EXO'luXion in Manila Day 1
EXO, one of Korea’s hottest boy band made Philippine History on their very first solo concert in the country, EXO Planet #2: The EXO’luXion by being the very first K-Pop group to perform a 2 consecutive nights concert in the Philippines last January 23-24.
The EXO’luXion in Manila Concert was announced right after Infinite's INFINITE EFFECT World Tour in the Mall of Asia Arena last November 7, 2015. It drove EXO and K-Pop fans around the country insane and really excited. Everyday, fans would check Facebook and Twitter for updates and latest details regarding the EXO’luXion in Manila, such as Ticketing Day, Seat Plan, the Silver Ocean, Fan Projects, Official Concert Merchandise, etc. To be honest, I am one of those fans…oops!
Carla, one of my best friends, and I had a deal that we will be buying the tickets together and of course, we'll be going to the concert together. We were afraid that tickets might get sold out within hours, so, on the day of the ticket selling, we planned to be there really early, lol! We also watched EXO'luXion videos on YouTube to help us decide which seat to get.
The Official Ticket selling day was supposed to be on December 5, 2015. However, it was postponed, due to the finalizing of ticket prices and seat plans.It was announced later on that the official ticket selling day would be on December 13 instead. With that, Globe Telecom, being one of the producers of the concert, hosted a pre-selling event on December 12. Tickets were only available to Globe subscribers who received codes. When Carla and I got our codes, we were both set for the Pre-selling event!!!
We decided to purchase our tickets at the Coral Way in the Mall of Asia Arena Box Office, because we thought we would have better chances of getting tickets if we buy it there. The Coral Way Box Office opens at 10am. Although we arrived there at around 5 in the morning, we were 20th in line. So, we had to wait for 5 hours. Luckily, our exams just ended so, we had nothing to do. We made friends while waiting in line though, which was great, hehe.
waiting in line
Finally, it was 10am!
A lot of fans in line screamed when the box office finally opened. Carla and I were anxious because we couldn't believe it! This ticket was the key to see EXO in front of us.
Finally, we got our tickets!!! It was worth it waking up early in the morning and travelling to Pasay, Metro Manila just for buying tickets. We couldn't believe it! We were going to EXO'luXion!!!
Within a few hours, some allotted tickets for pre-selling were already sold out. On the First Day of ticket-selling, tickets were already sold out within the first three hours of selling. However, due to high demand, a second day of concert was announced on December 19. Carla and I wanted to go, but we thought it would be too much, even if we get the cheapest tickets, and we wanted to give others a chance, for the second concert's purpose is for fans who weren't able to buy tickets to see their idol.
Carla and I talked about EXO'luXion almost everyday, like in school and when we get home, we text and watch videos, which made us feel even more excited for the 23rd of January. We even had EXO'luXion shirts made of our bias, Chanyeol.
It was almost January 23, but the bad news sort of kept on coming, as both Kai and Xiumin were reportedly injured just days before their concert in Manila. A lot of fans were very worried, of course, Carla and myself included that we would not be able to see Kai and Xiumin live. Despite the injuries, Kai and Xiumin were still set to perform in the Manila Concert.
It was finally January 23!
I was with two of my friends from school, Saki and Alyana on the way to the Mall of Asia Arena, since we lived close to each other. Fans holding a VIP Floor Ticket had to claim a stub for the Line Up Sequence that determines the sequence number on the line when it is time to enter the arena. So, we had to be at the Arena quite early to claim the stubs. After claiming our stubs, we roamed around, had lunch and bought stuffed toys we can throw on stage after the show, lol!
with Alyana and Saki.
Alyana, Saki and I had different seats. About after lunch, we bid each other goodbye, lol, and of course, we told each other to enjoy the concert.
Carla and I met up at the VIP Floor A Line, and that's probably the only bonding we had throughout the day: Lining Up.
lining up (as usual, hehe!)
the banner we made for Chanyeol <3 :D
We entered the arena at around 7pm. It was quite tough when everyone was already inside the arena, because VIP Floor also means going through a lot of pain and torture from pushing, squeezing and standing until the concert ends. Technically, unless you don't want to sacrifice and risk giving your perfect spot away and let others take it, there are no bathroom breaks and no sitting down for three hours straight. Once we entered the Arena, Carla and I lost each other, lol (we never saw each other until the end of the concert). Some fans I was with were close to dehydrating, hyperventilating and fainting.
But finally, EXO came out and the entire MOA Arena went wild!!! They started off by singing 'Overdose'. However, there were only six members dancing on stage. Kai and Xiumin were sitting down on chairs, but still singing, which was better than not coming out at all. Now, there's eight of them. Somebody was missing, and it was Lay. Unfortunately, Lay did not get to perform at the Philippine concert. The fans sort of expected it already, since there was not a single photo of Lay arriving at the Philippine Airport, or not even a sign of him arriving.
The next song was 'History', followed by 'El Dorado'. That's when they were dancing at the center aisle, and that's when I was really close to them because I was at the center aisle.
History
El Dorado
*dies* Sehun's my 2nd bias after Chanyeol!!!
CHANYEOL!!!
After 'El Dorado' was 'Don't Go', but before they headed for the Hexagon-shaped center stage for that was the introduction. I wasn't really able to see their faces because they were on the main stage.
'Don't Go' is my favorite song, and I have managed to take a full video of it...though I was shaking a lot 😁 👉🏻 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvOwlbRdoHg
'Playboy' was next. I didn't take photos and videos of that because I was too busy deleting stuff on my phone because I was afraid that the memory will be full in the middle of taking pictures and videos.
By 'Baby Don't Cry', I thought it would be nice to save my phone memory and battery charge for later, and I thought of giving myself a little break and enjoy the concert by watching them, instead of taking photos and videos for three consecutive hours.
Anyway, here are some of the photos I took from the concert...
Exodus
Sehun trying to make Chanbaek hug
XOXO...they were so close 😍
Suho during 'Lucky'
This was the best part of EXO'luXion for me!!! This was when Chanyeol noticed his picture on my phone and then he pointed at it!!! I totally freaked out because Chanyeol is my bias and him noticing me was really great!
Yep, that was the one, but I made a bigger one before the concert
DO singing to 'Miracles in December"
Baekhyun glancing at our side
Sehun
Chanyeol dancing to 'Machine'
Chen
DO went to our side...he's so cute 😍
Sehun during 'Sing for You'
Suho raising the 'We Promise Forever' banner
On their last segment, Suho raises the banner that was given to all concert attendees that read 'We Promise Forever', and says that EXO promises forever as well, and that they'll be back soon, and that the fans should wait for their next album and of course, next concert in Manila.
Chanyeol also reveals that he stayed in the Philippines nine years ago to study English. He recalls his visit at the famous Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna, and that the bananas...and mangos are very delicious. He ended his speech by saying "Mahal kita".
Kai and Xiumin apologized to the fans sincerely because they did not dance. Kai stated that because of the energy of the Filipino fans, he wanted to stand up and dance, but he really couldn't. He promises, along with Xiumin, that they will make it up on their next concert in the country. Xiumin also stated that he wishes to have a concert in the Philippines every year.
Baekhyun and Chen had both promised that there will be another concert in the Philippines, while Sehun told the fans to wait for it.
Despite the absence of one member, and despite Kai and Xiumin not dancing on stage, EXO still managed to put up a good show and made it memorable for their Filipino fans.
Now, fans are waiting for their return in the country, myself included, lol. As the fans have promised forever to the EXO members, EXO promised forever as well.
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