Words and photos by Danica Lacson

Truly a k-ganda ng araw-araw with Ro Woon and Kmmunity PH!

June 26 became extra special for fans of South Korean singer-actor Ro Woon with Globe’s RO WOON LIVE IN MANILA: A Kmmunity Exclusive Fan Meet at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. It was a beautiful gathering filled with unforgettable memories that will make every day k-ganda from now on.

Fans of the SF9 member flocked to the SM Mall of Asia Arena and brought their excited spirits even hours before the official start of the event, enjoying the booths set up inside the venue and a mini meet-and-greet with Little Happee.

The exclusive fan meet marked Ro Woon’s first solo event in the Philippines and his third visit to the country. He previously performed with SF9 in 2018 for Be My Fantasy and in 2019 for Unixerse.

READ: SF9 Shines Bright With Stellar Performances In “UNIXERSE” In Manila

Three years after his last Manila show, the singer-actor returned with graciousness and vibrance thanks to the warm and love-filled welcome of thousands of his Filipino fans who filled the SM Mall of Asia Arena and screamed loud for him as he took the stage.

Ro Woon said he was surprised by the huge crowd, adding that he did not expect that a lot of fans will come to meet him. “Thank you very much,” he said. And the love was well-deserved as the singer-actor gamely took on every segment and game during the fan meeting!

He immersed himself in everything Filipino, learning Filipino sentences like “Nakakakaba naman ang chika mo, beshie.” and “Sa Globe Kmmunity, k-ganda ng araw-araw!“. He also ate Filipino snacks like turon, puto bumbong, and his favorite taho.

A definite highlight of the night: Ro Woon in barong Tagalog! The SF9 member and Tomorrow actor completed his Filipino culture immersion by donning traditional Filipino clothing. According to him, barong suits the hot weather in the Philippines because it is see-through.

Meanwhile, Filipino game sipa got his competitive spirit up that he had to do the challenge twice. The result: sipa-2, Ro Woon-0. But the effort is definitely commendable, Ro Woon!

Although sipa and Ro Woon failed to exhibit the best teamwork, the singer-actor found his best teammates to play Pinoy Henyo with — the MOA arena crowd! Thanks to his fans, he navigated the questions with breeze (while cutely pretending that no coaching was happening).

Aside from fun memories, the fan meeting attendees also took home the best life advice from their idol. The singer-actor shared his positive outlook on failures and struggles. According to him, he finds more meaning in failures than success as failures allow you to appreciate your success more.

Fans felt more of his warmth and comfort with the special gifts he prepared. Lucky fans went home with signed gifts including handkerchiefs and mask and glasses necklaces. He also personally designed a bayong on stage, tracing his hand to signify a hi-five. He hopes that it cheers the person, especially during hard times.

But fans of the SF9 member did not allow the night to pass without sending him off with the sweetest gifts and the most comforting video message and fan project for their shining star, Seokwoo — whenever, wherever, let’s be together.

Ro Woon capped off the evening with a performance of his original soundtrack for his 2021 drama The King’s Affection, “No Goodbye In Love”. Indeed, there is no goodbye in love but only see you again. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much,” said the singer-actor in his ending message.

The RO WOON LIVE IN MANILA: A Kmmunity Exclusive Fan Meet gifted everyone at the SM Mall of Asia Arena with lasting memories to revisit and warm our days with. Ro Woon was charming, full of life, and generous, giving everyone big smiles on their faces. And the crowd reciprocated all of it with so much love and admiration for the singer-actor who deserves every bit of it. As Ro Woon wrote, “Thank you for making me all the unforgettable memories.”

Special thanks to Kmmunity PH, Happee Hour and Globe for having us.

Words and photos by Danica Lacson for Philippine Concerts