On July 6, Filipino runners reunited with their favorite crew once again at the ‘Run 2 U’ show!
The show, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, opened with a vibrant performance by the Running Man Philippines cast, featuring popular OPM hits like “Raining in Manila” by Lola Amour, “Tala” by Sarah Geronimo, “Gento” by SB19, and a mash-up of BINI’s “Pantropiko” and “Salamin, Salamin.” Welcoming the crowd with a bang, the South Korean cast then took the stage with a heartwarming performance of BTS’ “Spring Day.”
The cast expressed their joy at being back in Manila after more than a year. Yoo Jaesuk remarked, “Masayang-masaya ako na nakita kong puno ang [venue] na ‘to with all [our] fans. Salamat po sa inyong lahat. Sobrang na-miss ko kayong lahat! [I am very happy to see this venue full with all our fans. Thank you to everyone. I really missed all of you!]” They shared their love for Filipino cuisine with the help of the hosts, Ryan and Kring, pinpointing Sisig, Lechon, and Pancit as their favorites.
Kring praised Song Jihyo’s clear accent, prompting Jihyo to teach the crowd the Korean word “Pomichodai” which means “slay.” Ji Sukjin followed with “Okaymari,” meaning “okay everybody.” Yang Sechan humorously shared that his favorite body part this year is his stomach, showcasing it to the cheering crowd. The fans then chanted for Kim Jongkook, who briefly flashed his washboard abs.
Just like their previous shows, ‘Run 2 U’ wouldn’t be complete without games. The first game, “What is Next,” challenged the members to predict the next word in an AI-generated clip of them speaking Tagalog. Kim Jongkook won with two correct answers, while Sechan scored one point. Ryan Bang jested about their difficulty recalling past episodes.
In the second game, “All About Kpop,” members identified three mashed-up K-pop songs with help from the crowd. Jaesuk noted that Haha and Jongkook had an advantage. Sukjin and Jihyo each earned a point, successfully identifying songs like “Fantastic Baby” by BigBang and “Ring Ding Dong” by SHINee.
For the next game, members guessed K-pop choreo without sound. Jaesuk identified Momoland’s “BBoom BBoom,” Jihyo recognized BigBang’s “Fantastic Baby,” and Sukjin guessed aespa’s “Next Level.” Haha humorously lamented being the only member without points.
Song Jihyo then captivated the audience with her performance of BIBI’s “Bang Yang Gang.” Ji Sukjin followed and sang “All of Me” by John Legend, overcoming technical difficulties. Sechan also surprised everyone dressed as Freddie Mercury, performing “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Haha did not disappoint as he energized the crowd with his original song “Ice Bottle.” Jongkook followed suit and serenaded the audience with “One Man” and “Spring has come.” Jaesuk, under his alias YOOSANSEUL, performed the popular trot song “REDEVELOPMENT OF LOVE.”
In a relay game, the members were divided into two teams: Team Haha (Jongkook, Jaesuk, Haha) and Team Sechan (Jihyo, Sukjin, Sechan). Team Haha won, and Team Sechan performed a dance challenge as a penalty. Fans cosplaying iconic Running Man characters participated in a “Telepathy” game with the cast. Jaesuk and his fan cosplayer won, earning a solo picture with the Running Man members. Haha introduced his new group, SRG, who performed “Treasure” by Bruno Mars and their original song “Baby Be Mine.”
The members were surprised with a cake from fans, expressing heartfelt thanks to the cast. In their closing messages, they shared their gratitude and promised to continue bringing joy to their fans. They closed the night with their ninth-anniversary project song “I Like It” and Kim Jongkook’s “Loveable.” During the encore, they took fan service to the next level, signing merch and taking selfies with fans.
The ‘Run 2 U’ fan meet in Manila was a night to remember, filled with laughter, music, and heartfelt moments that left fans eagerly anticipating the next.
The event was made possible by PULP Live World.