If you were at New Frontier Theater on Saturday, January 17, you probably left with a smile on your face and a little extra spark in your heart. Wendy, Red Velvet’s powerhouse vocalist, closed her first solo world tour, ‘W:EALIVE,’ in Manila, and the city made sure it ended with a bang.
The concert kicked off with ‘Energy,’ a perfect start that immediately set the room alive. Fans were on their feet, waving light sticks and singing along, and Wendy soaked it all in. She laughed, danced, and shared how special it was to perform solo in Manila for the first time. She wanted the night to feel unforgettable, and she made sure it did.
When she got to ‘Fireproof,’ Wendy admitted she had to remove her in-ear monitors because the cheers were so loud she couldn’t hear herself sing. She laughed on stage, telling the audience how amazing their energy was, something she had never experienced before.
The setlist was a mix of fun, high-energy tracks and emotional ballads. Songs like ‘Hate2’ and ‘Queen of the Party’ had the crowd singing and dancing along, while ‘Like Water,’ ‘When This Rain Stops,’ and ‘Believe’ brought out a softer, more heartfelt side. She also performed a medley of her OSTs, including ‘Believe,’ ‘Goodbye,’ and ‘If I Could Read Your Mind,’ before surprising fans with Red Velvet’s ‘Light Me Up.’
Wendy sprinkled in little personal moments that made fans smile. She told the audience she had tried Jollibee and adobo with her staff and promised to try frozen yogurt from Llaollao and halo-halo next time she visits. She even said she hopes to come back for a vacation, not just a concert.
The finale was explosive. Wendy closed the main set with ‘Wish You Hell,’ then returned for an encore with ‘Best Friend,’ ‘The Road,’ and ‘EXISTENTIAL CRISIS.’ The crowd’s excitement was so high that she came back for a second encore, performing ‘Vermillion,’ ‘Hate2,’ and ‘Wish You Hell’ again.
At the very end, Wendy stepped down from the stage to walk among her fans. She smiled, waved, and thanked everyone in person. Those moments felt intimate and real, a little chance to connect with her audience beyond the stage.
By the time the night ended, everyone in New Frontier Theater felt the love, the energy, and the joy Wendy brought with her. It was loud, it was fun, it was emotional, and definitely it was alive.
