One Ok Rock concert: A product of Pinoy fans’ dedication

CEBU, Philippines – There are many factors that contribute to an artist’s success in the music industry other than talent. Effective management, good publicity and strong consistency are just a few aspects can make or break a music career – but none of these matter more than a loyal and fervent fan base.

Quickly gaining popularity around the world with songs such as “The Beginning” and “Mighty Long Fall” while performing alongside recognizable bands such as Simple Plan and All Time Low, Japanese rock (J-Rock) band One Ok Rock (commonly abbreviated as OOR) has exactly all the abovementioned factors – especially the dedicated fans.

Just ask the Filipino fans how they beat the odds to have One Ok Rock finally schedule a concert on Philippine soil.

Third time’s the charm

“We spent three years petitioning for them to have a concert here,” says Mae Karen Pasaol, a proud Cebuano member of the Japanese band’s fan club Philippines’ One Ok Rockers, the most active national One Ok Rock fan base in the country. “We were already denied twice.”

After submitting their third petition to Japanese entertainment company Amuse Inc., their request was granted at last. With One Ok Rock scheduled to hold their concert in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena this January 19, their Pinoy followers have proven that anything can happen if fans are determined enough.

Jamie Balgos, also a Cebuano member of One Ok Rock’s national fan club, shares a recent example of the power of fans.

“We got the idea to petition for the concert to happen right after fans of Rurouni Kenshin (also identified as RuroKen) successfully petitioned for the live-action films to be shown here in the Philippines,” Balgos says.

The RuroKen trilogy did extremely well in the Philippines, earning over P120 million while topping the local box-office. The films also have a strong and surprising connection with One Ok Rock, using their energetic and powerful songs “The Beginning,” “Mighty Long Fall” and “Heartache” for their official soundtracks.

Filipinos who weren’t familiar with the band got a taste of what they had to offer through these movies, and the number of Filipino One Ok Rock fans exponentially increased after the local premiere of the second film in the Rurouni Kenshin trilogy.

“One Ok Rock fandom almost always starts after watching and hearing the songs from Rurouni Kenshin,” adds Balgos.

How it all began

It is beyond any doubt that the fans’ support made the upcoming concert possible. It is an amazing sight to behold of a humble group sharing a common interest turn into an extensive local fan community recognized around the world. How did it all start?

“It all began with about a dozen members around the Philippines, and four members here in Cebu,” says Pasaol. “We were just a group of friends who discovered and liked One Ok Rock by ourselves.”

The group was created even before One Ok Rock was known globally, she added, which many considered as right after the worldwide theatrical release of the first film in the Rurouni Kenshin trilogy.

Even with a small membership count back then, the fans held events and activities to connect with other fans. They have also been to the band’s concerts in other parts of Southeast Asia. Seeing the energy, talent and potential of the band, the small group continued to share their passion with fellow Filipinos, with the aid of their Japanese counterparts.

“The Japanese fan community is amazing, for the simple reason that they make the content shareable with other people, and they are not at all hostile towards other fan bases,” says Pasaol.

The group membership increased slowly, albeit steadily. Then came the local theatrical release of the first film in the Rurouni Kenshin live-action trilogy. The Rurouni Kenshin films played a huge part in the growth of the fan club, with increased join requests, alongside a considerable growth in the number of people approaching their group to show their growing interest in learning about One Ok Rock and their music. The fan club’s Facebook group now boasts more than 5,500 members.

“As for the Cebu chapter of the fan club, we recently held an activity where more than 35 members joined in,” Pasaol shares.

“Remember that it was only recently that we only had four or five people participating,” says Balgos. “I always find myself pleasantly surprised.”

Ready and waiting

Everything is set and everyone is anxiously waiting for the concert that the adoring Filipino fans of One Ok Rock have worked and prayed hard for. Despite the looming date, there’s still enough time to create new fans and buy enough seats for the concert.

Balgos dishes out an important advice to those who are new to One Ok Rock: “Listen to One Ok Rock without comparison and with an open mind. If you happen to like them, then look for people who may also like your newfound interest, spread the word, and enjoy!”