .
Realizing everything I love is slowly killing me.
I felt nostalgia as soon as Cry Out started. It brought me back to their 35XXXV concert, a lot of things happened for the past 2 years but my love for One Ok Rock stays the same. Just like before, i eagerly listened to Toru's deep-voice screamo at the chorus (Cause we're going down), it's the perks of watching live performance!
This night was full of surprises! The quartet made the highest fanservice as they spoke Filipino on each MC part.Tomoya smiled the brightest while he fluentlydelivered his lines. I can still remember his “Mahal kitaaaaa!” last 35xxxv concert.Ryota made the fans roar and into chaos as he smoothly said Filipino words like it was his own.Soon as the camera focused on Toru, everyone has gone wild that his speech was almost incomprehensible. His syllabication was a mess but our hearts could understand what he was saying while confidently smiling.Taka was trying so hard with his doubtful accent. He confessed that “Tagalog-o” was hard but he sure did a great job.
Ain’t satisfied with the throwback songs yet? They included one of their classic from the Zankyo Reference album,Re:make. It was so satisfying to watch them play their Japanese songs displaying their rock and roll roots. Just like the music video, we were infected by the song and can’t stop headbanging.
Taka then raised his hands up, the next song- Clock Strikes. He once again proved the diva that he is by striking the highest note. POORers proved that music is a universal language as we sang the Japanese lyrics without a fail, Taka’scalm face and reddish eyes shows his genuine appreciation and love for his fans.
Believe that time is always forever and I'll always be here, believe it till the end.
The frontman lead the rhythm of clapping at the beginning of Bedroom Warfare with Tomoya’sboomy drum beats reverberating in the Arena. Every minute we felt their power, Ryota and Toru go hard once again battling with their guitar riff solos.
Who wouldn’t felt kiligas One Ok Rock serenaded us with Wherever You Are. Phones lit up the arena again as they performed the full-band version, it was heartfelt and powerful. It encompasses a love that is tender yet willing to fight for. POORers surely enjoy singing the Japanese lyrics. Taka is impressed as he shouted “You guys are so beautiful, thank you so much!”, he does say the same thing last con.
This sight made the experience more Japan-ish, thanks to their Japanese cameraman. It was so fulfilling to see these lights by fellow Filipinos in Taka’s pov.
I thought it was another steamy instrumental solo of Toru as he started making love with his guitar plus sweaty face and enchanting facial expressions. His hotness burned up the whole stage and slayed everyone (including mine, I was just revived to retell this story).
A familiar tune comes in, i soon got emotional as I recognized One Way Ticket. I fell in love with this song the first time I heard their album, it was my favorite and I didn’t expect it to be included in their setlist. Watching it live is 100x better! The drum beats were clearly heard and the white lightings were aesthetically pleasing. A spotlight was following Taka as he moved around the ramp, he’s totally feeling the music with his hand gestures and low-key charming dance moves. I was too mesmerized with the way he turns around, everything was magical. Taka then left the limelight for a while as Toru, Ryota and Tomoya dazzled the crowd with their instrumental piece.
I’m feeling Lost without you.
What if boy band members create a rock band? They will surprise you with remarkable choreography and synchronized headbanging while maintaining flawless musicality. One Ok Rock took great heights and show how unique they are compared to other bands with Bon Voyage.
Proving the emperor that he is with I was King, Taka dropped the lines while clenching his fist with the huge screen backdrop showing the animated characters from their music video. This song greatly described our thoughts after the con.
When am I, when am I gonna start living? When am I, when am I gonna move on? When am I, when am I gonna kill this feeling? When am I, when am I gonna stop this dreaming?
Taka started the lines softly with his angelic voice reasonating the arena. Things got a bit awkward since some fans wouldn’t stay quiet, a fanboy even shouted that made some fans giggle. After about two minutes of freezing and nodding down, he continued and hit the highest notes. Taka's husky falsetto sends chills down my spine. This somewhat acapella part was the best, the heavy emotions of the song was passed down to me. Take What You Want should be nominated as Break-up Song of the Year. Taka’s facial expression and gestures was overflowing with emotion, it made me think of what he had been through. I felt the melancholy of letting go of something that you’ve been holding for a long time.One Ok Rock were really good in involving the audience, i almost lost my breath with more than a minute of singing "Wooaah wooahhh" while Taka points his yellow microphone around the Arena.
Seconds after hearing that unforgettable strum, I was pulled back to their first concert. Another beat and I was transitioned back to watching the first movie of Ruruoni Kenshin, hearing the ending song that was probably by Linkin Park until I heard Japanese lyrics, and so my curiosity have brought me to One Ok Rock. It’s the song that started it all – The Beginning. Taka opened his hand as if reaching out for someone and threw the first lines. He headed to the edge of the middle ramp, followed by Toru on the right side and Ryota on the left. I was left in awe as I witnessed their iconic endless synchronized headbanging during the chorus, it was that certain part that made me fell head over heels for them.
Continuing with the Ruruoni Kenshin soundtrack from the movie sequel, Mighty Long Fall. The moshers didn’t disappoint the boys with the successful cicle pits. One big circle pit in the middle and small circles on the side. Even the lower box and upper box OORers awaken each nerve cell with forceful headbanging. Shoutout to my seatmates and the rest of LB 217 who stood up the whole concert, moshed and give it all with the makatanggal-leeg headbanging. It was an extraordinary experience.
We are, we are …
It was overwhelming to be part of this loud fanchant while looking at the stage which greatly alike to the music video with the bar of lights as back drop. Seeing the colors in dark surrounding the arena, it was an intimate moment for the band and us, singing its meaningful lines with them.We Are is a song that empowers the youth. It’s for the ones that feel belittled, shattered or hopeless, One Ok Rock promised to hold us in times that were losing our grip and reminded us to have the courage in facing different challenges in life. I was so into the song that I forget that the yellow bandana was still tied on my arms, I held it in my hands as soon as I realized it.
They waved goodbye and the lights turned off. We loudly shouted “We want more!” numerous times until they entered the stage once again. Their first encore song was one of the most talked about from the Ambitions album because of its too pop-ish sound, American Girls. According to legends, everything that OOR performed live was 200x better, and the legend was true! It was a playful and energetic song that the crowd certainly bops into. Taka got us with changing the lyrics into “Come and break my heart you Filipino girls!,” every kokoro definitely goes dokidoki.
They teased us as if it’s the end so we shouted once again, Taka gestured that he couldn’t hear it and they were about to leave the stage, so the OORers have gone rampaged to hear one last song. They communicated at each other to play another one.
Say it, “We can’t end here ’til we can get it enough!”
The perfect song to end another history - Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer. Its high spirited melody made the boys roam around the huge stage, I’m still stoked to watch how they maintain the clean sound and how stable was Taka’s voice despite running wild, moving around, dancing, slamming and headbanging. It was also the last song back in 35xxxv Tour.
I just stood there in the middle of an insane crowd while the lights danced with One Ok Rock’s music and everyone was hyped, i felt like i was in slow motion. I stared at all these things while thinking how magical it is that the ones that i used to watch on screen were once again performing in front of me. I live for this moment.
They held hands and run forward the center then bowed for more than 5 seconds. I want to stop time at this moment that reality was kickin’ in. I want it to last forever. Taka, Toru, Tomoya and Ryota are my inspirations, it’s sad that it will take another year or two to see them again. But lets think that everyday that passed by, we get closer to see them again, and lets do our best until then.
Over-all the concert was a dream turned reality for every POORer. It’s been 6 weeks but everything still feels unreal. It was such a night that fills our hearts of gold, with the Arena lit by my fellow OORers' colors in the dark, the aesthetically pleasing stage- and of course, Taka, Toru, Tomoya and Ryota's incomparable showmanship.Kudos to Pulp, Sir Vernon and the whole production team for making our highest Ambition come true. Thank you so much for bringing here not just OOR, but also the Japan-level stages, fx and over-all production!
2017: Year of Fangirlin and Loving Yourself Within
Wow can't believe that 2017 has come to an end. Started the year having broken pieces and ending it still with a misguided soul but with unforgettable memories and hopeful thoughts for the next year.
2016 leave me with deep wounds that i healed inch by inch this year. I'm very thankful to BTS, attending their Wings Tour concert made me realize that dreams still do come true. And you shouldn't let one failure to define you or stop you for reaching your other goals, hwaiting! Babangtan!
It is also a year that i started to dance with the so-called "real world", pay taxes, over-times, lack of sleep and money. Unexpected plotwist happened but in the end, these things make me grounded. Experience surely is the best teacher and the best way to undertand someone is to fit their shoes, life is savage to me, and my twisted perspective was always corrected by my life shoving the answer on my face. Life is always serving me a cup of tea when i'm judging people wrongly.
What will happen if you gave a fangirl enough salary? Ofc, she wil spend her money yah Where the concert yah? YOLO YOLO yooo Yes as i promised to myself, whatever i can't do to BTS, i'll achieve in ATL, so we experienced zpulp Royalty and attended meet and greet, more like say Hello and take a Pic. I now know how it feels to be in Standing Area, it’s too exhausting but surely worth it. I will never forget Alex and Jack’s innocent smile to me, like they were looking at their little fangirl. All of them are huge, even Rian and Zach.
Five machines were already operational in our prod line and we’re only one person each shift, so I’m already expecting to be more gamit-na-gamit by amkor this year. Hooray! Bought new iron and washing machine with dryer! Yes, there goes my tax return.
Over-all 2017 is such a good year to me, i atleast was able to provide the needs of my family while low-key achieving my fangirl goals.
My 21st year of existence is such a whirlpool. I just wanna hug myself, this is the year that i have been too stressed and tried my hardest (ofc about the board exam) but didn’t make it. I know na marami akong pagkukulang but i still tried my best and gave too much effort. Sobrang sakit pala. Ganun pala mabroken-hearted, it’s not impossible to be suicidal. This is the fist tine that my life was shaken, everything about it, even my faith. Tbh, yung nawalan ng gana mabuhay. And so nakapag-isip-isip ako nung nagbantay ako kay Lola Peyang, when you’re near someone that’s almost at the end, you’ll think of life deeper pala when you see death.
Waaaah inaantok na ko! So ayun na nga, natanggap ako sa AmKor so unti-unti ko na nabawi ang self-worth ko and kahit papano natutulungan ko na pamilya ko and nabibili ko na mga gusto ni bebe.
And of course, i’ve been too whipped, nakapanood akong concert ng BTS. Who would’ve thought that i would like a kpop group this much? Even i, myself, is too shookt. I fully moved-on, after watching the Wings Tour, it feels like the memories that remained to my heart are the most beautiful part. They healed a wound that’s slightly beating me for 6 months. Like i was thinking before, if you can’t achieve one dream then try the other ones. Happy 4th Bday BTS! Magkabirthday pala tayo.
can’t believe that i survived and i’m now 22! I love myself! rn i appreciate and accept who i am the most. Cheers for personal and career growth!
Makabili sana ko bagong cp. Looking forward to greater memories!
Here they are. My eyes shed tears as the music started playing. I remembered all the hardships (war flashback) that I have been through just to get the ticket, all the hours of waiting in line, all the sacrifices just for this day to come true, to finally watch them perform in front of me. It’s all worth it.
Removing all my sugarcoating, the kiddo me felt nauseated as soon as I saw their silhouette. It was already a thing for me during concerts. I was too happy, excited, emotional and having all the feelings that I can’t contain anymore. Since it already happened before, I’m now more used to making myself calm. What more if I’m at vip standing? I got a hold of myself then joined the crazy loud fanchants. But Pinoys don’t do fanchants, we sing the whole song! All of it!
Chong! Jojun! Balsa! They surely shot everyone’s heart as they started with their powerful performance of Not Today, I eventually thanked God for giving the opportunity to watch these exceptional boys. Kim Taehyung was delightfully serving looks with his bandana. “Oh my God!” and “Diyos ko po!” were the crowd motto, proving how faithful we are.
“Are you ready to enjoy the show? –V
They continued with the playful Am I Wrong. Then, the most anticipated Baepsae with the hip thrusts that slayed the whole arena. ARMYs didn’t disappoint Yoongi by shouting ”Enemy! Enemy! Enemy!” ” Energy! Energy! Energy!” while enjoying Dope.
Jeon Jungkook greatly showcased his talents as he started the solo performances with his Begin. He showed his vocal prowess, having stable voice even whilst doing difficult choreography. This song is dedicated to all his hyungs that I’m sure are proud of their grown-up maknae. Stage was really cool and though he was in the main stage and quite far, I could see his gracefullness with the large screens and awesome background.
You make me begin.
One thing I wouldn’t forget about Park Jimin’s Lie, I squealed so much when he put that blindfold on. The accident oftentimes happens, his jackets slides down and shows his shoulder. He was lifted by his dancers while a chandelier was lowered as they meet in the center, that was a breath-taking moment. He made an astounding performance with his catchy song and stunning dance moves.
I am caught in a lie. (c) Mylene Uy
First Love started with Min Yoongi and his piano elevating in a somewhat fiery floor. Kaepjjang! Watching it live was a different level, I have felt his emotions pouring with the song. I saw how sincere his eyes are and he looks like he’s about to cry and that made me teary-eyed too. He proved that he’s not just a great producer but a great performer as well. His purple-blue stage was art itself.
Don’t let go of my hand forever
I won’t let go of you again either
I lost my mind during Lost. I was too shookt when I saw them climbing up the front stage nearer to us .
I miss the times na inaantok ako sa skul kasi puyatan season then you can just lean on anyone’s shoulder at matulog saglit or yung may tagakurot ka habang naglelesson para magising or may kadaldalan ka para di antukin.
i miss WP so much!
I wish we can go back to the old days na gumagawa kami ng project tapos nagkukulitan, nagtatangahan, nagkwekwentuhan ng kung anumang importante o non-sense na bagay habang nagfufudtrip sa kubo kila Ninang. But all i can do is read my old post about us.
