Olivia Rodrigo shared the great memories she made during her visit to the Philippines for her Guts tour back in October 2024.
In an interview with Elle, the Filipino-American singer expressed her gratitude for the warm reception she received from her kababayans.
"I had just never been to the Philippines and I wasn't born there. I don't speak Tagalog very well. I kind of had a chip on my shoulder like, oh gosh, I hope that they accept me and they see me as a Filipino and I'm a source of pride for them. I always wanted that to be the case. And then being able to go there and visit and just see how warmly they embraced me and welcomed me, it really meant so much to me," she remarked.
Olivia said she hopes to return to the Philippines soon. "I love the Philippines so much and I can't wait to go back. And I'm just so grateful to everyone for just welcoming me with open arms. It meant so much," she said.
The "Drivers License" hitmaker revealed that she plans to explore more of the country when she returns.
"I think next year, I really want to go. I went to Manila, but I really want to go to some of the islands next year and swim in the beautiful oceans and see all the beaches. That’s on the agenda," she said.
Following her concert in October 2024, Olivia took to social media to pen a message for her Filipino fans.
"Been dreaming of this show for a whileeeee. My first time in the Philippines and also my biggest venue ever!!!!!" Olivia posted.
"Thank you to everyone Manila for welcoming me so generously and making me feel so loved and thank you to @americanexpress for making this show happen," she added.
The Philippine Arena has a maximum audience capacity of 55,000.
She also announced that the net proceeds of the concert will go to nonprofit organization Jhpiego. Olivia personally visited their office while she was in Manila.
"I’m so stoked that all the net ticket sales from last night could be donated to @jhpiego through my fund 4 good. I got to visit the organization while I was in Manila and was so impressed by the work they are doing providing healthcare to women and girls in the Philippines," she said.
Olivia's Fund 4 Good is "a global initiative committed to building an equitable and just future for all women and girls through direct support of community-based non-profits that champion girls' education, support reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence."