Words by Danica Lacson ; Photos from YG Entertainment

The year 2020 may have started roughly with all the local and global issues that plagued — and continue to plague — us, but in those hours at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last January 25, we forgot, albeit temporarily, all the worries as we cross paths with South Korean boy group WINNER in an unforgettable show — packed with outstanding performances and applause-worthy surprises.

Marking their second solo concert in the Philippines, Jinu, Hoony, Mino, and Yoon brought WINNER [CROSS] TOUR to their Philippine Inner Circles who have been yearning to see them back on the local concert stage after a remarkable debut in 2018 with their Everywhere Tour. More than a year after, the boy group returned with bountiful surprises up their sleeves to create more brilliant moments in their third intersection with their Filipino fans.

Look back with us on that memorable evening with WINNER at the SM Mall of Asia Arena as we list down ten brilliant moments we will always remember and keep with us while we wait for their return.

#1 Those VCRs — the cool, the cute, and the “why-are-you-making-us-cry”

WINNER kicked off the Manila leg of their Cross Tour with a VCR that showed off the charismatic and cool sides of the boys. It was reminiscent of an action film trailer with Jinu, Hoony, Mino, and Yoon taking the roles of the members of the mafia as they strut their way to the streets in black suits. But the second VCR presented us the cute and adorable WINNER who are full of child-like charms with their humor as they tease each other and try to act their part in the skit.

And lastly, the final VCR which showed us Kim Jin Woo, Lee Seung Hoon, and Kang Seung Yoon as they look back in the beginning and how far they have come and as they relay their gratitude to Inner Circles and their hope to be together in this journey.

#2 When they tried their best to communicate with fans in English and Filipino

Hats off to the boys for the effort they put in communicating to their fans using English and Filipino. We appreciate how they opted to personally deliver their ments without a translator, giving Inner Circles the opportunity to hear the words from them.

WINNER really went out off their way especially in terms of the Filipino words they said, diverting from the usual “Mahal kita” and “Salamat” and going for big words such as “Na-miss ko kayong lahat” and “Wag niyo kaming kalimutan” and even slang words “Charot” and “Solid“.

#3 Every solid performances — from the party-all-night songs to the let-me-stay-at-the-corner-and-cry feels — we got that night

WINNER definitely solidified their reign in the hearts of Inner Circles and leveled up the respect people have for them with their amazing stages of their greatest hits. Fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena witnessed the performances of 32 songs, including the solo stages and encore performances.

The boy group started Cross Tour in Manila with “Everyday” and “Love Me Love Me” and went on to bring the energy up with “Island” and “Really Really”. After their introduction and ment, the audience got treated to hype-filled stages of “Mola”, “Dress Up”, and “Special Night”.

Taking a break from the highly enegetic songs, WINNER shifted the atmosphere in the arena and filled the venue with emotions as they deliver soothing and beautiful performances of “Different”, “Have A Good Day”, “Raining”, “OMG”, and “Empty”. As if the feels they gave are not enough, the boys went on to take the stage one after the other, starting with Hoony with “Flamenco” and “Serenade”, followed by Jinu with “Call Anytime” and Yoon with “Instinctively” and “Wind”. Mino ended the solo stages with “I’m Him”, “Trigger”, and “Fiancé”. They then came together to perform “Movie Star”.

But the Cross Tour will not be complete without the debut live performances of the boy group’s newest songs from their latest and third extended play Cross. Aside from “OMG”, “Dress Up”, and Hoony and Yoon’s solo songs, the boy group performed their lead single “Soso” and “Don’t Be Shy”. They also performed for the first time in the Philippines their single “Millions”.

WINNER then wowed with “Ah Yeah”, “Immature”, and “Lala”, before closing their set list with encore stages of “Hello”, “Zoo”, “Really Really”, “Lala”, and “Everyday (Remix version)”.

#4 Celebrating the Lunar New Year together

WINNER’s concert fell on this year’s Lunar New Year celebration or Seollal in Korean which is considered as one of the most important traditional holidays in South Korea. Seollal marks the start of the Korean calendar.

The boys celebrated the special holiday with Philippine Inner Circle where they even wore hanbok or the traditional Korean clothing. They then gave everyone a big bow as they greet the audience “Happy New Year”. The members also relayed their well-wishes for this year, wishing everyone safety and good health.

#5 Those interactions between WINNER and Inner Circles

In case you did not know, prior to the concert, WINNER had a fan signing event where lucky Inner Circles were able to meet and greet Jinu, Hoony, Mino, and Yoon up close. Aside from the fan signing event, the concert itself was full of moments where the boys really went out their way to interact with fans.

The members utilized their stage well, going around and trying to come closer to their fans as possible. Hoony eevn went his way to approach the audience area — and props to Inner Circles, they really lived up to their nickname as a behaved fandom as the respected the singer’s space despite the close proximity and not crossing the line.

We also appreciate the effort of the boys to interact with fans at the seated sections of the arena, trying their best to scan the whole venue and say hi to everyone. And speaking of fan service, brace yourself, ’cause WINNER members are full of surprises (*ehem* Hoony *ehem).

#6 When Hoony and Mino dropped an impromptu song number

While delivering his ment, Hoony decided to create a song using “Wag niyo kaming kalimutan” as lyrics! Mino and the band decided to join him, creating a fun song number that we will never forget.

#7 Yup, WINNER accepted the #TalaChallenge

You probably know by now that WINNER took on the viral #TalaChallenge where the boys danced “Tala” by Sarah Geronimo. The KING LEE SEUNG HOON, the master dancer and the man full of ideas, dedicated time and effort to learn the dance steps of the song which became phenomenal in the country last year. He impressed everyone with his amazing cover — as Yoon said “SOLID”!

And it was truly a solid evening because Jinu, Mino, and Yoon gamely joined Hoony in performing “Tala”. After learning the steps from Hoony, the whole group made the arena squeal in excitement as they took on the #TalaChallenge together. The boys seemed to be fond of the dance as we caught them stealthily doing the moves for the rest of the concert.

 

WINNER’s HOONY took on the #TalaChallenge 😍 But wait there’s more! The whole group also did the trending Tala dance (video up next!) 😉 #WINNERCROSSTOURInManila pic.twitter.com/74FeTOX0lK

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) January 25, 2020

WINNER doing the Tala dance 😉 Aren’t they the cutest? 😍 #WINNERCROSSTOURInManila @PULPLiveWorld pic.twitter.com/3wLKCd3QbH

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) January 25, 2020

But the true mastermind of the #TalaChallenge — and another surprise in Cross Tour in Manila is…

#8 Sandara Park in the houuuuuse!

The ever-supportive sunbae Sandara Park joined Philippine Inner Circles in supporting WINNER’s concert. She was proudly watching her hoobae-deul and taking videos of their performance like a proud fan. Along with the 2NE1 member, BIGBANG’s TOP’s sister and nephew were also present in the concert.

And as we previously mentioned, yup, Sandara Park is the mastermind behind the “Tala” dance moment! In a tweet, Dara said she sent Hoony a video of the dance. Expressing her pride for her junior, she said she is impressed that the WINNER member got the moves immediately. “Ang galing-galing m Teacher Seung Hoon,” she wrote.

#9 When Inner Circles worked together for the success of their fan projects

Last year, Philippine Inner Circles left a lasting impression as they light up the arena while singing “Movie Star” and waiting for their favorite boys to come out. This year, the fandom came together once again for a number of fan events to make Cross Tour a lasting memory for WINNER.

Fans prepared fan banners for the boys including a birthday banner for Yoon. They also sang “Hello” while waiting for the encore. And SM Mall of Asia Arena was filled with loud cheers and was painted nebula blue that night.

#10 When WINNER promised to come back

During their final ment, the members expressed their appreciation for the fans’ love and their gratitude to be back in the Philippines for a concert, as well as, promising to never forget the memories and to boldly and happily face the new year with Inner Circles.

We will hold on to the boys’ promises to come back to the Philippines and meet their beloved Inner Circles again. As they wait, we are 100 percent sure that fans will never forget the boys and continue to journey with them.

 

WINNER greeted ICs a Happy Lunar New Year & wished them good health and safety, before concluding #WinnerCrossTourInManila with “Really Really”, “Lala”, & “Everyday”.

WINNER promised to come back! ICs, hindi niyo sila kakalimutan, right? 😉

Special thanks to @PULPLiveWorld! pic.twitter.com/hvLwB1eK0p

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) January 25, 2020

Wag niyo kaming kalimutan, said Hoony. And with all the brilliant moments created last Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, no one will forget. Everyone will remember the memories and hold on to them until the next meeting, right, Inner Circles?

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WINNER [CROSS] TOUR IN MANILA is presented by YG Entertainment, Live Nation, and PULP Live World. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.