Seven years is a long time to wait for a reunion. But for EXO and Philippine EXO-L, it only made the homecoming more meaningful.

When the lights dimmed and the opening notes of “MAMA” thundered across the SM Mall of Asia Arena, it felt as though time had folded in on itself. One by one, “Monster,” the haunting intro of “Wolf,” and “Overdose” followed, immediately transporting thousands of fans through more than a decade of memories. It was not merely the opening of EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon—it was the beginning of a reunion that had been seven years in the making.

“Long time no see!” Chanyeol exclaimed. “It’s been a while. We really missed you, guys,” Suho added, setting the tone for a night built on gratitude as much as spectacle.

For Philippine EXO-L, this was the moment they had imagined countless times.

EXO’s history with the Philippines began almost as soon as the group itself was born. Fresh from their 2012 debut, they stepped onto the Philippine stage for the first time at the Dream K-Pop Fantasy Concert in January 2013. Three years later came their first solo concert in the country through EXO PLANET #2 – The EXO’luXion, followed by The EXO’rDIUM in 2017, The EℓyXiOn in 2018, and EXplOration in 2019.

In 2026, exactly ten years after their first EXO PLANET concert in the Philippines, EXO’s Suho, Chanyeol, D.O, Kai, and Sehun returned with the two-night sold-out EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon, marking the group’s long-awaited comeback to Manila as a group after seven years.

Yet those years never truly felt empty.

Even during the members’ individual activities and solo concerts, Philippine EXO-L continued to fill venues, wave silver lightsticks, and cheer with the same unwavering devotion. Distance may have separated them temporarily, but the bond between EXO and their fans never weakened.

Perhaps that is why the welcome was deafening.

Sehun greeted the crowd in Filipino, asking if everyone had missed them before laughing at the overwhelming screams that answered his question.

Suho reminded everyone of EXO’s famous motto: “We are one.”

“If you enjoy EXO’s concert until the end,” he said, “I’m sure when the show is over we will be really one.”

Kai greeted fans with a heartfelt “Mabuhay!” before admitting that he had missed Manila dearly, while D.O. hoped everyone would create happy memories together that evening. Chanyeol, ever playful, effortlessly had the audience laughing with his familiar humor and very Pinoy charm as the “Pogi Chanyeol.”

From that moment onward, EXhOrizon became less of a performance and more of a celebration between old friends.

The second act shifted the atmosphere with “Moonlight Shadows,” while Chanyeol opened “Gravity” with a commanding solo dance before Kai captivated the audience during “Jekyll.” “CRAZY” closed the segment with explosive energy that kept the arena on its feet.

Between performances, the members never let the connection fade. They joked among themselves, laughed with EXO-L, admired the breathtaking Cosmic Latte ocean created by thousands of lightsticks, and even teased Suho into revealing a glimpse of his toned physique as the members hilariously helped him “properly” show it to the audience.

The third set brought some of EXO’s most iconic performances: “Playboy,” “Artificial Love” highlighted by Sehun’s mesmerizing solo dance, “The Eve,” and, of course, “Love Shot.”

Each performance reminded everyone why EXO has remained one of K-pop’s strongest live acts. Their vocals remained powerful. Their dances remained immaculate. And despite the individuality each member has cultivated over the years, they still moved together with remarkable harmony.

Following a costume change into casual outfits, nostalgia swept through the arena once again.

Rather than performing each song in full, EXO delivered an exhilarating medley of “Tempo,” “Ko Ko Bop,” “Call Me Baby,” “Power,” “Don’t Fight the Feeling,” and “Run” before treating fans to complete performances of “Love Me Right” and “Growl.”

The arena transformed into one massive chorus.

Suho paused during one of the night’s ment segments and simply looked at the audience. “You are so incredibly beautiful.”

The love was returned in kind. Chanyeol then led the crowd in singing “Raining in Manila,” delighting everyone with his appreciation for a song that had become deeply associated with the city. Moments later, EXO revisited one of their earliest Philippine memories through “Hawak Kamay,” a song they had famously performed during the 2013 Dream K-Pop Fantasy Concert.

“We really have a lot of memories together,” Suho reflected.

The nostalgia continued as EXO-L sang “Universe,” “Sing For You,” and “Love Shot,” proving once again that every lyric had remained etched into their hearts throughout the years.

“But really,” D.O. shared sincerely, “Manila, the energy here, the vibe, is just amazing.”

Emotion gently took over during the fifth set as D.O. and Suho delivered the heartfelt “Baby Don’t Cry,” followed by “Walk on Memories” and “Don’t Go.” Every note seemed to carry years of longing finally finding its resolution.

The atmosphere shifted once more as EXO returned in princely white ensembles for “El Dorado” and “Back It Up,” before launching into the concert’s climactic final performances with “Forever” and “Crown.”

As EXO poured their hearts into every performance on stage, Philippine EXO-L transformed the arena into a love letter years in the making. They prepared elaborate fan projects throughout the concert: the dazzling EXO Party Globe project during “Power,” “Don’t Fight the Feeling,” and “Run”; a heartfelt sing-along of “Peter Pan” before the encore; illuminated flowers in each member’s representative colors during “Back Pocket”; synchronized chants of “EXO, mahal namin kayo!”; and banners reading, “In every universe, our hearts are always with EXO.”

The members repeatedly admired the projects, calling the colorful ocean incredibly beautiful.

Then came the encore.

As “Back Pocket” filled the venue, fans responded with one final declaration.

“EXO, mahal namin kayo!”

Without hesitation, the members answered in unison.

“EXO-L, mahal namin kayo!”

It was perhaps the simplest exchange of the evening, yet it perfectly captured everything EXhOrizon represented.

Chanyeol thanked everyone for welcoming EXO back after so many years. “Babalik kami! Mahal ko kayo!”

D.O. admitted that because of the fans, he would surely have sweet dreams that night. Kai described the evening in one word: perfect. “Every single moment I spent with EXO-L is very precious to me.”

Suho promised that EXO would return and thanked Manila for making them feel truly loved. “I can feel that you really love EXO and that we are one. Mahal namin kayo.”

Sehun echoed the same promise, expressing confidence that it would not take long before they met again. “We will try to be back in the Philippines as fast as possible.”

As “Flatline” closed the evening, it became clear that EXhOrizon was never simply about a comeback.

It was about history.

It was about loyalty.

It was about promises that survived seven long years.

Looking back at everything that transpired between 2019 and 2026, it is no surprise that EXO’s return was welcomed with the loudest cheers and the brightest lights. There has always been an assurance that Philippine EXO-L would be there—in every universe, across every horizon.

And EXO, true to their word, showed up.

They returned with extraordinary performances, timeless music, breathtaking production, and the unmistakable chemistry that has defined them throughout generations of K-pop. Alongside songs from their latest album, Reverxe, the concert became a celebration of a discography that has stood the test of time, proving once again why EXO remains one of the industry’s finest performers.

More importantly, EXhOrizon became a beautiful reminder that “We Are One” has never been just a slogan.

It has always been a promise.

Now, both EXO and EXO-L hold onto another promise—the promise to meet again soon.

Because after all these years, all these stages, all these memories, and all these promises, one truth continues to endure.

EXO and EXO-L will always be each other’s always and forever.

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EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon in Manila was presented by PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for making this coverage possible.

This article covers the events of Day 1 of EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon in Manila, held on July 4, 2026.