Category: Concert Reviews

Coming to you live: DPR: Regime World Tour in Manila

Setting the Dreamer’s dreams a reality, the collaborative and multi-genre music, and video group, the DPR gang made their Manila debut as a part of their Asian-Pacific leg of the DPR: Regime World Tour at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang on November 30, 2022.

The event headlines DPR Live, DPR Ian, and DPR Cream who electrified thousands of their fans, each act showcasing their own uniqueness and creativity while staying true to their purpose in music: engaging all audiences by actualizing a distinctive audiovisual experience.

Dressed and glammed up, the dreamers showed their enthusiasm for the group’s long-awaited performances, cheering even before the show even started and successfully executing multiple small fan projects that signify a piece of DPR in their career.

Cream Colored Drive

Grasping the first set, DPR Cream brought his producer skills by setting off the mood for the night, with the trancelike music he played on stage. With nothing but a laptop and his keyboard, Cream showcased his impressive remixing skills in creating music, already giving the fans a treat, albeit his short set with the dreamers.

Coming to you LIVE

Making his landing on stage, Hong Dabin, famously known as DPR Live, immediately made the crowd jump with his song “LEGACY”, energizing the room with his electrifying performance and giving a nod to the music video of the song in an orange jumpsuit. Staying on theme, an enormous astronaut balloon appeared behind him while performing the songs “S.O.S.” and “NEON”, all three songs coming from his first studio album IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?

After the visually pleasing space-themed shtick, he breezed through some of DPR’s previous tracks from the ‘archives’, “thirst”, and from his first mini album Coming To You Live, “Cheese & Wine”, “Know Me” and “Laputa.”

Live had a small sit down with the dreamers and threw roses to the crowd as he serenaded them with the song “VENUS.” He also grooved and flirted with the fans while dancing freely and performing the songs “Kiss Me” and “Jasmine”, which are known classics in his discography.

Jam and Butterflies in your stomach

Live made the Filipino fans extra special as he reminisced that his first crush ever was a Filipina while growing up in Guam. He noted as well that it “…feels like home going here (in Manila)” as he also shared that his best friend growing up is a Filipino. With this, he performed “Jam and Butterfly”, and transitioned to “Yellow Cab” and in return, the fans made him feel extra special by waving pink wigs, also a reference from the song’s music video.

He then promised they will definitely return but left the fans for now and asked the dreamers to “…text me when you’re free”, an excerpt of lyrics from his song “Text Me.”

It was a back-and-forth gimmick from Live and the fans as he let them have fun with transparent lifebuoys he threw to the crowd during his fun and the jumpy song “Hula Hoops.” He also tapped on “Summer Tights”, and “Geronimo”. Of course, a fitting song to perform is “Martini Blue” while a portion of the dreamers also enjoyed liquor drinks and Live capped his set with DPR Cline joining him on stage with the song “Set It Off”, a track they created for League of Legends, specifically the South Korean region LCK for the 2022 Mid-Season Invitational online battle arena.

A Fallen Angel

Following DPR Live, a completely different set was performed by Christian Yu or known as DPR Ian, who let the fans have an immersive, intense experience from the get-go. Coming on stage with a horned costume and transforming into a fallen angel, DPR Ian gave the crowd a chilling intro while “Mito” is playing, which is also the intro song of his first album, Moodswings in this Order. In two tracks coming from the same album, Ian danced to “So Beautiful” and “Dope Lovers” while unveiling his bedazzled jacket and accentuated red eye makeup, making him even more ethereal looking than we are already used to.

In between the songs, he mentioned how he feels so much of the energy the Filipino crowd is giving, leaving a great first impression as he emphasized that this is his first time in the Philippines. We’re off to a great start, am I right dreamers?

He continued his setlist by plucking some songs from his newly released second album, Moodswings In to Order, “Avalon”, and “Miss Understood”. One of the biggest treats the dreamers tasted from Ian was bringing off “Calico” while dancing under his fedora hat and then proceeding off in playing the bass. We can all agree that not only Ian is a charismatic performer, but also a multi-talented beast, and this kind of eccentricity gracing the Philippine live stage is something that doesn’t happen often.

Ballroom Extravaganza

It’s safe to say that DPR Ian’s stages are a different experience than most artists and he proved this throughout the night with the diverse stages he carried out.

The room’s temperature just got a little higher as Ian takes off his jacket and comfortably presented “Sometimes I’m.” The fast-paced 12th track from his second album is not an easy song to sing but he was able to nail it with the fans singing along, matching his energy. And literally setting the stage on fire, he enacted “1 Shot”, turning the whole room red and even more steamy than the last.

Also a natural storyteller, Ian became intimate and shared his insecurities and fears with the fans on how he hated being in the spotlight and was grateful that the fans let him overcome it by letting him share his stories through art. With this, he performed the song “Scaredy Cat” with another stage gimmick that is visually appealing as multiple hands appeared on the curtain behind him while performing.

Another impressive stunt he made was when a giant hand grabbed Ian backstage after performing “Ribbon”, a rather funky tune that will want you to get up and dance.

He returned a few minutes later wearing a black oversized fur jacket and performed “Mr. Insanity”, driving the fans a little over the edge. And probably the best stage he has done for the evening was setting the stage on snow while doing a modern interpretative dance of “Winterfall”, slowing it down to set the mood while “snow” drops on him, showing a perfect picture-perfect moment every second.

He finished his set strong with incredible performances of “Nerves” and “Ballroom Extravaganza” before DPR Live joined him on stage.

Together, the duo sang “No Blueberries”, which is probably Ian’s biggest hit, and bid the fans goodbye for the night.

Manila Officially Part of the DPR Gang

Of course, the ensemble cannot end the concert easily without performing the song that made the group’s mark in the music industry as the fans jumped in honor of the song “To Myself” with the chant “DPR WE GANG GANG!” The whole group: DPR Live, DPR Ian, DPR Cream, and joined by DPR Cline, and the whole DPR crew joined the dreamers with a final photo.

The multi-faceted crew closed off the night with a promise that they will return, as Ian undoubtedly became impressed with the Filipino fans saying, “The best so far!” and of course, the members of the crew saying, “Mahal kita!”

The Filipino dreamers answered back with much enthusiasm to this, creating a long-lasting bond with the team, and as passionate as ever, the fans will wait for another concert, hopefully soon and surely with the right hunger in continuing to support the group for releases and more aesthetically pleasing audio-visual art in the future.

Written by Arielle Elep for Philippine Concerts

DPR: Regime World Tour in Manila was presented by Karpos Multimedia. Special thanks to Karpos Multimedia for the invitation to the event.

November 26 was all about coming together for a purpose at the Ripples for Hope 2022!

The Ripples for Hope 2022 brought together K-Pop fans from various fandoms for a jam-packed day and night of celebrating friendship and K-Pop through entertaining and thrilling games, which came to a grand conclusion with performances by Everglow, Momoland, and AKMU.

The first Ripple Champion named

During the day activities, the 12 competing teams consisted of 19 fandoms aiming to be the first Ripple Champion. The teams began the festivities with a parade of colors that emphasized their team pride and showcased their respective fandoms. The Ripple Society and the Color Guard Alliance of the Philippines performed “Be Happy,” the slogan song for Ripples for Hope 2022.

Following the oath of sportsmanship, PULP Live World’s Happee Sy-Go took the stage to provide inspiring opening remarks, reminding everyone what the Hallyu community represents.

With Happee Sy-Go’s signal, the games began. All participants took part in the warm-up game of The Boat is Sinking where four fans who outlasted everyone each won a ticket to any PULP show of their choice.

After the warm-up game, the energy is high and the competition is on with the 12 teams competing for the pride of being the first Ripple Champion. The teams battled it out through games of Red Light, Green Light popularized by the Netflix show, Squid Game, variety-show-inspired Team Jump Rope, party-favorite Trip to Jerusalem, an intense Obstacle Course, and sports-day-like Tug of War.

In the end, Team BangKon emerged victorious with the members winning VIP tickets to any PULP show until May 31, 2023. Team Pink Day also earned themselves Lower Box tickets, while Team SEVENTEEN won Upper Box tickets after placing second and third, respectively.

Celebrating K-Pop in a night of music and fun

But the Ripples for Hope 2022 festivities were far from done, as the event closed with a concert featuring Everglow, Momoland, and AKMU.

Everglow opened the evening program with their singles “LA DI DA,” “Adios,” “DUN DUN,” and “Pirate.” The girls’ efforts to deliver their thoughts in Filipino stirred hearts as well. They expressed their delight at finally performing in the Philippines and meeting their local supporters.

Momoland grabbed the stage next, belting out “Yummy Yummy Love,” “Ready Or Not,” “Wrap Me in Plastic,” “Bboom Bboom,” and “BAAM.” The girls shared their joy at returning to the country after a long while and reconnecting with their fans through Ripples for Hope 2022.

AKMU made their Filipino fans’ wait to see them on the Philippine concert stage worthwhile by performing breathtaking performances of “Hey kid, Close your eyes,” “NAKKA,” “Dinosaur,” “How People Move,” “Don’t Cross Your Legs,” “How can I love the heartbreak, you’re the one I love,” “Last Goodbye,” “Give Love,” “200%,” and “Let’s Take Time” to close the night show.

The three K-Pop singers also presented awards to the top three winning teams from the day activities.

By performing breathtaking performances of “Hey kid, Close your eyes,” “NAKKA,” “Dinosaur,” “How People Move,” “Don’t Cross Your Legs,” “How can I love the heartbreak, you’re the one I love,” “Last Goodbye,” “Give Love,” “200%,” and “Let’s Take Time” to close the night show, AKMU made their Filipino fans’ wait to see them on the Philippine concert stage worthwhile.

The three K-Pop singers also presented awards to the top three winning teams from the day’s activities.

Ripples for Hope 2022 was a demonstration of the country’s ever-growing Hallyu community’s dedication to going beyond K-Pop and extending their camaraderie to foster a ripple of goodwill and generosity.

Ripples for Hope 2022 was presented by PULP Live World, Happee Hour, The Ripple Society, and the Philippine K-Pop Convention. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.

Top K-Pop performers and the best Filipino artists came together for Hallyuween 2022 to create the most extraordinary and magical concert the Philippines has ever witnessed.

Presented by PULP Live World, the first K-Pop Halloween party ever held in the Philippines, Hallyuween 2022, delivered on its promise of being a unique occasion with a lineup that combines K-Pop, P-Pop, and drag, excellent music that gets you moving, enjoyable activities for every participant, the chance to dress up and go all out with your costume, a dance floor, and much more.

Minty Fresh, Lady Gagita, and Lady Morgana launched the Hallyuween 2022 stage, demonstrating what Philippine drag is all about and getting the party started. Lady Gagita and Lady Morgana sang Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” respectively, while Minty Fresh did Ariana Grande’s “Break Free.”

Gaho and the band Kave took the stage next, bringing back all the K-Drama emotions with live renditions of “Start Over” from Itaewon Class and “Running” from Start Up, as well as their finest songs and a cover of BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That.” Gaho also stepped down and interacted with the fans.

The crowd cheered louder as PENTAGON returned to the Philippine concert stage for Hallyuween 2022, making Universe’s dream a reality. The boys put on fantastic performances, including “Feelin Like,” “Call My Name,” and “Shine.”

BGYO, the Aces of P-Pop, demonstrated what Filipino talent is all about by performing a medley of their greatest hits, including “The Light,” “Kundiman,” and their most recent single, “Magnet.” The quintet, the only P-Pop group in the lineup, hailed performing at the event as an honor and a dream come true.

KARD, who arrived in the most amazing Halloween costume, left the audience wanting more with renditions of their best hits, including “Ring the Alarm,” “Oh NaNa,” “Don’t Recall,” and others. Taking over from KARD, EPIK HIGH heightened the excitement that evening with “NO THANXXX,” spending no time in getting everyone on their feet with high-energy performances such as “Burj Khalifa,” “One,” and “Born Hater.”

The Hallyuween 2022 crowd has not had the time to recuperate from the seemingly never-ending amazing stages when the baddest female, CL, approaches the stage with her oozing charisma and unshakeable stage presence. Her much-anticipated performance at the event marked her triumphant return to the Philippine concert stage. And, in classic CL fashion, the rapper did not disappoint, bringing nostalgia on stage with an entrance to 2NE1’s “I Am The Best,” before treating everyone to a parade of her best hits including “Spicy,” “Hwa,” “The Baddest Female,” “Chuck,” “Doctor Pepper,” and “Hello Bitches.”

And the party experience will not be complete without DJ Soda’s incredible performance, which had the crowd dancing and rocking out for a full Halloween party experience like no other. The renowned DJ got the celebration going and the energy stayed high till the conclusion.

Hallyuween 2022 gave an all-encompassing experience that included Halloween, K-Pop, P-Pop, drag, and party in a single show, making it really unique. With an incredible roster, well-thought-out fan experiences, and more, the first K-Pop Halloween party in the Philippines was an event we want to attend every year.

Hallyuween 2022 was presented by PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invite.

The Philippine concert debut of TOMORROW X TOGETHER has sparked a lot of excitement as it marked the first concert of the fourth-generation leaders since they debuted more than three years ago.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER brought their first world tour to a close in Manila on October 27 and 28 at the Mall of Asia Arena with thousands of MOAs attending the back-to-back shows on both days. The tour was called ACT: LOVESICK.

READ: TOMORROW X TOGETHER Victoriously Wrapped Up Their First World Tour <ACT : LOVESICK>

The boys exactly appeared on stage at 7:30 p.m. and launched the show with their 2021 hit single “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)” without wasting any time. Taehyun, Beomgyu, and HueningKai sang Itchyworms’ famous ballad “Akin Ka Na Lang” in tribute to their Filipino MOAs.

Both performances lasted three hours and featured nearly 30 songs in their extensive setlists, with the goal of making every memory with their beloved MOAs count. The difference between seeing them in person and on a screen is enormous. The aura that TXT and MOAs members convey with their presence cannot be captured by a camera.

They have expanded significantly since their debut. As performers, they are more fluid and vocally phenomenal, with the maturity and ease that come with experience. They are more active in the creative development of their songs as artists –The repertoire for this tour is composed of songs co-written and produced by the group members from before their debut to the present day.

And as idols, they are more secure in their own skin and have greater freedom of expression. ACT : LOVESICK illustrates this intricate journey through a succession of high-budget theatrical vignettes and symbolic stage settings. A garden blossoms into a peaceful woodland, illuminating their “Magic Island” where they may retreat together. Insecurity and anxiety, however, lit their dream fire and threw their world into disarray.

Over the course of the night, they showed how good they were at both big-sounding pop and nuanced ballads. The loudest roar of the night came when the familiar opening keyboard stab of their bubbly debut single “Crown” was played perfectly. “Magic” and “Blue Hour” were dazzling and full of energy. “Trust Fund Baby” and “Anti-Romantic” showed off their ballads, especially Taehyun’s, who put as much emotion and energy into singing as he did into dancing.

On the flip side, darkness fell during “Maze in the Mirror,” “Eternally,” and “Can’t You See Me”—a moody trio about being alone. In a similar way, Yeonjun owned “Frost” and “New Rules” with an impressive spotlight dance solo and sinister facial expressions.

Before making an offer of their final farewell, the members promised to return soon with a larger venue. They ended their last show for ACT: LOVESICK tour with a surprise performance of “Our Summer,” dedicated to their fans, and then took a bow amid the loud cheers and applause of their fans who are holding on to the promise of Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and HueningKai for another meeting with their Philippine MOAs.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR – ACT : LOVESICK in Manila was presented by PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invite.

Five K-Pop acts gathered under one roof for DNM Entertainment’s I-Pop U 2022 Manila at the Araneta Coliseum on October 21. The concert festival powered through sudden member changes, line-up additions, and technical difficulties to deliver a high-energy party.

Araneta City Cubao has never been more hectic than on Friday, with K-Pop fans from all over the country trooping to the area to see Alice, Xdinary Heroes, Golden Child, WayV, and NCT Dream.

Everywhere you turn, you’ll find fans taking photos of fan projects, distributing freebies, and meeting up with friends. A few days prior, the organizer announced that Bomin of Golden Child and Winwin and Ten of WayV would be absent from the festivities. Nonetheless, expectations were high and the energy was fiery.

The Rundown

Alice took the stage first. The seven-member girl group charmed their way into everyone’s hearts with radiant smiles and positive vibes. It may be the Christmas season in the Philippines, but Alice transported us back to summer with their performances of “ Summer Dream,” “This is Me,” and “Jackpot”.

Rock band Xdinary Heroes is not even a year old, but make no mistake about their talent and stage presence. The beauty of a band is that if they’re great, they’ll sound even better live, which is the case for XH. “Strawberry Cake” in all its high-note rage-filled glory hit us straight in the face. A cover of “Zombie” by their label seniors Day6 instantly turned the stadium into karaoke. If the screams they earned with Jooyeon’s prodding during the member introductions were any indication, they’ve already gained a promising fanbase this early in their career. The crowd was so loud it seemed to render Gaon speechless for a moment. Their seven-song setlist ended with their debut track “Happy Death Day”.

Golden Child were consummate performers on stage – singing clear, dancing sharp, and radiating sunshiny cheerfulness. GolCha, as they’re more commonly called, were the kings of fanservice: completing hand hearts, running around all corners of the stage, crouching down to reach fans, and taking as many phones as they could for precious self-cam footage. The Goldenness fandom did an incredible job in pulling off-block seating. A solid cluster of Runebongs filled one section from Gen Ad to SVIP, and the guys immediately took notice. GolCha performed “Burn It,” Ra Pam Pam,” Knocking on My Door,” “3! 6! 5!,” “Breathe,” “Bottom of the Ocean,” and “Replay”.

The ocean of lightsticks was overwhelmingly neon green for WayV and NCT Dream. After all, it’s unusual to see two units of NCT in one place, more so outside South Korea.

To put it simply – this country is whipped for WayV. The screams were so loud everything else drowned.
Even Xiaojun’s orchestra conducting couldn’t tone down the nonstop roaring resonating on a deafening frequency. Anticipation was thick for their performances. Unfortunately, with Ten and Winwin absent for health reasons, Kun and Xiaojun only sang “Back to You”. Q&A and games took place in lieu of what could have been a spectacle. The group was visibly regretful about not being able to perform for Weishennies. Hendery mentioned being nervous because he wanted to show their perfect side.

Xiaojun says, firmly and reassuringly, “WayV is back now”. It’s a loaded statement knowing what they’ve been through the past year – they’re back in the recording room, practicing in the dance studio, together again after being in different countries, to deliver what they do best as artists. Hopefully, their imminent return also leads them back to the Philippines for their legion of fans who they cherish. Hendery said so himself, without fans they are fish out of water unable to survive.
In the end, WayV handed out roses as “Love Talk” played, with the whole dome providing vocals.

NCT Dream were the night’s headliners, pulling some of the best hits from their excellent discography for the audience: “Beat Box,” “Hot Sauce,” “Dive Into You,” “Hello Future,” and “Glitch Mode”.

Youngest in terms of age but oldest in terms of the debut, NCT Dream’s stages embodied youthful playfulness, just best friends living their best lives performing for an audience that hypes their songs like no other. Jaemin extended an invite for the next time they return, which will definitely be the previously announced The Dream Show 2 concert.

A Grand Catch Up

K-Pop concerts aren’t just about performances, it’s also where fans and artists catch up. After waiting for years, fans of Xdinary Heroes, WayV, and Golden Child finally met their idols for the first time. Alice gave a sneak peek of their upcoming comeback for the single “Dance On” set on October 27. Birthday songs were sung for Golden Child’s Sungmin and WayV’s Yangyang and Winwin, despite the latter’s absence.

There’s a sense of community with every single member receiving cheers as they introduced themselves.
People screamed for groups even if they weren’t fans, wanting to show the artists a great warm Filipino welcome. Communication was almost telepathic. A request for louder volume from the seated area and everyone immediately gets the memo to relay the message to the host. An instruction to not help WayV during games had fans deceiving the group into thinking that every choice to the question was correct.

Sound Setbacks

I-Pop U 2022 Manila was marred with audio problems. The sound from the microphones was either too soft or too loud. Numerous performers would walk offstage to try and get the issues fixed. A constant white noise was present during Golden Child’s stage. It’s a given that K-Pop artists prepare meticulously for performances. Ideally, concert producers should commit to the same level of thoroughness. Audio problems equally shortchange the artists who want to showcase their best and the audience who wish to hear their excellence. It would be fantastic for any local producer to offer an aural experience that is crisp, clean, and consistent.

The I-Pop U 2022 Manila Experience

Through highs and lows, I-Pop U 2022 Manila delivered a party the audience will remember. Gunil of Xdinary Heroes put it best: They’re thankful to fans for matching their energy and they hope it’s an unforgettable moment for us because it’s unforgettable for them.

Words: Marijo Endriga

The I-POP U 2022 MANILA is presented by DNM Entertainment and YOD Entertainment. Special thanks to DNM Entertainment for the invite to the event.

It was a heartwarming concert and a night to always remembers for everyone at Jessi’s Zoom in Manila concert!

Jessi marked a milestone in her career last September 30 and her Filipino fans were fortunate to witness it happen and play a significant part in its realization. The singer’s recently-concluded Zoom in Manila concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena was not only her first solo concert in the Philippines, but it served as her first ever solo concert in her career.

With lights dimmed and cheers getting louder and louder, Jessi opened the show with her 2021 hit song “What Type of X” and a snippet of Refund Sisters’ “Don’t Touch Me”. Witnessing the crowd’s enthusiasm and overwhelming support, the singer turned emotional and tried her best to contain her tears. But her words resonated with gratitude. “Thank you for loving Jessi,” she said, adding a promise of a great show that night that will melt everyone’s stress. “Just f*cking have an amazing time, alright?”.

It was indeed and beyond amazing. Zoom in Manila delivered so much beyond that promise as Filipino Jebbies returned home with a warm heart and more love for the ssen eonni who reminded everyone that it’s okay to be vulnerable.

The “Zoom” singer was beyond grateful for the love and support that her Filipino fans tirelessly showered her that evening. “Thank you for loving Jessi,” she said.

With thundering cheers from fans, Jessi continued to fire up the Philippine concert stage with “Put It On Ya” and “Ganji”. During her “Ganji” performance, a collaboration with Psy, the singer gave a shoutout to Psy and PNation.

She then performed “Numb”, a song from her extended play Nuna that was released in 2020. She also shared that the song is one of her favorite songs and one of the hardest songs to sing. Still, the singer gave an all-out soulful performance of the song with lyrics that hit hard and make you sing loud.

Jessi has arrived: Wherever f*cking room you arrive, let them know you are motherf*cking there.

Fully dominating the stage, Jessi performed “Arrived” next. But before getting on the song, she gave the crowd a confidence-boosting ment, “Wherever f*cking room you arrive, let them know you are motherf*cking there.”

In between her performances, the singer shared words of encouragement and inspiration. She also relayed her appreciation to her fans for making the concert possible. “You gotta f*ckin’ fall. You gotta f*ckin’ meet f*cked up people. Even my haters. Like I said, it took me 18 years. As a solo artist, they told me this is the first time that many tickets were sold out. I’m so blessed and I’m so thankful. Today is a celebration, not a day for me to cry. I just want to say thank you guys so much,” she said.

She then introduced her next song, “Boing”, which, she said, literally has no meaning. “It just means raising your tits high, right? It means raising your chest high.”

“Wherever you f*cking go, let them know that you are f*cking there. That’s why it’s called “Boing”,” she added. She gave also a shoutout to all the independent b*tches, reminding them that they don’t need a guy to pay their motherf*cking bills. “I’m gonna tell you that it will so much stronger and greater when you have your own money, your own dignity,” she said.

Jessi continued to put on a show like no other with “Gucci” with the tireless cheers of Filipino Jebbies echoing in the background. “Live how the f*ck you want. I just want to tell you that,” she said before taking over the stage once again with “Who Dat B” and “Wet”. The singer then joked around with fans that in case she messed up the dance for “Down”, they had to let it slide and encouraged them to twerk along with her.

Following “Spirit Animal”, Jessi had a surprise up her sleeve, inviting A-Team on stage, who choreographed a dance for her in two to three days, for the “Drip” performance. The singer also did not hold back in expressing her amazement for Filipino talents. “What are you guys not good at? Hey, Philippine people, you guys are f*cking good at everything.”

A-Team then took over the stage, impressing the crowd with their moves and incredible stage presence as Jessi prepares for the next part of the show.

To Filipino Jebbies’ shining star, thank you for the inspiration.

A VCR featuring childhood memories of Jessi was shown, giving a glimpse of the star’s young years before she returned on stage with an emotion-filled performance of “Star”.

Every day I see the stars
Shining bright into my life
Oh yeah oh yeah
Fought this battle on my own
Found my strength in love I feel
Everything I do is real
For you for you

Star by Jessi

The crowd chanted her name, comforting her that she did well and she was doing good. It was then Jessi’s turn to give fans encouraging words, telling them that “A bad b*tch can still cry, okay? The first step of courage is knowing your fears — that is the first step of strength. I want you guys to know that if you fall, it’s okay because you guys know how to get the f*ck back up, right?”

“Thank you, Philippines, for all the good energy tonight,” she said before keeping the memories of that evening through a photo with her Filipino Jebbies. But the love for Jessi did not end with cheers and lights from her fans as they prepared a special video with messages from her fans, friends, and family. Deeply touched by the moving messages of fans and their stories of how the singer inspired them, Jessi teared up.

“Be your true self. I promise that you will regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t. When I was a young kid, I came to Korea when I was 14, 15. What the f*ck do I know at 14, 15? I’m a little kid, right? I came to Korea thinking I wanna chase my dreams and my parents let me because they knew I was gonna fall. They knew I was gonna fail, but they said it’s okay to fail. And look at me now, my parents are so proud of me,” she said.

Zooming in and Zooming out with Jessi in Zoom in Manila

Zoom in Manila will never be complete without a performance of Jessi’s iconic hit, “Zoom”. The performer gave a series of performances of her greatest hits, including “Cold Blooded,” “Zoom,” and “Nunu Nana,” to the Filipino Jebbies. Filipino Jebbies, who are notorious for being the loudest concert crowd, once again proved why they are the best crowd by singing along with Jessi with all of their might.

Giving the perfect ending to the best ending of September, Jessi came back on stage for an encore performance of “SsenUnni”. The singer also made sure that her fans return home with the best memories of that night as she went down the stage and came closer to the crowd.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts)

Zoom in Manila was a heartwarming concert, filled with encouragement and inspiration. It was genuine and personal. It was Jessi, sharing her art and her story with us. Thank you, Jessi.

Zoom in Manila was presented by Neuwave Events and Productions. Special thanks to Neuwave Events and Productions for the invites to the concert.