Over the weekend, TREASURE, BamBam, and Jackson Wang took over SM Mall of Asia Arena for the highly anticipated 2022 K-pop Masterz in Manila. Across almost three hours, the renowned acts had the crowd jumping, dancing, singing, and laughing as they put together a night worth remembering. 

Serving as PULP Live World's first production since the start of the pandemic, the concert, held on 29 July, was filled to the brim with mesmerising, jaw-dropping performances, hilarious interviews and games, a raffle, and more. Whether it was TREASURE's undeniable stage presence, BamBam's captivating performances, or Jackson Wang's stunning visuals, 2022 K-pop Masterz in Manila was a night you wish you could keep rewinding back to.

Here's everything that went down at 2022 K-pop Masterz in Manila. 

DAZZLING TREASURE

The last time we got to see TREASURE was during their first online TEU-DAY fanmeet close to a year ago. It was then that we noted their excitement and relentless energy that transcended through the screen, but seeing all of that and more unfold in person was an experience much greater.

TREASURE (sans Mashiho and Yedam who are currently taking a break from their group activities) were the first act up on the bill. The moment they materialised on stage, echoes of cheers filled the blue TREASURE lightstick-tinted arena. The group opened the concert with a ground-shaking performance of 'JIKJIN' and 'I LOVE YOU', both of which were full of power and intensity that you couldn't help but be in awe of. 

It's only been two years since the 'BOY' act debuted but they already boasted a stage presence that went beyond their years, as they commanded everyone's attention throughout their hour-long set. Whether it was during their incredibly mesmerising performances of 'MY TREASURE' and 'MMM' or the rounds of games they played that really put their charming personalities centre stage, TREASURE shined bright. 

Their set came to an end the very way it started, with an outpour of energy and love from everyone in sight. TREASURE closed out their stage with speeches (interspersed with Filipino) thanking their fans for the warm welcome to Manila. The members promised, "Babalik kami (We'll come back)" as they brought everyone on their feet with 'BOY' and their viral hit 'DARARI'. 

GOING IN 'SLOW MO'

Before 2022 K-pop Masterz in Manila, BamBam held a press conference where he shared that his performance was going to be "the best you've seen this year" and boy, was he right. Right from the beginning, as large BAMBAM-embroidered flags appeared on screen, you immediately knew you were in for quite a ride. 

Emerging on stage like the superstar he was, BamBam kicked off his highly anticipated set with the fitting 'Wheels Up' as he told us exactly what to expect for the next hour or so: "I ain't come to play... I'ma put on a show." Captivating and enchanting, the 'Slow Mo' rapper put on incredible performances of 'Ride or Die', 'Look so fine', 'Who Are You', 'Pandora', and 'riBBon' that had everyone singing and dancing along. 

When he wasn't bringing everyone to their feet with his party anthems, he made the crowd burst into laughter as he recounted his adventures from the Philippines so far, like how he loved bangus or milkfish (so much so that fans started calling him "Bam-gus"), and showed off a Filipino phrase he learned just the day before: "Shot puno!". 

If that wasn't enough to earn BamBam's honourary Filipino card, the rapper-producer went on to sing a signature harana song, Ronnie Liang's 'Ngiti' to fulfil a promise he made almost 6 years ago. "This song has a special meaning, if you guys remember 6 years ago, I promised to perform this song again for you," he shared on stage. BamBam later went on to Instagram to share his cover as "a small gift" to his Filipino fans. 

The GOT7 member continued to earn good favours from the crowd as he brought out the Philippines' beloved icon Sandara Park or Dara. The K-pop star, who spent her early years in the Philippines, treated the crowd with a surprise performance of 2NE1's 'I Don't Care' before declaring that she'll come back for a concert of her own as soon as she can. 

Together with Dara, BamBam closed out his set with 'riBBon', promising to return for an even longer and grander show as he bid farewell by getting the Ahgases (GOT7 fans) in the crowd to scream the GOT7 fanchant. 

THE MAGICMAN EXPERIENCE

Jackson Wang has been teasing the  "MAGICMAN Experience" for the greater part of 2022, alluding to the world he's built for his upcoming album. A lot of us have seen it unfold all the way across the world, with his performances at 88rising's Head In The Clouds Forever at Coachella 2022 and various appearances across the region, but it was entirely something else to witness it happen right before your very eyes. 

In a few words, it was magical. In more words, it was like being brought into a red-hued world where nothing remained but Jackson and his army of elegant dancers. Whether you were sitting on the third floor or standing right there by the stage, you were instantly transported into a mystical world as the 'LMLY' hitmaker took you on a journey through his inner shadows and desires.

When he wasn't performing, much like the other artists of the evening, Jackson was sharing stories from his recent adventures and convincing the crowd he knew how to speak Filipino as he kept repeating, "Isa, Dalawa, Tataloo". 

Jackson performed his newly released single 'Cruel', 'Blow', and '100 Ways', as well as debuted some unreleased songs from his forthcoming album. Every performance had you in a trance, as the singer-rapper filled the arena with passion and heat—which the crowd later returned in tenfolds. 

"[Filipino fans'] passion is on another level. When they cheer, you know it's real and you know they mean it," he said on stage. 

While Jackson's set was much shorter than we expected and hoped for, every minute was packed to the brim with intensity and power as he delivered the MAGICMAN experience in all its glory.