[PHILIPPINES] CHEN feels reunited with ‘long-time’ friends during ‘Arcadia’ in Manila

Red-and-black fits on, Eribongs up, and vocals ready for some singing and screaming — that’s how Filipino Soondingies welcomed CHEN back on the Manila stage after more than a year, this time for the Philippine leg of his much anticipated ‘Arcadia’ Concert Tour.

Excitement filled the FYM Hall of the EVM Convention Center in Quezon City, Metro Manila last Feb. 28 as fans of the renowned Korean vocalist made sure to not hold back in celebrating his artistry and in expressing their undying support for him.

This love and fondness were easily reciprocated by CHEN, who affectionately likened his comeback concert in Manila to getting reunited with a long-time friend. 

“If you think about it, a lot of time has passed by, and there are a lot of moments that we shared together, right? But today feels different. This concert feels like friends who’ve known each other for so long have met after such a long time and are having such a great time together,” CHEN told the crowd, who immediately responded with adoring coos. 

“Being this close to you guys and really interacting this close to you, it feels like I met a friend that I’ve known for such a long time. But later, we’re gonna see each other closer, right?” he added, teasing about the special fan benefit all attendees of the concert were eligible for: a one-on-one selca with CHEN. Understandably, the room was instantly filled with delighted squeals.

Everyone’s a rock star in Arcadia

During his first ment of the night, CHEN warned the crowd about a “rumour” he heard.

“I’ve heard the news that there are a lot of people who screamed so much that they got sore throats the next day. I hope you guys prove to me [whether] this is true or not,” the singer said, seemingly challenging the Filipino crowd — who immediately proved the rumour to be true.

A set later, CHEN gushed about how the fans’ loud voices were piercing through his mic and entering his in-ear monitor. As if that’s not yet enough, he then asked everyone in the hall to stand up and “show everything [they] got.”

Amidst the thrilled screams of the fans, CHEN shouted — “Welcome to my party!” — and the speakers blasted with the intro to his song Broken Party, the first of his three-piece rock set of the night, with the other two being Help Me (Somebody 2 Love) and the concert’s titular song, Arcadia.

Like idol, like fans – A showcase of vocal power

If there’s one thing Filipino fans are most known for, it’s for their vocal prowess. They do not just sing along during concerts, they make the concert their own — and CHEN got a front-row seat to witness exactly that.

As the singer went through the night’s setlist filled with his emotional ballads such as My Dear, Remember, Photograph, Shall We?, and Starlight; more laid back tracks like Fall In Love Again, Deja-Vu, Hold You Tight, and Brighter Than; and crowd favorites such as Make It Count (from the drama Touch Your Heart) and Best Luck (from the drama series It’s Okay, That’s Love), his Filipino Soondingies stood on business and made sure their appreciation for CHEN reached him through their beautiful voices.

“The hot passion that you showed me during my last visit here in Manila is still inside my heart up to this day,” the singer fondly reminisced, “but what I’m feeling today is, from the opening, you’ve already overpassed what you did last year.”

The crowd’s collective voice was so good that it wasn’t only CHEN who was moved by Filipino Soondingies’ heartfelt singing. Moments after the concert, guitarist Lee Shin Woo of the band that accompanies CHEN for his Arcadia tour took it to Instagram and posted two clips of the crowd’s heavenly singing: the first one, during the fan song segment, where the crowd sang and dedicated the song Best Luck to CHEN, and the second one, during a special part of the concert where individual fans — and later on, everyone — got to sing CHEN’s hit ballad Beautiful Goodbye with CHEN himself.

“There’s a reason why you guys call yourselves singers; your voices are so beautiful,” the singer commended the crowd candidly, much to everyone’s pleased cheering.

CHEN ‘pogi,’ Soondingies ‘lupet,’ and other playful banters

At some point during the concert, the crowd started chanting “pogi” — the Filipino word for ‘handsome’. Upon learning what it means, CHEN giddily thanked everyone and returned the gesture through a string of compliments for his fans.

“You guys are so lit! You guys, lupet [awesome]!” he shouted, complete with a matching hand gesture he learned from someone in the crowd.

The fans’ gift for CHEN did not end with just calling him handsome. Just before CHEN sang his final song of the night, a video meticulously prepared by Filipino Soondingies themselves was played for the Korean singer, much to his genuine surprise. 

Through the video, his fans showed CHEN how his music makes every Soondingie’s world much better and brighter. They thanked him for his artistry, and for simply being who he is.

This beautiful fan gift was met with a heartfelt message from the singer: “Even though I’m such a troublemaker, thank you very much for continuously loving me. I’m most satisfied when I stand up here on stage to share my energy with you and you receive my energy. Thank you very much for accepting me for who I am and for supporting me to this day.”

He then expressed his wish for all his Soondingies: “Until the end, I hope we value each other, and I hope we can place each other inside each other’s hearts.”

His fans later teased him for pretending to not know about the fan project, to which he defensively (and cutely!) insisted he really had no idea there would be such a segment. “I almost left without watching this! I really didn’t know. Look me in the eye, guys! I am not lying!”

A promise to look forward to

The concert wrapped up with a final duet between CHEN and his Filipino Soondingies of his famed song Best Luck. Before leaving the stage, CHEN took the opportunity to make and seal a promise with his Filipino fans.

“Can you promise me that we will meet [again] next time? Promise? I’m so happy, and really, I’m gonna miss you guys. Until the next time we meet again, don’t forget this moment, okay? Even though my Arcadia concert is finished, I know you guys will continuously do wonderful challenges, continuously do your best. I’m gonna support you all throughout. As much as you guys are supporting me, I’m gonna support you too,” the singer said.

With fond hearts, the crowd cheered for CHEN and returned the promise to see him again.

We would like to thank Three Angles Production for the media invite!

Written by: Erin

Photos by: Three Angles Production, Erin

The Seoul Story – Connecting K-Pop Fans Since 2011 
WEBSITE | TWITTER | LIKE US | WATCH US