#FangirlGigs: J-Hope gives epic show to Filo ARMY during 'Hope on the Stage' tour
After nearly eight years, J-Hope lit up the Philippine stage again with epic performances during his Hope On The Stage solo concert.
Filo ARMY gathered at the Mall of Asia Arena last weekend to see the K-pop idol, whom the fans fondly call Hobi, in the flesh for his highly anticipated two-night solo tour in Manila.
Despite the scorching weather in Manila on Sunday, fans did not stop from participating in activities like giving away and exchanging freebies and fan-made merch, taking photos with J-Hope's standees and fellow Army, singing along to Hobi's and BTS' hits outside the arena, and serving looks in red and black.
Finally out of the Box
As the clock struck seven, J-Hope finally greeted Filipino fans with a dramatic entrance. The stage popped out with elevating cubes and later revealed the K-pop idol in a fiery red ensemble—a move seemingly referencing his 2022 solo album, Jack in the Box. He kicked off the night with What If... followed by Pandora’s Box.
He then literally set the stage on fire with his intense performance of Arson, coupled with stage pyrotechnics. This spicy kind of vibe continued until the More and Stop stages.
He took a short break for a ment and greeted the jam-packed crowd with, “Okay, Army. Welcome to Hope On The Stage! I’m J-Hope of BTS. Kamusta kayo tonight?”
“Everybody, mag-ingay!” which was met with the crowd’s loud cheers.
The stage later shifted to a chill and upbeat vibe with Hobi singing songs on the street, lock / unlock, as well as i don’t know and i wonder—his song collaborations with Huh Yunjin from K-pop group Le Ssserafim and co-BTS member Jung Kook from his EP Hope on the Street Vol. 1.
Filo ARMY thrilled for OT7 return
J-Hope also performed BTS hits Mic Drop, Silver Spoon (Baepsae), Outro: Ego, Airplane pt. 2, Dis-ease, and Trivia: Just Dance—a song he wrote for BTS’ Love Yourself album.
During the set, Filo ARMY was feeling the hype for the full group comeback in 2026. They even chanted the names of the members: “Kim Namjoon! Kim Seokjin! Min Yoongi! Jung Hoseok! Park Jimin! Kim Taehyung! Jeon Jungkook! BTS!”
The group is set to make their much-awaited return upon completion of their mandatory military service. V, RM, Jung Kook, Suga, and Jimin are all expected to be discharged this June.
A party from start to finish
The Hope on the Stage tour kicked off in February in Seoul and made stops in US cities. The Manila leg was the first for the Asian tour.
Being the total performer that he is, Hobi ensured that his fans were acknowledged by performing on all sides of the stage—showcasing his smooth grooves and astounding live vocals—and calling fans to cheer according to their seat level. He would also occasionally come down the stage to interact with the fans in the standing section.
He also asked fans to stand up and dance during upbeat stages.
“You guys know how to party,” Hobi said as he took the stage with Daydream, Sweet Dreams, Base Line, Hangsang, Airplane, Hope World, Chicken Noodle Soup, and his recent release Mona Lisa.
“It’s so fun singing and dancing with you guys tonight.”
Even his dancers and live band were put in the spotlight as they made each stage grander and matched the K-pop star's energy.
Two hours later, when the show reached its end, Filipino fans wanted more. “Walang uuwi!” they chanted, and J-Hope happily obliged as he wrapped the show with Equal Sign, Future, and NEURON.
I’ve known BTS for years but was never really involved further than playing their songs. But after seeing how passionate J-Hope was in sharing his music, I understood Army’s excitement (and longing) to see him, especially with his co-members, perform.
Beyond dominating the music charts, the K-pop idol makes sure that his music reaches his fans during the darkest and brightest days of their lives, staying true to his moniker as the “Sunshine” of the group.
J-Hope's solo concert was one for the books, and when he and BTS make their comeback, it's sure to be huge.
Disclaimer: The tickets were sponsored by Smart.
