Arnel Pineda stepped into the biggest shoes in rock when he took on the role of fronting Journey in the wake of the departure of the legendary Steve Perry. But the Filipino talent proved he had the right stuff with this emotional rendition of the band’s 1983 hit “Faithfully”, done for his hometown crowd in Manila. Even many dyed-in-the-wool old-school fans had to admit that Pineda was the perfect man for the job. The way the Manila crowd sang in key with Pineda in that iconic refrain at 3:35 made the concert all the more memorable.
Pineda fronted Journey for the performance at SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in front of nearly 30,000 fans. The performance was a real treat musically, with pianist and songwriter Jonathan Cain performing that famous piano part with a stately feel. Guitarist Neal Schon also brought the thunder, first playing a supporting role then electrifying the crowd at the four-minute mark with a searing, emotional solo that interplayed with Pineda’s vocals so satisfyingly.
The choice of “Faithfully” carries a poetic connection to Pineda’s career. Two years prior to this concert, his friend Noel Gomez began uploading clips of Pineda singing rock covers with his band The Zoo. Among those uploads was a version of “Faithfully”, which caught the attention of Neal Schon in mid-2007. Schon was so impressed that he reached out to Gomez, eventually inviting the working club singer to audition. Singing that very song back in Manila brought Pineda’s remarkable journey full circle.
The song’s lyrical theme gave the moment even deeper resonance. Jonathan Cain, who wrote “Faithfully”, has recalled beginning it on a tour bus napkin, inspired by watching a stage being dismantled and thinking about everyone on tour missing home. Conceived as a musical letter home about the hardships of life on the road, the ballad found fresh meaning at the Manila concert grounds. Backed by Cain’s familiar piano melodies, Pineda sang about distance and devotion to the very people who had watched him rise. See Pineda perform “After All These Years” with Journey in Manila below.
When the concert film was later reissued on physical formats and digital platforms, No Echo reviewer Carlos Ramirez singled out Pineda’s delivery for its power and passion across both vintage anthems and newer material. Fans online have echoed that sentiment, and the official “Faithfully” clip has gathered over 12 million views. Fans added comments such as “This man could’ve easily made his own band but instead wants to carry out the legacy of his favorite band. Give credit where it is due. Much respect.” and “Steve made JOURNEY. Arnel saved JOURNEY.”
Pineda and Journey are about to bring that legacy to a close, as they complete The Final Frontier Tour, which was billed as their final concert tour. The band kicked off the tour on February 28, 2026, and will perform the final date on November 28, 2026 in their hometown of San Francisco, California. Cain has already admitted that the strong fan reaction about the tour has made him second-guess his decision to close out the band’s career though, so the final outcome remains to be seen.