EXO’s EXhOrizon in Manila further proves the connection never faded

Seven years of waiting ended in almost three hours of music, memories, and inside jokes only EXO and Filipino EXO-L could pull off.

EXO opened the first day of EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon in Manila on July 4 with a set that ran from “MAMA” and “Monster” to a “Flatline” encore. However, what stood out through the night was how easily EXO and their Filipino fans slipped back into old rhythms, as if seven years apart had barely made a dent.

The setlist itself told its own story. Rather than lean solely on REVERXE, EXO’s included “Growl” and “MAMA” from their first era to their newest material, essentially tracing over a decade of history in one sitting. A number of songs, including “PLAYBOY,” “Love Shot,” and “CALL ME BABY,” were performed in shortened form, a choice that let the group pack in more of the catalog. A few VCR and ment segments broke up the performance blocks throughout, giving the members room to breathe and fans a steady rhythm of talk and banter between songs.

During the opening ment, Sehun asked, “Namiss nyo ba kami?” Suho followed with an assurance that the members missed the crowd more than the crowd missed them, while Chanyeol switched fully into Filipino, greeting the arena with “Magandang gabi! Namiss namin kayo. Mag-ingay!” He also introduced himself as Pogi Chanyeol, much to the crowd’s delight.

That comfort showed up again and again through the night, often in overlapping moments that kept the arena on its toes. After “Growl,” the members stepped back and let the crowd sing a few EXO songs. Chanyeol also sang a bit of Lola Amour’s “Raining in Manila,” saying he still listens to it on his own from time to time after performing it during a past Manila stop. He and D.O. also broke into Yeng Constantino’s “Hawak Kamay,” which Suho pointed out the group first sang in the Philippines in 2013 during Dream K-Pop Fantasy Concert. Somehow, they still remembered it.

The playful moments were just as memorable. EXO asked the crowd to do the wave, and the reward for pulling it off well was a peek of Suho’s abs. The crowd, riding the momentum, asked for the same from D.O., who stayed fully covered in layers and out of reach. Kai, meanwhile, brushed off the request by blaming his in-ears for not hearing it, then doubled down with a tease that he’s not working with a six-pack but an eight.

After “Back It Up,” members spotted fans in the crowd and did EXO choreography with them. High-energy stretches like “Run” and “Power” turned into full-arena jumping, with the members feeding directly off the crowd’s energy.

The night closed on a sincere note. D.O. thanked the crowd for a happy day. Kai reflected on that night’s show, which let them sing, dance, and simply see each other again, while Suho promised the group would keep coming back for as long as fans kept loving them. Chanyeol closed briefly in Filipino, saying, “Babalik kami. Salamat sa pagpunta ninyo.” Sehun left the arena with a promise: “I feel like it won’t be too long before we’re back again.”

Night 2 of EXhOrizon in Manila followed on July 5, with “Back Pocket” swapped out for “Angel” in the encore. Two nights in, EXO and Filipino EXO-L proved the same thing twice over … They have a connection built on years of history, and it’s the kind of comfort that doesn’t fade with time.

EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon in MANILA is presented by PULP Live World.
Photos from EXO’s official Instagram account and by Joel H. Garcia, courtesy of PULP Live World

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