ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) found their passions and hard work in bloom during their “Timeless World” concert in Manila.
The 9-member boy group consisting of Kim Jiwoong, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook, and Han Yu-jin, all showed their award-winning talents and skills for Filipino ZEROSE, as a sign of their strong love for their fans.
After seeing only eight members during the group’s first visit to the Philippines last December 2023, Filipino ZEROSE did not waste this opportunity to experience ZEROBASEONE’s first Asian tour in Manila last October 12, 2024.
Filipino ZEROSE, who were all dressed in shades of blue, ecstatically lined up—rain or shine, outside of the SM Mall of Asia Arena with their hearts pumping up in excitement. It didn’t matter if they were all wet from the rain or sweaty from the humidity, what mattered was that they were finally going to see the group they all love.
The arena was bustling with energy right before the concert started. Screams resounded from every tier in the arena, and you could definitely feel that this concert was going to be memorable from the get-go.
A few minutes before 6 P.M., fangirls and fanboys alike were shouting for the ZB1 members, saying “Ilabas na sila!” over and over. Then, the lights turned down slowly, and the first video of the concert played on the big LED screens.
While this was ongoing, however, the video topped playing and the arena was filled with darkness. The organizers immediately explained that there were some difficulties that they had to fix beforehand.
This did not stop the energy of Filipino ZEROSEs in the arena, with excitement bubbling through the air, especially with that one ZEROSE that started doing “Hep Hep Hooray” with the others. And after almost 30 minutes of waiting, the show finally began.
Matching the energy of their Filipino fans, ZEROBASEONE opened the show with their first six songs—“Road Movie,” “Take My Hand,” “New Kidz on the Block,” and “KILL THE ROMEO” with much vigor. It just showed how the artists were just as excited to see their fans.
After finally introducing themselves to their ZEROSEs in blue, with Ricky saying hello to them for the first time, the members of ZEROBASEONE each shared what they were most looking forward to in Manila.
As it was his first time in Manila, member Ricky pointed out how he had been wanting to see Filipino ZEROSEs, with the other members noting how they all wanted to hear the cheers of their fans after their performances.
Of course, since they were in the Philippines, the ZB1 members also pointed out how they’ve been wanting to try Filipino dishes like Adobo and try out the hamburgers from Jollibee.
The other members also pushed members Jiwoong and Taerae to show the fans some spoilers for the show, which were some hints into the choreography of their soon-to-be performed tracks.
ZEROSES were definitely given the spotlight in the ZEROBASEONE concert, too, as a sign of the group’s love for their fans. After their first MENT had ended, fans were given roles in a skit done by ZB1, with ZEROSEs needing to sing, and guess a member by their baby picture, among other things to get the show rolling.
Then, the second part of the show began with the song that began ZB1’s debut song—“In Bloom,” and performances that the members had specially prepared for. The group’s center, Zhang Hao, went solo for his performance of “Always”, with the rest of the members being grouped into sub-units from their past performances on “Boys Planet.”
Members Jiwoong, Matthew, Ricky, and Gunwook performed “Over Me”, and members Hanbin, Taerae, Gyuvin, and Yunjin performed “Switch”, which fans went absolutely crazy over for the mood switch between both sub-units.
The group then reformed for their performance of “En Garde,” another song from “Boys Planet,” and rested for a bit by talking to fans about what they believe has changed since their time on the reality show.
For Gyu-vin, he said that everyone’s chemistry had become much better and that all of them have gotten even more handsome, to which everyone agreed. If you had been a fan since “Boys Planet,” then their growth since then was already obvious.
It’s through these interactions (albeit somehow scripted) that you can see how they themselves have reflected on their journey since the beginning, and how they are still working towards showing a better version of themselves to their devoted fanbase.
ZB1 ended that part of their concert by performing two more songs from their “Boys Planet” days—“Say My Name” and the show’s title song, “Here I Am,” which the group also included their fans in tow by showing some ZEROSEs on screen.
The next part of the show was a different mood than the first two, opening with the songs “Dear Eclipse” and “Hot Summer,” which showed a stronger and more charismatic ZEROBASEONE.
As quickly as they had changed off-stage, the group’s lively and youthful energy came back with Matthew leading the MENT by asking his fellow members about which member’s part they wanted to try out.
The show may have been halfway through at this point, but that did not stop ZEROBASEONE and the fans from ramping up the energy to a whole new level. The group performed some of their most energetic tracks—“SWEAT,” “Kidz Zone,” and “Feel the POP,” right before performing their most recent single, “Good So Bad.”
If you are familiar with groups repeating a certain song multiple times during a concert, then ZEROBASEONE is now one of them. And with “Good So Bad” having this groovy feel? ZB1 just met their match—it’s Filipino ZEROSEs.
“Good So Bad” was on repeat for about 5 times, with leader Han-bin asking the fans “Isa pa? [One more?]” with a different expression every time. It was a funny moment, but a very heartwarming and timeless one at that.
And of course, that would’ve been the end of the show. But like any other K-pop concert, ZEROBASEONE came out for more performances for their encore. Before they performed again, however, ZB1 did not miss out on the chance to take their group picture with Filipino ZEROSEs, and in turn, fans did not forget to teach ZB1 the “Eyy ka muna eyy 🤙🏻” hand sign.
See, Filipino ZEROSEs 🤝🏼 ZEROBASEONE? Matched each other’s freak.
The members, who were still full of energy, sang and danced their hearts out with the fans for their last tracks, “And I,” “Sunday RIDE,” and the Korean version of their Japanese debut single, “Yura Yura.”
It was time for the group to say goodbye for real now, and ZEROBASEONE did not forget to tell their fans how grateful they were for their support and for having them by their side.
Each member noted how they were feeling so much love from Filipino ZEROSEs from the moment they arrived, and that they wanted to give that same love back through a special gift—a cover of Maki’s “Dilaw”. At this point, they’re all honorary Filipinos now because of this song.
And Filipino ZEROSEs know that Matthew, who has commented on OPM in some of his live streams, was behind this.
Goodbyes are always seen to be as something sad, but for ZEROBASEONE, goodbyes give all of us an opportunity to say “Hello” once more. The concert may have ended, but ZEROBASEONE gave fans a moment that felt timeless, and made a promise that “there will never be a tomorrow without each other.”
The event was made possible by PULP Live World.
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