Janine Teñoso Welcomes Us Into Her World At First-Ever Solo Concert — Review

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Janine Teñoso.

For the last nine years, Janine Teñoso — or simply, Janine — has been an ever-present voice in the world of Filipino music. From doing the regular gig circuit to featuring on some of the country’s biggest songs to lending her voice to soundtracks that defined a generation’s heartbreak, she’s always been there. Yet for all her ubiquity, there had never been a night solely her own — until now.

Last Saturday (September 6, 2025), Janine took the spotlight, performing to a sold-out crowd at her first-ever solo concert. Held at the New Frontier Theatre, the show was a glimpse into the world she has so carefully carved and pieced together for nearly a decade. The evening unfolded like a memoir set to music, featuring the moments, songs, and artists that pushed her to the Janine she is today.

The show began at the present, with Janine stepping into the spotlight as the artist she has grown into. Opening with tracks with “Apat Na Buwan,” and “Palihim,” as well as tracks like “Umibig Muli” and “Pikit Mata” which saw a special appearance from Rabin Angeles, she began with a voice burnished by nine years of heartbreak, healing, and hard-won grace. By the time Rob Deniel joined her for “Distansya,” the crowd was fully swept away in the world Janine has welcomed them into.

From there, the concert began to rewind time, peeling back the layers of her career. The setlist unfolded like chapters, each one holding a different version of Janine.

In the second act, she performed her stirring rendition of The Itchyworms’ “Di Na Muli,” “Ang Awit Natin” alongside Jazz Nicolas, and “Hindi Tayo Pwede” with Carl Guevarra and Japs Mendoza of The Juans, revisiting the songs the defined the early days of her career.

Following this, she took us back to the comfort of her bedroom — literally — to honor the bright-eyed Janine that first started this whole thing. From the 17-year-old that wrote “Fall” and “Ghost In The Room” to the 23-year-old full of doubts finding comfort in “23,” this stripped-down segment felt like flipping through pages of an old journal. Alvin Serito of Sunkissed Lola joined her for “Pasilyo,” a reminder that even in her most personal moments, Janine’s story also includes so many of the friends and collaborators that helped her along the way.

Between songs, Janine spoke with a mix of tearful candor and quiet gratitude, sharing fragments of the journey that brought her here — the long nights of bar gigs, the doubts that made her question if she’d even be able to pull of a solo show, and the unexpected turns that led her to where she is now.

The final stretch of the concert was a celebration of a dream finally realized, soundtracked by some of her most notable songs. Most notably, she was joined by Gian Bernadino and Rapha Ridao of Cup Of Joe, and Arthur Nery for “Tingin” and “Pelikula” respectively, with each performance exciting the crowd to new heights.

Following a enchanting performance of “Sandig,” Janine stood center stage, closing the night with her hit “Hulaan.” With an eruption of confetti and the entire venue singing back the chorus to her, Janine stood in awe, taking in a moment that indeed has been a long time coming.

While it may have been Janine’s first headlining show, it felt like she was truly home. After years spent searching, stumbling, and slowly finding her way, she’s finally where she was always meant to be: on stage. After retelling her story and bringing us into her moments of growth and healing, Janine now stands at the cusp of a new chapter and there’s no denying that it’s set to be an exciting journey ahead.

Set list:

“Apat Na Buwan”
“Palihim”
“Umibig Muli”
“Pikit Mata” (with Rabin Angeles)
“Distansya” (with Rob Deniel)
“Laro”.
“Di Na Muli”
“Ang Awit Natin” (with Jazz Nicholas)
“Hindi Tayo Pwede” (with The Juans)
Set 3. Acoustic Stage
“Fall” + “Ghosts In The Room”
“23”
“Pasilyo” (with Alvin Serito of Sunkissed Lola)
“Mapalad”
“Tingin” (with Cup Of Joe)
“Pelikula” (with Arthur Nery)
“Sandig”
“Hulaan”