No matter how many concerts I am assigned to cover-whether featuring an artist I religiously tune into or an act completely off my radar-I never tire of showing up. Every stage offers a unique musical experience, a distinct depth of artistry, and the occasional surprise performance that catches me completely off guard.
This rings especially true for this year’s Acer Day Concert.
Marking its 10th anniversary on August 30, Acer Day gathered over 8,500 fans at the Araneta Coliseum, a celebration that coincided with the tech giant’s 50th year in the industry.
Over the years, the event has evolved into a shared platform for OPM artists to connect with fans through interactive shows, all while highlighting the brand’s lifestyle technology.
For its decade milestone, the celebration adopted the theme #ShiftTheGame, encouraging the youth to step beyond their comfort zones and take ownership of their lives through work, play, and culture.
With a lineup spanning multiple generations and genres, I expected a night of remarkable Pinoy music, but the actual experience exceeded my expectations.
Bridging generations of OPM rock
The concert kicked off with a burst of high-octane energy courtesy of OPM rock veterans 6cyclemind. Taking the stage, vocalist Tutti Caringal immediately set the tone, reminding the audience that they were at a rock show, not a ‘movie theater,’ before prompting the crowd to stand up and jam along.
The band opened with ‘Biglaan’ before launching into crowd-favorite anthems ‘Prinsesa’ and ‘Sige.’ A standout moment occurred during ‘Kasalanan,’ when Caringal pulled a fan from the audience to share the stage with the band.
The mood transitioned from high-energy rock to nostalgic, ‘senti’ vibes with the arrival of rising alternative pop-rock band HEY JUNE! The group delivered soulful renditions of songs like ‘Panahon’ alongside a cover of ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World.’ After teasing their upcoming September album release, they capped off their set with their viral hit, ‘Lasik.’
Maintaining the indie momentum, fitterkarma tore up the stage with a hard-hitting performance of ‘Purgatoryo,’ followed by the intense screamo vocals of ‘Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo I.’ They rounded out their set with ‘maryclaire,’ alongside fan favorites ‘Kalapastangan’ and ‘Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II.’
Surprise appearances and collaborations
From the raw power of the opening bands, host Luis Manzano ushered in to introduce the night’s unannounced highlights. The first surprise guest, singer-songwriter Janine Berdin, elicited deafening screams from the audience. She opened with ‘Gusto Ko Sakin Ka Lang,’ followed by ‘Mahika,’ her hit collaboration with Adie, and ‘SITWASYONSHIP.’
Berdin then invited Earl Agustin to the stage for their first-ever live duet, performing The Juans’ ‘Ano Ba Talaga Tayo?’ She concluded her set with her globally recognized track, ‘What if I miss you for the rest of my life?’, treating the crowd to a live rendition of the viral bridge from the song.
Taking his turn on the stage, Earl Agustin performed ‘Dito Sa’Kin,’ ‘Aya,’ and his latest single, ‘Di Na.’ Seeing Earl command the Araneta stage was a full-circle moment, considering his modest beginnings posting online covers of Arthur Nery songs. He closed his set with ‘Pag-ibig ng Ikaw at Ako,’ ‘Dalangin,’ and ‘Tibok.’
Just when it seemed the surprises had peaked, the coliseum erupted as legendary singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan took the stage.
In the Philippines, an appearance by Jose Mari Chan signals one thing: the arrival of the ‘Ber’ months and the start of the Christmas season.
He treated the audience to timeless classics like ‘Tell Me Your Name,’ ‘Beautiful Girl,’ ‘Please Be Careful With My Heart,’ and at the same time, delivered his iconic holiday anthem ‘Christmas in Our Hearts,’ joined by duo El Manu and Jessy Kang.
Taking over the stage next, El Manu and Jessy Kang warmed up the crowd with ‘Basta Tayong Dalawa’ and ‘Bedtime Stories.’ They then captivated the arena with emotional, powerhouse vocal performances of ‘Hindi Ako Mawawala’ and ‘Tahanan,’ which received loud applause from the crowd.ing on a high note
Dionela brought a distinct RandB flavor to the Acer Day stage. His performance opened with ‘Oksihina,’ accompanied by a striking purple visual on the LED screens-creating a strong silhouette of him at the center. He showcased his soulful vocal runs, accompanied by trumpets, with ‘Hoodie’ before leading the crowd in a sing-along to his viral tracks ‘Musika,’ ‘Marilag,’ and ‘sining.’
The night culminated with the headlining performance from Acer ambassadors and P-Pop powerhouse SB19. After Luis Manzano picked a fan from the crowd to formally introduce the group, the arena went wild as soon as their intro VCR played.
SB19 delivered a high-energy set featuring ‘VISA,’ ‘DUNGKA,’ their massive hit ‘GENTO,’ latest single ‘LAWLESS,’ B-side track ‘Memories,’and a soulful song ‘Wakas.’
During their set, the group invited fans (A’TIN) to their upcoming ONE ZONE FEST on October 24-25, teasing that long-awaited ‘dream performances’ might finally come to life.
Acer Day 2026 proved to be both a feast for the ears and a triumph for OPM. Entering the coliseum hoping to catch a few great acts is one thing, but leaving with a full heart after a night of dynamic, cross-generational music is an entirely different experience-one that delivered far more than anyone asked for.