HORI7ON showcased their immense growth during their first headlining concert Friend-SHIP [Voyage to Manila] at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Fans of HORI7ON called “Anchors” were fired up to give the boys a warm homecoming party with ardent cheers. Presented by DNM Entertainment, the show drew in many loyal Anchors as well as a lot of new fans.

After being the top contestants in ABS-CBN’s reality TV show Dream Maker, HORI7ON was formed with members Vinci, Kim, Kyler, Reyster, Winston, Jeromy, and Marcus. From then on, they have been booked and busy. They did a series of local mall shows in February, held a fan meeting at the New Frontier Theater in April, went to Korea for training in June, and released their first album titled Friend-SHIP in July.

Subsequently, they made history by being the first all-Filipino group to debut in major Korean music shows like KBS Music Bank, MNET M Countdown, and SBS Inkigayo. On top of that, they also received their first nomination for topping the weekly chart of SBS The Show.

Managed by the Korean entertainment company MLD and ABS-CBN, HORI7ON is making great strides toward being a global pop group as shown during their concert last Saturday. The stage set-up was at par with regular K-pop events – with huge LED screens as the backdrop and an extended walkway to the center. The production did not skimp on the props – the lights, confetti, and fireworks were all in sync during their performances. Even better, HORI7ON’s vocal prowess and fluid choreography shone all throughout the evening.

HORI7ON blasted off with their fiercer songs “Meteor”, “DASH” and “Tiger” which easily got Anchors on a craze. Their vibrant lead single “SIX7EEN” was an obvious crowd favorite with the crowd vibing to the catchy “la la la la la” part.

“Salamat! Sa airport pa lang, grabe na ‘yung energy na binigay niyo. I just want you guys to promise us na ganyan yung energy niyo hanggang matapos. We have so much in store for you tonight,” leader Vinci said in the early part of their set. The boys were visibly ecstatic in greeting the crowd, repeatedly expressing how much they missed their Filipino fans.

Another highlight of the concert was their flashy solo performances which showcased each member’s individual prowess and charm. For their unit stages, they dished out “Death or Paradise” and “How You Feel” with the special appearance of Haeun of Lapillus. NEW: ID, a new All-Filipino group set to debut in Korea, also graced the stage.

HORI7ON also paid homage to their K-pop seniors by treating fans to astounding covers of TXT’s “Sugar Rush Ride”, ENHYPHEN’s “Drunk-Dazed” and SEVENTEEN’s “Super”. As a bonus, they even performed a cover of SB19’s “Gento” and said they admire the group for their contribution to bringing the Philippines to the global stage.

The show also had its touching moments. After the group performed “Mama”, a ballad dedicated to their mothers, a surprise video message from their parents was played. Some members couldn’t hold back their tears. This was followed by “Salamat” which they dedicated to Anchors.

As the members keep saying, they are proud to represent the Philippines in the global pop stage. They are very grateful to their Filipino Anchors for their unwavering support.

HORI7ON has come a long way in only the span of a year. They have released an album, performed in major Korean music shows, and received their first nomination in a Korean weekly music chart. Now that they successfully wrapped up their first full concert in Manila, we can definitely expect more from them in the near future.

Special thanks to DNM Entertainment.

Words by Sandra Mae Laureano