It’s mission accomplished for NCT Wish
It was mission accomplished for NCT Wish as they made April 12 a night to remember for Pinoy Czennies. The rookie sextet composed of Ryo, Riku, Yushi, Sion, Sakuya, and Jaehee delivered an energetic and heartwarming performance at the New Frontier Theater for their first-ever concert in Manila, part of their “Log In” Asia tour. The event was organized by IME Philippines.
“Grabe ang init dito!” Yushi exclaimed after powering through the first four songs, drawing laughter from the crowd. Sion chimed in playfully, agreeing that “Manila is hot.”
It came as no surprise that they found comfort in sweet and cold treats here. During a press conference held a day before the concert at Quantum Skyview, the Japan-based group excitedly shared how much they enjoyed the coffee, yogurt, ice cream, and cookies they had tried.
The concert concept was undeniably captivating—like stepping into a video game. Each member was introduced as if they were being “unlocked,” and fans were taken on a journey through various “game levels.” With every stage cleared, their energy ramped up, as the crowd’s enthusiasm acted like a controller, guiding them to move with precision and confidence.
They kicked things off with their debut old-school hip-hop track “Wish,” looking sharp in crisp white ensembles, setting the tone for an unforgettable night.
The group then performed “Miracle” and “Steady,” both tracks making the crowd dance with every beat. After “Sail Away” came on, the stage was draped in white see-through curtains, creating a dreamlike atmosphere as the boys moved gracefully behind them. From there, they bounced into “3 Mins” and “Dunk Shot,” showing their youthful energy and playful charm that had the crowd screaming.
Shift in tone
But it was ”Hands Up” that shifted the tone entirely. With a pulsing beat, the members oozed confidence as they moved across the stage with sexy steps. Fans screamed in delight as they hit fluid body rolls, showing a more mature and tantalizing side that had everyone breathless.
When the concert was reaching its “Last Stage,” “Tears Are Falling” brought fans to tears of their own. With powerful vocals and dramatic stage effects, it was an emotional release that showcased the group’s depth and growth. They successfully performed their setlist consisting of 18 tracks, including fan favorites like “Chochoo,” “Supercute,” and “Touchdown.”
Between sets, the boys returned to the stage in a different look: sleek black tuxedos with silver accessories, white polo shirts underneath, and matching black pants. The polished ensemble showed a more refined side of the group as they engaged with their fans.
During the interactive “NCTzen Wish List” segment, fans voted by cheering for their favorite of three fun questions, starting with “Kitty Wish” vs. “Teddy Wish.” Before the crowd weighed in, the members made their picks—Riku and Sion chose Kitty, while the others went with Teddy. To match their choices, they wore cute headbands, adding a playful touch to the moment.
Then came a fan-favorite twist—NCT Wish took on P-pop boy group GAT’s revival hit “Daleng Dale.” The crowd erupted as the members gamely followed the choreography. Their playful moves and energy had the audience screaming for an encore.
The final question came with an even tougher decision. They had to pick between SNSD’s “Kissing You” or NCT U’s “Make A Wish.”
Fan service
The screams for “Kissing You” won by a hair, and the crowd was rewarded with what can only be described as the ultimate fan service. Complete with handheld fans as props, the boys twirled and winked their way through the iconic Girls’ Generation choreography. From the finger hearts to the synchronized spins, it was a pitch-perfect homage that still felt uniquely theirs.
The segment was followed by another outfit change, this time denim ensembles adorned with silver accessories.
The final segment was nothing short of touching, as each member took a moment to speak directly to their Czennies, dressed in simple white shirts and denim pants, each carrying a stuffed toy shoulder bag.
Sakuya shared how good it felt to spend the night with the crowd, especially since it was their first time in Manila. “We will come back here. Mahal kita. Thank you!”
“Because of you guys, it really charged me to do much better. When we go back to Korea, we’ll return with our new song, ‘Take Me Higher.’ It’s been my dream to perform in the Philippine Arena—promise to be with us until then,” said Ryo.
Jaehee said that what you do is important and added that “Performing with the six of us, and with all of you, made it more meaningful.” He also mentioned his favorite moment of the night, gesturing to the fans holding star-shaped hand banners.
Yushi had his own unforgettable moment when the crowd broke into an impromptu singing of “Happy Birthday,” surprising him completely, as his birthday was April 5. With a bright smile, he said, “Now I have a reason to come back—to make more memories with you.”
Riku said the happiest moment for him was being with the Pinoy crowd. “Your support gives us more opportunities to perform and enjoy this journey. Please be with us for longer and more!”
Finally, Sion, affectionately dubbed “Pogi” by the crowd, brought everything full circle. “Even if you see shortcomings from us at times, we promise to keep improving.”
With the deafening cheers and glowing faces in the crowd, one thing was clear: NCT Wish didn’t just win the game—they unlocked a permanent place in the hearts of their Filipino Czennies.
