From Cupsleeves To Crowd Chants: How Filipino ARMYs Gave J-Hope The Welcome He Deserves

Earlier this year, the announcement of J-Hope's Hope On The Stage tour felt like a gift, especially with Manila included as one of the stops. ICYDK, this was the first solo performance by a BTS member in the Philippines—nearly eight(!) years after the group's The Wings Tour concert in May 2017.

Fueled by immense excitement and anticipation, Filipino ARMYs wasted no time. Fanbases across the country quickly came together to plan meaningful fan projects for J-Hope's highly anticipated return. Thus, HOPEful in Manila (HFIM) was born—an initiative led by 38 Filipino BTS ARMY fanbases. The majority of the fan bases previously collaborated on the "Purple Walk Of Love," which was held nationwide in September 2024. Other fan bases later joined the initiative for J-Hope's concert, forming a more unified local network.

To ensure effective task delegation, the fanbases organized themselves into different committees: Contents and Marketing, Creatives and Design, Production and Dispatch, Finance, Volunteer Management, and Mall Logistics. The fanbases were the ones who picked their committees depending on their strengths and expertise. The whole team held weekly online meetings to provide updates and track progress, ensuring that all projects stayed aligned with the overall plan.

The HFIM initiative prepared a range of key activities to make Hope On The Stage in Manila an unforgettable experience for both J-Hope and ARMYs. These included HOPESPHERE, HOPECOMING, UARMYZONE, and UARMYHOME.

HOPESPHERE presented the details of all the fan projects created for ARMYs who attended both concert days. Special project items like a squirrel mask for Day 1 and a sunflower lightstick cover for Day 2 were distributed. They also made hand banners in the shapes of a flower and flame that featured heartfelt messages and instructions on how to execute the fan projects. Stickers for the lighting event were also handed out. The best part? Everything was free. These fan project items were given in designated stations around the concert venue for easy access for attendees. 

Meanwhile, HOPECOMING was all about giving J-Hope a warm and unforgettable welcome in his return to the Philippines. From April 9 to 14, welcome banners were installed along the NAIAx ramps at Macapagal Boulevard. In addition to that, 20 lamp post banners around the venue were proudly sponsored by Filipino BTS-ARMY fanbases, while 12 more were powered by a brand sponsor. 

But the surprises didn't stop there. On both concert days, the Hope On The Move bus, which was wrapped in a special J-Hope design, offered free rides to the venue that ran routes from Quezon City in the north and Cavite in the south to ensure that J-Hope's presence was felt throughout the streets of Manila.

Nikka Castillo of BTS-ARMY Albay, Head of Creatives and Design Committee, said that the NAIAx banners kicked off the excitement for J-Hope's concert. "Since thousands of ARMYs are from outside NCR, it was the first thing that welcomed them," she shared. She also said that it was very satisfying to see ARMYs holding the specially made hand fans.

"It was the Creatives and Design Committee that worked on [the visuals], not just one individual. Yes, may isang template, but revisions were made. Aside from the banners, it was really overwhelming to see the bus on the street as it was huge and pretty," Nikka added. 

On the other hand, UARMYZONE was the ultimate fan gathering place during the concert days. It was open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and was made available to everyone. So, whether or not ARMYs had concert tickets, they had a dedicated place to meet, celebrate, and exchange freebies. The UARMYZONE mall activation featured merchant booths, BTS-themed attractions, exciting activities, and a program with games and raffles. One highlight was the HOPE IN STYLE segment, where ARMYs confidently showcased their BTS or J-Hope-inspired outfits. The winners walked away with freebies and prizes!

"It was easy in the sense that both SM MOA and the Filo ARMY fanbases are already used to organizing fan events at the Music Hall. There were, of course, challenges that came up along the way, but none that we weren't able to address or overcome. Putting together an event is never stress-free, but it's always fun.

Mall events are quite expensive to mount, but our mall team believed it had to be a two-day event since Hobi's concert spanned two days, and there would definitely be ARMYs looking forward to a fanzone experience," Nikko added.

The final key activity was the UARMYHOME, designed especially for those who celebrated J-Hope's concert from home. This fan project featured online streaming parties to ensure that no one felt left out. Whether at the concert venue or from the comfort of their home, every ARMY was included and thought of!

It's no joke organizing big fan projects such as HFIM. All the people involved had to sacrifice their time and put so much effort into it, which only proves how huge and unconditional their love for BTS is.

Nikko shared that one of the major challenges of mounting HFIM was balancing their time. "All the fanbase representatives were either working or studying, and many were moms juggling family responsibilities. I personally had to oversee several major projects at work, so there were moments when I couldn't fully focus on HFIM and had to catch up on the group chats. When I found myself lost in the updates, I'd ask my fellow project managers to fill me in."

She also said that the fanbases had misunderstandings along the way. "There were times we got on each other's nerves...but that's part of any group dynamic. Reminding ourselves who we were doing this for always brought us back to center and made us realize why teamwork truly makes the dream work."

In true BTS ARMY spirit, this fandom showed once again that generosity and unity go hand in hand. Funding played a crucial role in bringing all the fan projects to life, and ARMYs came through with unwavering support. To help make it happen, several platforms were launched. HOPEGIVING served as the main fundraising campaign, encouraging donations from ARMYs. Meanwhile, HOPE IN A CUP was HFIM's cupsleeve event for J-Hope's concert. ARMYs pre-ordered drinks and received other inclusions like a cupsleeve, photocards, and a transparent case. 

The next one was HOPEuLikeKit, a curated concert kit specially for Filo ARMYs. The kit included a tote bag, phone charm, acrylic keychain, ticket holder, vinyl stickers, and a hand banner. Lastly, there was MERCHGIVING, where generous ARMYs donated their extra BTS merch, which was then raffled to the HOPEGIVING donors. Merch donors were given digital certificates as a token of gratitude.

All proceeds from these efforts went directly to support the Hope On The Stage in Manila fan projects, organized by the dedicated HFIM team.

As a testament to the undying love ARMYs have for BTS, hundreds of fans volunteered for HFIM's fan projects, including repacking of goods and distribution of kits and fan project items. Jhovz Callos, a public school teacher and HFIM volunteer, traveled all the way from the Bicol Region even though she failed to secure a concert ticket. "I wasn't confident enough to travel since I have motion sickness, and I have anxiety about traveling. [But] my love for BTS gave me the courage to conquer all those things," she shared.

Jhovz also expressed how happy she was to take part in HFIM as one of the volunteers. "I felt proud and overwhelmed because of it. I never imagined to be part of such a successful project. I am amazed by the fanbases' efforts and dedication. I felt the love and connection of Filo ARMY," she added. 

More than 20 well-known Filipino brands from different sectors, including telecommunications, airlines, food and beverage, hygiene and cosmetics, fast food, publishing, hotel, and even insurance, willingly and generously supported the HFIM fan projects. 

"They believed in BTS, and they understood how deeply ARMYs express their love for the boys. We were over the moon at how enthusiastic our sponsors were—some even reached out to HFIM to ask how they could be part of the initiative because of the ARMYs' enthusiasm. Some brands emailed us a week or even days before the concert, expressing interest in sponsoring our projects. 

But, it wasn't an easy task for our marketing team as this was the first time in eight years that brands were supporting this huge event for BTS and ARMY. We reached out to a lot of brands, and not everyone joined us—but that's okay! We will forever be grateful to those who believed and trusted us. Their support helped turn our plans for Hobi and ARMYs into reality," Nikko shared.

Through their contribution, product giveaways and post-concert kits filled with sponsor products were made possible for ARMYs to enjoy. In addition to financial sponsorships, support for the venue and logistics was also provided to realize the key projects. In a heartfelt social media post, the HFIM fanbases expressed their sincere gratitude, saying that this initiative was a dream built on more than just passion—it was a dream made real through huge support. The team also extended their endless thanks to every sponsor who believed in their vision and helped create a space where love, music, and community came alive.

The long wait was absolutely worth it! Hope On The Stage in Manila became a beautiful moment that Filo ARMYs will cherish and remember forever. With the successful fan projects brought to life through HFIM, the whole experience was made even more meaningful. 

Nikko, along with the other HFIM project managers (Stacy, KC, and Joymi), shared that they were incredibly happy seeing the HFIM projects succeed. According to them, "The clearest measure of that success was knowing that Hobi saw the fan projects we had prepared for him, because he was the heart and soul of this entire endeavor. Our main goal was for Hobi to see what Filo ARMYs had prepared for him."

Nikko also said that she saw someone say online that what HFIM prepared gave Festa feels, and that in itself was a huge compliment. "There was a real sense of accomplishment in being able to collaborate with the Filipino fanbases. It wasn't a walk in the park, certainly. We want to send a big thank you to our fellow ARMYs who helped make our projects memorable for Hobi and ARMYs! As BTS always says: teamwork makes the dream work," she added.

As J-Hope hyped up the Manila crowd during his two-day show, he made a promise to return to the country. And just like before, we're all holding onto hope, manifesting the OT7 concert in the Philippines that all Filo ARMYs have been waiting for.