The iconic pop-rock band fused romantic nostalgia with orchestral brilliance to honor the hugot hit that shaped modern OPM.

With a career spanning nearly three decades, Moonstar88 has built a reputation as one of the modern visionaries in Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Last night, the beloved pop-rock trio, composed of vocalist and guitarist Maysh Baay, drummer Bon Sundiang, and lead guitarist Herbert Hernandez, headlined Moonstar88: 25 Years of Torete—a landmark concert that paid tribute to their timeless catalog, led by the enduring anthem that started it all.

Presented by Eton Centris and Soupstar Music, the concert celebrated the enduring legacy of “Torete,” a song that has become synonymous with Pinoy romantic nostalgia. Released as the lead single from their 2000 debut album, Popcorn, “Torete” captured the restless energy of first love and adolescent longing. Its honest vulnerability struck a chord with listeners across generations, securing its place in the canon of Pinoy rock.

“Torete was born out of raw, unfiltered emotion—and maybe that’s why people keep coming back to it,” shared Hernandez. “I think every generation has felt that kind of vulnerability and intense love at least once in their lives. It’s a song na hindi nagpapanggap, and that honesty keeps it alive.”

Baay echoed Hernandez’s sentiment, reflecting on how the song has evolved alongside the band’s own journey. “Songs are like people: they grow deeper with time,” she explained. “Musically, we’ve explored different arrangements of Torete over the years, but emotionally, the impact is even more powerful now. Every time we perform the song, we carry with us the entire journey—from college gigs to major stages, from heartbreaks to healing.”

To honor the song’s profound impact and the band’s artistic evolution, Moonstar88 delivered a riveting performance that seamlessly blended fan favorites with rarities. What made the night particularly extraordinary was the bold inclusion of orchestral arrangements—nearly half of the setlist was reimagined with sweeping string and bass sections, in collaboration with Jonathan Cruz and the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra.

“This has long been a dream of ours,” Hernandez revealed. “We’ve always wondered, what if Moonstar88 had a string or brass section? We would often imagine how our songs might sound with a broader, more expansive musical arrangement. The idea first took place when we released our EP, Strings Attached. Why don’t we try performing with an orchestra?”

The result was a cinematic and emotionally expansive experience, reframing the timeless quality of their music with sophisticated fullness and revitalized edge.

“The moment we heard the first arrangement, we were moved to tears,” admitted Hernandez. “We’ve always wanted to share this experience live—for the audience to feel how the emotion in our music rises and expands when strings and bass are added. This marks a new chapter for us, and we hope that everyone who hears it feels the same sense of wonder and renewal.”

But the performance as it is, stripped of the flowy grandiosity, is an exercise in reawakening. Moonstar88 has always been a solid live act with enough grit, talent, and tenacity to own the stage effortlessly. They know how to put on a show, but they’re also adept at locking the audience in silly little dances or solitary introspection, as if completely invisible from the rest of the world. That’s their essence as a live performer: they make every single moment count and unstoppable, even if it rolls with so much emotional punch.

Whether it was through cathartic sing-alongs, reflective pauses, or laughter between songs, 25 Years of Torete was more than a concert; it was a communal act of remembering, healing, and celebrating. It reaffirmed Moonstar88’s place not only in OPM history, but also in the personal soundtracks of countless lives. As the final notes echoed across the venue, it became clear: Torete is not just a song. It is a feeling, a memory, a legacy. And 25 years later, it continues to live on, louder and deeper than ever.

Moonstar88: 25 Years of Torete is presented by Eton Centris and Soupstar Music.