K-Pop boy group Stray Kids took over the Philippine Arena on November 23, 2024, for their ‘Dominate’ world tour, giving an unforgettable concert for Filipino Stays. The group, made up of eight talented members, lit up the arena with their Hiphop, EDM, rock, and pop songs. This marked their third concert in the Philippines — following their 2019 "I Am..." tour in Manila and the 2023 "Maniac" tour at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With nearly all 55,000 seats filled, Filo Stays proudly waved banners and lightsticks, rocking trendy outfits all over the Arena. Filo Stays enjoyed over 30 songs from the group, plus special solo performances from each member.
Han-biased Mikee was overjoyed by Stray Kids' connection with fans and their effort to create a meaningful experience. Her highlights included HAN’s solo "Hold My Hand" and the rainbow confetti, as well as Felix attempting a local TikTok trend.
“It exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere was lively and emotional, and you could see the members enjoying the stage, especially as we sang along—even when we butchered the lyrics,” Mikee said.
Another Filo Stay, Hanida, was excited but still shocked to see Stray Kids in Manila. Her favorite moment was "Social Path," performance by the group that deeply resonated with her due to its emotional lyrics about Bang Chan’s struggles. Hanida described the concert as high-energy and said the fan project, especially Bang Chan's emotional reaction, was a highlight. She loved how Stray Kids interacted with the fans. "They made sure everyone felt included, no matter where we were seated," she added.
Thessa’s standout moment was "TOPLINE," which hyped up the whole arena. She described the concert as a high-energy party with no dull moments and was moved by Bang Chan’s message of appreciation for Filo Stays. Her highlight was during the encore when she fully immersed herself in the concert.
“They make sure we feel loved and appreciated, and it makes me even prouder to stan the right group—stan the group that stans you back,” Thessa said.
The Stray Kids 'Dominate' concert was extra special for Davao Stays, who were able to attend live, feeling lucky to be “dominated” by Stray Kids. The Davao admins, led by Rai, organized a shuttle system for the concert to ensure every Dabawenyo fan could attend.
For Rai, this was a significant event for all Filo Stays, especially Davao Stays, and she worked hard to make the experience memorable for every Davao Stay. "Stray Kids' music energizes me, whether I’m happy, tired, or sad," she said, excited to experience the concert live alongside her friends.
"My favorite part was when Felix and the others danced to 'Emergency Paging Dr. Beat.' Bang Chan even mentioned liking Kare-Kare and how Filipinos are great at everything—dancing, singing, and performing," Rai said.
“These little moments showed the mutual admiration between them and us fans,” Rai added.
Having organized K-pop cupsleeve events in Davao for over two years, Rai finds it heartwarming to see the community grow alongside Stray Kids. “It’s not easy to save up and travel that far to see your idols,” she said. “But when I see Davao STAYs make that effort, I’m amazed at how much love they have for the Kids. I hope everyone had a good time and that all their efforts were worth it. Thank you for loving Stray Kids”.
The concert was not just about Stray Kids performing; it was about the group's love and appreciation for every fan. It was an event filled with fun, excitement, and fans uniting to support their idols.
"There ain't no last step out, oh, we'll never stop," - Stray Kids.
Writer's note: I’m still a Seungmin stan and SeungJin shipper, but Bang Chan was my concert bias. AJA