On October 8, the One Piece Music Symphony finally sailed to the Philippines, and it left an indelible mark on Filipino Nakamas who were there to see it. As early as 2:00PM, the hallways of the Theater at Solaire were filled by ardent fans who were dressed in their best pirate garb – hats, vests, weapons, plushies and smiles that are just as wide as Luffy’s.
Presented by Film Concerts PH, the two-hour concert turned out to be one heck of an adventure as the Filharmonika Orchestra played the most heart-thumping, tear-jerking and laughter-inducing music composed by Kohei Tanaka for the beloved anime franchise: One Piece. The event was truly a joy for the audiences that clapped, gasped and even sang along as they played each song. At the end of it, the exultation was palpable, as seen when orchestra was awarded with an extensive standing ovation.
One Piece has become a global phenomenon – with the manga being the best-selling of all time and the anime series still running with 1,100+ episodes. It has spawned a numerous spin-offs, movies and even a live-action Netflix adaptation in 2023.
Created by manga artist Eiichiro Oda, the story of One Piece revolves around a free-spirited boy named Monkey D. Luffy who has one dream: to be the King of Pirates. To achieve that, he sets sails across the vast world, gathering crew members that were to become part of his Straw Hat Pirates. In their journey to different islands, they help people, they overcome challenges, and in many instances, they end up toppling the world order.
Since the release of the manga in 1997 and the anime in 1999, the series has been lauded for its extensive world-building, vibrant characterizations, and its profound exploration on world issues. One Piece fans have spent long years, even entire childhoods, following the saga, so the event was pretty darn important for them. Thankfully, the Filharmonika Orchestra did a fine job in honoring the fans’ memories of the series.
The One Piece Music Symphony was divided into two parts with a quick intermission in between. As the orchestra played, a video montage, devoid of dialogue, flashed in the big screen on stage – each scene seamlessly blended in with the music. It was almost as if the videos were choreographed to the beats and strings as they happened.
The concert was a smooth expedition of the story, one arc at a time. The audience got to re-experience One Piece — from Alabasta down to Egghead — in full orchestral glory. It opened with “I’m Going to be Pirate King!”, featuring scenes from Luffy’s childhood up to the time he fiercely decided to set sail with his dream. This was followed by the individual theme of each Straw Hat crew member – Zoro, Nami, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Nico Robin and well, you know the drill.
Imagine seeing snippets of the iconic One Piece scenes matched with the burgeoning battle music or the melancholic chords of “Mother Sea” as a montage of the characters crying when tragedy struck them. We won’t spoil much else, but you can definitely expect to see all the epic moments, with impeccable symphonic harmony and some liberating drum beats. The music swelled, as it was played by the Filharmonika Orchestra, intensifying the experience and making it feel more immersive. From the crowd, audible gasps of excitement and even sounds of stifled cries could be heard.
The concert also welcomed a few sing-alongs which were no-brainers for real fans: “Binks’ Sake” and the quintessential opening theme: “We Are!”. Fans who were timid at first gradually found their voices and turned up their cheers as the show went on.
Truly, the One Piece Music Symphony in Manila was a dream-come-true for longtime fans and anime enthusiasts. It took a long time for it to get here, but it was well worth the wait. Kudos to the Filharmonika Orchestra for masterfully playing through the dynamic One Piece soundtrack! The two-hour concert was so satisfying, it felt like a grand adventure; and celebrating it with fellow fans was priceless.
Hoping for more anime-centric symphonies in the future!
The 2nd show was unfortunately postponed due to Typhoon Uwan, but look on the bright side: you can still catch the rescheduled show on January 11, 2026, 5:00 PM at The Theater Solaire. Those who purchased tickets will be prioritized, with the option to reschedule or refund. Public sale will open on December 2, 2025.
Special thanks to Film Concerts PH!
By Sandra Mae Laureano
