Sehun and Chanyeol proved the drawing power of EXO at their fan con (fan meeting and concert) in Manila.
The two, comprising the subunit EXO-SC, filled up the Araneta Coliseum on May 20 for their “Back to Back Fancon Tour in Manila.”
EXO-SC's Sehun and Chanyeol at their press conference at Gateway Mall 2 at Araneta City on May 20 (Jonathan Hicap)
Filipino EXO-Ls (EXO fans) wore yellow clothes and accessories as the color theme for the Manila fan con.
EXO-SC officially debuted as a subunit of EXO in July 2019, releasing their first mini-album “What A Life,” which sold more than 400,000 copies in 2019.
The fan con showed an array of segments from Sehun and Chanyeol performing their songs, playing games, answering questions to making one-of-kind souvenirs for fans.
EXO-SC opened the show with “What A Life.” The fan con was EXO-SC’s debut event in Manila and Sehun and Chanyeol were touched by Pinoy fans’ signature screams and cheers.
“Long time no see. The Philippines is really the best,” said Sehun. “We expected a lot coming here.”
Chanyeol noted, “Amazing. You are great. Because your voices were loud, we could not hear our own voices.”
“It’s been a long time since we came here to the Philippines. We really missed you a lot,” added Sehun.
EXO-SC's Sehun and Chanyeol at their press conference at Gateway Mall 2 at Araneta City on May 20 (Jonathan Hicap)
EXO-SC's Sehun and Chanyeol with Pulp Live World's Happee Sy-Go at the press conference at Gateway Mall 2 at Araneta City on May 20 (Jonathan Hicap)
The last concert held by EXO in the Philippines was nearly four years ago when they had their two-day “Planet #5: The EXplOration” in August 2019.
“Magandang gabi. Kayo ang best. Mahal kita (Good evening. You are the best. I love you),” Chanyeol told the audience.
Sehun quipped, “We cannot count how many times we’ve been here so I feel like it’s 30,000 times already.”
“But now it’s just the two of us who came back. We are excited to enjoy together with you all,” said Chanyeol.
Press conference: long-lasting career, drama
Before the fan con, Sehun and Chanyeol held a press conference with the media and lucky fans at the new Gateway Mall 2 at Araneta City.
Sehun recalled the time when he and Chanyeol were paired up to form EXO-SC.
“It’s been five years since we became a unit. At first, I did not expect that our boss was serious when he told us. Of course, we are very much looking forward to future activities and projects that we can do more to present you with projects in the future,” said Sehun.
Before their official debut, Sehun and Chanyeol performed the song “We Young” at EXO concerts in 2018 and released it as a digital single the same year.
Chanyeol said before going on stage for a show, he has a ritual: “Of course, before we do our shows, I have to release my voice. Our body movements [through] little stretching. But most of all, I really pray for any shows.”
Sehun is currently starring in the drama “All That We Loved.” On characters he wants to portray, he said, “I have a lot of characters I want to portray but could you recommend which would fit me most?”
In the drama, he plays the role of Go Yoo, a basketball player who gives his kidney to his best friend.
To prepare for the role, Sehun said, “When I was preparing for Go Yoo’s character, as he is in high school, 18 years old, I am playing a younger character while I’m in my 30s [Korean age]. So our age gap is big. I really recalled how to be young again. The biggest dilemma was ‘how was I during my high school years when I was 18?’”
Chanyeol, on the other hand, said he enjoy starring in a musical film but if he was given the chance to do another role, “I always get roles that are always running, getting injured or falls. Next time I want a role wherein I don’t fall or run, just someone who is quiet.”
EXO-SC's Sehun and Chanyeol at their press conference at Gateway Mall 2 at Araneta City on May 20 (Jonathan Hicap)
In addition, Chanyeol said he is grateful for being in EXO-SC, saying, “I am very grateful because, first of all, we can try different types of music, different genres of music. Of course I have someone while on tour. I don’t get bored. I’m not very lonely anymore. Because Sehun has a different view and interpretation of music, he widens my understanding.”
If they were given the chance to spend one week in the Philippines, Sehun said, “The Philippines has well-known tourist spots and it’s very known for relaxing. When I am given the chance to come back, I wanna go not only to see the city, I also want to see the islands, beach, the different areas in the provinces.”
Chanyeol and Sehun debuted in EXO in 2012 and the idol group marked their 11th anniversary last April 8.
According to Chanyeol, the secret to their long-lasting career is “to have fun. Because if you consider this as a job, we would have been worn out and exhausted a long time ago. Also because of my relationship with the [EXO] members, we are almost like a family and very close friends. That is why we are having so much fun, which carries us longer as we go on.”
Chanyeol enlisted in the military in March 2021 and was discharged last September. The fan con is his first tour.
“Before I went into the military service, because of the pandemic, we didn’t have a tour for almost four years,”he said, to which Sehun replied, “I missed him [Chanyeol] a lot.”
Pulp Live World’s Happee Sy-Go presented the two stars with flowers.
Fan con fun
EXO-SC’s fan con showcased different segments. In the “Catch Up Talk,” Sehun and Chanyeol talked about photos they kept in their cell phones.
They also played various games including “sipa” (traditional Philippine sport) and bottle flip. The two also tried Filipino desserts “sapin-sapin,” “pichi pichi” and “biko.”
EXO-SC's Sehun and Chanyeol at their fan con in Manila on May 20 at the Araneta Coliseum (Jonathan Hicap)
In one segment, Chanyeol serenaded fans who were celebrating their birthdays on May 20. He played the guitar and briefly sang “Hawak Kamay” by Yeng Constantino and “Creep” by Radiohead.
We all know what went down on January 19, 2013 🥺🥺🥺#EXOSCinMNL pic.twitter.com/nmQXzA9M6p
— PULP Live World (@pulpliveworld) May 20, 2023
The two also performed “1 Billion Views,” “We Young,” “Rodeo Station,” “Borderline,” “Fly Away” and “Just Us 2.”
As a special treat to fans, Sehun and Chanyeol designed tumblers as giveaways to two lucky audience members.
Inang I won Sehun's Tumbler and it was worth it and right decision na dito ko ginamit yung FREE VIP Ticket that I got as a Prize sa HALLYUWEEN BEST ZOMBIE ARMY 😭😭😭 MY 10 YEARS of EXO is worth it kahit di pa sila kumpleto I'll wait inang na Group Concert na next pic.twitter.com/93pxVZwAyx
— Gucci_Ni_Mikki (Fan Account) (@dellnario) May 21, 2023
With the overwhelming reactions of fans in the venue, Sehun said, “That is why all EXO members, we all love the Philippines. I really want to show our EXO members the great love that you are showing us tonight.”
A fan-made video was shown at the fan con containing messages from Filipino EXO-Ls for Sehun and Chanyeol.
“I never expected it. I was surprised because it made me realize how much you love us,” said Sehun.
Chanyeol quipped, “It was really surprising. Perhaps I need to buy a house here in Manila so I can live here. So I can shop and surf in the sea here.”
This really happened. Manila, we won again!!!#EXOSCinMNL pic.twitter.com/SuZvdxngcA
— PULP Live World (@pulpliveworld) May 20, 2023
As they bid farewell, Chanyeol noted the yellow dress code by fans.
“It’s beautiful. And when you were singing with me, it made me feel very good. Of course, I enjoyed singing ‘Hawak Kamay’ together with you,” said Chanyeol.
Sehun said, “Please watch out for us and I promised that we will come back with all the EXO members.”
On EXO-SC, he added, “If given the chance, we want to come back to the Philippines this year.”
“For me, I promise you that I will go here often not just to perform but to go places here in the Philippines,” said Chanyeol.
The “EXO-SC Back to Back Fancon Tour in Manila” was presented by Pulp Live World.
Mahal Kita👍💕#세훈_찬열 #SEHUN_CHANYEOL#EXO_SC #엑소 #EXO #weareoneEXO#EXOSC_BackToBack #EXOSCinManila #EXOSCinMNL pic.twitter.com/QeMqwuOvyj
— EXO (@weareoneEXO) May 20, 2023