It was historic on two counts: Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour stop last Feb. 24 and 25 at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena had the most expensive ticket prices among Manila concerts featuring international acts; it was also the most magnificent show Filipinos have seen in recent years, a performance marked by a wonderful synergy of music, film, theater, dance and the circus.

There was no boring moment, as the Queen of Pop kept the full-house crowd enthralled by her commanding presence and frenetic moves that defied her age—never mind if she also had to rely on technology to keep up with the vocal demands of her songs.

By the time Madonna and her dancers returned onstage for an encore, “Holiday,” the upbeat mood in MOA Arena had turned truly festive.

Many in the crowd turned up in eye-catching outfits, especially fans who channeled their idol-worship through Madonna-inspired fashion—captured by Inquirer photographer Lyn Rillon.