Red petals passing from hand to hand, electric chords cutting through the dark, and four brothers leaving everything on stage before a well-deserved pause – welcome to Rosetopia.
There is something inherently special about the way Filipino Black Roses show up for The Rose — a mutual understanding that whenever Woosung (Sammy), Dojoon (Leo), Hajoon (Dylan), and Taegyeom (Jeff) step onto a Manila stage, the venue transforms into an absolute sanctuary. The Manila stop of the Rosetopia tour at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on August 15 was no different. Except this time, the air was charged with a mix of roaring hype and deep, collective sentimentality, knowing the band is preparing to take a well-deserved pause before their next chapter.
The connection was instant long before the arena lights ever dimmed for the main show. During the soundcheck segment, the four members completely stripped away any boundary between performer and fan. Dressed down in comfortable, casual wear and visibly relaxed, the members leaned over the stage edges, exchanging playful banter and singing face-to-face with the early crowd.
There were no rehearsed poses or scripts — just four musicians genuinely enjoying the company of the people who have supported their journey from day one. It created such an intimate feeling right away, proving once again how effortlessly real and grounded their relationship is with Black Roses.
Opening the night with soaring live instrumentation, the sheer stage presence of the band filled every inch of the massive room. Woosung’s distinct, raspy vocals effortlessly cut through the arena-sized arrangements, backed by Taegyeom’s driving, heavy bass lines, Hajoon’s crisp and thunderous percussion, and Dojoon’s rich, multi-layered harmonies and keyboard work.
The carefully curated setlist offered a dynamic ride through their rich discography, while also offering an exclusive treat for those in attendance: live previews of unreleased tracks from their upcoming album Rose, including “Utopia,” “Chemical,” and “Blue Moon.” Hearing these raw, unreleased arrangements live gave fans a next level glimpse into the band’s evolving sonic identity.
From the very second the introductory guitar chords of “Back To Me“ rang out through the speakers, the arena floor turned into one giant, unified choir. High-energy anthems like “RED“ and “Control“ brought explosive, electric energy to the venue. Fans chanted every single lyric word-for-word, jumping in unison and shaking the floorboards with pure enthusiasm while the band poured every ounce of energy into their instruments.
Yet, the true heart of any The Rose concert lies in its profound ability to heal. As the setlist transitioned into emotional staples like “Lifeline,” “Alive,” and “Sorry,” the energy in the room shifted seamlessly from high-octane excitement into a shared moment of collective comfort.
The music became a safe space where no one had to hide their emotions—a collective deep breath shared between thousands of people who found solace in the exact same chords.
Sea of lights illuminated thousands of fans singing through tears, finding comfort in the lyrics that have served as a soundtrack to their hardest days. The band members themselves seemed to absorb every drop of that raw emotion, frequently pausing between songs to stand in quiet awe, gazing out at Filipino Black Roses with visible gratitude.
The emotional peak of the evening arrived during the show’s closing ment. Dojoon pulled out a carefully folded, handwritten letter and read a heartfelt message directly to Filipino Black Roses in steady, practiced Tagalog:
“Napakalaking biyaya para sa amin ang makagawa ng musika at maibahagi ito sa buong mundo. Maraming salamat sa inyong pagmamahal at suporta sa nakaraang siyam na taon. Dahil sa inyo, narito kami ngayon. Ako at kami ay napakasaya at proud na masabi naming kami ang The Rose.”
@hallyulife.com “𝗔𝗸𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗶 𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗻𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲.” – 𝘋𝘰𝘫𝘰𝘰𝘯, 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 🥹🌹🖤 Presented by @L-Squared Productions PH #TheRose #더로즈 #ROSETOPIA #ROSETOPIAInManila #LSquaredProdPH
As quiet sniffles echoed across the arena floor, Woosung stepped in with reassuring warmth, reminding the crying crowd that this upcoming hiatus isn’t a final farewell, but rather a necessary intermission — a chance for each member to rest, explore personal dreams, and recharge before coming back together stronger than ever. His words reframed the sadness into anticipation, turning tears of grief into smiles of reassurance and hope.
Closing out the night, the members walked all the way along the barricades, handing physical red roses directly into the hands of waiting fans on the floor. Tears, smiles, warm waves, and loud cheers mingled across the venue as the band took their final bows and took in the view of the arena one last time before stepping off stage.
Rosetopia in Manila wasn’t just another concert stop on a tour map; it was a loud, loving, and deeply comforting reassurance that no matter how long the pause lasts, the home they’ve built with Filipino Black Roses will be right here waiting when they return.
Big thanks to L-Squared Productions for making Rosetopia in Manila happen! PH Black Roses will be holding onto these memories until the next bloom! 🌹🖤
