I Healed My Inner Child At The Sexbomb Girls’ ‘rAWnd 5’ Reunion Concert – Review

The Sexbomb Girls have always been at the heart of the Philippine cultural zeitgeist. From their appearances on Eat Bulaga! to their iconic songs that became anthems at reunions, parties, and the like, even down to the unique way they greet each other for their birthdays, the girl group has brought us some of the biggest movements in pop culture today.

That’s precisely why, even in their absence, those who proudly proclaim themselves as “pinalaki ng Sexbomb” (raised by the Sexbomb Girls) have been yearning for their return as a group.

Having grown up watching tape-recorded performances of the Sexbomb Girls’ songs and learning each of them for quaint homegrown shows with my siblings, I was no stranger to this feeling myself. In moments of stress and worry, I always found myself tracing back to that very same mindset of “laban lang, bawal bumawi” (keep pushing forward, no backing out) that we were taught in their hit track “Bakit Papa?” With that, I could proudly say that I was one of the many who were absolutely keen to see the group in their reunion concerts.

On Sunday (February 8, 2026), the Sexbomb Girls welcomed their fifth and final ‘rAWnd’ for their highly anticipated reunion concert. With the 360° stage design, the final rendition of the show brought about the biggest crowd I’ve seen fill up the Mall of Asia Arena to date, as people packed into every nook and cranny of the venue. Even just entering the Arena alone, I was greeted by flocks of people dressed in sparkling sequins and animal print, and glowing pink crown headbands that had the Sexbomb logo printed onto them.

The electric energy buzzing through the venue even before the show began was only amplified by the opening sequence. As bass thundered through the speakers, the girls emerged from different corners of the venue clad in silver-studded black ensembles, carrying flags marked with the group’s logo as flames erupted from the edges of the stage. When they launched into Tom Jones and Mousse T.’s classic “Sexbomb,” the crowd moved in unison, every beat and step etched into muscle memory from childhood.

With that, the group broke into a medley of their biggest hits from their pivotal album, Unang Putok, with “Di Ko Na Mapipigilan,” “Crush Kita,” “Pretty Little Baby,” and more. The feel-good roundup was then followed by a series of solo stages by each member of the Sexbomb Girls, with intricate choreography and astounding vocal performances.

Of course, the show wouldn’t be complete without a lineup of surprise guests who also grew up alongside the Sexbomb Girls.

In spite of being more than 20 years their senior, surprise special guest Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano, admitted to having idolized the girl group during their TV appearances. Reciprocating a similar energy of gratitude, the girls egged on the popstar to perform his popular “Hataw Na,” dancing along to the groovy beat. Similarly, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Ice Seguerra each shared solo stages with the girls, bringing out a string of soulful ballads to slow down the show in the midst of heart-pounding performances.

Representing the next wave of P-pop, the multicultural boy group of the Philippines, ALAMAT, also admitted to dropping their earlier schedules and activities for the day to join the show, having grown up being fans of the Sexbomb Girls. Here, they joined Sexbomb Rochelle Pangilinan for a joint stage of “Baile” before performing their own latest single, “LuzViMinda,” on the 360° stage.

As the show came to its close, the group brought out some of their biggest hits to date, namely: “Bakit Papa?” and “The Spageti Song.” For its impact on Philippine culture, “The Spageti Song” was given a segment entirely of its own, with the UP Pep Squad doing a full routine to a cheer-remixed version of the track.

If there’s anything that could be said about the time I spent watching the Sexbomb Girls’ final ‘rAWnd,’ it would be that I saw many of us connect with our inner children that night. As members of the audience would eagerly get up from their seats to perform the choreography they’ve spent their childhood rehearsing in front of the TV, it was proven that no one in the Arena could stay still that night. Even in between sets and during talking segments, the girls themselves couldn’t help but tear up at the extremely successful turnout of their reunion concerts, and how the audience’s demand for the Sexbomb Girls brought their sisterhood back together.

With this, the Sexbomb Girl’s ‘rAWnd’ 5 Reunion Concert was a living, breathing testament that the girl group strongly holds a place of importance in the Philippine cultural landscape, and will continue to do so for a very long time.