The months of June and July are very special for BTS and ARMY. In June, we celebrate BTS' debut anniversary every 13th, while in July, the ARMY fandom's birthday is the main highlight on the 9th.
This year is even more special as BTS and ARMY celebrate a decade of friendship
and love. In honor of this milestone, Titas of BTS and ARMY Connect PH (TOB/ACPH), organized the Pearl ARMY Festa, Take Two!, the biggest ARMY anniversary gathering since 2022’s highly successful Pearl ARMY Festa and Bazaar.
On July 7-9, 2023, at least 54,800 ARMY from all over the country flocked to Ayala Malls Vertis North in Quezon City for the most anticipated event to celebrate ARMY Day. Pearl ARMY Festa, Take Two! highlighted the most beautiful moments from BTS and ARMY's 10-year history through various exhibits, attractions, programs, and activities across the three-day weekend.
ARMY Glow-Up 2025 Campaign Launch
At the heart of this year's event is the worldwide unveiling of ARMY Glow-Up 2025, a collaborative project led by Titas of BTS and ARMY Connect PH. It aims to inspire ARMY to dedicate the next two years (while BTS is on hiatus) to their personal growth and self-improvement. The goal of the campaign is to help the community become a “better ARMY for BTS” in time for the group’s return in 2025.
The ARMY Glow-Up 2025 global campaign launch on July 8 featured three workshops and discussions to help ARMYs kickstart their Glow-Up Journey: “ON: Setting Goals For Your Glow-Up Journey” by Titas of BTS' resident life coach Lynnette Redublo, “Discovering Your Inner Glow: Unveiling Talents and Strengths” by Strategic Organizational Leadership Academy, and “The Workings of the Magic Shop: A Fandom-Based Approach to Mental Health” by Hallyu Wednesdays. A special giveaway from Seda Hotel Vertis North and performances by musical duo Val Gagatiga and Toni Santos also delighted participants.
Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS Global Book Release Party
The celebration continued on ARMY Day, July 9, with a dynamite fete to toast the global release of Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS. The 544-page oral history of the group’s decade-long career is one of the many gifts of BTS for ARMY on their 10th anniversary. Originally written in Korean, the book has been translated and published into the Filipino language by Apop Books.
To mark this special day, Titas of BTS held its first-ever Book Club Sonyeondan Party, which featured a ceremonial unveiling of the book. Translator Oliver John Quintana, editor Bernalyn Sastrillo, call consultant Kyung Min Bae, and Apop Books CEO Agno Almario joined the occasion and shared a toast with ARMY. The program was then capped off by Pearl ARMY Festa's staple games “Quizneyland: a BTS Trivia Game” and “Run, Pearl ARMY,” a collection of mini-games inspired by the variety show Run, BTS!.
Pearl ARMY Bazaar x BTS Presents Everywhere
A Pearl ARMY celebration would not be complete without the Pearl ARMY Bazaar. This year, over 30 merchants filled up the Ayala Malls Vertis North Activity Center with various official BTS and ARMY-made merchandise, food, and other goodies. Beloved brands also joined this year’s roster of merchants: Funhan Mart returned with its authentic Korean convenience store pop-up, while Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs brought its popular hotdog stand together with an adorable BT21-themed photo area that kids and families enjoyed.
Photoism, an official brand partner of the recent 2023 BTS Festa, dubbed “BTS Presents Everywhere,” also brought to the Pearl ARMY Festa, Take Two! its classic instant-print photo booth experience featuring official BTS frames. Apop also returned with its book sale pop-up featuring Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS and some of BTS’ recommended reads.
The Dalmajung Photobooth
This year's main attraction, the Dalmajung Photobooth designed by 2171 Floral Creations, allowed Pearl ARMY to embolden their commitment to their ARMY Glow-Up Goals. This themed set inspired by BTS’ 2022 Dalmajung photoshoot was made more authentic through optional traditional Korean hanbok rentals offered by Hanbok Pinas.
Along with other exhibits and attractions located in different parts of the mall, the Pearl ARMY Festa, Take Two! provided a haven for ARMY to live out their best ARMY life on one of the most special days in the purple calendar.
Pearl ARMY Festa, Take Two! is a non-profit event organized by Titas of BTS and ARMY Connect PH in partnership with Ayala Malls Vertis North. Presented by Seda Vertis North.
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