Filipino ONCEs are gearing up for one of the biggest KPop events happening this year: the TWICE 5th World Tour Ready to Be concert to be staged at the Philippine Arena on September 30 and October 1. Smart, in partnership with Viu, is proudly bringing this epic event to Manila. Ready to Be is the latest addition to this year’s line-up for Smart Live.
This is TWICE’s second concert in the Philippines. Their last appearance was way back in June 2019 when they also performed before a sellout crowd at the SM MOA Arena.
Want to learn more about TWICE? Whether you’re a certified ONCE, new to the fandom, or just love KPop in general, here are some facts that you should know about the group:
- The nine members of TWICE were selected through a competition show
TWICE officially debuted in 2015 with the release of their first EP, The Story Begins. The group’s composition was decided just a few months earlier through a competition survival show called Sixteen.
Originally, the group’s founder JYP Entertainment wanted only seven members for the group, and those selected from the show were Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung. However, JYPE founder J.Y. Park decided to add two more members–Tzuyu, who was the most popular contestant on Sixteen, and Momo, who was added by Park for her performance abilities.
- Not all TWICE members are South Korean by origin.
Here’s a closer look at TWICE’s nine members:
- Nayeon (Im Na-yeon) – Often considered the “center” of the group, Nayeon is known for her powerful vocals and cheerful personality. She was born on September 22, 1995 in Seoul, Korea.
- Jeongyeon (Yoo Jeong-yeon) – Jeongyeon is praised for her unique and soothing vocal tone. She often adds depth and emotion to the group’s songs. She was born on November 1, 1996 in Gyeonggi, South Korea
- Momo (Hirai Momo) – Momo is renowned for her exceptional dancing skills and energetic stage presence. She was born in Kyotanabe, Japan on November 9, 1996.
- Sana (Minatozaki Sana) – Sana is known for her adorable charm and signature phrase “Shy, Shy, Shy”. She is also from Japan, and was born in Osaka on December 29, 1996.
- Jihyo (Park Ji-hyo) – The group’s leader and one of the main vocalists, Jihyo is recognized for her powerful and emotive singing. She was born in Gyeonggi, South Korea on February 1, 1997.
- Mina (Myoui Mina) – Also from Japan, Mina is known for her graceful and elegant presence. Her birth date is March 24, 1997.
- Dahyun (Kim Da-hyun) – Dahyun is notable for her playful personality and skillful rap verses. She was born on May 28,1998 in Gyeonggi, South Korea.
- Chaeyoung (Son Chae-young) – Chaeyoung stands out as the group’s main rapper and is also known for her artistic abilities, including songwriting. Her birthday is April 23, 1999 and she was born in Seoul, South Korea.
- Tzuyu (Chou Tzuyu) – The youngest member of TWICE, Tzuyu is known for her stunning visuals and captivating stage presence. She was born on June 14, 1999 in Tainan, Taiwan.
- Nayeon and Jihyo both debuted with solo EPs
In June 2022, Nayeon released her first solo EP titled I’m Nayeon. It contained seven songs, with POP! as the lead track. The album went to the No. 7 spot of America’s Billboard 200, making Nayeon the first Kpop solo artist to mark this achievement.
TWICE’s leader Jihyo also recently made her solo debut with her first solo EP titled ZONE, which contains seven songs. The lead track, Killin’ Me Good, is an up-tempo pop song that shows off Jihyo’s rich, rhythmic voice.
Their solo debuts, however, don’t mean that they’re breaking away from the group as all nine members renewed their contracts with JYPE in July 2022.
- TWICE was recently recognized at the Billboard Women in Music Awards
At the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards held in February this year, TWICE received the Breakthrough Award, which Billboard describes as an award given to “influential female powerhouses who are shaping the music landscape”. At the awards show, the group performed Moonlight Sunrise, a track from their Ready to Be album, to resounding cheers from the live audience.
The group actually has a string of Billboard successes dating back to their first EP, The Story Begins, which debuted and peaked at #15 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. Their second EP, Page Two, debuted and peaked at #6 on the same chart.
- Ready to Be is TWICE’s 12th EP
Ready to Be was released on March 10, 2023 and contains seven tracks, including two English ones, Set Me Free and Moonlight Sunrise. TWICE’s 12th EP debuted at the number one spot on South Korea’s Circle Chart, selling more than one million copies in its first week. It also reached the number two spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
The eponymous worldwide tour is in support of the album, with the Philippines as one of the stops. Kicking off in South Korea, the tour’s other stops include Australia, Japan, the US, Singapore, the UK, France, Germany, and Thailand.
- ONCE is the official name of the TWICE fandom
TWICE’s fans are officially known as ONCE. Chosen by JYP, “once” was chosen because of its association with the word “twice”. Additionally, the group posted on their 2015 Instagram saying, “If you love us even once, we will repay your love with twice of our love”.
Ready to Be Among the Ecstatic ONCEs?
Whether you’re a newbie or a longtime ONCE, remember to observe these concert etiquettes to ensure a fun experience for everyone:
- Don’t throw anything onto the concert stage.
- Be considerate and respectful of other fans.
- Avoid pushing and shoving.
- Don’t stand on the chairs to avoid accidents and blocking the view of fans behind you.
The best way to enjoy the concert is to link up with other ONCEs and have a great time together. Smart will be setting up booths at the concert venue so you and fellow ONCEs can participate and have an unforgettable TWICE experience.
Snap a fun picture at the photo booth and post it on your socials or have them printed out on Instax films. The photo booth will be open to everyone who wants to keep the concert FEELS alive by capturing this epic experience. You can also share heartfelt and inspirational messages on the message wall for fellow ONCEs—and possibly, TWICE members—to see.
Smart will also be setting up the Nintendo Switch TWICE Dance booth so ONCEs can show off their best moves and Dance the Night Away. The booth will be exclusive to Smart subscribers, and they can receive freebies when they follow the mechanics. And as a special treat, ONCEs’ photos and videos will be displayed on the ONCE Spotlight social board at the Smart experiential booth or on the LED screens at the concert venue. All you need to do is scan a QR code.
Don’t forget to share this special TWICE concert experience on your social media—with Smart’s excellent coverage and data promos, it will be a breeze.
