K-Pop still going strong in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The Filipinos’ fascination with K-Pop continues and nowhere is this evident than in the recently-held Dream K-Pop Fantasy concert where thousands of obsessive fans trooped to the SM Mall of Asia grounds to see their idols, perhaps to the chagrin of parents who shelled out P11,000 for front seat tickets.

“I don’t know why my daughters are crazy about these K-Pop artists... I think Filipino singers and performers are better than K-Pop,” said 40-year-old Lilia Pangilinan, who, along with her daughters, endured the long queue, standing under sweltering conditions on Saturday.

Her daughter, 12-year-old Jennifer, is oblivious to her mother’s comments, saying “Ma, I like their music and their personalities.”

“Ma, they’re all handsome. Besides, I like what I hear and what I see,” reasoned her 14-year-old daughter Christine, who likes the band EXO.

Pangilinan paid P33,000 so that her daughters can see their K-Pop idols up-close.

“I just really love both of my daughters and I know this concert will make them happy. But I hope they will be enlightened and that this is just short-lived,” said Pangilinan.

Short-lived? Maybe not.

K-Pop arists have a rambling following in the Philippines for some years now and it continues to grow by the minute, thanks in part to social media, where it’s easy to watch the idols’ slick music videos.

Unknown to many, Korean talent agencies invest a lot of money in building up K-Pop idols.

They pluck out the best-looking gals and guys, then hone whatever talent they have for years.

Pangilinan’s daughters were not kidding when they said they were attracted by the good looks of the K-Pop artists.

They are really dreamboats — they have finely-chiseled features, milky skin and well-toned abs.

Last Saturday’s concert was a testament that Pinoy adulation to K-Pop will take a little bit longer.

The concert, which featured six groups, was a three-hour spectacle, complete with topnotch lighting, special effects and fireworks during and after each performance.

The first group to perform on stage was the six-member boy band Infinite. Deafening screams filled the air as the group gyrated to synchronized dance moves. Infinite performed six songs.

Newbie boyband Tasty followed and surprisingly, its songs have infectious hooks. Next came old K-Pop favorite U-Kiss, who also performed six or seven songs.

It was U-Kiss’ third time in the country, thus the group was most familiar with the crowd. “Kamusta kayo, mahal ko kayo,” said the members to the delight of the audience.

Rookie girl band Tahiti followed with five songs.

The most deafening screams went to EXO, a newly-formed band composed of 12 members.

The group deserved kudos for going out of its way to learn a Tagalog song.

At the show, EXO sang Yeng Constantino’s Hawak Kamay, with an acoustic guitar while giving out candies and flowers to the maddening crowd.

The group performed its hits Mama, What is Love, among other songs.

The last group to perform was K-Pop superstar Girls Generation, a nine-member girl band which is popular over Asia and has just released an album in Korea.

The host asked Jessica, one of the two members who can speak English if she sang Nina’s hit Someday, in previous concerts.

The affable Jessica sang a few lines to the delight of the crowd. The group, who cancelled a press conference with the Philippine media, performed six of its hit songs, Gee, Genie, Hoot, The Boys, I Got a Boy and Dancing Queen.

The 3,000-plus audience who attended the K-Pop spectacle is proof that pop music delivered by these attractive Korean idols knows no boundaries.