Spotlights, live music, and shared stories illuminated the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) Grandstand as the annual FLAIR concert returned for its fourth installment. Organized by the College of Business Administration and Accountancy Student Government (CBAASG), this year’s event showcased not only performances but also the emotions and experiences that brought the audience together. More than just a concert, FLAIR reflected the anxieties, nostalgia, and moments of connection that make live music meaningful beyond the stage.

What began as a night of music also became an opportunity to give back to the University community. Proceeds from the event support scholarship funds, Performing Arts Group (PAG), student-athletes, and other campus initiatives—even extending to the campus cats. Every ticket sold became part of a broader effort.

For years, the scene outside the gates has remained familiar: long lines of students and visitors waiting to enter the field, eager to step away from the demands of everyday life. Beyond the stage, voices merged into one collective rhythm. Through emotional honesty and  familiarity, presences from Shirebound, Amiel Sol, The Itchyworms, and IV of Spades resonated with a crowd searching for something genuine.   

Now playing: Pahintulot by Shirebound

Shirebound opened the night with gentle melodies and lyricism rooted in familiar Filipino storytelling—conversational, intimate, and restrained. Their music felt both comforting and revealing. It did not demand attention loudly, yet it lingered long enough to meet listeners in their most personal moments. In that moment, honesty surfaced without spectacle. 

Their performance connected deeply with the audience, many of whom carried their own stories into the venue. Among them was Deah Katriz, a graduating student from DLSU-D attending her final FLAIR. 

“For me kasi, last year ko na nga sa DLSU-D, parang medyo pagod kaming lahat sa OJT [on-the-job training],” she shared. After months of academic pressure, the concert became more than just a break from routine—it became a reunion and release.

Known for sincerity and emotional vulnerability, Shirebound’s music seemed to meet listeners exactly where they were. For Deah, the connection felt personal. 

“Sa Shirebound kasi, medyo yearner din ako. Malaki ‘yung impact sa’kin especially ‘yung ‘Pahintulot’. Kasi before, pinapakinggan ko na talaga siya and medyo masakit ‘yun sa puso.” Her sentiments echoed the experiences of many in the crowd, where songs once listened to in solitude became stories shared among strangers.

When “Pahintulot” filled the space, it captured hesitation and vulnerability without excess. There were no grand theatrics—only raw emotion allowed to exist freely. Shirebound’s understated storytelling transformed the performance into something reflective, allowing the crowd’s quiet reception to speak for itself.

In Amiel Sol’s comfort zone

Amiel Sol’s acoustic set did not overpower the stage; instead, it quietly reshaped the atmosphere. Blending naturally with the lingering softness of Shirebound’s performance, his set created a shared space where nothing felt forced or exaggerated. As the mood settled into something more intimate, so did themes of longing, uncertainty, and emotional sincerity.

The interaction between artist and crowd remained gentle and genuine, showing that connection does not always rely on production. Instead, it emerged through stillness, familiarity, and patience.

As his popularity continues to grow, Amiel Sol’s music echoes deeply with listeners navigating the uncertainties of youth. One student,  Isha, shared how his songs struck a personal chord: 

“‘Yung mga kanta kasi talaga ni Amiel Sol is nakaka-relate talaga, lalo na sa mga Gen Z talaga ngayon.” His recurring themes—situationships, confusion, and introspection—depict the ways young people process and confront the realities around them.

Throughout the set, the mood remained mellow and slightly melancholic, allowing each lyric to settle with clarity. Rather than overwhelming the audience, the performance created a space for reflection—a  moment where listeners could sit with emotions they often struggle to articulate.

For Isha, the concert also became an opportunity to reconnect with others.  

“May ibang friends din po kasi ako sa ibang university. So kapag may FLAIR, dito ko rin sila nakaka-bonding madalas,” she shared, highlighting how the event fosters not only appreciation for local music but also rekindles connections.

More than a diversion from academic life, seeing the artist live offered the audience a sense of closeness difficult to find elsewhere. For a generation shaped by constant digital noise, Amiel Sol’s music offered something quieter: a space where uncertainty did not need immediate answers, only understanding.

The Itchyworms Effect

Bringing nostalgia to the lineup, The Itchyworms represented an earlier era of OPM—an era of classics always played during celebrations, gatherings, and karaoke nights. Their playful charm and familiar sound immediately energized the DLSU-D crowd, making them one of the most anticipated highlights of FLAIR 2026. 

As one of the staples of classic OPM, The Itchyworms carry songs that many listeners have grown up hearing. Their catchy melodies, witty lyricism, and distinctly offbeat humor blended effortlessly with the audience’s energy, turning the grandstand into a shared space of celebration and familiarity.

One student, Raphael, shared the impact of their performance: 

“Na-enjoy ko siguro ‘yung music nila about sa love, and hyped na hyped talaga ako when it comes to Itchyworms kasi mas type ko ‘yung OPM dati.” For him, FLAIR also carried personal memories beyond the performances themselves. “‘Yung pinaka-memorable FLAIR sa’kin [ay] ‘yung una kasi doon ko nakilala [ang] girlfriend ko,” he furthered—a memory that felt perfectly suited for a song straight out of an Itchyworms setlist.

Their performance balanced humor, nostalgia, and familiarity, reminding the audience how music often becomes tied to personal milestones and relationships. By the end of their set,  The Itchyworms had cemented themselves as one of the defining acts of the night.

IV of Spades and the “Mundo” they created

Among the night’s celebrated lineup, IV of Spades became one of the highlights of FLAIR 2026. Returning from a five-year hiatus after their comeback in 2025, Unique, Blaster, Zild, and Badjao arrived at DLSU-D to deliver a long-awaited performance for fans.

IV of Spades emerged as one of the most anticipated acts of the event. Popular among both Gen Z and Millennial audiences, the band’s signature blend of retro-inspired aesthetics, modern sound, and introspective lyricism drew overwhelming excitement from the crowd. 

This sentiment was echoed by Carl as he described it as the most memorable FLAIR he had attended. “For me, FLAIR is an event that showcases the skills and talent of CBAA at managing big events and organizing them. It is an event that brings friends and families closer through our love of music and singing,” Carl expressed. While the artists stood at the center of the spotlight, the success of FLAIR 2026 also reflected the work of organizers behind the scenes. 

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As the final notes faded into the night and the grandstand lights slowly dimmed, FLAIR proved to be more than a lineup of celebrated artists. It became a collection of memories shaped by music and shared experience. From quiet yearning to nostalgia and celebration, each performance carried stories deeply familiar to the students who filled the field that night. 

Within the shouted lyrics, exchanged glances, and pauses between songs lay the heart of the event itself. Long after the stage had been cleared and the crowd dispersed, what lingered was more than music itself—it was the reminder that amid academic pressures, distance, and personal struggles, there remains a space to find belonging alongside others.