[PHILIPPINES] Full Speed Ahead: HIGHLIGHT Brings Ride or Die to Manila

HIGHLIGHT’s Asia tour brought the Ride or Die arc to Manila on August 23, 2025, at the New Frontier Theater, where they revisited BEAST classics and their newer catalog with emotional depth.

Clad in leather jackets, Yoon Doojoon, Yang Yoseob, Lee Gikwang, and Son Dongwoon opened with the electrifying title track Chains from their latest mini album, From Real to Surreal. The members showed their veteran charm performing various genres from the dance floor banger, BODY, to soulful rendition of Endless Ending.

The group performed some of their iconic tracks such as, Shadow, 12:30, On Rainy Days, Fiction, and Shock. Yoseob was particularly surprised to hear Filo LIGHTs and B2UTYs sing along clearly during the chorus of On Rainy Days.

Since it’s been nine years since the group’s last visit, Dongwoon recalled fondly of his time when he studied in the Philippines (he referred himself as the Harry Potter kid from Sta. Rosa, Laguna) and how he missed eating taho, a sweet Filipino dessert made from silken tofu with sago pearls and syrup.

Of course, the fans aren’t the only ones in it for the nostalgia. Nearing the end of their concert, fans surprised HIGHLIGHT with video montage of messages from fans, who some of them have been fans since the group’s conception. Fans also serenaded the group with Oasis, a song off their debut mini-album, Beast is the B2ST, in 2009. 

Having obtained trademark rights for their original name, BEAST, the members teased that they are preparing something really soon for their fans and they couldn’t wait to come back to the Philippines again. As the group engaged with the fans in their two-part encore set, one thing became clear: Filo LIGHTs and B2UTYs are truly ride-or-die for HIGHLIGHT, palagi (always).

Huge thank you to Three Angles Production for inviting us to this event!

Written by: Cheska
Photos by: Shenny

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