Giants among us: Stray Kids ate and left no crumbs in PH
Stray Kids worked a little hocus pocus in their “Dominate” concert in Bulacan on Nov. 23.
They set up several doors onstage for the “Back Door” number, which they moved around, stepped behind, and performed in between. Their dancers moved with them, adding to the visual complexity and making the members hard to track unless they paused and stepped in front of a door to sing their parts. This was just a diversion.
Han ran off the stage after singing his part, no longer participating in the group dance. By the time Felix delivered the line, “Hey, you wanna come in?,” Han was ready for his “Hold My Hand” solo in his Nana costume.
This transition perfectly illustrates how Stray Kids kept the energy of the crowd at the Philippine Arena high. There was always something happening onstage between tracks, leaving almost no opportunity for a bathroom break. Even the VCRs (prerecorded videos) were paired with laser shows and pyrotechnics. The group filled every second of their three-hour show with unforgettable moments.
This is not a show for someone with a weak bladder—or weak knees.
Stand up and party
“I can see everyone sitting down … But later, we’re gonna have you guys stand up,” Bang Chan said during their first ment (talking part). It was the approval everyone was waiting for—a blanket invitation from the leader to stand up and party.
The set list leaned toward making the crowd dance, with 35 songs in total, including eight solo performances. Featured were Lee Know’s “Youth,” Seungmin’s “As We Are,” Hyunjin’s “So Good,” Bang Chan’s “Railway,” I.N’s “Hallucination,” Felix’s “Unfair,” and Changbin’s “Ultra.” All solo songs are part of their upcoming album “Hop” from the SKZHop Hiptape series. You can read more about the solos in an article we previously published (bit.ly/49as8sq).
The members discussed their solos, with some taking the opportunity to joke. Han referenced the title of his song by saying it was all about “hands,” while Lee Know thanked the crowd after chants of his name.
Seungmin said he wanted to give a bright, lovely performance.
“My song is about life. Our life is so good,” Hyunjin shared. When it was Bang Chan’s turn, Han screamed, “You were naked!”
“I was half-naked,” Bang Chan corrected. Fans eagerly await how his back will look at each stop. In the Philippines, it had a collection of bruises. When the spotlight was on I.N., he performed the hypnotic rolls in his choreography.
Felix explained that his performance was inspired by “Beauty and the Beast.” When asked who Belle was, he pointed to the camera, saying, “You.”
When it was Changbin’s turn, the members teased him and said that it was the end of the solos. But Filipino Stays wouldn’t stand for it and chanted his name.
“My stage is the main stage,” Changbin said. “The song title is ‘Ultra,’ and I just want to say that you guys are my energy, my passion, my power.”
Bulacan is their first overseas stop where they wore their Seoul solo costumes again. Smart powered the event with activity booths and charging stations.
First set
The first set of songs, including the opening anthem “Mountains,” felt like appetizers. A gigantic chrome mouth dominated the stage, opening to reveal the members in glittery cream costumes inspired by Greek tunics. The setup loosely referenced Cronus, the titan who devoured his children—except here, Stray Kids had already triumphed over the giant mouth. As the song goes, “Ain’t nobody stopping me, I’m walking like a titan.”
“Thunderous,” “Jjam,” and “District 9” were fun songs that showcased their synchronized choreography and stamina through live performances. During these moments, it was acceptable for the crowd to sit down, overwhelmed by the lingering disbelief of seeing Stray Kids live. That feeling never fades, whether it’s your first or hundredth time.
The crowd was on their feet by the time “Chk Chk Boom” played. With its Latin/hip-hop beat, it set the tone for a party as the members emerged from a convertible. “Topline” followed, a crowd favorite for the beat and the cheeky lyrics. Members typically leave the last word of this line—“Cause we don’t give a (f_ck)”—hanging but the crowd happily completes it for them.
Thanks to their frequent visits last year, only a few songs were played for the first time in the country, including “Super Bowl,” “Comflex,” “Twilight,” “Social Path,” “I like It,” and “Item.” “Get Lit” was even first performed at the 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) in Bulacan.
AAA memories
The awards show is still fresh in their minds. They recounted how Seungmin and Han were heading to the bathroom when 3Racha (their producing sub-unit) received the Best Producer Award and Han ran back to the table. Seungmin, still nostalgic, pointed to the area where they sat last year.
This why they’re loved. They remember the little things, making fans feel special. Then everyone laughs about it, as if they’re not just idols but old friends. Sometimes, they’re friends who’ve seen one too many TikTok edits—like Felix, who performed the “budots” dance after saying, “Mahal ko kayo.”
“I had to do it because it’s the Philippines. I’m in, right?” he said, even teaching the steps to the other members.
Everyone had stories about the members. Bang Chan endeared himself by saying he enjoyed kare-kare. Lee Know’s face lit up as he listened to Stays (their fandom name) sing “Cover Me” during a fan project. Changbin gave big hugs, Hyunjin gave people a lot of fancam moments with his dance, Han blew kisses, Felix waved tirelessly, Seungmin climbed the band stage to bang the cymbals, and I.N teased fans with his water bottle while pouting his lips.
In the song “Stray Kids,” they sing, “Our message through our music.” That’s exactly what they delivered—less talk, more party. They communicated through their performances, encouraging everyone to dance and vibe along.
And the Philippines complied. During “Miroh,” the crowd swayed patiently, holding their breaths until Changbin finished his verse, then exploded with a collective jump and shouts of “Stray Kids, hoo!”
It’s right to believe that the Philippines is a special stop because of these things and more. This was the only stop where they closed with “Megaverse” instead of “Haven,” leaving fans with even more energy.
The crowd made it unforgettable, too, singing every song, including the solos, with equal passion. That night, there were no favorites—Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. were everyone’s bias and wrecker.
