Olivia Rodrigo is finally home. 

Since the release of her smashing debut single “driver’s license,” the American pop star has always been vocal about her wish to visit and perform in her father’s home country of the Philippines. It’s a dream of hers that has been consistently mentioned throughout the rollout of her first album SOUR, its world tour, and even throughout her press run for her latest album, GUTS.

Yet in the time since then, Rodrigo has established herself as a world-renowned pop superstar, even earning accolades and acclaim left and right. Now bigger than ever, she has finally made it to Manila — bringing her GUTS World Tour to the country in a very special manner with this one-of-a-kind (and instantly sold-out) Silver Star showcase.

From what the audience of 55,000 people got to witness of the show, Rodrigo’s debut performance in the country was ultimately well worth the wait — for she didn’t merely put on one hell of a show, but she has also cemented her status as the Philippines’ bonafide pop princess.

Attendees of all ages and ethnicities made their way to the Philippine Arena as early as eight in the morning, with many of them queuing as early as they could for both the merchandise and standing lines. While a significant number of fans were decked out in their purchased tour-exclusive merchandise, you could easily note the abundance of glittery star-shaped face stickers, purple, fur-lined cowboy hats, sparkly skirts, and Doc Martens boots that resembled Rodrigo’s very own tour outfits. As if that didn’t show their dedication enough, the sheer volume of screams as they entered the venue said more than words to their excitement for the show. 

Given the massive size of the Philippine Arena, I don’t think the place has ever been louder than it was last weekend. The moment that the lights went out, the frenetic energy reached its fever pitch as the visuals of Rodrigo on screen made for a seamless (and cinematic) introduction to her on-stage appearance. With the first few riffs of the rousing rock anthem “bad idea right?” ringing across the arena, it further turned up the volume on what was already a loud affair among the thousands of Livies in attendance.

The energy continued its momentum as she sang “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” which brought out the angsty nature of both the pre-teens and middle-aged fans (like myself) screaming their heart out to the track, almost as if it were a catharsis of sorts to each and every one of them. And with Rodrigo leading the pack, her infectious nature further motivated the audience to thrash their heads as if we were living vicariously in a rock show.

Exasperated by the audience’s response, the 21-year-old pop star took some time to take a breather and to thank the audience for their response to her tracks. “Salamat po,” she exclaimed — to which everyone responded with a loud set of cheers. After asking the crowd how they were doing for the night, she proceeded to perform her chart-topping single, “vampire.”

The beloved opera-rock number began with its emotional piano-laden opening, with Rodrigo conveying the emotional weight of the track’s lyricism. Her performative touch was indicative of her theatrical background, and it accurately translated the simultaneous display of anger and despair, especially by the point wherein the track transcended toward its climactic and memorable bridge.

Continuing the emotional run of the show, the pop superstar continued with her lovelorn set of hits from SOUR, “traitor” and “driver’s license,” which enraptured audiences with their somber yet catchy hooks that that were presented with such fervor. As we relived Rodrigo’s heartbreak through her devastating performances, nothing prepared us for what else was to come next with her performance to GUTS’ album closer, “teenage dream.”

“I wrote this song a few days before I turned nineteen. But with where I am now [at 21 years old], I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life,” she says. Taking to the piano at the center of the stage, she delivered a profound performance that perfectly encapsulated the growing pains that come with the price of fame and encroaching adulthood. With her lovely vocal performance backed by a video montage of herself as a child, it further amplified the wave of nostalgia and depth that made for one of the most poignant moments of the show.

To liven up the mood following her performance, she performed the empowering “pretty isn’t pretty” and the anthemic “love is embarrassing” to get people dancing on their feet. With additional on-stage choreography featuring Rodrigo’s talented backup dancers, each set of performances added that little oomph that made these B-side tracks shine even further in the live setting. And with what the pop star was able to demonstrate in those two tracks alone, it was even more evident that she was born to be a performer.

The melancholic “making the bed” saw Rodrigo lay on her back at the foot of the stage, with the camera and LED screen solely focused on her as she sang her heart out. With the lights dimming for a few moments past the performance, the pop hitmaker was escorted towards a special platform near the tech booth, wherein she made her way up a floating crescent moon that circled the entirety of the upper section of the arena to perform the conflicted ballad, “logical.” 

Taking the sights from her point of view, Rodrigo enthusiastically addressed the audience by giving a whole speech about how excited she was to be here in the country. “I can’t believe I’m here in the Philippines. I’ve been wanting to go [here] my whole life, and i can’t thank you guys for welcoming me. This is such a dream come true,” she exclaimed. 

“Tonight’s also extra special because I believe this is the biggest show I’ve ever played in my entire life. I’m seeing more people than I’ve ever seen, and I’m so, so grateful. Tonight is extra special because the proceeds of this show go to this incredible charity called Jhpiego, which provides medical services to women and girls right here in the Philippines.  I’m very happy about that and so excited to announce that,” the pop superstar continued. 

“Tonight really is a night to remember — but mostly I’d just like to thank you guys. I really can’t believe it. Thank you so much for showing up, buying a ticket, putting on a purple outfit, and singing all the lyrics. This is such a dream come true, I can’t tell you [enough]. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

OLIVIA RODRIGO GUTS WORLD TOUR SILVER STAR PHILIPPINES MANILA

Photographed by Louis Partridge

As she continued her set, she played a heartfelt rendition of what she described as “her personal favorite track off of SOUR” — “enough for you.” With the moon floating across various corners of the arena, Rodrigo took time to greet fans from all these sections, holding back her tears as she gave it her all for her performance of the track. The wave of lights from the entirety of the venue became a sea of stars that complemented her very own crescent moon. It was truly a moment to behold — marking an emotional chapter for the night’s festivities.

Rodrigo continued the show with strong performances to “lacy” and “so american” — even stating for the latter, “This is usually the part in the show where I say I’m so American, but tonight with you guys I’m so Filipino. My Tagalog isn’t so good but I’m working on it!” Her Filipino pride didn’t stop merely there, as she ended up being gifted with a special pageant sash by a fan that read out “Miss So Filipina” to the pop star’s delight.

Her live renditions to “jealousy, jealousy,” “happier,” and “favorite crime” were a little more stripped back than the rest of the setlist, with the latter two seeing her sit down with her guitarist, Dawn, who played acoustic guitar right beside Rodrigo. It was this part of the show that felt even more intimate than usual, almost as if Rodrigo was singing to the crowd by a campfire fire, whispering her innermost, confessional thoughts with anyone open to listening.

The chart-breaking favorite “deja vu” soon followed, bringing about an ambiance of nostalgia that the audience was loudly receptive to, especially by the earnest energy brought about by the track’s unforgettable bridge. Yet past the enthralling chants at the end, Rodrigo takes a contemplative turn with the slowed-down and somber nature of “the grudge.” Weaving across such emotions could often take a drastic (if jarring) turn from most artists, but the manner in which the pop luminary executes it reflects a precision that feels perfectly apt to the entire flow of the show.

As the show went on, the next set of tracks sparked Rodrigo’s inner rock star, with the thrill of “brutal,” “obsessed,” and “all-american bitch” flawlessly showcasing her contagious energy and immaculate stage presence. The dread of growing up into young adulthood was channeled onto “brutal” while the enthralling nature of “obsessed” was both (surprisingly) sensual and superb in its execution. Her rigor for “all-american bitch” was pitch-perfect as a moment of clearing one’s mind, especially at the point wherein she asked the audience to scream their hearts out.

“Okay, here’s the deal. I want you to think about something or someone that really pisses you off. And when the lights go down, you’re gonna scream as loud as you can and go all out,” she tells the crowd — to which it responds with an enrapturing set of shrills that was able to sum up everyone’s exorcism of frustrations.

With the concert coming to a close, Rodrigo came out dressed in a white tank top that proudly proclaimed “Pinoy Pride” which eventually built up the encore to the favored “good 4 u.” Together with everyone singing along to the track, she was building up the hype of the crowd while dancing around all corners of the stage, aiming to generate reactions from everyone in attendance. 

Akin to leading a choir, it was obvious that by this point the relationship between the pop star and the 55,000 people present had become symbiotic at this point. Rodrigo was our fearless leader — while all the rest of us present were just swiftly following her lead (with credit to her impeccable tour de force persona.)

By the time we reached the final track of the show, the 21-year-old pop star posed with her iconic bullhorn, beginning what I believe to be one of her wittiest tracks to date, “get him back!” The energy within the entirety of the Philippine Arena had reached its fever pitch, with everyone simultaneously screaming and singing along to every lyric of the song. Admittedly, the venue was shaking at this point, which perfectly timed with the starbursts of confetti that were shot out at Rodrigo and her band echoed the song’s last few notes.

“Thank you so much, Manila. I will remember this night forever! Thank you, I love you, and good night!” she proudly proclaimed, blowing kisses to crowds all over the arena before descending the stage.

While she herself was no longer on stage, Rodrigo’s presence still lingered across the venue. The hype and momentum surrounding her performance was very much evident, and it left the audience still buzzing about what transpired just a few moments ago. Easily, this stop of the GUTS World Tour marks a historic moment in the pop superstar’s relatively young career, as it also solidifies her status as the youngest artist to sell out the full capacity of the Philippine Arena. 

But even if we disregard the numbers and statistics surrounding this show, the performance itself speaks volumes about what this pop icon is capable of, even as she continues to further hone and evolve her craft over the next few years. What Rodrigo has displayed is an immense and natural display of superstardom, and we can only hope that we’ll get to see a lot more of this upon her return to the Philippines in the near future.

While this show may have been a dream of hers all those years ago, it’s also become a dream come true for all these fans who bore witness to this special showcase of a lifetime. For Olivia Rodrigo is more than just your usual pop star in the Philippines, but she has also become the country’s very own pop princess. 

Though she may continue to make her moves on the global stage, what we’ve seen from this Silver Star show has already won the eternal hearts and following of millions of fans nationwide. With credit to what took place over the past weekend, the Filipino-American pop sensation has solidified her status as one of the music industry’s brightest acts of this generation.

Following this show, Olivia Rodrigo herself has surely become the pride and joy of the Philippines — with her audience here forever ready to welcome her back home.

Listen to the deluxe edition of Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album, GUTS (spilled) below: