There’s something uniquely surreal about being an older Gen Z--growing up in the middle of multiple pop culture eras colliding at once. We witnessed the rise of 2000s pop-punk and emo bands that became the soundtrack of teenage angst, while also experiencing the dominance of global pop superstars and the explosive arrival of the Hallyu wave.
One moment, we were downloading band wallpapers and memorizing Dashboard Confessional lyrics; the next, we were learning K-pop fan chants and refreshing YouTube for new music video drops.
Now, as older Gen Zs and young millennials step into their late 20s and early 30s, nostalgia hits in a completely different way. We grew up copying lyrics into notebooks, waiting all day for our favorite music videos to air on television, and customizing our profiles with dramatic emo anthems playing in the background. And somehow, despite how fast everything changed, those songs still feel like yesterday.
And this May, the soundtrack of that era is suddenly alive again. From OPM legends to iconic voices we grew up hearing on the radio, here’s the ultimate concert and music guide for every “trentahin” who still says, “Grabe, parang kailan lang.”
The first thing on the map is the Playback Festival. Though the show has already wrapped up, Faber Drive, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and Dashboard Confessional transformed the SM Mall of Asia Arena into a time capsule of nostalgic anthems that defined our elementary and high school years.
These were the songs that played during our first crushes, first loves, first heartbreaks, and every dramatic “main character moment” in between. The kind of tracks we blasted through earphones while staring out the window pretending we were in a music video.
It was a night of screaming “Tongue Tied” at the top of our lungs, reliving emo-phase memories through “Face Down,” and feeling every ounce of emotion that came with Dashboard Confessional’s heartbreaking lyrics. For one night, the “rawr XD” generation reunited: older, maybe more tired, but still knowing every single word by heart.
Back in 2012, older Gen Zs remember gathering around televisions, endlessly voting online, and proudly rooting for Jessica Sanchez during her unforgettable run on American Idol. For many Filipinos, she became a symbol of representation, talent, and pride on a global stage.
Now, years later, Sanchez returns to the Philippines in a completely new era of her life — not only as a globally recognized powerhouse vocalist and America’s Got Talent champion, but also as a new mom embracing a fresh chapter beyond the spotlight.
This May 16, she’s set to headline a major concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, joined by a star-studded lineup of guests including Vice Ganda, Morissette, James Reid, and more.
There was a time when nearly every café, acoustic night, and senti playlist in the Philippines carried the unmistakable sound of “Para Sa Akin.” Two decades later, the song remains one of the most recognizable OPM staples, covered by countless Filipino artists, performed in karaoke sessions, and still capable of triggering instant nostalgia with just a few opening notes.
Now, the Philippines’ “Bossa Nova Queen” is celebrating that legacy in a major way. This May 17, Sitti headlines “Sittiscape: The City of Bossa” at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. The concert marks 20 years of her iconic hit “Para Sa Akin” while also celebrating the anniversary of Café Bossa, the album that helped define an entire era of chill, acoustic-driven OPM.
If there’s one thing every trentahin can agree on, it’s that early 2000s OPM hit differently.
The emotional ballads of Freestyle, the smooth R&B grooves of South Border, and the unforgettable vocals of “Diamond Soul Siren” Nina became staples of radio stations, burned CDs, karaoke nights, and late-night senti sessions. These were the songs that played in the background of family road trips, school fairs, heartbreaks, and quiet moments alone with wired earphones plugged into an MP3 player.
On May 17 at 19 East, three OPM legends are coming together for one unforgettable night.
There are OPM songs that become hits, and then there are songs that become permanent chapters in people’s lives. “Pagdating ng Panahon” belongs to the latter.
Now celebrating 25 years since its release, the timeless ballad continues to resonate across generations. It carried feelings that were difficult to explain at the time and the kind of track that somehow grows with you, sounding completely different depending on what stage of life you’re in.
And even after two and a half decades, the opening lines of “Pagdating ng Panahon” still have the power to instantly soften a room. This May 23 at 8 PM, Ice Seguerra returns to the stage for Back “2” Back at the Winford Resort & Casino Manila. Adding even more emotion to the night are special guests Gerald Santos and ROUGE.
Another night of timeless hits and unforgettable performances awaits as MYMP and Side A take center stage for a feel-good OPM showcase, joined by Sessions with Brian Yamsuan. Happening on May 24 at 19 East, the evening promises a heartfelt throwback of acoustic classics and well-loved ballads that defined countless memories.
This is the generation that grew up in transition. We witnessed the rise of emo bands, acoustic café playlists, OPM ballads, pop superstars, and the Hallyu wave all at once, creating a soundtrack that felt uniquely ours.
And now, as adulthood moves faster and responsibilities grow heavier, hearing these songs live again feels almost comforting. Suddenly, we’re transported back to school corridors, family road trips, late-night radio sessions, Friendster profiles with autoplay music, and simpler versions of ourselves who thought those moments would last forever. Because no matter how much the world changes, some melodies will always sound like home.
