The link between NCT 127 and Philippine NCTzens became stronger than ever!

South Korean boy group NCT 127 made a triumphant return to the Philippine concert stage, staging for the first time a solo concert in the country last September 4.

The NCT sub-unit took over the SM Mall of Asia Arena amid the thunderous cheers of NCTzens who patiently waited for the moment to finally happen. The sold-out concert saw thousands of fans gather and color the arena with the neo pearl champagne, bracing the rains and giving their all to warmly welcome Taeyong, Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, and Haechan for NEO CITY: MANILA – The Link Tour.

1 2 7 Squad goes wild

NCT 127 opened the highly-anticipated show with the ever-iconic “Kick It”, also marking the first time that the boys performed the song live in front of Filipino NCTzens. The boy group then followed the hyped-up energy with “Lemonade” from their 2021 studio album, Sticker, and “Simon Says” from their 2018 repackaged album, Regulate.

With unwavering energy, the members connected with their Filipino fans with excited greetings and relayed their joy to finally hold a solo concert in the country. Those excited greetings were reciprocated as the cheers of fans echoed loud and clear at the arena with neobongs lighting up the whole venue with their brightest lights.

1 2 7 SQUAD IS HERE 💚 NCT 127 opens the show with “Kick It”, “Lemonade”, and “Simon Says”!#NCT127inManila #THELINKTourManila @pulpliveworld pic.twitter.com/lS0UXLThpQ

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 4, 2022

NCT 127 went on to give NCTzens a concert they will never forget with performances of “Elevator”, “Dreamer”, and “Love Song”. Taeil then took over the concert stage, serenading with his superb vocals in “Another World” before teaming up with Haechan for “Love Sign”. The duo wowed as they collaborated in giving the best vocal show and stage with Taeil on the keyboard and Haechan awing the crowd with his dance. Taeyong, Johnny, Yuta, and Jaehyun took fans back to SM Rookies days with “Run Back 2 U (Bassbot).

The boys came together on stage for “Highway to Heaven” and “Breakfast” with NCTzens singing along and making sure the boys feel all the love that evening. Mark then got Manila screaming his name with his solo performance of “Vibration”. The cheers got louder with leader Taeyong, mesmerizing everyone with his stage of “Moonlight”. The temperature got hotter with Taeyong’s stage and the energy continues to go higher with Mark and Taeyong coming together to spit fire with “Himalaya”.

From group to solo and unit stages, we live for every NCT 127 performance tonight at #THELINKTourManila #NCT127inManila 🔥@pulpliveworld pic.twitter.com/5GxMJdDxbn

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 4, 2022

Jungwoo got the arena high with an immaculate stage of “Lipstick”. Still, not over the fired-up Jungwoo solo stage, the boys gave the crowd every reason to focus on them with “Focus”. But Johnny will not let NCTzens get over the continuous jaw-dropping moments as he goes all out in his solo dance number. Giving fans a moment to collect themselves, Jaehyun took it chill and lovely with “Lost” with the crowd completing the moment as they sing along with him.

No rainy night will ever stop NCTzens from welcoming NCT 127 warmly, and that warmth embraced the arena as the boys serenade with “The Rainy Night”, “White Night”, and “Back 2 U” — amid the beautiful neo pearl champagne ocean. The serenade went on with Doyoung’s solo stage of “The Reason Why It’s Favorite”.

Following the lovely serenades, the members took the energy up with “Favorite”, before bringing the noize louder and more intense with the highly-awaited stages of “Bring the Noize” and the crowd-favorite “Love on the Floor”.

Yuta then closed the set of fired up stages with his solo performance of “Butterfly”, dominating the stage with his expressive moves — truly flying high like a beautiful butterfly.

A rainy night best spent with NCT 127 💚 The boys of NCT 127 took the stage with “The Rainy Night” and “White Night” —- with NCTzens’ beautiful neo pearl champagne ocean 🥺#NCT127inManila #THELINKTourManila @pulpliveworld pic.twitter.com/1a9elZNfIj

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 4, 2022

Bring the Noize for NCT 127’s Love on the Floor stage!#NCT127inManila #THELINKTourManila @pulpliveworld pic.twitter.com/dy4cSHFs0S

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 4, 2022

From NCT 127 to Czennies: Always thankful and I love you

After the sizzling stages, warmth enveloped the arena with the members’ touching messages for their dearest NCTzens. Taeyong, Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, and Haechan expressed their appreciation to the fans who enabled them to where they are and thanked them for their unwavering support.

Leader Taeyong wrote, “We were able to run even more because of your big love and support.” Maknae Haechan wrote, “I want to say thank you for always being with me through my good times. Let’s make much more memories with me, Haechan, and NCT 127.”

Mark also penned a beautiful letter to NCTzens:

Thank you to all of our NCTzens for being a part our dreams. It’s never a fulfilled show if there’s no NCTzen. So, thank you once again. Hope we can forever stay safe and see each other more often.

NCT’s Mark

With love overflowing, NCT 127 returned on stage with “Paradise”, gifting the crowd with signed balls as they go around the stage. The most adorable performance of “Touch” came next, followed by “Love Me Know”. Truly the biggest hit on stage, nostalgia washed over with the stage of their legendary “Cherry Bomb”, before ending the concert with “Sticker”.

Always the biggest hit on the stage 🔥 NCT 127 performs Cherry Bomb tonight at the #THELINKTourManila!#NCT127inManila @pulpliveworld pic.twitter.com/JCOPE0NflC

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 4, 2022

But a concert never ends without the encore stages. The Link Tour in Manila saw the boys back on stage with “Dreams Come True”. They then delivered their final messages to NCTzens who came to see them back on the Philippine concert stage. The members also promised to return to the country for, not only one but two or more shows as they also express admiration for the crowd’s energy and tireless cheers.

“We had such an amazing night. Even though the pandemic has been hard on everyone, thank you for continuing to support us. We will do our best to come back to Manila. So I hope you are all gonna support us. You are the reason we can be on stage. A big, big thank you, everyone! Thank you,” said Yuta in his final ment.

NCT 127 closed the concert with “Promise You” and a final greeting and bow for their Filipino NCTzens.

NEO CITY: MANILA – The Link Tour was a conclusion to the years of longing for a solo concert for NCT 127. Six years since their debut, the boys, with the unwavering support of NCTzens, came back, bringing their own world tour to the Philippines — truly a dream come true. And NCTzens made sure that Taeyong, Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, and Haechan feel their happiness and love as they fill the SM Mall of Asia Arena with a sold-out show and color it beautiful with their fandom color — MOA Arena truly turned green that Sunday night. It was beautiful with the strong connection of NCT 127 and NCTzens resonating loudly and clearly.

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NEO CITY: MANILA – The Link Tour is presented by PULP Live World. Philippine Concerts extend thank you to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

Event covered by Danica Lacson and Vince Bernardo