It was an unforgettable weekend as Simon Dominic, Loco, Gray, LeeHi, Yugyeom, and Woo took over the hearts of many Filipino fans!
On January 15, 2023, Manila fans literally followed the movement with AOMG artists Simon Dominic, Loco, Gray, LeeHi, Yugyeom, and Woo.
Held at the New Frontier Theater in Manila, Pulp Live World hosted one of the first K-pop events of 2023. And the artists from the renowned Korean hip-hop label absolutely set the bar extremely high for the rest of the year with the FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT world tour.
The four-hour concert was nothing compared to PH fans’ energy. As soon as the clock struck 6:00 p.m., the crowd was on its feet, ready for a night that would go down in history. Here is everything that happened during the AOMG FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT Tour in Manila.
Woo opened the night with a literal BANG!
Woo was brought in at the last minute for the AOMG FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT Tour in Manila, and it was an absolute dream come true. Initially, the tour only featured five artists, and it would have been hard to find a better performer than Woo to be added to the lineup.
Opening a stage is a hard task at that, but Woo gracefully conquered the crowd. His presence was a familiar sensation, with an interesting hint of swagger and coolness. The rapper began the performance with “R.I.P.” and quickly devoured the stage with “Chik Chik Pok Pok” and “Chingiz Khan.”
His uncanny ability to grab the audience’s attention with minimal effort was applaudable. Not only was he able to encourage the crowd to jump up and down with him, but he also made an impression that lasted throughout the show. Ending his set, Woo introduced his song “Me,” which depicts his journey to fame, and how he managed to get it all together to return to his sincerity with his work.
LeeHi showcased the many reasons why she is a vocal gangster
It’s a shock to realize that this was the first time LeeHi set foot in Manila for a concert event, as she felt very familiar with her Filipino fans. As soon as the spotlight revealed her onstage, the crowd immediately screamed their hearts out as a sign of their endless love and support for the songstress.
LeeHi started off on a calmer note with “ONLY.” And it is no exaggeration to say that some of the people in the crowd shed tears as soon as the first note of the track “Breathe” played.
Unlike Woo’s intense and powerful performances, LeeHi performed with only a single spotlight, but it was more than enough to capture the attention of everyone in the theater. Particularly, the former YG Entertainment artist impressed fans with “Savior,” “Rose,” “H.S.K.T.,” and “No One.”
Despite her small frame, LeeHi was able to dominate the stage with her commendable stage presence and powerful vocals, especially when she performed the crowd favorites “1, 2, 3, 4,” and “Red Lipstick.” She even mentioned that this tour gathered all their “real fans,” and complimented the crowd’s undying energy.
Loco had PH fans wanting more
No one was able to escape Loco’s charm as he started off his set with “MBTI.” It was a powerful and intense opening song that stayed with the audience long after the show had ended. There was no doubt that when he stepped onstage, an interesting and irresistible surge of energy engulfed us.
The first minutes of his set had everyone in awe of his impeccable stage presence. Loco proceeded to perform “Party Band,” “Oppa,” and “Too Much.” He then declared a musical war as he stimulated endless energy with “Like Water” and “No Manners.”
There is no exaggeration to say that in a little over half an hour, Loco literally had everyone going loco. The rapper felt really comfortable with the Manila crowd, even taking off his shirt and throwing water into the audience.
Before finishing his set, Loco asked the crowd if the rumors were true that one of his songs was very popular in the Philippines. PH fans were challenged, but of course, this is the very reason why the Filipino crowd is the best. Everyone sang along to the rapper’s song “Say Yes,” which was an OST from the 2016 Korean drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.
Loco’s reaction was genuine, and he looked entirely adorable as he placed his hand on his chest, still in awe at how loud the Filipino crowd sang along to the track. The rapper even returned onstage to properly sing “Say Yes” with fans during the encore stages.
PH fans matched Gray’s crazy energy
Real Korean hip-hop and R&B fans are absolutely familiar with Gray due to the fact that his name is mentioned on every track that he has produced. And it was obvious, as the Manila crowd immediately went wild as soon as the rapper went onstage.
Gray welcomed the audience with “Dream Chaser,” displaying the many reasons why he was one of the most anticipated artists on the lineup. The hip-hop heartthrob then dove into the colorful tracks of his vibrant discography, such as “Show Window,” “TMI,” “Summer Night,” “U,” and “Lose Control.” Loco also joined him onstage to perform the crowd favorite “Just Do It.”
Not only that, but Gray also showcased his exemplary talents by playing the keyboard and urging the crowd to sing along to “Moon Blue,” “Stay The Night,” and “Baby Don’t Cry.”
Yugyeom said PH fans have a good vibe
One thing is for sure: Yugyeom returned to Manila more confident and powerful than he ever was. His hairstyle made him even more attractive, and it only doubled as soon as he performed his tracks “Want You Around,” “Take You Down,” “All About U,” “All Your Fault,” and “Love The Way.”
Yugyeom was a sight to be reckoned with. Regardless of whether he was achieving those falsettos or tearing it up on stage with his dance moves, he absolutely marked the Manila stage with a high degree of majesty. This was further proved when he performed his most recent track, “Ponytail,” which had everyone on their feet grooving with his gracious vocals and heavenly visuals.
He even promised to return to Manila with the other GOT7 members, making the cheers louder than ever.
Simon Dominic called himself “pogi”
Why Simon Dominic has only visited the Philippines now remains a mystery. But the wonders all went down the drain as his majesty finally blessed the Filipino crowd with his iconic intro. Simon Dominic conquered the stage as his own with “Dax4”, and it proved he deserved to be the evening’s closing act.
Strangers outside the New Frontier Theater might have wondered why the crowd inside was spelling a name. It was such an honor to have been inside one venue with everyone singing along to “Simon Dominic.” And with just those two tracks, Simon Dominic proved once again why he is regarded as one of Korea’s finest rappers.
Not a single person from the crowd wanted to end the night after Simon Dominic performed some of his most popular tracks. This includes “POSE!,” “Wifey,” “Ya Ain’t Gang,” “NO THANXXX,” “Make Her Dance,” and “Comfortable.” He also had the crowd groove to the beat of “MOMMAE.”
Another highlight of the evening was when he took with him some placards from the fans, even learning new Tagalog phrases, which he immediately became familiar with as he effortlessly uttered them all through the concert night. Specifically, Simon Dominic had his share of witty exchanges with fans. The audience taught him the Tagalog word “pogi,” which means “handsome,” and the hip-hop legend straight away claimed the term as his own.
Simon Dominic then gave his own version of the phrase “mahal kita,” mixing in his Busan dialect tone to it. Without so much as a hint of awkwardness, he also had everyone laughing as he screamed “maganda forever.”
It was a weekend difficult to forget. Simon Dominic, LeeHi, Gray, Loco, Yugyeom, and Woo demonstrated their talents in their own respective ways. As the AOMG artists reunited onstage for the encore performances, there was no stopping them from making everyone witness what a party really looks like.
Four hours seemed unbelievable, but the crowd remained energetic, and it was unfortunate that the night had to end. Everyone jumped up and down to the tracks “Upside Down,” “TTFU,” “Party For The Night,” “We Are,” and “Who You.” In between songs, some held hands with Loco as he went down and interacted closely with the crowd on the first floor. LeeHi even signed a few autographs for fans in the first row, while Simon Dominic and Yugyeom snapped a few photos with fans.
Ending the unforgettable night, Simon Dominic asked the fans to be careful on their way home and assured them that the AOMG artists would return to Manila as soon as possible, saying “Hanggang sa muli. Ingat.”
kdramadiary would like to extend its gratitude to Happee Hour and Pulp Live World for the media invites to the AOMG FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT Tour in Manila.
Event Covered By: Bea Melisse Ibañez
Photos: Charie Navarro
We also wished it didn’t end. They stayed to interact, sing to, and take photos with the #AOMGinMANILA crowd. If this isn’t the best fanservice in a show, we don’t know what is. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/FMKeMfeDJl
— PULP Live World (@pulpliveworld) January 15, 2023
