"I hope that we're together no matter what happens" - AHOF JL Expressed Moment into Homecoming Spotlight at Mall of Asia Arena

Filipino member JL of rising K-pop group AHOF stood on the Mall of Asia Arena stage this weekend and openly shared his disbelief at performing inside the same venue where he once stayed outside during earlier K-pop shows.

According to reports circulating from the group’s Manila stop of “The First Spark” tour, JL gave a heartfelt shoutout to his family in the audience and said he felt happy to have found a new family in his bandmates and fans. He closed with a simple wish: “I hope that we’re together no matter what happens.” The two-night concerts on July 25 and 26 at SM Mall of Asia Arena marked a clear milestone for the nine-member group.

AHOF formed through the 2025 survival show Universe League and debuted on July 1, 2025, under F&F Entertainment with the mini-album Who We Are. The lineup includes members from South Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia-Korea, and the Philippines, with JL (Jay Lawrence Gaspar) as the sole Filipino member and a former P-pop artist who placed first on the show.

Their first Asia tour opened in Seoul in May and has already taken them through Japan and other cities before this Manila leg, which also coincides with the July 8 release of their third mini-album Run To You. Previous Philippine visits included a sold-out Araneta fan concert, the GMA Kapuso New Year’s Eve countdown, and a Cebu fan meeting.

International and local fans responded with warmth and pride. Posts flooded timelines under #JLIsHome and #PaintMOARed, with many highlighting the family presence and JL’s emotional remarks about finding belonging with both his group and FOHAs. Videos of the stage moments and fan projects circulated widely, underscoring how the homecoming resonated beyond the arena.