It was a special night filled with sheer excitement and nonstop fun last July 27, as thousands of fans from all over the world gathered to commemorate the Global Pop Band’s first debut anniversary at the SM North EDSA Annex.

One year can go by so quickly in a blink of an eye, and for fans of HORI7ON, also known in their fandom as ANCHORs, it isn’t any different. Who could’ve thought that these once Global Pop Rookies would go on to achieve and change so much in just a short amount of time?

It feels like it was only yesterday when Dream Maker concluded and we finally met all the boys we know and love today. With members Vinci, Kim, Kyler, Reyster, Winston, Jeromy, and Marcus, HORI7ON debuted last year on July 24, 2023 as the first all-Filipino boy band act to debut in South Korea and the rest, as they say, is history.

The group would go on to bag the Focus Award at the Asia Artist Awards 2023, become ambassadors for the JJAANN App, become the official brand endorser of JBL Philippines, and be crowned as the KPOP Act of the Year at the 5th VP Choice Awards all in their first year as a Global Pop Sensation.

In celebrating their already remarkable success under their short time in the industry, one of the leading fan bases, HORI7ON ANCHOR Official, along with global, regional, and independent fan base groups, prepared a whole day full of activities and surprises as part of their unwavering support and love for the boys. Fans eagerly hailed from different parts of the world just to participate and be a part of such a momentous event in the band’s history.

ANCHORs from all over the world unite!

To kickstart the whole-day program, the event-goers were treated to a superb performance by the MES Marching Band. The band paraded the Sky Garden area while welcoming the fans to a lively and energetic rendition of HORI7ON’s songs.

Free fan kits and stamp cards greeted the fans as they entered and registered into the event.

Participating HORI7ON fan bases (HORI7ON Global teams, Kimchis Army, ANCHORs Pinagpala, Vinci United Philippines, HORI7ON Streaming Team, Soled Stream Warriors, HORI7ON ANCHOR Philippines, HORI7ON International, UVST, etc.) set up their own respective booths, filled with fun games, activities, and surprises for fellow ANCHORs to enjoy and have the time of their life with.

Fans were happily encouraged to explore the whole venue and try out all the different booths to complete their stamp cards, which garnered them various exciting and eye-catching prizes from the booths if they managed to complete their games. Most tried to complete their stamp cards as fast as possible, while some found it more than enough to relax and chat with their fellow stans. Many also tried out the photo booths and photo frames that the participating fan bases had set-up, taking pictures with cutouts of their favorite members of the band.

Another huge part of the whole event was the several raffle segments scattered across the day. Everyone who registered for the event was automatically considered for the minor raffles, and those who explored the free booths and completed at least 10 stamps on their stamp cards could join the major raffles.

From sponsored prizes ranging from Zagu Pearl Shakes and Mang Inasal gift coupons to an OT7-signed album to Watson’s Playlist tickets to even designer bags and high-end JBL products, fans watched on with mounting curiosity and anticipation as they wished to have their names called up to win. While some were most lucky to have won raffle events, ANCHORs were all still equally blessed to be spending time celebrating their beloved boys together with others who share the same passion and love.

'All throughout the celebration, ANCHORs proved to be a diverse and loving fanbase, as they knew no bounds when it came to age: from children to high school students, to working adults and even to senior citizens with your lolos and lolas, each of them were all happy to be there in their own way to see the flourishing and open community the group has continued to build since their debut.

Show us what you’ve got ANCHORs!

The day was not to be complete without opportunities for the fans to showcase their talents and skills, however, as the organizers had arranged event segments for fans to sing, dance, and even impersonate the members of HORI7ON themselves.

Fans were delighted with icebreakers such as KOOKY Hooray! , a playful K-pop spoof on the classic game of Hep Hep Hooray, and the ABC Game, wherein the whole venue were asked questions about the band and fans had to line up with the correct letter to answer and move on until only one remains.

Moving on to the bigger events, fans cheered on for a special performance of Feel Like H7N, where a dedicated ANCHOR impersonated HORI7ON’s Jeromy from his outfit to his stage persona to even his quirky personality.

Attendees are always given the spotlight in fan gatherings, and nothing exemplified that more than the next showcase, which was the much awaited Random Play Dance. Giving the limelight to the whole crowd and its best dancers, everyone had fun grooving along dance choreographies of different K-Pop and P-Pop music, giving it their complete A game throughout the whole atrium.

Finally, both hearts and ears were graced by the beautiful voices of ANCHORs in ANCHORI-Sing, where fans got to show off their incredible flair and magnificent vocal colors for singing their heart out to the songs of HORI7ON.

The energy just doesn’t end there!

When things seemed like it couldn't even be livelier than before, the program also had special performances from select P-Pop artists and troupes, taking the fun and animated vibes of the event to a whole new level, with everyone having a great time with each performance.

XOX was the first to heat up the stage as the independent all-girl dance cover group showed what they got to the whole event. AsterisK Entertainment's very own Ayumi then followed through and amplified the hype even further by displaying her knack for dancing with her own solo dance covers. Fans continued to cheer on as they were beautifully graced by the rising stars in the P-Pop scene.

After a short segment of games and activities, the stage was once again fired up by the newest P-Pop group in town, NEO, as they enthusiastically delivered their performance with their vibrant fits and their cool stage presence. The hype further escalated as AsterisK Entertainment came back with their premier boy group, ASTER, who showcased their incredible talents and diverse personalities, while having fun interacting with the crowd.

Finally, for the last special performance, both ANCHORs and ZAIAs were more than happy to know that one of the hottest girl groups in the Philippines, KAIA, was next to set the whole venue ablaze with their breathtaking visuals, incredible choreography, and sweet vocals. It was a truly electrifying night without stops, as fans wholly embraced and enjoyed the burgeoning P-Pop scene right before their very eyes and ears.

Surprise! We are HORI7ON!

Excitement and shock filled the room as ANCHORs were surprised with the announcement that HORI7ON was about to have a live video call with them to express their love and gratitude for making the celebration possible.

Complete silence soaked the entire room as seconds of wait turned into minutes, filling the room with a tense, excitable atmosphere. As if waiting for everyone to be on the edge of their seats, the entire room palpable with anticipation, the whole crowd was finally greeted by our beloved boys through the live Zoom call.

The group expressed their apologies in not being there in person for the event, as they were also preparing for a live concert in the Inspire Arena in South Korea, but they assured ANCHORs that the group has them on their hearts and minds always. The group also voiced their utmost gratitude and love for the people who went and made the event happen, along with saying that it was so nice seeing so many people support them on their anniversary journey onwards.

With that, our beloved boys told the crowd to enjoy and have fun with the event, and to make sure that they always stay safe, as the group assured them that they will be there with them in spirit, no matter how far apart they may be.

Baby you’re my birthday, turn up the music oh!

And of course, a party wouldn’t be complete without the traditional cake blowing ceremony to signify a year’s passing and welcome the next one with open arms.

Towards the end of the night, bespoke cakes made especially for each HORI7ON member were rolled out and presented to their respective family members or official fanbase representatives. Everyone gathered and cheered on as the whole atrium formally celebrated the boys’ one year journey so far with the blowing of candles.

Vicky Malizon, HORI7ON Vinci’s mother, said that she was incredibly proud and happy for the boys, that “there’s nothing more inspiring than witnessing someone turn their dreams into reality,” and she wishes them even more success in the years to come.

In response to all the warm reception at the celebration, Jensen Cabais, HORI7ON Marcus’s mother, said that she was very happy witnessing the boys’ journey together with their ANCHORs, adding that they were all blessed for having an amazing fandom that truly loves them unconditionally.

HORI7ON Kim’s sister, Sor Ng, expressed she was immensely proud of the boys, particularly for Kim, her younger brother, who “demonstrated exceptional strength and effort”. She also thanked the ANCHORs for always uniting as one through thick and thin, ensuring HORI7ON can remain resilient because the fans will always have their back.

As the candles were blown and as relatives and representatives exchanged giving their wholesome messages and wishes to the band, ANCHORs created an unforgettable night that will always be remembered and cherished.

A spectacular symphony of flying colors…

Many surprises were revealed throughout the event, and as customary at this point, the night wouldn’t just end right then and there without a huge finale. And indeed it was a huge surprise for both the ANCHORs and mall goers at SM North EDSA as the whole fandom were asked to gather around the Sky Garden area to witness the spectacular fireworks show display that was kept as the final grand surprise of the night.

People watched on with wholehearted glee and joy, as their earnest eyes and ears were filled with the kaleidoscopic barrage of colors and lights dancing throughout the night sky.

Like the fireworks shining among the canopy of stars, the love HORI7ON and ANCHORs have for each other shimmers splendidly in the brightest of hues and the warmest of colors. Truly a sincere testament to the amazing journey they've had so far together and to the memories that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.

As the fireworks came to a close, the crowd rallied together for one final fandom cheer for the boys. Shouting their hearts out, the fireworks slowly die out, but the sparks that light up the hearts and minds of ANCHORs will continue to radiate more than ever before. United as one, they march towards a future filled with hope and love for our beloved Seven.

‘Whatever heights HORI7ON has reached, it feels like we reached them together’ Even as these good things come to an end, the feelings and the sentiments burn forever in the hearts of ANCHORs. It remains steady in their minds, driving them to pursue their dreams and passions to ever greater extents. For some, it may ignite new ways to give back the love and care they receive from others, while it may also rekindle old sparks and memories for others.

For fans and supporters in the community, it isn’t right to say that there is one single blueprint or one single way that the community has helped them in their lived experiences, as all of us have our own ways of how love and care took meaning for us as ANCHORs.

For Ryan, the President of HORI7ON ANCHOR Official, its meaning is about how “the fandom treats each other like a family”, saying that they all share the same love for HORI7ON. “I found new friends and we get along despite our personal differences. HORI7ON is not just our idols but our sense of belonging–our HOME.”

For people who attended the event, many thoughts and feelings were afloat on which part was their most favorite and most memorable. For X user @hori7skyline, it was difficult because of how the whole event itself was already very special, however they particularly mentioned the Random Play Dance segment. “I love how ANCHORs gathered in the circle while they enjoyed the thrill of dancing to random songs. It was a fun way to connect with many other fans.”

Echoing the sentiments of many others, @hori7skyline also mentioned that the unexpected live video call with HORI7ON was highly memorable, as “despite [not being physically present] with fans, their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation towards ANCHORs filled our hearts with so much joy.”

When asked about what makes HORI7ON and its community so special and different, X user @justforvinster said that the community stands out “because of how we support each other with care and strength through tough times.” They say that because of their dedication and how they help each other in many ways, the support from fellow ANCHORs and HORI7ON is unmatched. 

“I’ve felt appreciated, loved, and generously treated by other ANCHORS.”

Despite challenges and setbacks, @justforvinster tells that the community is always willing to unite and give their all to make big efforts for the boys’ success, adding that ANCHORs are always there to cheer them on as guiding lights to help them achieve their dreams. “That’s why I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this community, experiencing everything as a fan, as an ANCHOR.”

Undoubtedly, what HORI7ON and ANCHORs have as a community is something remarkably special and something that will be remembered even as the last stars cease to no longer shine.

They continue to prove that love can come from all sorts of shapes and sizes in Friend-Ships, and that this love inspires you to do much more, both for yourself and for others.

A year has proven to be supremely phenomenal for ANCHORVILLE, yet the journey continues, there is still a long way to go, and only the fandom itself knows best where to take off from here.

“We are the ANCHORs who will never let go and will continue to sail for HORI7ON.”

HORI7ON is currently preparing for their second comeback, “GUSTO NIYO BANG MAKISAYAW?”
(“WILL YOU DANCE WITH US?”). The music video was released on Aug. 13, 2024. You can catch their latest postings through their official social media accounts:

X: @HORI7ONofficial
IG: @hori7onofficial