How do you encapsulate a mind-blowing, once in a lifetime whirlwind experience? Felip’s electrifying 7sins Album Concert flew by so quickly, that I am left with a thousand shimmering pieces of memories strewn about. One thing I am certain of however, is that I must have witnessed something spectacular.
Let me try to find the words.
Tidy Beginnings at Space, One Ayala
Flying in from a different city after work, and already late for strapping, I was afraid I’d have to frantically search for wherever Space was at One Ayala and then wait exhausted in line for hours. Thankfully, the fans were like beautiful dark beacons signaling the way. I only had to follow a growing gathering of happy, black clad emo breadcrumbs to find the spot. To my utter surprise, strapping and merch claiming concluded swiftly and efficiently.
I returned three hours later to line up for entry. With a pre-issued queue number and online guidelines I simply had to find my spot and wait. And even then, marshals and event staff were constantly around and about answering questions. I was in disbelief. I did not imagine I would experience such peace and quiet at a wait line, and for a concert at that.
Inside, I found my first source of lament through no fault of the organizers. Being extremely vertically challenged, I was afraid that once the three rows of people in front of me at the barricade stood up, all I’d end up enjoying was the sight of armpits and bobbing heads. I debated whether it would be wiser to stand at the back where I might be able to see better at an angle, but my innate inability to solve geometric problems was even worse than my lack of height.
True enough, once everyone was on their feet shortly before the opening song, the tallest ladies I’d ever seen in my life loomed right in front of me. But somehow, the movement of excited fans, like charged molecules throughout “foes,” nudged me gently to the front until I was nearly beside the vertically gifted. It was then that I looked up, spellbound.
How was it like seeing him for the first time? What was he like?
Seeing Felip for the First Time, Bedazzled
I can tell you how blindingly beautiful he was, how he looked like a son of Bathala come to dazzle us with his light, or how he had pandesal (aka abs) served with 3-in-1 coffee at his dinner table, but it was perhaps his ability to carry a balance of looks, confidence, talent, authenticity and style that made his magnetism unique. On stage that day, he wore all these qualities like a second skin. There was nothing awkward or calculated about him. Every step, piercing look or flip of a finger, hit just right.
What made him truly exceptional though, was his intensity. He had a radiating energy so strong and palpable it was infectious, spilling over the audience in waves. Even in my frumpy mom jeans, his vibe made me feel every bit a rock star too.
Immersive Stories in Music and Visuals
Felip brought to life all of the 7sins on stage and then some, including an unreleased, Japan-only track, “Tokyo,” making for a rich blend of hip-hop, pop rock, R&B, gospel, rap, ballad and electronic music. Added into the mix were nods to the COM.PLEX era in “ROCKSTA” and “MICTEST”; piano instrumental “Kanako,” and rolling credits fan sing-along song, “Fake Faces.” Guests Cyra Gwynth and PLAYERTWO, both of whom shared delightful chemistry with Felip, each sang two of their original tracks.
Obviously, mounting and executing this show required the hard work of a solid team. But from various accounts online, Felip had a say on everything, from the vision and production concept to the tiniest details involving makeup and fits. Which is why, when taken as a whole, you could easily sense Felip playing to his strengths, relying less on telling the audience what to think and feel, preferring instead to tell multifaceted stories in music and visuals. The end outcome was a visually stunning show, akin to an immersive play production, that built upon and enhanced the traditional auditory concert experience.
It wasn’t just spectacle; everything on that stage was in the service of the overarching theme. The combined somber audio, subdued lighting and the elevated stage accentuated by jutting prop rocks and what looked like parts of medieval battlements for instance, defined the time context, with the current 7 sins after all, hailing from the middle ages. These also essentially set the mood for a dark, out of the ordinary experience. Later, the play of lights, from deep reds to dark blues and eventually to soft whites, marked the journey from fall to redemption.
And how can we forget the myriad of tiny details in each song, the black umbrellas in “envy” perhaps signaling a flex shower for instance, or the mud man in “gluttony” trapped in his all-consuming addiction, or the prism light imprisoning Felip as he performed “pride”? Felip is known for leaving his work open to free interpretation. We may analyze the show elements differently, but whatever each of us thought individually, there is that sense that they were all part of a thematic, cohesive story.
From 7 Sins to Freedom
For all the talk about 7sins being darker even than COM.PLEX, the concert gave us a generous dose of positivity, and a reminder that we are our own agents of salvation. The intro emphasized how it is human nature to err, and that it is only through accepting our failings that we can hope to appreciate peace, joy, love and everything beautiful in life.
Later, before singing “greed”, Felip encouraged his fans, “Don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Be brave. You guys are beautiful. Know your worth. Be strong.”
And as the concert wound down, Felip exhorted us to find the path to greater transformation; to be wise, kind and good; and to speak with love and compassion.
If you only watched him perform one song, you would not get it. You have to witness the complete story unravel to understand Felip’s message of personal freedom and empowerment.
From the Ends of the Earth
Of course, what would Felip’s event be without the other stars of the show, his fans? I’d never seen devotion as intense as what I’d witnessed that day. I found it amazing that people would travel from all over the country and even from other countries to support Felip. And mind you, they all came dressed to the nines, a sea of stylish black, barely a pastel twig in sight. They were all so on theme, it was like attending a conference on the benefits of monochrome.
What was even more astonishing was the composition of fans. It wasn’t all just fan girls. There were men in varying fashion forward looks, and titas in subdued colors. Most surprising of all were the senior citizens. In my line of sight alone, I saw six, and I saw a couple more on social media.
For all the devotion, the fans were amply rewarded, carefully guided through the process, allowed to bring professional grade cameras and given what they wished for, from a quick “Pagdali” acapella rendition with PLAYERTWO, to a much awaited dance break via “ROCKSTA.”
‘Always Dream High’
It is to Felip’s advantage that he has a capable team willing and eager to do cartwheels to bring his vision into fruition, and dedicated fans ready to walk the ends of the earth for him. Perhaps we all willingly do these because it is a satisfying experience to see great, hardworking talent succeed.
Felip has often been commended for his versatility and uniqueness, but I feel these words don’t quite do justice to how he has grown in leaps and bounds from his “Palayo” days. He has been quoted before saying he only competes with himself, and it is a relief seeing him winning. In just three years and at only 27 years old, his purposeful and authentic artistry has taken him to new heights.
He has evolved into a master storyteller, a force in creative spaces he has built, and he has achieved this armed with grit and the determination to make it on his own terms. He has taken on his own advice to, “Always dream high.”