Manila, Philippines, October 28, 2025 — On October 11, 2025, something truly extraordinary took place. As the sun shone down on Bridgetowne Open Grounds, Blackout Manila redefined the festival experience for thousands of people.
At every corner of the venue, there was an activity for everyone. Gamers could meet their favorite creators and sample their merch, participate in Beyblade tournaments, play retro games and board games, groove to Just Dance, and more. One’s artistic side was spoiled for choice as attractions such as nail art, tattoo artists, sticker vendors, and the offerings of Guhit Pinas and Patrons of the Arts.
Attendees had no shortage of entertainment at the center of the venue thanks to the thrilling booths of the event’s main sponsors. Lootbox offered arcade games, and a meet and greet with legendary players Yawi, H2WO, Sumpak, and Renejay. Lootbox also gave artists the chance to show off their creativity as they turned the Lootbox booth into a giant mural.
The Anichess booth offered the opportunity to demo the genre morphing digital chess game officially endorsed by titans of the pro chess world in Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri while the myriad minigames at the Tevi booth gave hopefuls the chance to win generous cash prizes.
Bolstering all this was Ginebra San Miguel Inc.’s Versatile Bar & Lounge, allowing attendees to beat the heat with refreshments and try out creative cocktails crafted with Ginebra San Miguel, GSM Blue, GSM Premium Gin, Antonov Vodka and Primera Light Brandy.
Their lineup of cocktails cleverly incorporated the above-mentioned liquors into unique blends that celebrated video game culture and artistry such as Level Up Lime, Blacklist Elixir, Savage Mix, and Inferno Burst.
There was no shortage of action on the main stage either as a multitude of musical acts hyped the crowd hour after hour. The day began with a variety of bands, from heavy metal to alternative rock. As the day went on, fans were treated to more musical styles from hip-hop to pop, as well as novelty acts including pro wrestling cosplay.
The main event of the evening began with the lineup of P-pop artists including KAIA, 1st One, New:ID, and 6ENSE. The idols lit up the stage, showcasing the rising talent in the growing P-pop scene. Headlining act Iyaz sent the event into a frenzy as he played his hit songs ‘Solo’ and ‘Replay’ amidst other crowd pleasers.
Capping off night were some of the hottest DJs in the local scene right now including Bandit, Patty Tiu, Jonnel Trinidad, Carla Cray, Sigrid, and Rolf who kept the party going into the early morning.
Against all odds, Blackout Manila delivered on its promise of being a place where gaming, music, and arts would collide into a new frontier of entertainment. From top to bottom, from sun out to sun down, the event was a melting pot of cultures and interest spheres, where anyone could feel included and seen. With an atmosphere full of potential, it will be interesting to see where Tier One Entertainment takes this concept moving forward.
