Covered Event

[PHILIPPINES] Reasons why Filipino INCLEs Were The Real WINNERs During CROSS TOUR in MANILA

Yes, it was WINNER who just successfully finished another leg of their CROSS TOUR after Jan 25, but it was definitely the Filipino Inner Circles who took the real trophy home that night.

The SM Mall of Asia Arena was scheduled to accommodate excited fans attending the concert of self-producing, music geniuses K-Pop idol group WINNER in Manila.

But what it witnessed that night was more than just a concert: the hall hosted some three hours of the hypest party ever, enjoyed by fans who were nothing but blissful and thankful they were finally seeing the four boys of WINNER — Yoon, Hoony, Mino, and Jinu — in the flesh. Indeed, WINNER did not disappoint in delivering nothing but world-class entertainment.

Every stage was worth recording – whether with a phone camera or just remembering them with ones’ eyes.. and heart… and brain… INCLEs would understand. As expected of WINNER, they did not fail to make every party song in their setlist deserving of their fans’ high jumps and loud cheers. They also kept the emotional songs just the way they should be: agonizing no matter what, but still beautiful. Always bittersweet.

(To be honest, it was impossible to not keep every song beautiful – especially with the clean vocals of Jinu and Yoon, either adding flavor or balancing the always piercing rapping of Mino and Hoony.)

But to top everything, it was of course the subtly sweet moments between WINNER and Filipino Inner Circles which completed the beautiful picture of that evening. With Filipino fans taking pride in their wonderful fan-chanting abilities, every performance was not a stage of WINNER alone. Every song sung was a duet between the boys and their fans who missed them so much.

The longing part made the singing more beautiful; the lyrics more felt; the night more special.

And so, to make our case, we have listed some of the many reasons why the Filipino INCLEs were the real WINNERs during the CROSS TOUR in MANILA:

1. Hoony dancing to TALA

You know how we feel so loved when someone does something special for us for the first time? That was what Filipino INCLEs felt the moment Yoon announced to the crowd that Teacher Lee – the one among the four in charge of the group’s choreography – would be taking on the Tala Challenge famous among Filipinos.

Wow, did he deliver — and he delivered well! Adding his own touch to the song – with sharp flicks and just the right amount of smirking – Hoony earned the cheers of thousands of fans in the arena who instantly felt a little bit more emotionally closer to WINNER.

If that isn’t the best feeling for an international fan, what is?

2. WINNER taking on the TALA challenge

You don’t just simply take an opportunity; you grab it, hold it tight, and seize it! WINNER did just that when they took on the Tala Challenge as a group. Because why not!

After only seeing the choreography twice from Hoony, the rest of the boys Jinu, Mino, and Yoon fed their Filo INCLEs a bit more by collectively and flawlessly slaying Sarah Geronimo’s ‘Tala’ without much difficulty – and then later on going back into their crackhead-selves as they freestyled their way to the end of the chorus!

Was this the best ‘Tala’ cover ever? For INCLEs: definitely.

3. “Wag Niyo Kaming Kakalimutan” song

We already said this during Hoony’s solo stage of ‘Flamenco’, but we are saying it again: mediocre does not exist in Deputy Lee’s vocabulary. That is why when everybody else was saying their ending ments through simply speaking, Hoony took it to a whole new level – by singing his message to their Filipino fans.

With the song temporarily titled “Wag niyo kaming kakalimutan,” which translates to “Don’t Forget Us,” Hoony just made it extra difficult for PH Inner Circles to get out of their post-concert blues.

Because now they have an actual song – complete with an LSS-worthy tune and easily rememberable lyrics – to associate the 2020 Cross Tour in Manila with, so how on Earth would they even dare forget about the night of Jan 25?

Also, this could count as a solo track in their next album, right, Filipino INCLEs?

4. WINNER saying they were sad their supposed visit to the Philippines last year to meet their Filipino INCLEs was cancelled

One moment which got the most “Aaaaawwwwwww” from the crowd was when WINNER admitted they regret missing the opportunity to meet their Filipino fans after their supposed event in the Philippines last year got canceled.

It was something which was probably already forgotten by most fans, then, but which got recalled last Saturday night. And perhaps it was one of the many things which made that night more special for both WINNER and Filo INCLEs, for distance and longing make the heart grow fonder, right?

The regret that was looming on stage and among the crowd that night turned into a chance for WINNER and INCLEs to make the most of their time together – and it was exactly what happened.

5. Precious duet between WINNER and INCLEs during ‘MOVIE STAR’ – and in every single song

As what was already said, every song in the concert setlist inevitably became a duet between WINNER and their Filipino fans, making each stage a shared performance of the two.

But for the person writing this piece, the song ‘Movie Star’ was extra special. It was when WINNER actually asked the Inner Circles in the concert hall to sing –not with them – but for them. It was a lovely moment, with the boys of WINNER just looking around, taking in all the love radiating from the thousands of fans they are lucky to have.

The fond smiles naturally getting painted on Jinu’s, Yoon’s, Hoony’s, and Mino’s faces, as they hear the beautiful voices of their leading ladies and leading men, were enough to conclude that this movie – starring WINNER and Inner Circles – deserve a review of five stars.

~ ~ ~

The night of Jan 25 2020 was indeed one to not be forgotten, both for WINNER and their Filipino INCLEs. Beyond the façade of being just a concert, it was an opportunity for the both of them to say their I Love You’s, Thank You’s, I Miss You’s, and We’ll See Each Other Again’s, to each other, without actually doing so.

And they did just that.

Perhaps, in the end, not one party is the winner. With the concert leaving only beautiful memories (and the feeling of looking forward to another moment like that) for WINNER and INCLEs, one thing is clear: both parties won big last Saturday night.

We would like to thank PULP Live World for the invite.

Written by: Erin
Photos from: Pulp Live World, YG Entertainment

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