On November 8, Filipino Nakamas, dressed in their favorite One Piece costumes, set sail to sing along to their beloved pirate anthems. Film Concerts PH brought the One Piece Music Symphony — the only official One Piece concert experience — to Philippine shores. The Filharmonika Orchestra brought to life Kohei Tanaka’s original score in an exciting 2-hour concert at the Theater at Solaire.

The show kicked off with “Katayoku no Taka,” accompanied by scenes showcasing red-haired Shanks, Luffy’s mentor, and the legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger, who inspired countless adventurers to set out to sea in search of the fabled treasure known as the One Piece.

As the first quarter of the show unfolded, the audience was treated to symphonies that introduced iconic One Piece characters. “Ore ga Kiru” celebrated Zoro and his quest to become the greatest swordsman, while “Yatta, Dai Shouri” highlighted Sanji’s dream of finding the All Blue. The crowd was hyped as epic soundtracks played, showcasing Nami’s adventures during the Arlong Park Arc, Usopp leading Kaya’s escape from Captain Kuro, and the beloved Tony Tony Chopper during the Drum Island Arc.

One of the concert’s standout moments was the lively performance of “Soul King” Brook, the musician of the Straw Hat Pirates, as the entire crew belted out “Binks no Sake” during the Thriller Bark Arc. With Filharmonika providing the live music, One Piece fans were encouraged to join in, singing along to the fun pirate anthem and repeatedly chanting “Yo hohoho, yo hohoho!”

After the sing-along, the music intensified, and the screen filled with action-packed scenes from Luffy’s most iconic battles against Oars, Lucci, Katakuri, and the Snake Sisters. The emotional score accompanied touching moments from Luffy’s childhood with Portgas D. Ace and Sabo, culminating in a powerful tribute to the Marineford War Arc and signaling the end of the series’ first half with “Go To New World.”

Following a brief intermission, the crowd was welcomed back with a lively arrangement of One Piece’s remarkable “We Go” opening theme. Exciting scenes from the Grand Line played on screen, introducing more Straw Hat Pirates, including Nico Robin and Franky.

The One Piece Music Symphony also showcased music that highlighted colorful locations from the series, such as Punk Hazard, Dressrosa, Whole Cake Island, and the Land of Wano.

Another memorable moment occurred during Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation, where the lights danced to the “Drums of Liberation.” The infectious beat had everyone in the audience clapping along, and even the guest conductor couldn’t resist showing off some of his moves!

As the concert approached its grand finale, the orchestra paid tribute to the Egghead arc, the current storyline of One Piece, marking the beginning of the series’ Final Saga.To close the show, fans were treated to a rousing sing-along of the famous One Piece opening theme song, “We Are!” Every Nakama in the theater clapped, moved, and cheered enthusiastically! With the audience clamoring for more, Filharmonika delivered electrifying renditions of “Family” and “We Did It! Party!” as credits rolled, and the crowd erupted in applause for the Filharmonika, Kohei Tanaka, and the legendary One Piece creator, Eiichiro Oda.

ONE PIECE Music Symphony is presented by Film Concerts PH.

Words and photos by Mark Louie Bonayon