K-pop girl group izna captivates hearts in ‘WHO DAT GIRL?’ in Manila
K-pop girl group izna performs for the first time in Manila for its “WHO DAT GIRL?” concert at the EGM Hall, EVM Convention Center in Quezon City on Saturday, October 17.
Composed of Mai, Jeemin, Koko, Sarang, Jungeun, and Saebi, izna debuted in November 2024 under WAKEONE Entertainment.
Just moments before the show, their Filipino fans, known as naya, cheered in excitement. The concert began with “IZNA,” the group’s eponymous debut single. naya sang along to the song’s chorus.
“Who dat girl is? Na-na-na-na…. Na-na-na, na-na, oh, na-na-na”
It was followed by their performance of “Mamma Mia,” the title track to their second mini album “Not Just Pretty.” Its strong hook and uplifting melody capture the themes of the song – self-confidence and independence.
izna members greeted their fans before their performance of “Fake It.”
“Hi! We are izna,” the six girls said.
“Naya, thank you for coming tonight. Let’s have fun together. I love you,” Sarang added.
Then, izna performed “RIP” and “SASS (prod. THE HUB).”
Embracing Filipino culture with izna
During “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” the girls featured traditional Filipino rice cake Suman, which is made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and steamed in banana or palm leaves.
Sarang said that suman was a special food and it was very delicious.
Filipino naya got to teach izna Filipino words, including the phrase “Yoohoo dito ang tingin.”
They did some local dance challenges. Jungeun danced to “Puede Nang Mangarap” by Lyca Gairanod, while Koko danced to “Oohh Lala Baby” by Baby Dolls.
Jeemin, for her part, said Manila naya are great at cheering. As the screaming challenge started, the audience erupted in cheers. Koko said to naya: “You guys are Top 1!”
izna also emphasized their love for naya by saying, “Mahal ko kayo,” to which naya reciprocated the love during the night.
“Listening to your voices energizes us (izna) a lot. Mahal kita,” Jungeun said.
They also performed “BEEP” and “DRIP.” “BEEP” is one of the most beloved songs of the group for its charming and trendy sound.
Meanwhile, “Fake It” and “DRIP” hold a special meaning for naya as these were songs performed by some of the members during Mnet’s “I-Land 2: N/a,” where the group was formed in July 2024.
Filipino naya kept the atmosphere alive as the six members sang “In the Rain” and “INFINITY.”
The girls also got to show off cover stages of “Kissing You” by Girls’ Generation (cover by Mai, Sarang, and Saebi) and “Illusion” by aespa (cover by Jeemin, Koko, and Jungeun).
izna also performed some of their B-side tracks: “Supercrush” and “Racecar.”
Showcasing their bold love message, izna performed “SIGN,” whose lyrics embody the idea that by paying attention to the signals around us, we can truly face the moments when love and dreams are within our reach.
“Metronome,” known for its house rhythm and energetic chorus, expresses the members’ resolve to keep their own rhythm in a complex and chaotic world.
Interactive encore with naya
The encore was a one-of-a-kind experience as izna went near naya’s seats both from the front and back. Fans got the chance to say hello to the girls, with some lucky naya getting to take pictures and videos with izna members.
Some songs played during the sing-along encore include: Izna, Mamma Mia, Metronome, Timebomb, and impromptu BEEP – something they have never done before until that night. Naya got to party and dance along during this special encore.
As the group shared their parting messages during the encore, Sarang expressed gratitude to every naya who came to their first tour in the Philippines.
“While we were performing tonight on stage, we really felt that izna had grown a lot. It also reminded me of the stages we did before we debuted,” she said
“But now being able to perform on stage, enjoy the songs, and your presence as well is really making us happy. So naya, be with us for a long time. Mahal ko kayo. Salamat po,” she added.
Koko said she is grateful for all the people who came to their first concert in Manila
“Sobrang saya po namin. Naya, mahal ko kayo. Thank you so much,” she expressed.
For Jeemin, seeing naya that night was heartfelt which made her feel comfortable on stage.
“Thinking before our debut that I get to stand with a lot of Manila naya. Even in my dreams I never thought this would happen,” she said
“Sana sa darating na panahon sa mas malaking lugar at madalas na pagkakataon pwede pa tayo magkita. Magpakailanman tayo ‘di ba? Promise. Salamat, mahal ko kayo,” she added.
Mai said this was an unforgettable concert and she will cherish it for a long time.
“I think I will remember this forever. Sana mas marami pa mga alaala pwede kong magawa kasabay ang mga naya,” she said.
“You make me so special and I will make you special. So I will always love you. Thank you so much,” she added.
Saebi thanked naya for the passion and love they showed in tonight’s show.
“I will never forget today because I can remember every people’s cheer and every people’s love,” she said.
“So let us be forever, okay? We really want to come back to Manila again. Manila naya, mahal ko kayo. Salamat po,” she added.
For Jungeun, seeing naya enjoy while they perform on stage really matters to them.
“When we stood up on stage and saw how our naya dance along, sang along, nakalimutan ko na ang mga mahirap at sobra na rin ako nag-enjoy,” she said.
“Today is the happiest day of my life. Thank you very much for giving us happy memories. We always love you guys. Mahal kita,” she added.
Filipino naya raised their banners during the group photo opportunity with izna that said “izna 언제 어디든지 naya 에게 기대” (izna, anytime, anywhere lean on naya).
izna ended the Manila concert with “IWALY” which means “I will always love you,” a song close to naya’s heart as this was first performed during the group’s I-Land survival show days.
“Thank you to everyone for giving us wonderful and precious memories,” the girls said, expressing their heartfelt thanks to naya before they left the stage.
What an unforgettable night for izna and naya! What is your favorite izna song from the setlist?
izna’s “WHO DAT GIRL?” concert in Manila is organized by Three Angles Production and co-organized by O.N worldwide.
