Guts and glory: One Olivia Rodrigo fan’s concert experience
Let me start by saying that I almost gave up. I, like many, tried and failed to score Olivia Rodrigo tickets during the chaos that was the queue. The concert sold out faster than I could refresh my browser, leaving me feeling a little … well, brutal, as her song goes.
But as a Filipino, I couldn’t pass up witnessing her “homecoming,” especially with her incredible gesture of making every ticket the same price—P1,500, with proceeds going to a local nonprofit, Jhpiego Philippines. Olivia’s generosity hit close to home, and I knew I had to be there, no matter what.
So, like any determined fan, I pitched an idea. I offered rides, snacks and a small fee above the price in exchange for extra tickets.
It wasn’t long before I met two angels—Patric and Alexes—who made it all possible. Patric, who only needed two out of the four tickets he snagged, offered me the other two. Meanwhile, Alexes, a Swiftie and die-hard Olivia stan, was touched by my story and handed me a golden opportunity: a VIP Pit ticket.
‘Bayanihan’
In true Filipino spirit, I couldn’t stop at just securing my own ticket, and since I chose to go with Alexes, I offered the tickets of Patric to some friends who also wanted to go. Given that I was able to connect with a number of fellow fans because of my pitched idea, I managed to give other fans an opportunity to go via the connections made.
It was like a concert crusade—ensuring that everyone who deserved to go could go. It was a beautiful display of bayanihan, where people helped one another out. This sense of community was just a glimpse of the camaraderie we’d experience on concert day.
Alexes, who flew in from Cebu, was the MVP of the day. From her meticulously crafted crochet doll of Olivia which was her planned gift, to her witty sash and rocking outfit, she was ready. And though we were in the upper hundreds in the queue and she was worried about her height, I assured her we’d make it to the barricade—and we did.
Custom barong
As a nod to Olivia’s heritage and her song “Brutal,” I had a custom barong made with the quote: “God, It’s Brutal out here in PH.” I also wore a custom barong when I watched Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, and this time, reprising the idea felt especially meaningful. Olivia is half-Filipino, and it was only fitting that I honored her heritage with another barong—both as an appropriate tribute and as a personal nod to Filipino pride.
Thankfully, Denyse Oruga of @jacksqueenstudios understood the assignment and delivered such an awesome outfit.
On the day of the concert, the excitement was palpable. Fans flooded the venue in Olivia’s signature purple, and you could feel the buzz in the air. After getting our tickets verified, we lined up for merch, and that’s when a camera crew from Olivia’s team approached us.
Alexes spoke about her intricate planning and what it meant to watch Olivia live, and I highlighted how important it felt to see someone like Olivia—half-Filipino—represent us on a global stage. It was a surreal moment, especially as we watched Olivia’s team capture the essence of Filipino pride.
Once we entered the venue, we found our spots at the barricade. We met a few more Filipino fans, including Angel and her friend Wave, who had also prepared a special gift for Olivia—a T-shirt that said “Filipina.”
As we waited for the show to start, we shared stories and food, cementing the fact that this was more than just a concert. It was a community. It was about us—the fans, the culture, the shared experience of being Filipino.
Crochet doll
When Olivia finally took the stage, kicking off with “Bad Idea Right?” the entire arena erupted. She was magnetic, and every song that followed—“Drivers License,” “Logical” and “Enough for You”—felt like a shared catharsis.
One of the highlights of the night was when Olivia noticed the crochet doll Alexes brought for her, and used it as a prop to kick off her performance of “Jealousy, Jealousy.” It was a magical moment that captured the dedication of true fans and represented a full circle moment for Alexes.
Wave shared his own special moment. “I decided at the last minute to gift her a customized shirt. I didn’t want to regret not trying, knowing there was only one night to show my appreciation.” His determination reflected the true spirit of the night, and a proud, quirky smile from Olivia holding up the shirt was more than enough to send Wave over the moon.
Angel said, “From the crazy ticket queue to securing VIP Pit Standing, it was an unforgettable experience. We even arrived at the Philippine Arena at 1 a.m. to get barricade spots! When Olivia took the stage, her voice and presence made everything so worth it—sobrang sulit.”
Another sweet surprise came when a fellow fan noticed the “Brutal” quote on the back of my barong. Since Olivia was about to sing the song, the fan offered to record the whole thing for me—just another example of how kind and thoughtful this fandom can be.
Concert etiquette
Of course, not everything about the night was perfect. In the days following the concert, there was a lively debate about concert etiquette—some fans filmed themselves with flash, blocked views and just generally were a bit inconsiderate. And let’s not forget the scalpers and scammers who made it even harder for genuine fans to get tickets. Many Olivia fans didn’t make it to the show, and it was a painful reminder of the difficulties of securing tickets for highly anticipated events.
I recognize how incredibly lucky and blessed I was to secure a ticket, and the experience was truly unforgettable. But the challenges surrounding ticketing and fan behavior highlighted ongoing issues in the concert scene. Hopefully, this serves as a lesson for concert organizers and promoters to improve and enhance the experience for all fans in the future.
Despite the bumps, Olivia delivered a show that was nothing short of extraordinary. She closed out the night with her high-energy anthems, “Good 4 U” and “Get Him Back!,” and even rocked a tank top emblazoned with “Pinoy Pride.” It was a powerful moment of connection between Olivia and her Filipino fans, proving that her heritage isn’t just something she mentions in passing—it’s something she lives.
In the end, Olivia’s homecoming was more than a concert. It was a celebration of representation, community and pride. And though the process of getting there was brutal, I’ve come to realize that maybe the brutal way was the best way to appreciate everything—the community, the shared joy and the sheer magic of the night, which I’m pretty sure went over and beyond Olivia’s teenage dreams.
