How F4, ‘Meteor Garden’ became a transgenerational phenomenon
MANILA, Philippines — It has been exactly two weeks since F4 members Jerry Yan, Van Ness Wu, and Vic Chou, together with Mayday’s Ashin, delivered a memorable concert for their longtime fans at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. The memories they created during the “F4 FOREVER 1st World Tour” remain etched in the hearts of everyone who attended. As many fans would say, post-concert depression is real.
Proof of this is that fans still can’t stop talking about the concert and reminiscing about the days when “Meteor Garden” aired on ABS-CBN in the early 2000s. The series remains so iconic that many longtime fans have found themselves returning to the fandom, cherishing keepsakes from the concert such as lightsticks, tickets, photos and even confetti.
Some even rushed to the nearest stores to get a copy of The Philippine STAR dated July 3, 2026, which featured the beloved Taiwanese boy group on its pages. For many, the newspaper quickly became a collectible keepsake — carefully preserved and framed as a reminder of the unforgettable reunion.
The music event was more than just an almost-complete reunion of F4 — minus Ken Chu. It also became a reunion for groups of friends from their high school and college days, as well as a special bonding experience for mothers and daughters who had once been swept up in the “Meteor Garden” craze.
For me, the concert was made even more memorable by the people I shared it with: a colleague who was already singing in Mandarin before we even entered the venue, a college classmate who flew in from Aklan just to see F4 and another college friend who was recovering from cervical cancer. For the latter, finally seeing F4 perform live was a dream come true despite the challenges of her illness.
In 2023, I had the opportunity to visit National Chung Cheng University in Chiayi, Taiwan, one of the filming locations used as Ying De University in “Meteor Garden.” During the campus tour, we visited and posed for photos at iconic spots featured in the drama, including the Red Brick Stadium, the College of Liberal Arts and the campus fountain.
The “F4 FOREVER 1st World Tour,” which was presented by Live Nation Philippines and Ovation Productions, drew fans from across the Philippines. One fan traveled all the way from Bacolod City, arriving that very morning before heading straight to Bulacan. She and her husband stayed overnight just to attend the show.
F4’s enduring appeal has not waned; if anything, its fan base has only grown across generations. Many of the fans who first fell in love with the group are now grandmothers, mothers, aunts and wives, while a younger generation has also embraced the phenomenon.
Fast forward to 2026, and the daughters who once watched “Meteor Garden” with their mothers have grown up. This time, it was they who guided and accompanied their senior moms to the long-awaited reunion.
The senior citizens who trooped to the arena earned loud cheers and warm applause from the crowd. A video uploaded on social media by GB Jeshireen Santos showed how elderly fans waved to the concertgoers while making their way up to the venue’s stairs.
“Pinauna ng staff ang senior citizens. Nang makita sila ng mga tao, bigla na lang nag-cheer at nagpalakpakan ang buong crowd. Sobrang heartwarming kasi nakakatuwang makita na hanggang ngayon, maraming senior fans pa rin ng F4 na dumayo to watch the concert,” she recalled.
“Sila ‘yung mga dating nanay na nag-aabang ng ‘Meteor Garden’ tuwing hapon,” she added.
A devoted F4 fan for 23 years, Jeshireen described the event as an “unforgettable experience.” “Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako maka-move on sa concert. Mahigit 20 years ko itong hinintay, kaya isa ito sa pinakamagandang araw sa buhay ko.”
A netizen commented on the viral post, “Mabuhay ang mga anak na tinupad ang pangarap ng mga nanay nila.”
Celebrities were among those spotted in the audience, such as Ellen Adarna, Melai Cantiveros and Michele Gumabao.
Melai later took to social media to share how Jerry, who played Daoming Si in the series, remained her ideal standard for a partner and her “first love.”
“Yes ikaw ang dahilan, DaoMingSee Jerry Yan..... Ikaw ang tanging dahilan kung bakit nakapag-asawa ako ng maginoo pero medyo bastos na very strict na masungit pero nakakakiliiiiiiiiiggggggggg kasi sweet. And ikaw yun, ikaw ang standard nun DaoMengSee,” she quipped.
“What is this feeling I just can’t explain. Bumalik ang kilig ko Dao MengSeeee paanu na tung feelings natu. Thank you Achie KTC and Kate Anjela Management for the experience. Haaaayyyyy super sarap sa feeling balikan ang kilig nang unang pag-ibig sayu Dao MengSee,” she added, accompanied by several heart emojis.
Melai is now married to fellow “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Jason Francisco, with whom she has two daughters.
Who would have thought that after more than 20 years, fans would once again get the chance to see Jerry, Van Ness and Vic — who seemingly have not aged a bit — in the flesh?
The recent concert marked F4’s first return to Manila since 2003, when “Meteor Garden” was at the peak of its popularity.
It was a surreal moment for loyal fans who never forgot F4 and the kilig they brought into their lives.
For those who witnessed the show, the words that came to mind were, “I was there,” but rather, “We were there,” a collective experience that became a treasured memory shared by an entire generation of supporters.
While some fans who missed the event could only hope for another chance, those who attended shared the same wish: that F4 would return once again.
The fans still can’t stop talking about the concert and reminiscing about the days when ‘Meteor Garden’ aired on ABS-CBN in the early 2000s. The series remains so iconic that many longtime fans have found themselves returning to the fandom, cherishing keepsakes of the concert such as lightsticks, tickets, photos, confetti and even copies of The Philippine STAR.
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