[ADMINS] How One Unannounced Arrival Filled Three Floors of Mall of Asia On July 9, KIM SUNOO stepped into his first job as 8seconds’ Global Brand Ambassador, creating a moment Filipino ENGENEs will never forget. Although the brand had announced his ambassadorship just three days earlier, there was no clear sign that SUNOO would attend the flagship store opening in the Philippines. All ENGENEs had were rumors. FILO ENGENES have grown used to seeing ENHYPEN endorse local brands from afar, through videos or billboards. Despite being ambassadors for several Filipino companies, they had never visited for a flagship or product launch, aside from fan meetings. But as we always say, the chance was low, but never zero, and everyone held on to that belief for SUNOO. It wasn’t until 5:40 AM Philippine time, when RNX News posted a video of SUNOO at Incheon Airport, that everything became real. In that moment, hope turned into certainty. SUNOO was really coming to Manila. It was a regular weekday. Rain poured across the country, with some areas even experiencing flooding. People were expected to be in school, at work, or going about their daily routines. But still, thousands of Filipino ENGENEs dropped everything for SUNOO. Many traveled five to eight hours from distant provinces just for the chance to see him take on his first-ever role as a brand ambassador. From morning until afternoon, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors of SM Mall of Asia were packed with ENGENEs of all ages. From the moment the mall opened until the ribbon was cut, the energy of Filipino ENGENEs never faded. Everyone waited with banners and loud chants, filling every corner of the mall with SUNOO’s name. The crowd became so overwhelming that mall passersby began to notice. One of our admins overheard an old man passing by who told his wife, “Si Pacquiao ata dadating.” (“I think Pacquiao is coming.”) An ENGENE gently replied, “Ay, hindi po. Korean idol po. Kim Sunoo po.” (“Oh, no. He’s a Korean idol named Kim Sunoo.”) The passersby, stunned, responded, “Totoo ba? Ang galing naman. Akala ko si Pacquiao. Grabe kasi dami ng tao. Ang tindi pala niyan. Ang galing, kasi hanggang sa baba ang dami ng tao. Ang hirap makadaan.” (“Oh really? I thought it was Pacquiao. The crowd is unbelievable. He must really be something. It’s amazing because the crowd stretches all the way downstairs. It’s hard to even pass through.”) And when SUNOO finally stepped out, the loud cheers quickly turned into tears. It was overwhelming not just for Filipino ENGENEs, but for SUNOO himself, who looked visibly shocked and happy to see the number of people waiting for him and the massive turnout. Without a single announcement, he gathered a crowd larger and louder than many advertised events. His name alone moved people across provinces and cities. His impact was really undeniable, and we were lucky to have witnessed it first hand. Even the guest list reflected the scale of the moment. Some of the most respected names in business and government stood beside SUNOO for the ribbon cutting, including: • Lee Sang-hwa (South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines • Jodan Daron (Director, Philippine Department of Trade and Industry) • Junseo Lee and Hee-jin Ko (Samsung C&T Fashion Division Executive) • Steven Tan (President of SM Supermalls) • Ben Chan (Chairman, Suyen Corporation) • Virgilio Lim (President, Suyen Corporation) • Brian Lim (Vice President, Suyen Corporation) • Councilor Luigi Calixto Rubiano of Pasay City For Filipino ENGENEs, it was the moment they had waited for, to give back even a little of the love SUNOO has always given. The fan project led by KIM SUNOO DAILY filled the venue, and when SUNOO saw it, it felt like every unspoken feeling finally reached him. Rain and time didn’t stop ENGENEs. The lack of an announcement didn’t stop SUNOO’s power. Because when it comes to KIM SUNOO, all it takes is his presence. SUNOO GLOBAL AMBASSADOR #SUNOOIn8SecondsPH #선우_에잇세컨즈
