They have a truckload of hits from 4 commercially and critically acclaimed albums. They are Grammy's pick for everything excellent for years and end. They have been on four consecutive world tours since 2004. They have reset the bar for hip hop music and continue to push the envelope even today.



They are the Black Eyed Peas and, Manila, they will be in Asia this year just for this show.

These are the reasons music lovers not only in the Philippines but across Asia have been trembling with excitement since the Black Eyed Peas’ one-night-only concert at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on Oct. 25 was announced a few weeks back. Tickets to “Where Is The Love?: This is the Love” Manila concert have been moving extremely fast with buyers coming even from as far away as Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.



Manila's who's who - from the world of show business, politics, fashion - is all agog with excitement. Namedroppables and celebrities expected to hobnob and rub elbows with the BEP generation are GMA-7's Iza Calzado and Pauleen Luna; TV5 resident hosts, DJ Mo Twister, Ruffa Guttierrez, Dolly Anne Carvajal and son IC Mendoza, Alex Gonzaga and sister Toni Gonzaga with boyfriend Paul Soriano.



The rest of the ABS-CBN shining stars: Gary Valenciano, Matteo Guidicelli with girlfriend Maja Salvador, Kim Chui, Billy Crawford, Vhong Navarro, Anne Curtis, John Prats and rumored girlfriend Bianca Manalo, are expected to groove with the Black Eyed Peas!



In fact, it’s the venue’s VIP section that sold out first (even at P15k per seat!). Indeed, many people – including the who’s who from the world of show business, politics and fashion – want to ensure they are at the historical musical event that’s said to be the last concert for the group before they go on an “indefinite hiatus.” Apparently, Black Eyed Peas’ apl.de.ap will concentrate on his advocacy for I am Ninoy, I am Cory Foundation, to build school classrooms all over the Phils.; Fergie will try for a baby; and will.i.am and Taboo will do their own thing for awhile after this tour.



So, really, if anyone had ever wanted to see Black Eyed Peas, this is, to use the title of one of their most recent hits, “The Time” to do it. Recognizing the importance of this concert to many music lovers, the companies behind the Black Eyed Peas in Manila 2011 concert have been holding promotions to give more people the opportunity to experience the live performance of the award-winning group. Earlier, Philippine producer Futuretainment offered no less than 20% discount for all early bird patrons. Airline Cebu Pacific also has a special seat sale in line with the concert.



Citibank is currently giving away 15% discount to buyers of the following Black Eyed Peas tickets: VIP seated, 12k; VIP A, 10k; VIP B, 8k; Gold, 6k; Silver, 3k; and Bronze, 1k. Buying in bulk means more discounts.

Apart from the show, many who will watch the Black Eyed Peas concert are curious to catch a glimpse of SM Arena right beside SMX. After all, SM Arena will become the biggest performance arena in the country at 17,000 seats once it has been fully built.



Among the hits of the Black Eyed Peas are “Where Is the Love,” “Let’s Get It Started,” “Hey Mama,” “Shut Up,” “Don’t Phunk With My Heart,” “I Gotta Feeling,” “My Humps,” “Don’t Lie,” “Just Can’t Get Enough,” “Boom Boom Pow,” “Pump It,” “Imma Be,” “Meet Me Halfway,” “The Time (Dirty Beat),” and “Don’t Stop The Party.”




For inquiries, call: SM Tickets 4702222, TicketWorld 8919999, MMI 0917.5555415; 586.7275, or Futuretainment 09473964539, and 577.3265. For more o n the Black Eyed Peas concert, visit www.futuretainmentinc.com , www.mmilive.com, or on twitter via @futureupdate