Hit after hit: OneRepublic rocks Araneta; Song Kang meets fans in Manila

OneRepublic in their latest concert in Manila CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/WILBROS LIVE

Ladies and gentlemen, let me start by saying that there's nothing quite like the feeling of live music. And after two years of pandemic-induced abstinence, the sensation of being back at concerts is nothing short of euphoric.

With that said, OneRepublic's performance at the Araneta Coliseum last February 23 was well worth the wait. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as the lights dimmed and Ryan Tedder took the stage, his unmistakable voice ringing out across the arena. From the very first note, it was clear that OneRepublic was ready to bring the house down.

As they launched into hits like “Counting Stars” and “Secrets,” the energy in the room was palpable. It was as if we were all finally able to release the pent-up emotions we'd been holding onto for the past two years. The band seemed to feel it too, with Tedder commenting on how good it felt to be back on stage, in front of their adoring Filipino fans.

But it wasn't just the music that hit different after two years in the pandemic. It was the feeling of community, of being part of something larger than ourselves. We were all there for the same reason: to experience the power of live music.

And OneRepublic delivered in spades. They were tight, polished, and full of energy throughout the entire set. Tedder's vocals were flawless, soaring above the instrumentation to create moments of pure magic.

As the night wore on, the hits just kept coming. “I Ain't Worried,” “Good Life,” “I Lived” — each song was a musical explosion of epic proportions, leaving the crowd breathless and begging for more.

But the real highlight of the night was when the band took a moment to reflect on the past two years. Tedder talked about the challenges of creating music during a pandemic, and how it had given him a newfound appreciation for the power of live performance.

Make no mistake, this was no somber affair. OneRepublic's lively stage presence and infectious energy kept the crowd dancing and singing along all night long. At one point, Tedder played music conductor and had the audience sing along to the iconic 2007 hit “Apologize,” their voices blending together in a beautiful harmony.

In the end, OneRepublic's performance at the Araneta Coliseum was everything we could have hoped for and more. With a tight setlist featuring nothing but bangers, the impeccable musicianship of the band, and the unmistakable charisma of Ryan Tedder, they left the Araneta Coliseum buzzing with excitement and already counting down the days until their next show.

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Last March 5, Song Kang, the Korean actor behind the globally successful series “Love Alarm,” “Sweet Home,” “Nevertheless,” and “Forecasting Love and Weather” held a fan event at the Araneta Coliseum. Fans were ecstatic when event organizers Wilbros Live and Deoproce announced the actor's first-ever Fun Meet in the country.

South Korean actor Song Kang CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/NADINE SILVESTRE

The Deoproce ambassador stood out with his slim physique, and charismatic vibe during his visit to Manila. Song revealed during the press conference prior to the fan meet that they are working on the second season of “Sweet Home.” The popular webtoon turned Netflix series is a horror apocalypse-themed drama where his character Cha Hyun-su along with a group of apartment residents fight for survival. He explained that he found this character challenging to play. At the same time, it is his favorite to portray among his other shows because of how the storyline is detached from reality, thus making him spend more effort to deliver.

He mentioned that when watching other movies or dramas, he always observes how the actors communicate with each other and tries to learn from how other actors express their emotions.

Discussing further his filmography, he shared that it took him three months to prepare for his role as a ballet dancer for his show “Navillera.” The show revolved around Song's character Lee Chae-rok and a retired mailman who were both interested in learning ballet despite the conventional standards.

When asked about the success of the shows he was part of, he humbly shared, “I do not think it is anything that I did; it is because the K-dramas as a genre has been so popular, and I kind of rose with that popularity.” Besides these, he believes these series feature significantly relatable topics, such as “Love Alarm” and “Nevertheless.”

Ultimately, Song expressed his appreciation for all the encouragement he continues to receive from his fans. The actor felt he had received so much love, he has yet to give back because of the situation lately, but now he is happy to be here. The event concluded with a fan project that brought the actor to tears, making it an unforgettable time for Song Kang and his fans.