The first GL event in the country is finally happening! Are you ready to meet FreenBecky, Manila?
FreenBecky, the most talked about GL couple from Thailand, is coming to meet their Filipino fans for โThe Debutante: A watch party for the uncut last episode of GAP The Series.โ The historic event is happening on February 12, 2023, at 6 PM, at SM Skydome.
This also marks the girlsโ first solo event in the country. Though they visited Manila last year, it was for a festival that included other Thai celebrities.
This time, Freen Sarocha Chankimha and Becky Armstrong are meeting their fans exclusively to celebrate the finale of their hit drama.
โGap: The Seriesโ started airing in November last year and immediately shot to fame with record-breaking views that went up to millions. Much of its success is thanks to the starsโ incredible chemistry and acting.
Aside from a watch party, fans can expect more fun activities during the event, including a talk and game segment. Depending on the ticket tier, fans also get to enjoy plenty of other perks like soundcheck access, send-off, signed postcards, and other merchandise.
Ticket selling began January 30, 2023, and was immediately sold out minutes after release. Fans took to social media to request a bigger venue, once again proving the girlsโ popularity. In response, CDM Entertainment asked fans to stay tuned for further announcements.
โThe Debutanteโ is presented by Idol Factory, TH Headline, and CDM Entertainment.
After a long absence, the “Boyce” family is returning to the Philippines. For the week of Valentine’s Day, one of the most popular independent bands in the world, Boyce Avenue, is making a comeback. Scheduled performances in Manila’s Araneta Coliseum on the 11th, Cebu’s Waterfront Hotel Ballroom on the 12th, and Davao’s SMX Convention Center on the 14th have been announced. Adie, Nobita, and (for the Manila performance alone) The Juans, three of today’s biggest names in O.P.M., will also be performing.
Alejandro, the band’s main singer, discussed what makes their Filipino fans unique during a Zoom interview with the press on Wednesday.
“There’s a deeper level of passion, seems to be kind of interwoven in the Filipino culture to be a very romantic culture and that’s such a big part of what we do.”
He added, “crowd sings so passionately in the Philippines especially to the love songs so that’s kind of something that’s always struck us that seems to be just at a heightened level.”
The members of the Boyce Avenue band all grew up in the same neighborhood in Sarasota, Florida, hence the band’s name. The three Manzano brothers, Alejandro (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Fabian (guitar, vocals), and Daniel, make up the band, which is well-liked for its acoustic leanings (bass, percussion, vocals). The band first performed together in 2004, and in 2007, they started uploading videos to YouTube, where they quickly became popular. They are one of the most popular channels in the world, with over 13.2 million subscribers and over 4.8 billion views on YouTube.
When we asked how their upcoming concert would be different from previous shows they’ve done in the country, Alejandro replied, “We will play songs that we didn’t play last time we were there, but I’m just on a deeper emotional level; I think there’s just a different perspective now, post-pandemic, and I think there’s a level of gratitude for everybody.”
The singer-songwriter Adie has over 3.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify Philippines thanks to the popularity of his songs “Paraluman,” “Tahanan,” “Dungaw,” and “Mahika,” which features Janine Berdin. The OPM band Nobita exploded onto the spotlight with the megahit “Ikaw Lang” and the wedding-themed track “Unang Sayaw,” and they also set a new career benchmark by accruing over 130 million views on Spotify. In addition, the pop rock band The Juans, who released the number one singles “Hindi Tayo Pwede” and “Hatid,” and recently played their first major concert at the Big Dome in Manila, are also there.
“I think this is kind of the most local acts we’ve ever had open up for us, so I think it’s not only going to be our show but a whole night filled with a bunch of good music. I think it’s going to be a pretty massive and pretty cool event.
Join Boyce Avenue and some of your favorite O.P.M. hitmakers for a special Valentine’s Day musical performance of some of your favorite love and hugot songs.”
Tickets for Manila show are available at ticketnet.com.ph while Cebu and Davao tickets are available at SMTickets.com and outlets nationwide.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter takes rom-com to an entirely different level as she revels in the idea of โwhat-ifsโ
2022 has been a great year for Clara Benin. Aside from getting featured on a Times Square billboard in New York ahead of International Womenโs Day, the folk darling received two nominations at the recently concluded 8th Wish Music Awards and collaborated with international artists such as British singer-songwriter Lowswimmer. On top of her achievements, Benin also dropped a song called “Affable Dork,” which garnered rave reviews for “adopting a jazz-pop approach.”
This year is no different for the prolific act, as she continues to delight Clarafied (her official fans club) with her remarkable consistency. Benin opens 2023 with a soothing tune that revels in the idea of โwhat ifs’ and how it often sparks curiosity and wonder. Her new single, “differentโฆ” draws inspiration from a rom-com classic, a common theme among her last few releases.
“I wrote this song after being inspired by the movie, When Harry Met Sally,” Benin admits. “My song “differentโฆ” is about having a really good friendship with someone and wondering if you two could take that relationship somewhere different.”
In “differentโฆ,” Clara Benin takes a familiar musical route without losing the riveting earnestness of the subject. As expected, the FIlipino singer-songwriter has mastered the art of subtlety, and on “different,” itโs here to stay: beautifully woven as if itโs an integral part of Beninโs identity as an artist.
The track is produced by Francis Lorenzo and Gabba Santiago, with her dad Joey Benin playing fretless bass. Clara initially recorded the vocals and guitars of the song in her dadโs studio in December 2021, during the time when she visited her family in her hometown. The rest, as they say, is history.
“We went for a more stripped-down instrumentation so we could really highlight the lyrics,” reveals the talented singer-songwriter. “I really wanted to play around with more organic sounds. The majority of the percussive sounds that you hear in this song are actually just Gabba tapping on random things around my studio.”
Check out Clara Beninโs โdifferentโฆโ on all digital music platforms via OFFMUTE.
Ohm-Nanon 1st Fan Meeting in Manila: An OHM-mazing evening with fans from the BL couple as sweet as ci-NANON
The Thai hype is officially coming to the Philippines as one of Thailandโs most in-demand and beloved BL duo, Ohm Pawat and Nanon Korapat or coupled popularly as OHM-NANON has taken over Manila as they held their first fan meet in the country! The two 22-year-old Thai actors who are widely known for their drama Bad Buddy which is featured in Teen Vogueโs โBest BL Dramas of 2022โ finally met their Filipino fans or also known as RONANS. The fans are so dedicated and eager to meet the heartthrobs that fans claimed they were already at the venue as early as 6 a.m.!
CDM Entertainment held together a wholesome fan meet as fans got perks and intimate interactions with the duo last January 21, 2023, in Samsung Hall SM Aura Premier. The night went on with a playful exchange between the duo and the RONANs, as they all tried to claim who loves who the most the whole evening.
Getting Comfortable
The pair sang เธเธดเธ(เนเธเนเนเธกเน)เธเธถเธ (Same Page?) by Tilly Birds, OST from their drama Bad Buddy before formally saying hello to the RONANS. Nanon said it was an honor to be in the Philippines and was even speechless during the introduction because of the overwhelming screams of love from the fans. To solidify their love towards the duo, Filipino RONANs gave Ohm-Nanon a pair of Barong Tagalogs, colored green and red themed, with OHM and NNN embroidered at the back of each piece of clothing.
A small fireside chat took place and the host tackled the topic of their journey as actors and touched base on Nanonโs future projects first. She asked how the star feels about having two different projects in the upcoming year. โItโs an honor (for me)โฆ and I feel good because I have a jobโฆ I have work!โ he enthused. He talked about the new characters heโs about to play and how the age dynamics of each is a challenge heโs ready to take.
In topics of projects, Ohmโs ongoing drama โ10 Years Ticketโ was also discussed. The host asked what important lessons Ohm took from his character Pukao. โI think I am similar to Pukao in a way where I am serious and in focusโฆ but at times, I am also fun.โ he loosely explained.
โThis is one the first few memories I have this year,โ Ohm said when he was asked what is the most memorable part of the tour so far, having toured around as a duo. โWeโre really happy to see you guys today! So we thank you everyone for coming in today!โ
Fun-meet
As all fan meets go, itโs never complete if there arenโt any games to play and show the playful side of our idols and itโs not an exception with Ohm and Nanon. Throughout the night, a series of games ensued to showcase both the competitiveness and team spirit of the beloved BL couple. The duad was asked if they were competitive or not and Ohm answered that he was a little competitive and Nanon leaned towards being a chill competitor.
The first game was arm wrestling, a test of strength, in which Ohm playfully opened that he feels confident because he ate three meals that day, in contrast with Nanon who only ate one meal.
A quiet intense few minutes took place on who was the strongest but Nanon showed that he was stronger that day, beating Ohm in the first round. He commended his BL partner for his strength, bringing extra kilig to the fans.
The second game is to test their strategizing skills and the game is to make origami paper planes. Whoever sends the planes the farthest to the audience wins. Ohmโs strategy is to make the plane elongated and Nanon didnโt have any particular strategy in mind and stayed a go-with-the-flow kind of guy.
As a result, Ohm won the game, beating Nanon by just a row distance, making the score 1:1 even.
The next game against each other is for each of the duo to not spill the confetti from the colored cups while carrying it across the stage in the palm of their hands. The two got a little competitive here and both did not spill any confetti but Ohm beat Nanon by two seconds, making it a 2:1 score.
Before proceeding to more fun games in the night, the actors sang a solo each and took the stage, charming the fans. Ohm sang his solo เนเธเนเธเธดเธเธเนเธเธดเธเนเธฅเนเธง (Unlovable), a newly released song for the 10 Years Ticket the actor stars in, and Nanon sang เนเธเนเนเธเธทเนเธญเธเธกเธฑเนเธ (Just Friend?) another OST for the Bad Buddy series.
Good Buddy, Bad Buddy
The next part is where the duo got a little closer to the Filipino fans as they teamed up to test their knowledge of Filipino culture and their bond with the RONANs. A series of questions with choices were given and they can use the โAsk The Audienceโ card if they are not sure about the answers. The fans are extremely enthusiastic about helping the two boys with all the questions when they needed help and the host called for help from the audience three times.
A wonderful surprise that happened was when they asked for help from the audience for the third time from a fan who had a unique flag and turns out to be a Thai fan, who came from Thailand to meet the boys. Only goes to show that Ohm and Nanon are incredibly loved and that crossing oceans is a small thing. In this portion, the duo also got a chance to eat Filipino street food kwek kwek, sang English songs requested by the fans, celebrated late and advanced birthdays by singing birthday songs with the audience as parts of a dare, and got into more banter as the fans endlessly screamed their love for Ohm and Nanon.
The last part of the games for the night is called Bad Buddy wherein they will need to distract each other from finishing a task in a timed manner. Nanon went on first and finished the tasks as he stacked the red plastic cups and unstacked them in 28 seconds, even with Ohm blowing a loud horn in his ears. Ohm confidently said that he can finish the same task faster than Nanon but unfortunately, the relaxed and chill competitor had other plans. Using bubbles and blowing air onto the cups and making them topple down, Ohm was not able to finish the task faster than promised and lost to his partner while laughing throughout, not expecting the strategy Nanon did.
Fan Project for Ohm and Nanon
The Filipino RONANs did not want to end the night without showing the BL couple the fan-made video they prepared. A heartfelt song cover accompanied a series of clips on the two boys, fan-made letters, and artworks showed on the screen as the two sat down and watched intently. The boys returned this love to the fans by taking a picture with the crowd, as a remembrance of the special night they spent with their dedicated RONANSs in the Philippines.
The two went on and thanked the fans one last time and promises to return as soon as they can as they pointed out that the energy of the Filipino fans is unwavering and incredible throughout the night, making them feel welcome.
The night ended with the VIP and MVIP ticket holders with the perks of meeting them on stage and giving high fives or shaking hands with the two. The talented Ohm and Nanon smiled and thanked each fan, looking them in the eye as they pass, sealing that connection that was already rooted in the TV series and acting projects that brought together both fans and the pair. Albeit the interactions only lasted a few seconds for each fan, the happiness was evident and a blast of euphoria and/or disbelief of meeting the people who inspire them took over the venue even towards the end of the night. It is not a common occurrence to meet someone you admire up close, much less give them a high five and for the duo to do this for the fans only proves that the love the RONANs are giving isnโt one-sided.
Words and Photos by Arielle Elep for Philippine Concerts
Ohm-Nanon 1st Fan Meeting in Manila is presented by CDM Entertainment. Special thanks to CDM Entertainment for the invitation.
On Friday, February 10th, fresh episodes of After the Altar from Love Is Blind Season 3 will become available on Netflix.
The happy couples who found each other through Love Is Blind make up a small and exclusive group. The quirky and addicting reality show that can be found on Netflix is many things: a social experiment, a dating show, full of twist, and drama. However, the show does in fact help some people form long-term relationships.
This new take on “The Dating Game” is undeniably captivating to watch, and it doesn’t matter if you subscribe to the theory that love is sighted or not; there’s no denying that it won’t let you look away.
In the next three-part special, which takes place a year after the nuptials, some of the couples are reunited while others are trying to figure out what comes next in their relationships. The official summary for Season 3 states that viewers will see the cast โreadjust to life in Dallas after the altar and come together for a birthday extravaganza.โ
Viewers may see how these couples are doing several months later. Are they happy with married life? Or, perhaps, their hopes for love have turned into a nightmare that will never stop. Let’s find out this love month only on Netflix.
The Start-Up and Hometown Cha Cha Cha actor opened the highly awaited fan meet with Paul Kim’s “Every Day, Every Moment,” which reaffirmed that it is his time to stand by the side of his admirers, who had waited to meet him for years. He conveyed his comfort in being with everyone and his gratitude for the audience’s persistent support.
โI feel how warm you are and I feel very comfortable being with all of you. I can feel your warm passion even now, that is why, I made a promise to myself that I would be very passionate tonight โspending this night with all of you,โ he said. He added, โI feel that you really love me right now. There is one thing I want to say to all of you: thank you so much for always being with me during the hard times and the good times. You are always there supporting me.โ
As Kim Seon Ho reciprocated the support by working tirelessly to provide the fans with the best fan meeting experience, Seonhohadas showered the man of the hour with resounding cheers and heartfelt comments.
Kim Seon Ho during the press conference held prior to the fan meeting.
Special Moments with Kim Seon Ho: Fun Games and Getting-to-Know
Always game and ready to give his all, Kim Seon Ho allowed his fans to get to know him more and play games with him through the different segments he sincerely prepared for his supporters. He reenacted scenes from his dramas Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Start-Up, and Catch the Ghost with fans in the segment “Seon Ho’s Drama Talk”. Impressed by the acting skills of the lucky fans who joined him on stage, he shared that he felt nervous because they are better actors than him.
Meanwhile, the segment “Seon Ho Learning Tagalog” saw the actor learn the Filipino phrases, “Manigong bagong taon“, “Masaya akong makita kayo“, and “Pusuan/pinusuan kita“. In the segment, “Best No. 1 is (Filipino food edition)”, it was time for the fans to know him more through his choices among the Filipino foods presented on screen. His favorite Filipino food went to pancit because it reminded him of japchae, while bibingka took the crown as his favorite Filipino dessert.
“Actually, I don’t speak Tagalog, but I was looking forward to talking to all of my fans, and I love foods, so that’s why I am looking forward to all these Filipino foods,” he said.
But the fun never stopped because Kim Seon Ho made sure that fans will take home the best memories of the night through games. Chosen fans played the “staring game” and “one-legged balance” with him. Ever-considerate and sweet, the actor requested that all participating fans will get a prize despite failing the challenge. *heart eyes*
The next segment, “Team Game with Seon Ho”, tested his stamina with a relay game composed of catching a ball, jumping rope, and sipa which he did with the fans. Despite the energy-consuming game, the actor never wavered in keeping his smile and assuring fans. He was too adorable as he tried to catch his breath in between the teams. And the challenges continue in the segment, “Seon Ho Will Do It”, where he took on various challenge games such as balancing a soda can, shooting a basketball, and sipa. He awed everyone with his quick success in the first challenge. However, he failed to make a basket in the second one and do five sipa in the third one, earning him penalties โ penalties that every fan loves: posing for photos, recording a morning call, and posing three aegyo poses.
Truly the good boy, Kim Seon Ho prepared a special gift for a lucky fan to have โa customized cap! He personally drew different images with much care and love and signed the cap.
Before bidding goodbye to his Philippine Seonhohadas, the actor serenaded them with “Reason“, his first single and a song he collaborated with Epitone Project in 2021. “I wanted to communicate and be with my fans more. If there is something lacking, I hope you understand. I will forever treasure our special day in my heart, and I hope, as you go home today, this was a great memory you can bring back home,” he said.
Bawat araw, bawat sandali with Kim Seon Ho
And the special memories continued to be created, as Philippine Seonhohadas make sure that their beloved actor returns home with a warm and happy heart through a special video and banner project they prepared.
Kasama mo kami sa bawat araw, bawat sandali.
PHILIPPINE SEONHOHADAs
He reciprocated the love with appreciation and a promise to see each other again. “Because of you, I can stand as an actor. I will always be grateful, and I love you! And I promise you that I’ll be back with more projects in the future as a better actor. I hope you are happy. Thank you!”
Turning emotional after watching the fan project, Kim Seon Ho said, “There were a lot of touching messages in the video, but I like that you promised me that even in the hard times, you will be there for me. I also promise to be a good actor and person and to be here all the time for you. Thank you, and I love you all!”
With smiles on everyone’s faces all throughout the night, January 22 was indeed a memory to treasure dearly in our hearts. The 2023 KIM SEON HO ASIA TOUR <ONE, TWO, THREE. SMILE>ย in Manila was a testament to a promise kept by Kim Seon Ho and Philippine Seonhohadasโ through thick and thin, through the strongest storms and the brightest of days, bawat araw, bawat sandali โ “We will always prefer you.”
The 2023 KIM SEON HO ASIA TOUR <ONE, TWO, THREE. SMILE>ย in Manila was presented by PULP Live World, Happee Hour, and FangirlAsia. Special thanks to PULP Live World and Happee Hour for the invite to the event.
This is your signal. Lee Je Hoon is coming to Manila!
Multi-awarded actor Lee Je Hoon will greet his Filipino fans up close and personal in March as he jets into Manila for a fan meeting.
Live Nation Philippines announced that the Taxi Driver actor will hold LEE JE HOON โVACATIONโ FAN MEETING IN MANILA 2023 at the New Frontier Theater on March 3. This will mark the first fan meeting event of the actor in the Philippines since making his acting debut in the early 2000s through short and indie films.
With a career that has spanned more than a decade, Lee Je Hoon has made a solid mark in the television and movie industry in South Korea. His stellar performances in Bleak Night and The Frontline earned recognitions including Best New Actor from the KOFRA Film Awards, Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards, and Grand Bell Awards.
His role in the 2012 romance film, Architecture 101, catapulted him to mainstream popularity. He was further recognized for his versatility through his succeeding projects. In 2016, he starred opposite Kim Hye-soo and Choi Jin-woong in the critically acclaimed television series, Signal.
Following Tomorrow with You and Where the Stars Land, the actor returned to the small screen with Taxi Driver which earned him the Top Excellence Award for an Actor in a mini-series at the SBS Drama Awards. He is set to reprise his role as Kim Do-gi in the second season of the series.
Lee Je Hoon for Taxi Driver 2 (Photos retrieved from woman.chosun.com)
#LeeJeHooninManila Ticket prices and seat plan
Donโt miss your chance to get up close and personal with one of the most dynamic stars of South Korea! Get to know Lee Je Hoon and meet him this March!
Tickets to the fan meeting will go on sale starting January 31, 12NN, via TicketNet outlets nationwide and online thru www.ticketnet.com.ph. Check out the seat plan and ticket prices below:
The Rose came back, creating beautiful memories with Philippine Black Roses.
More than three years since their first solo concert in the Philippines, South Korean band The Rose returned to the local concert stage last January 14 at the Skydome, SM North EDSA with a new tour, new music, and new stories to share.
Woosung, Dojoon, Hajoon, and Jaehyeong staged Heal Togetherin Manila, performing in front of a full-house venue. Tickets to the concert were sold-out immediately following the opening of ticket sales. And indeed, the band’s growing popularity in the Philippines through the years has become evident with the successful conclusion of last Saturday’s show.
With resounding cheers from Philippine Black Roses, The Rose took on the stage with “~” and “Definition of ugly is” from their latest album, Heal, and “Insomnia” and “She’s in the Rain” from The Dawn album. They then closed their opening set with “Modern Life” from Woosung’s solo release, Moth.
“It’s a perfect weather today. It’s a perfect day for you and us to enjoy,” Dojoon said during the ment where they individually introduced themselves and greeted Black Roses. The energy escalated as the band continued on their performances with “California”, “I Don’t Know You”, “Candy (so good)” from their earlier albums, Red, The Dawn, and Void, respectively. Fans, up on their feet and lightsticks up in the air, sang loud with the band in “Red”.
Awed with the crowd’s energy, the members expressed admiration and appreciation for the superb display of energy. Woosung then looked back on their seven years together as a band and relayed his gratitude to the fans for being with them through the ups and downs. “Salamat po,” he said. “We took a break for two years. Last year, we started again. We started touring. We have a new album called Heal,” he added.
Jaehyeong opened up about “having a hard time about two, three years ago” and how his members, music, and fans helped him during those times. “I always want to thank you,” he said. A VCR played with the members gathering together and opening up. With the end of the VCR and Jaehyeong’s words, “I happy I live through music”, The Rose sang “See-Saw” โ which Jaehyeong wrote to share his story.
Bringing the nostalgia up a notch, the band performed “I.L.Y.” and “Sorry” from Void, with Woosung introducing “Sorry” as the song that started it all for them. They also sang “Childhood”, “Shift”, “Time”, “Yes”, and “Cure” from Heal and their single “Beauty and the Beast”.
“Thank you so much, Manila,” Woosung said as The Rose sings “Sour” to close their final set prior to the encore. One after the other, the members came back on stage for their final song “Black Rose”. With the song’s lyrics resonating emotionally at the Skydome and Woosung changing up the last lines to “Hello, Manila Black Roses. We ROSE you from the bottom of our hearts,” Woosung, Dojoon, Hajoon, and Jaehyeong closed Heal Together in Manila โloud cheers echoing with the promise of seeing each other again.
Music pioneer and multi-instrumentalist indie musician Abby Clutario marks her musical debut under AltG Records through the release of her Chapman Stick revival of UDDโs โTadhana.โ
Abby became an official recording artist of AltG Records, a sub-label of GMA Music, last November 8. She is known in the music scene as an indie artist and the first one and one of two who can play a Chapman Stick, an electric instrument with approximately 10-12 strings in the Philippines.
She shared that picking โTadhanaโ as her first single was a collaborative decision with Artist and Repertoire Manager and In-house Producer Kedy Sanchez. She is grateful for the opportunity and is excited about releasing the song, โVery grateful ako at the same time very excited to be able to release a song thru a label like AltG Records. Being an independent artist for 20 years, I can say na marami na akong pinagdaanan na challenges ng isang musikero and now dahil sa AltG I can say na mas may chance ako na maiparinig at ma-share ang aking music sa mas maraming listeners.โ
Abby also revealed the process in reviving the song, โAng Chapman Stick ay isang napaka-versatile na instrument. Bukod sa kaya niyang bumagay sa kahit anong genre ng music, masasabi ko na very soothing ang kanyang tunog at sadyang babagay sa mga ballad na style katulad ng Tadhana. Nung inaareglo ko ang kanta para sa voice ng Chapman Stick, sinugurado ko lang na mas ma-highlight pa rin ang main melody ng kanta and ang Chapman Stick ang nagsisilbing support and accompaniment nito.”
She also admitted that it was challenging but is happy with the result, โSiguro ang pinaka-challenge is a personal one, which is how to give justice to this song na maganda na ang pagkakalikha to begin with. My version is a stripped-down version na tanging ‘yung voice and Chapman Stick lang ang maririnig. I’m happy na sinuggest ‘yun ni Sir Kedy kasi I really also like the song.”
Abby’s debut song was #5 on iTunes PH’s Top 100 Songs chart upon its release on January 20 and is included in Spotify’s Fresh Finds Philippines playlist.
Tune in to Abby Clutarioโs โTadhanaโ on all digital streaming platforms worldwide.
For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www.GMANetwork.com.
The icons of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) will be performing at an all-star Valentine concert entitled “All Heart” to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Plenary Hall on February 14, 2023, Tuesday, at 8:30 pm.
Joining APO’s Jim Paredes and Boboy Garrovillo for a night of romantic reminiscing are Neocolors’ lead singer Ito Rapadas, Afterimage frontman Wency Cornejo, and Roselle Nava and Raymond Lauchengco.
The singers’ repertoire will be composed of their own greatest ballads that have become the soundtrack of real people’s love lives, relationships and even weddings. These include the APO’s “Panalangin” and “Ewan,” Wency Cornejo’s “Magpakailanman,” the Neocolors’ “Say You’ll Never Go,” Roselle’s “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita?” and Raymond’s “So It’s You,” among many other hit songs.
The musical numbers will be interspersed by video interviews of real-life couples and the spiels of former DJ Joe D’Mango of the popular “Love Notes” radio program. These videos and spiels were especially produced for the concert.
“All Heart” marks the first time that all the six singers are gathering for a Valentine concert. The show will certainly be a perfect V-Day treat for music lovers regardless of age, status or gender.
The star-studded tune emphasizes the importance of faith during trying times!
Alt-rock icon Barbie Almalbis, Rivermaya lead singer/drummer Mark Escueta, Dicta License vocalist Pochoy Labog, and fast-rising singer-songwriter/producer Jarlo Bรขse have collaborated on a soulful track that unfolds with tenderness and power in equal measure.
Released under WATERWALK RECORDS, โPIRASOโ tackles the journey of healing and spirituality amidst the crippling fear of uncertainty that all four artists have personally experienced in recent years. The song not only articulates the collective frustrations and sacrifices that people have to go through in order to cope with depression caused by the pandemic but also reveals how faith has become a source of comfort and strength during trying times.
According to Almalbis, producer-extraordinaire Jungee Marcelo was responsible for bringing them together. She immediately said yes after finding out about the other musicians involved in the project and what the music stands for.
โI have always been a fan of Mark and Pochoy, and I was also looking forward to working with Jarlo, because Mr. Jungee really looked up to him as a young producer,โ the Silaw hitmaker admits. โWe started writing the song virtually, just exchanging ideas via a chat group, then eventually met up in person to tie everything together.โ
Despite their busy schedules, the four powerhouse acts managed to squeeze in time to record the song before the year ended. Almalbis reveals that the entire team behind โPIRASOโ felt a strong sense of achievement with how the final product turned out. โOn the day we finished writing the song, we made a makeshift vocal booth in our house, which turned out to be a great sounding room for vocals. Pochoy then went home to do the bass track. A few days later, we hung out at Markโs studio to finalize the drum parts. I did a bit more guitar work at home, and Jarlo did the rest of the production, recording his vocals and adding piano, samples, and synths in his own place.โ
Dicta Licenseโs Pochoy Labog admits that the collaboration was out of his comfort zone, but the experience, according to him, was an absolute joy. โWe flowed so well and nothing was forced. Writing the lyrics was like being in a discipleship group or household โwe plugged in words while sharing life experiences and our own walks with God. It was one of the most profound moments in my musical journey.โ
Surprisingly, the all-star collaboration turned out to be a very moving piece that raises the bar for all the musicians involved in terms of songwriting and artistry. Bรขse, in particular, was grateful and honored to be part of this massive endeavor that brought a different kind creative synergy and excitement.
โIโve always looked up to Sir Jungee and everyone at WATERWALK/Sony Music for their love and excellence in making music,โ says the young singer-songwriter. โI hope people would enjoy and be blessed with the song we all made together.โ
โPIRASOโ is also Mark Escuetaโs first project with WATERWALK RECORDS. He is thankful to be part of a music project that aims to inspire people from all walks of life. โIt’s an honor and a blessing to be part of this project and I know that WATERWALK RECORDS will continue to touch so many lives in the years to come.โ
โPIRASOโ is out now on all digital music platforms via WATERWALK RECORDS.
Three days of sold-out MANIFESTO in Manila for ENHYPEN!
Without a doubt, ENGENEs are at a fever pitch for the arrival of ENHYPEN to the Philippines with their much-anticipated massive world tour. Their dedication to the group is truly overwhelming and is expected to shock the Mall of Asia Arena, the venue that will house this sensational world tour, on the first weekend of February 2023!
ENHYPEN members, JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, and NI-KI, debuted on November 30, 2020, with 1st Studio Album BORDER : DAY ONE. This album achieved the biggest first-week sales for a single album among K-pop groups to debut the same year and became their gateway towards inevitable stardom.
ENHYPEN had a clear sign that their success is destined to happen. Within two months of their debut, the group won four โRookie of The Yearโ awards proving that they are the breakout boyband to watch out for. Less than two years later, the band proved theyโre the new powerhouse of K-pop, as they became double โMillion-Sellersโ in the shortest period of time (since debut) in K-pop history with 1st Studio Album DIMENSION : DILEMMA (released in October 2021) and 3rd Mini Album MANIFESTO : DAY 1 (July 2022).
Thereโs no stopping ENHYPEN from conquering the global K-pop scene and this upcoming world tour is a strong testament to the success that they and their fans have been manifesting!
The Philippine stop was previously set for 2 days but because of the clamor of the fans, a Day 3 show has been added. Now, all three schedules have reached their full capacity โ making it a full-blown weekend dedicated to all ENGENE! See you all at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 3 โ 5, 2023 for the ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR โMANIFESTOโ in MANILA. Show times are as follows: February 3 โ 7PM, February 4 โ 6PM, February 5 โ 5PM.
The much-awaited fan meeting of everyone’s favorite Kim Seon Ho will finally happen in a few days!
The excitement is real, and we cannot blame you! After months of anticipation and countdowns, South Korean actor Kim Seon Ho will finally land on the Philippine shore to kick off his 2023 KIM SEON HO ASIA TOUR <ONE, TWO, THREE. SMILE> in Manila on January 22 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Before the big day, allow us to give you three reasons we think the upcoming event will give you the biggest smile this Sunday!
Photo from SALT Entertainment
#1 It’s Kim Seon Ho!
We know you do not need more reasons aside from the fact that it is KIM SEON HO โ the actor who gave us characters that upped our standards and sent us blissful kilig every time and the man who appreciates and fills our hearts with love.
Our favorite Good Boy has been acting since 2009, starting with theater plays and progressing to television and films in the latter years. Some of his notable roles on TV include Jung Jae-yoon in 100 Days My Prince, Cha Woo-sik in Welcome to Waikiki 2, Han Ji-pyeong in Start-Up, and Hong Du-sik in Hometown Cha Cha Cha. In addition, he also won our hearts over and over again with his irresistible charms in 2 Days & 1 Night.
And the fan meeting this January 22 will allow us to get to know him more through various segments and performances. Get ready to be smitten even more by the one and only Kim Seon Ho!
Photo from SALT Entertainment
#2 Manila is the first stop!
Philippine Seonho-hada, raise the flag! Manila will mark the first stop of his Asia tour. Following his Seoul fan meeting in December, the actor will greet his Filipino fans first before any other Asian cities through this fan meeting. Moreover, a full-house MOA Arena will welcome him!
The actor during his first offline fan meeting in Seoul last December. (Photo from SALT Entertainment)
#3 Incomparable memory
I’ve always wanted to meet you guys in person, and I’m so happy to finally have the chance.
KIM SEON HO
For the actor and Seonho-hada, the past years may not have been the easiest, but everyone showed their perseverance and unfailing love for one another โ standing up together and now, meeting each other in person. So, on Sunday, it will be an emotional reunion between him and his devoted fans, as well as an opportunity to make new memories together.
The actor during his first offline fan meeting in Seoul last December. (Photos from SALT Entertainment)
The 2023 KIM SEON HO ASIA TOUR<ONE, TWO, THREE. SMILE> in Manila is presented by PULP Live World, Happee Hour, and FangirlAsia.
When Jay Park said in his song, โAinโt No Party Like an AOMG Partyโ, he meant it.
Stretching into a four-hour-long concert, AOMG artists, Simon Dominic, Loco, Gray, LeeHi, Yugyeom, and Woo showed nothing but the best experience for the fans to remember when they paved the way in the AOMG WORLD TOUR 2023 โ FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT Asian leg in New Frontier Theater last January 15, 2023.
Thanks to PULP Live World, one of the leading Korean hip-hop and R&B record labels have finally landed on the Philippine shores, kicking off the new year right as one of the first shows in 2023 in the country. As the AOMG’s six multi-talented and versatile artists rocked the stage, the night went on a colorful genre performances switch: from hard-hitting, bouncy hip-hop beats to heartfelt ballads and slow R&B songs with intimate and hilarious interactions, hereโs a recap on what AOMG brought to the table.
Photo retrieved from AOMG’s Twitter account
WOO, WOO, WOO!
Opening the concert strong with his signature black bennie look, one of Show Me the Money 6โs front runners, Woo Won Jae or more commonly known as WOO started his set with โR.I.P.โ plucked directly from his 1st Album, BLACK OUT which is a bouncy hip-hop piece that made the crowd jump from the get-go. In another song from the same album, he did not let the crowd breathe when he transitioned to โChik Chik Pok Pokโ, originally featuring Jvcki Wai and SIMO (MA).
WOO proved that he belonged on that AOMG stage when he hit the crowd with the fast-paced โChingiz Khanโ showcasing his rap skills and squeezing in the song โDevilโ originally with Code Kunst, the 3rd chapter of the music video SignHere. Closing in his powerful set albeit it being short, he showed his intimate side with the song โMEโ from his latest EP comma, telling the crowd that he poured his soul into writing the song, with lyrics showing on the big screens so that fans can easily connect with the message he was trying to portray.
Despite being a last-minute addition to the line-up for the tourโs Asian leg, WOO showed beyond doubt that being an openerโwhich is usually a difficult task for any actโis a breezy work with his command and made the crowd have it with them repeating his name over and over like a chant.
Manila says Hi! To LeeHi
One of the most recognizable voices and known names in the Korean music industry, LeeHi opened her set and mellowed out the crowd with her most well-known songs that made you feel nostalgic and experience emotions, her usual effect on everyone who hears her music.
Starting with her most-listened and most popular song โONLYโ from her overall 4th full album 4 ONLY, a release that marked her boarding the AOMG family, LeeHi made the fans feel that they belong in the story by letting them sing the choruses. Continuing the mellow train singing โBreatheโ, another familiar ballad from her album SEOULITE that she delivered flawlessly as if it came straight from the actual recorded song. These ballads reminded us that LeeHi remains one of the strongest vocalists in South Korea as she is simply accompanied by nothing but a simple stage, and still able to immediately seize the attention of every person in the venue.
Speeding the mood a bit, LeeHi sang โSaviorโ, another song from her 4 ONLY album and originally with B.I., a crowd favorite that made you dance a little, and digging into her old discographies, she officially pumped up the crowd with her song โRoseโ from her 2013 album FIRST LOVE.
Bringing out some backup dancers signaling an upbeat set of tunes, LeeHi added โNo Oneโ and went way back to her first song, โ1,2,3,4โ to keep the fans energized while showing everyone that despite the only female act of the night, she can keep up with a fast-paced AOMG stage.
โYou are our real thing right?โ she asked the crowd, to which the fans answered with a resounding YES. The fans proved that all right when she asked them to chant โ๋จธ๋ฆฌ ์ด๊นจ ๋ฌด๋ฆ ๋ฐโ for the song โH.S.K.Tโ and the fans did not miss a beat. LeeHi responded to the enthusiasm by impressively rapping the songโs featured artist Wonsteinโs rap part, showing how much of a versatile artist she is. Capping her performances for the night, she danced to the retro-styled funky song โRed Lipstickโ, originally with Yoonmirae, leading us into a complete full circle of mood from dulcet to upbeat.
Loco for Loco
If youโre into Korean hip-hop, itโs almost impossible to not have Loco in your playlist. As the original winner of the most recognized rap reality TV Korean show, Show Me the Money, Loco proved to be a household name in Korean hip-hop as he exhibited his talent on the Manila stage.
Starting his set with an explosive song titled โMBTIโ a song produced by GRAY, Loco showed that he didnโt come to play and was serious. The fans matched his energy while he bounced with everyone and told the crowd, โYou guys are so hot!โ. He also shared that he visited the Philippines when he was young and he went to Cebu in his small talk with the crowd, while preparing to open a full-blown party portion of the evening.
Performing songs from his EP Summer Go Loco, โParty Bandโ and โOPPAโ that made you feel like the summer came too early and it wasnโt too much when he sang โToo Muchโ from his only LP release, BLEACHED, originally featuring DEAN. Adding to the lineup of incredible songs, Loco showcased two songs in collaboration with Hwa Sa, which got us all โshippingโ the duo because of their chemistry. Said songs are called โDonโtโ and โSomebody!โ.
Rendering the usually confident rapper speechless, the Filipino fans surprised the artist by singing the song โSay Yesโ, an OST for the popular Korean drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo after he shared that he heard that the song was popular in the country. As it has been a long time since he performed and recorded the song for the drama, he promised that he will practice the song to sing for the fans and immediately fulfilled his promise later when he came out to sing the song cutely in front of the fans with lyrics on hand.
In line with this, he tackled โIt Takes Timeโ, the last song from his act before he shook the grounds with the next portion.
Immediately making the crowd jump up from their seats and dance, he performed โON IT + BOSSโ, a song from Show Me the Money 4, and โNo Mannersโ. No manners indeed when he decided to set aside his jacket and went topless, sending the crowd into a frenzy. He topped that performance by spraying water to the crowd like how rockstars do, even hyping them and making sure that his act is not something you easily forget.
Who could forget Loco really, he led a whole generation of rappers when he took the crown for SMTM 1 and continued to have collaborations with the biggest artists in the industry like Baekhyun of EXO, Heize, Crush, and many more.
Get Colorful with GRAY
Another household name in the Korean Hip-Hop scene, the singer, rapper, and producer GRAY steered the fans to a colorful act, opening it with a song that goes back to his roots, โDream Chaseโ from the album CALL ME GRAY. As if being transported to different times and places, GRAY showed us that he has a vibrant discography along with the hypnotizing visuals that accompanied on stage, which moved from the groovy, โShow Windowโ featuring pH-1 from his album grayground. to a slow R&B โTMIโ and then jumping back up to a funky track of โSummer Nightโ.
โKamusta ka?โ GRAY greeted the fans, a fail-safe kilig factor for Filipino fans everywhere when the artist makes an extra effort to greet the crowd. GRAY then continued his show with โClose 2 Uโ, โBaby Donโt Cryโ and โMake Loveโ three songs from the album grayground. and followed it with a synth-rich track โMoon Blue.โ Being a skilled producer, GRAY gave the fans a treat when he played the melodica for the song โLose Controlโ, which was most likely the inception of most of his creative and colorful tracks. Joining a handful of artists for the webtoon She is My Type, GRAY contributed to the series with the song โSTAY THE NIGHTโ. A serenade? GRAY got you. He slowed the mood for a moment when he sang โUโ, another great track from his grayground. album.
Joining GRAY on stage, Loco once again came out on stage and performed โJust Do Itโ and โLate Nightโ completing the stage of the well-rounded artist that witnessed and expressed how energetic and welcoming the Filipinos are in one of his small talks with the fans.
Yugyeom in the sea of Green
Undoubtedly one of the most awaited acts of the night, the Aghases never failed to show up for all of the members of GOT7 including their maknae, raising their green-colored lightsticks before Yugyeom even stepped on stage for support. Reciprocating this act, he performed โI Want U Aroundโ from his EP Point Of View: U, a slow R&B track that helps the audience find their groove in between the beats.
Following the same genre, he performed โTake You Downโ and โLightsโ both coming from his single release, Take You Down, and excited the fans, even more, when he approached them, closer than any fan would ever dream of. Coming out the third time and upping the atmosphere a bit, Loco came out to add his voice on stage with Yugyeom with the song โAll About Uโ while the latter showed off his dance skills, proving to everyone that heโs still that incredible dancer we all love.
He continued his set with โRunning Through the Rainโ accompanied by GRAY who does the synths and instrumentals and GRAY sang the song โAll Your Faultโ next, hailing also from his EP Point of View: U and โLove the Way.โ
Being a notorious but humble dancer, he let his backup dancers have their light under the spotlight, with solos and freestyle the crowd welcomed. After the two dancers had their style showcased, Yugyeom also showed off a bit of krumping and locking, all these talents under the song Chingiz Khan by WOO. We love a humble king!
Ending his set, he proudly sang his latest 2023 release, โPONYTAILโ featuring Sik-K, not missing a single step on the dance floor.
Yugyeom also reminisced on the previous times he was in the Philippines, from coming in as a GOT7 member or just a solo artist, he couldnโt help but still be in awe of the welcome he was getting. The appreciation was evident as towards the end of the whole show, he went down to the crowd and took a couple of selfies with his fans, signing paraphernalia and merchandise, to give them back the love they have been giving Yugyeom since Day 1.
SPELL HIS NAME. Itโs Simon D-O-M-I-N-I-C oh oh!
Opening strong despite being the last act of the night and garnering the largest cheers from the venue yet, Simon Dominic manifested the phrase, โSave the best for last!โ and showed that belongs to him.
The Filipino fans showed how impressively passionate they are when they can catch up with his single โDAx4โ even though the chorus will get non-fans tongue-tied. No one in the room faltered that night so he then transitioned to one of his most famous tracks, โSimon Dominicโ with fans spelling his name as a part of the lyrics regardless of it being released way back in 2015. He even garnered more cheers when he squeezed a โMagandang gabi po!โ a phrase you rarely hear from international artists. This only showed his dedication to the fans, the same way fans are dedicated to him.
โThis is my first time coming to Manila right?โ he asked. โOne of the things Iโm surprised isโฆ how crazy you guys are. So crazyyyyy!โ he pointed out before letting the room bounce with the songs โPOSE!โ, โroom typeโ, โya ainโt gangโ, and โGOTTโ from his 2019 EP release, No Open Flames.
Giving a kilig factor to the fans, he said heโs looking for his โWifeyโ from the crowd, a song that featured CAMO.
As he is one of the most prominent names in the K-hip-hop industry, he had a whole portion of all the best songs he was featured in. He sang โBaddest Nice Guysโ a song originally he was featured on led by Jay Park and Krin, โNO THANKSXXXโ with Epik High, MINO, and The Quiett, โAt Nightโ and โmake her danceโ with Loco, who came out again to sing the song with him on stage and still keeping Jay Parkโs spirit in the house, he performed โMOMMAEโ.
Closing the set with a slow R&B song that was showcased originally in Show Me the Money 5, and bringing out GRAY who was featured in the song, Simon got comfortable with โComfortable.โ
Simon talked the most to fans that night with hilarious banters about the cheeky banner brought by a fanโwhich he could not get over the whole night and taking the piece of paper home, drawing a fanโs next tattoo, and telling everyone that as much as he would like to date the Magagandang Filipinasโmeaning beautiful Filipinasโ(another Filipino word he learned and played with MAGANDA FOREVER), he doesnโt like long-distance relationships or giving bottled water to fans who were thirsty, nearly tripping in the process, itโs hard to believe that itโs his first time interacting with the Filipino fans. A contradiction to the strong powerful rapper that he is, he showed that thereโs more than meets the eye and despite the rapper image he has built over the years, heโs still that humble, approachable idol you feel close to.
The Avengers of Hip-Hop: Encore
The group closed the night with โ119 Remixโ, โUPSIDE DOWNโ, โTTFUโ, โParty for the Nightโ, โON AIRโ, โWE AREโ and, โWHO YOUโ in evincing the power AOMG label has in all genres of music and how theyโre not the people you mess with but the people you respect in the industry.
Follow the Movement in Manila was an all-out eye-candy event as well because the production did not fell short with the stage set and visualization that matched the bigger stages of KPOP.
It was a good chaotic last hour stretched as if all security measures were scratched. It showed that despite being giants in the scene, meeting fans and getting closer to them by going to different ticket tiersโlike Loco and Simon Dominic running close to the Royalty area, just behind the VIP Standing tierโor LeeHi almost diving into the crowd desperately looking for a pen to sign an album a fan brought or Yugyeom going around the area for a selfie with whoever asks for it while GRAY and WOO take cameras from the crowd for a selfie is more important.
The passion the fans showed proved that they are the โreal onesโ as LeeHi kept on repeating the whole night when the whole venue did not fall short on any of the songs, noting that there are 6 artists who mostly sang the lyrics in Hangul.
The music transcended through space and geographical borders and making it yet again, another win for music in general as itโs unofficially declared as the universal language. And we may not know when is the next concert but we can hope that it should happen soon, wishing for a possible whole AOMG family line-up. We are incredibly glad that we witnessed a commanding set of talents and we await their next step in music as we follow the movement.
Words by Arielle Elep Photos by Arielle Elep
AOMG World Tour 2023 โ FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT in Manila was presented by PULP Live World and Happee Hour. Special thanks to PULP Live World for the invitation to the event.
You won’t have to wait an eternity for that satisfying conclusion because the second half of the series is scheduled to be released on Netflix on March 10, 2023.
The Glory centers on Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), who is traumatized after being bullied badly throughout high school by a group of classmates led by Park Yeon-jin (Lim Ji-yeon). Dong-eun plots her revenge for years before finally deciding to become a teacher and put her plan into action. She has a well-thought-out strategy, which covers everything from teaching Yeon-daughter jin’s Ye-sol at home to mastering Baduk in order to attract Yeon-husband, jin’s Ha Do-young (Jung Sung-il).
After all, we have been waiting nearly as long as Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) for the former victim of bullying to finally carry out her long-promised vengeance against the people who bullied her in the past. Then we watched the last episode, andโฆ well, there wasn’t a lot of payback at this point. If we keep going at this rate, the vengeance will have been served ice cold, and then it will have returned to room temperature, which could result in stomach upset in the future.
Stream the Part 1 of “The Glory” which is currently available on Netflix, then join the raging buzz for the series when Part 2 of “The Glory” premieres on March 10 to see how the vengeance plot develops.
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