Remembering THE DREAM SHOW 3 through countless seasons: NCT DREAM and NCTzens once again beautifully colored the MOA Arena with hues of Neo Pearl Champagne in the boy group’s final Asia stop of their third world tour, THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM( )SCAPE.

From their inaugural solo show in the Philippines in a venue with 2,385 seats to their most recent concerts in an arena with 20,000 seats, NCT DREAM has triumphantly filled every venue in their every visit to the country, showcasing their power as one of K-Pop’s powerhouses with each visit.

The ascent of Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung is unstoppable. The boys have repeatedly demonstrated since being introduced as one of NCT’s subunits that they are capable of ruling the music industry, garnering recognition from numerous award organizations. Most recently, they were nominated for Best K-Pop at the MTV Video Music Awards and received a Daesang, or Grand Prize, from the Hanteo Music Awards and Seoul Music Awards.

Before making their way to the Philippines, the boy group performed 15 shows in May and June, drawing large crowds in eight Asian cities. The boys will take their tour to Latin America and North America after the Philippines, where they will play 11 shows in 11 cities. They will then continue their tour in Europe, performing five shows in five cities before returning to Seoul for a three-day concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome.

It was an honor to watch NCT DREAM perform on stage as their fan base continued to expand with each performance. These boys who sang “Chewing Gum” on hoverboards eight years ago have evolved into men who never cease to astound with their new songs and performances.

The 2024 NCT DREAM WORLD TOUR <THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM( )SCAPE> in MANILA is a testament to NCT DREAM’s unwavering love for NCTzens, and the fandom’s steadfast dedication to the boys, making the two-day event an incredible, joyous memory for everyone in attendance. For the August 10 and 11 shows, only six members of the boy group performed as Renjun is currently on hiatus due to health reasons.

A packed SM Mall of Asia Arena witnessed THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM( )SCAPE in MANILA, a nearly three-hour concert of superb performances of 28 songs, spectacular stage design and production, and beautiful fan interactions.

The concert began with a dazzling display of stage lighting and effects to the tune of “Icantfeelanything”, before the boys appeared in their black-and-red outfits, accompanied by their dancers. Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung then started the concert with “BOX” and “119”. The boy group performed “SOS” next, with Mark leading the way and each member taking the stage one at a time. Then, without missing a beat, they transported everyone back to 2018 with “GO,” a song from NCT’s debut studio album, NCT 2018 Empathy.

The arena echoed with Mark’s “Ayo, Manila!” as NCT DREAM formally welcomed NCTzens to THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM( )SCAPE in MANILA. The artists who had not performed on a local concert stage for over a year since THE DREAM SHOW 2: IN A DREAM in 2023, acknowledged their joy at being back. Haechan said, “Thank you for filling up this space.” Chenle, who was unable to attend the previous show owing to health issues, expressed his happiness to be back in Manila and pledged to perform his all. “Finally, I am here! All the energy I have saved up, I will show you guys this time,” he stated.

NCT DREAM maintained their commitment to the Manila audience by performing with passion on “Poison” and “Drippin'” stages. They returned to the stage with their team fits for “Arcade” and “We Go Up” following a brief intermission. The group sang “Bungee” as they made their way around the stage, attempting to stop at every angle to engage with the audience. To the delight of NCTzens, they sang a lovely rendition of “Walk with You” in pairs. The boys continued their serenades with “Never Goodbye” and a moving rendition of “Breathing,” the lyrics of which reverberated beautifully throughout the venue and were complemented by a subtle yet exquisite fog effect. With Mark’s “Manila, this one’s for you,” the boy group and NCTzens traveled to the “UNKNOWN”.

New fits on, NCT DREAM performed “Tangerine Love (Favorite)”, “Yogurt Shake”, and “Pretzel (♡)” on stage following a break. During these performances, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung walked around the stage and interacted with the audience members. With extra sweetness added by heart-shaped confetti, the fan favorite “Candy” returned to the Philippine concert scene with all of its excitement and vibrancy. Singing along loudly with NCT DREAM, NCTzens’ “단지 널 사랑해 이렇게 말했지 / 이제껏 준비했던 많은 말을 뒤로한 채 / 언제나 네 옆에 있을게 / 이렇게 약속을 하겠어, 저 하늘을 바라다보며” echoed wonderfully within the arena.

With gold-embellished white jackets on, the boys played hits including “Dream Run”, “Better Than Gold”, “Fireflies”, “Hello Future”, and “Broken Melodies” with unwavering intensity. But with NCT DREAM and NCTzens, the good times never end. As Manila made loud and proud cheers for their favorite boys, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung set everyone rollin’ on a “Skateboard”. No matter their MBTI, the crowd was full of energy for NCT DREAM’s “ISTJ” performance on stage. And yes, sir, first time on the Philippine concert stage, “Smoothie” was next.

NCT DREAM’s encore shows featured performances of “Dive Into You” and “ANL” with butterfly confetti flying across the venue. Amidst the most adorable “eyyy” during the last segment, the members expressed their sincere gratitude and pledge to NCTzens. “Because of you, guys, I have so much fun… Will you come back if we come back for THE DREAM SHOW 4? See you then,” Chenle said. Haechan also expressed gratitude for the time spent with the NCTzens, promising that the next time they return, they will be with Renjun. “Thank you, although this is the last time of our Asian tour, I hope you had fun during the time we have spent. Next time, we will come back with Renjun. Until then, please wait for us. Mahal kita! Salamat po,” he said.

Jisung, like his hyungs, stated that he owed Manila Czennies for the fun he had during the show. He reiterated Haechan’s vow to be back for their upcoming concert tour. “I had so much fun, because the Manila Czennies are such a crowd to be with. Like what other members have said, we will be back with THE DREAM SHOW 4, complete with Renjun,” he remarked.

All the love for RENJUN tonight 💚#TDS3inManila#THEDREAMSHOW3_in_Manila#WeCanBeDay1WithDREAM@livenationph pic.twitter.com/qE7lUxla8O

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) August 10, 2024

Jaemin was overcome with appreciation for the NCTzens who gathered at the arena and showered them with love throughout their concert. He declared, “Thank you for coming here tonight. Thank you for giving me a lot of love. As much as you give us so much love, we will definitely give that back to you, guys. Take care of yourselves as much as you can until we come back again. Manila, thank you for filling up this arena. Mahal kita, Manila. Love you so much!”

Jeno expressed gratitude for the warm welcome they consistently got on their visits to the Philippines. He additionally spoke about the group’s plans, which include a brand-new record. On August 23, NCT DREAM is scheduled to release a new song titled “Rains in Heaven”. Jeno said, “It’s been a while since we came back to Manila to meet Manila NCTzens. But the whole day, I was able to feel how much you waited for me. Although we are not here so often, every time we come back, you welcome us so amazingly. We are preparing for a new album. Please wait for us a little more and we will be back. Manila, salamat po. Mahal kita! Kita tayo ulit.”

Mark conveyed his admiration for the Manila crowd, which consistently brings the highest level of energy for NCT. “You guys did it again. Thank you so much for being an amazing audience, Manila,” he stated. He continued, “I, personally, have a lot of good memories in Manila—all thanks to you, guys. I appreciate your energy every time I’m here. You guys are amazing. You guys proved it again today. Thank you guys for being safe, being energetic. I’m saying the same things over and over, that’s how much I mean it.”

The boys concluded their messages with Jaemin’s reminder: Don’t skip a meal.

NCT DREAM ended THE DREAM SHOW 3 in MANILA with “Like We Just Met”, the most adorable waves of laughter thanks to the overflowing confetti, a promise between them and NCTzens to stay with each other forever, and words of “salamat po”, “mahal kita”, and “see you again”.

Seeing NCT DREAM perform songs from different stages of their career makes evident how much their vocals and performances have evolved. Even though some of the songs had been heard before, each performance offered a fresh take on NCT DREAM, growing stronger and more fervent than the previous. The drive stays resilient for the members who enjoy playing on every stage.

And, at every stage, the devotion and encouragement of NCTzens remains steadfast.

NCT DREAM was no stranger to the Philippine concert scene; in 2019, Renjun, Jaemin, Jeno, Chenle, and Jisung made their debut in Manila as the main act at the 2019 K-Pop Friendship Concert in Manila. The boy group without Mark was the final K-Pop act to perform live in the nation in 2020 before borders closed and live events and concerts came to an end. Renjun, Jaemin, Jeno, Chenle, and Jisung were among the first K-Pop performers to perform in the nation when borders opened and events resumed in 2022. They did so in a combined concert with Alice, WEi, and SHINee’s Key. Without Mark and Haechan, NCT DREAM returned in October of that year for a second joint performance with Alice, Xdinary Heroes, Golden Child, and another NCT sub-unit, WayV.

THE DREAM SHOW 2: IN A DREAM in MANILA last year was special because it was their first concert in the Philippines with Mark. Aside from their appearances with NCT DREAM, Mark and Haechan have shared the stage with NCT 127 in the Philippines in 2022 for a solo concert. This was NCT 127’s first solo performance in the country and their second visit overall, having come for a joint concert in 2018. Then, in 2024, NCT 127 came back to the Philippines for their first stadium concert at the Philippine Sports Stadium.

8 YEARS WITH 7DREAM: It is certain that as the years pass, the love will only deepen and become stronger, with a promise that in this place we are together, we draw the same dream. And the fan projects that the fandom thoughtfully and genuinely organized and executed for the two-day concert are evidence of this love and commitment: from blue ribbons and birthday celebrations for the members to colored oceans and lamp post banners, videos on the MOA eye, hand, and drop-down banners, loud cheers for 7DREAM, and more.

While 7DREAM performing on the Philippine concert stage remains a dream, the promise to patiently wait for the realization of this dream remains as well.

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The 2024 NCT DREAM WORLD TOUR <THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM( )SCAPE> in MANILA was presented by Live Nation Philippines. Special thanks to Live Nation Philippines.

Words by Dan. The article contains events that transpired during Day 1 of the concert.