"Black Eyed Peas Live in Manila 2025" Review — A Nostalgic, High-Energy Homecoming

Image courtesy of Wilbros Live

Coming back to the Philippines after six long years, the Black Eyed Peas once again rocked the house at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on August 27, 2025. The arena was packed with fans of all ages but it was the millennials, myself included, who felt the strongest pull of nostalgia the moment those opening beats dropped. This is the group that defined a whole era of the early 2000s, with one chart-topping hit after another, and hearing “Where Is the Love,” “Don’t Phunk With My Heart,” and “Let’s Get It Started” back to back was like flipping through a photo album of our youth, except this time it was louder, brighter, and set to flashing lights that made you feel like you were right in the middle of something timeless.

Despite the fact that the original trio are now in their 50s, you’d never know it from the way they carried themselves on stage. Will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo still had that relentless energy, bouncing across the stage like time never caught up with them. And of course, they are no longer just a trio: the addition of J. Rey Soul, known to many Filipinos as Jessica Reynoso from The Voice Philippines in 2013, gave the group a vibrant and powerful boost. She’s been touring with them since 2018 and has more than proven herself as a worthy successor to Fergie’s role. Watching her own the stage in Manila, in front of a crowd that recognized her roots, felt like a homecoming within a homecoming, and it was clear the audience loved her just as much as they loved the original members.

The group knew exactly how to play to their Filipino audience, and the love went both ways. When they performed “Bebot” and “The Apl Song,” the energy inside the arena shifted into something more personal, almost like a proud family gathering. Apl.de.ap, who has never shied away from celebrating his roots, lit up as the crowd chanted along with him, and later in the night, the whole thing turned into an emotional family moment when both will.i.am’s and apl.de.ap’s mothers were brought out from backstage. It was a heartfelt tribute that softened the high-octane pace for a while, reminding everyone that behind the global hits and flashing lights, this was still about love and family and honoring where you come from.

The setlist balanced nostalgia with freshness, a tricky feat that they pulled off effortlessly. While the classics drew the loudest singalongs, the audience also roared for their newer material, from the infectious “Scream and Shout” to the reggaeton-flavored “RITMO” and the slick “MAMACITA.” Each song felt like a different wave crashing over the crowd, and the energy never dipped. Just when I thought the surprises were over, the arena nearly exploded when Sandara Park, yes Dara from 2NE1 herself, came out for a duet of “2 Proud” with apl.de.ap. That moment came out of absolutely nowhere, like a fever dream that you weren’t sure was real until the screams around you confirmed it, and standing there in the moshpit with everyone losing their minds was one of those rare concert experiences you know will stick with you for years.

What struck me most was how simple the stage setup was compared to the enormity of their presence. There wasn’t an overcomplicated production with huge props or elaborate gimmicks, just a clean setup with a drummer and guitarist backing the group up, and it worked because the Peas didn’t need much else. Their discography carried the night, their stage presence did the rest, and sometimes keeping it straightforward makes the whole experience feel rawer and more authentic.

For me, personally, this night was a rush of emotions I didn’t quite expect. I grew up with the Black Eyed Peas soundtracking so many moments of my teenage years, from awkward school dances to long bus rides with my first MP3 player, and hearing those songs again in a massive arena was like time folding in on itself. When they finally sang “Where Is the Love,” I almost lost it — there I was, reciting the lyrics just to keep myself from crying in the middle of what was technically a dance concert, and I realized just how much their music had been woven into the background of my own story.

All in all, it was a truly wonderful night, the kind of show that reminded you why live music matters and why certain groups never really fade from memory. The Black Eyed Peas didn’t just perform, they reaffirmed the bond they’ve always had with the Philippines, a bond that runs deep and keeps pulling them back here. Taboo even confirmed it on stage, saying that this definitely won’t be the last time we see them on our shores, and hearing that was enough to make everyone in the arena hope the wait for their return won’t be too long.

CONCERTGEEKS RATING: A+