Manila, Philippines – Running Man, the longest-running entertainment program in South Korea, returns to Manila on July 6, 2024, Saturday, at the Mall of Asia Arena to deliver an unforgettable night of laughter and performances.
“We can only look forward to the 15th year [of Running Man] because of all of you” – Yu Jae Seok.
I think it’s very much sufficient to understand how much love the Running Man members and the Filipino Runners have for each other with just this ending message that Yu Jae Seok gave last night during the Run 2 U: Running Man Live in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Philippines has hosted numerous concerts and fan-meets in the first half of the year. Personally, I believe that the Run 2 U: Running Man Live in Manila was one of the most enjoyable events so far, if not the best. The members were able to interact freely with their fans, making the event special and fun. Additionally, their individual and unit performances were exceptional, leaving many fans in awe, clapping, and cheering throughout the entire event.
Excited to learn more or reminisce about the event? Let’s revisit them together!
Run 2 U: Running Man Live in Manila opened with a special participation from the Running Man PH Cast (Glaiza De Castro, Mikael Daez, Kokoy de Santos, Lexi Gonzales, Buboy Villar, Angel Guardian, Miguel Tanfelix). An explosive opening dance number was prepared by the Running Man PH Cast, and truly, there is a reason why these artists are the Running Man PH Cast, and it shows very well during the performance. Aside from the group performance, Buboy performed in Manila by Lola Amour, Miguel and Kokoy performed by Alamat and by SB19, Glaiza with a stunning performance of Sarah Geronimo’s followed by the performance of Angel and Lexi’s rendition of Bini’s popular songs and and an all-out performance of the Running Man PH Original Title Soundtrack.
After the explosive performances, the Running Man PH Cast thanked Filipino runners for their support during the 1st season of the show. They also promoted the upcoming episodes for the 2nd season, emphasizing an episode featuring Running Man’s HaHa, scheduled to air on Filipino television on July 7, 2024.
The Running Man Korea Cast amazed all the fans as they opened the stage for their event with a performance of BTS’ Spring Day. They reminded old and new Filipino Runners alike of how versatile the members are – not only in completing quests and games but also in singing and performing. This was followed by a round of introductions, with the members speaking in Filipino, English, and even Korean to express their love for the Filipino runners. During this segment, the members talked, discussed, and even teased each other – just like they do in their normal episodes of Running Man. It was the first time I attended an event where everyone was talking altogether and having a great time. The members also mentioned trying Filipino Lomi for breakfast, as well as Seokjin’s favorite Lechon and Sisig. The banter continued with the members sharing their favorite phrases, and HaHa being teased to join the Waterbomb event happening in South Korea (with a Waterbomb Manila event set to come in the coming months). During the last part of the event, Yu Jae Seok reminded fans to enjoy the night, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show, as they had prepared a lot for them.
After the ment, the members played a game of watching previous Running Man videos in Filipino and trying to guess what the next hidden sentences were. The second segment was “All About Kpop” where the members tried to guess, along with the fans, three different K-pop songs that were all played together at the same time. Of course, the members danced to some of the songs as they celebrated earning points from the game.
After the solo stages, the members engaged in a cosplay relay with their fans, completing missions along the way. They also interacted with selected fans who dressed up as the members, sharing intimate moments, exchanging gifts, and taking photos. Following this, a special stage by SRG energized the arena while the members prepared for their unit performances. The first special unit stage featured Haha and Sechan, who captivated the audience with their lively performance of a hip-hop song, turning the arena into a lively party spot. Next, the SpartAce couple Jihyo and Jongkook delivered a sweet performance that left many fans swooning over their cuteness. The third unit stage showcased Sechan, Jihyo, and Seokjin performing a heartwarming and cheerful song, followed by a lively performance by the Jae Seok, Jihyo, Sechan, and Haha unit.
The closing moment came with each of the members sharing their messages, especially highlighting how Filipino Runners have been a significant part of their 14-year journey and are the reason for moving forward towards the 15th year and beyond. The members also expressed their commitment to continue running and sharing the same energy that the Runners provide, while also expressing their desire for another opportunity to return to Manila and spend more time with them.
Running Man is one of South Korea’s most popular and longest-running reality-variety shows, loved in Asia and beyond. It is classified as an urban action variety show where members are tasked with completing missions and races against each other and guests.
Run 2 U: Running Man Live in Manila is brought to you by Pulp Live World Production, Inc., and was hosted by Ryan Bang and Kring Kim.
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