It took years, but on September 16, at The Big Dome — the very site where the first encounter took place — ATEEZ and ATINY teamed together to make the boy group’s first solo concert in the Philippines a tremendous success and to bring the BREAK THE WALL World Tour to a successful conclusion.

ATEEZ, composed of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho, made their musical debut in 2018 with their extended play Treasure EP.1: All to Zero. Since then, the boy group has grown significantly to become a recognizable K-Pop group noted for their exceptional vocals and raps, remarkable performances, and captivating stage presence.

They were given the titles “Global Performance Idols” and “4th Generation Leaders,” which they have lived up to, and Philippine ATINY had the good fortune to see them in person last September 16 when The Fellowship: Break The Wall World Tour, which had been on the road for nearly a year since its launch in Seoul in October 2022, finally touched down in the nation. Local fans of the boy group who had waited patiently for Manila to be added to the list of cities had their wish and a dream come true.

As a result, it was only natural that anticipation was high from the moment the Manila stop was announced until the very conclusion of the concert. Despite Jongho’s absence from the concert due to health issues, ATEEZ and ATINY did not hold back in giving each other the time of their lives.

A variety of tracks from their early releases to their most recent discography were included in ATEEZ’s setlist, which mixed distinct musical styles and performances. “Halazia” from their 2022 single album, Spin Off: From the Witness, kicked off the concert. The boy group immediately mesmerized the audience with their performance, which was further enhanced by the stage setup and lighting. They continued with their trademark greeting, made individual introductions, and pledged to offer the Filipino ATINYs a fun and unforgettable concert.

Men of their words, Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung continued to display incredible performances with “Answer,” “The Ring,” and “Hala Hala,” before transitioning to their tender and uplifting songs, “Dazzling Light,” “Mist,” “Aurora,” and “Sunrise.” Each performance demonstrated the boy group’s ability to perform superbly in a variety of genres. As they conveyed the feelings of the songs, which became more apparent during their emotive tracks, the members showed off their ability to fill the room with their powerful voices and raps. This provided an appealing juxtaposition to their opening set, which displayed their stellar performance abilities.

I almost cried… with all ATINYs singing along.

Seonghwa on “Sunrise” performance with ATINY

Following these stages, ATEEZ delivered the summer-fitting twin title tracks “Illusion” and “Wave” off their 2019 album TREASURE EP.3: One To All. They then came back on stage with “Win,” an anthem of epic proportions and great force that wonderfully displayed their commanding presence on stage, followed by the explosive, electronic-influenced song “Horizon.”

But ATEEZ wasn’t through yet; they also performed “WONDERLAND (Symphony No. 9 “From The Wonderland”)” from Mnet’s Kingdom: Legendary War, which earned them first place in experts’ vote and self-evaluation and second place overall for the performance. Being able to witness the exceptional performance in person was magnificent, mind-blowing, and phenomenal in every sense. And the boys didn’t hold back, giving the audience the complete experience with costumes, amazing set design, and even a mock pirate ship. This song’s strong performance served as another example of the defining energy, which soared even higher in “BOUNCY (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)”.

Filo ATINYs doing the Bouncy challenge. #Break_The_Wall_MNL pic.twitter.com/7S3g4HMBQr

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 16, 2023

As everyone stood up to join ATEEZ in doing the dance, a remarkable excitement permeated the space and was amplified by the selected ATINY, who enthusiastically danced to the music. The boy group got the concert going with “THANXX”, a medley of “Good Lil Boy”, “The Leaders”, and “To the Beat” from their extended plays, Zero: Fever Part.1 and Zero: Fever Part.2.

They performed their timeless classics “Say My Name” from their 2019 EP Treasure EP.2: Zero to One and “Guerrilla” from their 2022 EP The World EP.1: Movement, to a thunderous reception from the audience. The Big Dome was electrified as the audience roared in support of ATEEZ with each performance that took the stage. The boy group that shook up the Philippine concert stage is definitely deserving of a round of applause. It was no longer shocking since, in the first place, you can rely on ATEEZ to provide more than you had anticipated and demonstrate excellence above and above the usual when it comes to fantastic and spectacular performances.

HAKUNA MATATA ❤️ Keeping this memory dearly with ATEEZ and ATINY.#Break_The_Wall_MNL @WilbrosLive pic.twitter.com/ATdFlm7Qcf

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 16, 2023

Additionally, Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung graciously interacted with the audience members in every section, doing their best to look at everyone from the VIPs standing to the far end of The Big Dome with eyes and smiles reflecting their immense gratitude for the crowd that attended.

It was a proud moment to cherish and a memory to retain. The BREAK THE WALL World Tour served as evidence of ATEEZ’s and its fandom’s continuous growth. As the boy group wrapped up the tour with 40 performances in 29 cities across Asia, North and South America, and Europe, it served as a reminder of the humble beginning, the arduous effort, and the tenacity that allowed such accomplishment to arise.

With “Turbulence,” “Celebrate,” “From,” and “The Real,” the boy group said goodbye as Manila witnessed the triumphant conclusion of the Break the Wall tour. The concert’s conclusion was highlighted by a gracious bow to Philippine ATINY from Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung, who also pledged to return.

Manila, you’re the best!

San

ATEEZ #Break_The_Wall_MNL marked the end of the boy group’s The Fellowship: BREAK THE WALL tour and its encore which staged 40 shows in 29 cities across Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.

Congratulations, ATEEZ and ATINY! #Break_The_Wall_FINALE pic.twitter.com/nXBvHDPoA7

— Philippine Concerts (@philconcerts) September 16, 2023

The Fellowship: Break The Wall World Tour in Manila was presented by Wilbros Live. Special thanks to Wilbros Live.

Words and photos by Dan