Super Junior at the Araneta Coliseum. (Photo courtesy of Klarisse Gepilano)
MANILA, Philippines – Korean boy band Super Junior lived up to its promise and hype as its members delivered another successful concert for Filipino fans last Feb. 26 at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Super Junior’s “Super Show 3: The 3rd Asia Tour” Manila leg was nothing short of spectacular, from the massive stage and giant screens to the wonderful numbers performed by the boy band Fangirls and fanboys screamed and cheered, waved their banners, and sang with Super Junior, holding aloft their light sticks that turned the coliseum into a sea of sapphire blue.
The Super Junior members who performed at the Araneta Coliseum were Leeteuk, Heechul, Sungmin, Siwon, Donghae, Yesung, Eunhyuk, Kyuhyun, Shindong, Ryeowook, and Henry Lau, member of sub-unit Super Junior-M. Special guest was SM Entertainment’s artist, TRAX. The concert opened with Donghae being lifted up from the stage by cables.
The boy band sang their hits including “Sorry Sorry,” “Bonamana,” “Twins,” “U,” “A Man in Love,” “No Other,” “Hate You Love You” and “In My Dream.”
As both the band and the fans reeled happily from the concert, Super Junior-M member Henry Lau gave a shout-out to the Filipino fans who watched the show.
“Had a blast in the Philippines! You were all AWESOME! Thank you so much! Hope to be back soon!” he tweeted after the concert.
Heechul also tweeted to thank the Philippines.
“Manila! Feel so good! I really love u! My body didn’t feel good but Philippines’ cheers made me feel better,” he posted on Twitter.
Bulletin Entertainment asked Filipino fans to share their Super Show 3 experience and they were one in saying that the concert was awesome, unforgettable and exciting.
Edna Marie Vilchez and 10 of her friends flew all the way from Bacolod just to watch the Super Junior concert. She said she was lucky that she saw Super Junior in person.
“It was totally indescribable for me. I was shouting most of the time at the concert, as in, from start to end. They were so perfect! We waited for almost 10 hours outside Araneta but it was so worth it!” she said.
Narl Marquez of Super Junior United Philippines said, “It was kind of exciting. We watched the Bangkok SS3 Leg, and we wanted more. It was also stressful since there were a lot of things needed to be prepared but it’s all worth it. Actually, nakakabitin pa rin hanggang ngayon.”
Super Junior made sure that fans were not only able to watch them sing but get up close and personal as well. Members interacted with fans, and leader Leeteuk gave a shirt to a lucky female fan.
Fanboy Angelo de Villa, 22, from Taguig said seeing Super Junior for the first time was awesome. “It was a memorable experience to see them enjoy performing onstage while we also enjoyed their performance.”
For Dannca Francisco, 13, from San Pedro, Laguna, it was her first time to watch a Super Junior concert. “I felt very excited and nervous at the same time before the concert. But in the end I felt very happy,” she said, adding that it felt great seeing Super Junior in person.
Another fan, 18-year-old Judith Sabojocan of Muntinlupa City, said she loved every minute of the concert.
“Seeing Super Junior again, especially more closer now, was like what Sungmin and Leeteuk did! I felt like I was the one flying on air! I loved every minute of the show but the tribute for Kangin was amazing! Yesung and Ryeowook made my Saturday night like Valentine’s Day! I love ‘em all!” she told Bulletin Entertainment.
There were funny moments, too, notably Heechul impersonating Lady Gaga together with Donghae, Eunhyuk and Shindong, who all came out dressed as ladies. Siwon also did fans a service by performing a number shirtless, showing his well-sculpted body to the delight of the audience.
Fans also noted the highlights and memorable scenes at the concert.
For Marquez, whose favorites are Kangin and Kyuhyun, “My favorite would be the part where Heechul went to our side and got the Kangin mask from me. He used it during his solo and gave it back to me. I was really touched. I actually cried,” she said. Super Junior member Kangin is currently serving in the military and was unable to join the Manila concert.
For De Villa, who is a fan of Siwon and Donghae, said, “I love how they seem to play onstage on certain songs. Siwon, Donghae and the others are like playful children goofing around while performing and it was a fun thing to watch because they are what they are, on and off stage.”
Eunhyuk fan Vilchez said that for her, the memorable concert moments were when Eunhyuk performed “Down” and when Henry Lau sang “Baby.”
“It was so great hearing all the fans sing with them, especially since the song was in English. The Lady Gaga and Beyonce numbers by Heechul (as Lady Hee Hee) and Donghae, Eunhyuk and Shindong were fabulous,” she said.
Francisco, who is a huge fan of Donghae, said her favorite moment was the “Rinaldo” song. “It was when all ELFs cried because we miss Kangin and also when Henry said Philippines is the loudest [crowd],” she said.
The Super Show 3 is already over but fans are still talking about the great concert experience. A day after the concert, Super Show 3 in Manila was still a trending topic on Twitter. In fact, fans are already talking about Super Junior’s Super Show 4 next year.
Super Junior had a great impression of the Philippines based on the cheers and support of the thousands of fans who filled Araneta Coliseum.
For the fans, Super Junior will always be No. 1 in their hearts.