Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 13) – Patches of rain in Manila last Sunday had the atmosphere dull and muted by the evening, but not in the Big Dome.
The air inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, venue of the “OVERPASS” concert headlined by K-pop stars Baekhyun, Jeon Somi, and B.I, crackled with energy even before the show began — the dimmed arena illuminated by a silver ocean of fans holding their light sticks, counting down the minutes till they see their favorites in the flesh.
It was an awaited reunion with singer-rapper B.I who held a solo show in the country in March, while the event marked soloist Somi’s debut on a Philippine stage.
For fans of EXO’s Baekhyun, the night culminated a four-year wait.
B.I opened the event with a rather sultry performance of “BTBT,” disarming the crowd of thousands in no time.
The 26-year-old was comfortably dressed in a white shirt, an unbuttoned patterned polo, and a pair of jeans, yet had a presence that pulled in even those seated in the farthest sections of the dome.
“Manila! Dance with me,” B.I told the fired-up crowd. From time to time, he treated fans from each side of the stage to prolonged eye contact, prompting more rapturous screams.
Over the course of his nearly hour-long setlist, B.I delivered electric rapping and smooth dancing with a mix of 18 bangers and more subdued tracks. Among them were “Waterfall, “TTM,” “MICHELANGELO,” “Illusion,” “illa illa,” and “Dare To Love,” before he capped off with “Cosmos,” whose spacey, cinematic climax proved a satisfyingly fitting match to the dreamlike atmosphere.
After B.I exited the stage, there was little time to cool down before Jeon Somi took over.
The doll-like beauty turned on her charm as soon as she walked in and had the Big Dome singing along to “XOXO” and “What You Waiting For.”
She also delighted the audience with her funky pop song “Birthday” and a rock version of her all-English track “Anymore,” before finishing with her chart-topper “Dumb Dumb.”
With a shorter five-song setlist, Somi had more time to talk onstage with fans and the host. She certainly lived up to her moniker “human vitamin,” as she animatedly listed some Filipino favorites, including the country’s world-famous mangoes or mangga, and – more unexpectedly – the phrase “Hay nako,” an expression of frustration.
In an adorable moment, the Korean-Canadian artist mistakenly said “Mangga ko kayo (You are my mangoes)” instead of “Mahal ko kayo (I love you),” drawing laughter that grew louder when she again sighed a “Hay nako” upon realizing the mistake.
There was hardly a dull moment since the show began, but the final act from Baekhyun undeniably set off the most deafening screams that night.
Returning to Manila for the first time since his 2019 concert with other EXO members, the globally renowned group’s main vocalist had the spotlight all to himself this time.
Baekhyun commanded the stage effortlessly like a true superstar, at once dazzling the arena with his opener “UN Village.” But every now and then, he would briefly pause his own singing to give way to EXO-Ls who had his songs memorized by heart.
“Betcha,” “Candy,” “Love Again,” and fan-favorite “Bambi” completed his setlist, which all showcased the fluidity of his vocals.
In between songs, he would banter with fans with the help of a translator. When Baekhyun said he only had two songs left to perform, the dome erupted into playful whining and chanting of “Walang uuwi (No one’s going home).”
“Personally, I’d be fine with not going home,” the K-pop star teasingly responded in Korean, which was translated to Filipino.
This evoked resounding cheers, but no louder than the ones that came next when he said: “But let’s think about it. I would need to fly back to Korea, so that next time, I can return here and perform with the rest of EXO for you guys.”
Baekhyun raised his hand to make a pinky promise – a gesture mirrored and sealed by the sea of thousands who waited for him, and who will again patiently hold on to his word.
