Thai hype is here in the Philippines and it’s not slowing down as the cast of Between Us the Series has finally met their fans here in Manila!

The cast of Between Us the Series brought extra kilig to the Philippines with fun-filled and memorable fan interaction moments at the SM Skydome, SM North Edsa, last May 28, 2023.

The cast consists of eight charming actors known as Boun Noppanut, Prem Warut Chawalitrujiwong, Benz Panupun Vongjorn, Tae Weerapat Toemmaneerat, Bosston Suphadach Wilairat, Sammy Melanie Coates, Sood Yacht Patsit Permpoonsavat, and Oreo Puwanai Sangwan or all monotonously known as Tae, Benz, Boun, Prem, Oreo, Yacht, Sammy, and Bosston who delighted their way into the Filipino fans’ heart.

The ensemble did not disappoint with fan service, as the octet showed a passion for each other and flowed from the screens to real life throughout the night, even in the in-between times of song performances and fan interactive games. Here’s what we unpacked from the memorable Saturday with the Between Us the Series gang.

Getting to know more of the cast

We asked the octet what significant lessons they acquired from one another while filming the series and touring other cities and Oreo mentioned that one of the things they got was the friendship between them and the closeness of their bond. They also learned that the good part of being close together makes it easier to connect with fans around the world, as they all share the same experience.

When asked about what kind of work they are planning to do in the future and who they want to collaborate with on a project, Yacht shared that he would like to explore roles and would like to work with Actress Baifern because she’s the one who she looks up to. Oreo would like to work with any senior actor as he believes that he will learn a lot from them.

When asked where they could travel if it’s an all-expenses-paid trip, Sammy happily stated that the location only matters if the entire ensemble accompanies her. I’m sure the Between Us fans loved that as you can really tell that the eight of them work well together on the screen. The cast’s answers were very centered on the bond that has developed between them and it’s very refreshing seeing people with such diverse personalities find comfort with one another. Throughout the press conference, the ensemble was also very comfortable joking and laughing with one another. It’s no surprise that Filipino fans adore this ensemble!

Showtime!

The cast kicked off the fan meeting with “The Luckiest Boy” by Boy Sompob, which is featured on the original soundtrack of the hit Thai series “Until We Meet Again” (UWMA). “Between Us the Series” is a 2022 spin-off of the previously mentioned 2019 series. In both series, Boun and Prem played the roles of Win and Team, respectively. UWMA also includes Sammy, Bosston, and Yacht.

Each cast member impressively addressed the audience in Filipino phrases such as “Magandang gabi!” and “Okay pa ba kayo?” One notable phrase they used was, “Salamat po sa pagpunta!” You can tell an artist’s effort to get to know the fans better when they study the language and culture they go to! Even in the press conference, they mentioned they wanted to go to Cebu because of its beaches!

All four couple did their own couple performances that put the fans in a little frenzy as these are the moments the kilig blossoms. Passionately singing to their partners, Tae and Benz performed “Until We Meet Again”, Sammy and Bosston sang “I Want To Tell You”, Yacht and Oreo performed, “Unexpectedly”, and Boun and Prem sweetly sang “Hold My Hand Tight” and all of these performances are coded to give you that serotonin boosts as each couple played their roles and personalities while performing. It also gave them a chance to interact with the fans as some of them appeared in different spots in the area!

And of course, it would not be a fan meet if there weren’t games the artists will play for the fans’ delight! A lot of the popular games these days actually reveal more of the artist’s personality and give us a glimpse of their thoughts and ideas. A noticeable reveal from the cast is that they have unwavering respect and admiration for their fans. The cast never failed to interact with fans, grabbing their phones during performances, even taking a fan on stage for a one-of-a-kind Polaroid picture to remember forever and waving at them with much enthusiasm. It’s also noticeable how the cast interacts with each other. They’ve always spoken highly and fondly of each other, like during the “Lie to Me” portion where the lie detector machine confirmed several things, such as Benz being Tae’s best friend. Or Yacht and Oreo confessing that they both play games into the wee hours of the morning. You don’t play with someone you’re not genuinely friends with all night!

Unforgettable Night Between Us

As we always mention, Filipino fans are always the best and most passionate crowd. When you have a Filipino fanbase, you know you will get the royalty treatment and this is exactly what the ensemble experienced during the final moments of the evening. Clad in traditional Filipino clothing, (Barong Tagalog for men and Filipiniana,) the cast became emotional after watching the dedicated edit video the fans made. Sammy and Bosston especially became tearful as they are incredibly thankful that they have fans who waited for them and wished that they will still be loved even if the show ends. The cast thanked their fans repeatedly throughout the night, saying that this is something they will never forget. Bosston, in particular, was stunned as he greeted the audience and expressed his gratitude for the love they offered him. Sammy mentioned that the Filipino fans are their “pahinga” and they energize her so that even though she gets tired at times, she just thinks of the fans.

“If you guys say that we are your inspiration, you are also ours and there wouldn’t be us if it wasn’t for you.” – Sammy

They returned the lovely gestures by singing a Filipino song, “Come Inside My Heart” by the Filipino band IV of Spades, while they throw paper airplanes to the crowd and of course closed the evening with one last performance, “Our Song.”

There’s a little sprinkle of magic when you connect with people you only see on your screens. It’s funny how a little BL Thai drama can push you to be your best, as one fan in the audience stated, mentioning that the series was one of the reasons she got through her studies and made it easier. Different stories of inspiration and love come in different forms and it’s always worth the wait in seeing your favorite artist in the flesh as they give you everything and more. It was genuinely one of the purest fan/artist relationships I saw as the cast couldn’t even work out how thankful they are that their fans love and care for them so much. The event ended with all of them bowing to the Filipino crowd, taking the evening as a part of their core memories. We can hope that we all see them on the stage again someday as there is nothing, not a language nor country distance can come in between.

Photos and Words by Arielle Elep