Showing posts with label philippines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philippines. Show all posts

Monday, May 25, 2015

Korean singer shows off ‘wonderful’ photos of PH

By JONATHAN HICAP 
The 26-year-old Korean singer Jung Joon-young, who finished in the top 3 of the talent show “Superstar K4,” has posted “wonderful photos” of the Philippines on his blog.

Jung Joon-young in Batangas and at Bonifacio Global City
(Photos courtesy of Jung Joon-young’s blog)

Friday, May 22, 2015

Korean actor Lee Je-hoon visits PH to help

By JONATHAN HICAP 
Korean actor Lee Je-hoon visited the Philippines to meet children and families who were affected by typhoons and participate in the reconstruction of a mangrove project in Cebu.
Lee Je-hoon went to the country as part of the “Love Challenge” project by OXFAM Korea and Korean TV channel MBC, a global sharing initiative which seeks to generate donations for projects covering disasters, water, hygiene, food and women.
Photos courtesy of SARAM Entertainment

Thursday, April 23, 2015

K-pop icon search ‘KISPinoy‘ launched with U-KISS, Laboum

By JONATHAN M. HICAP, Manila Bulletin
Filipinos who aspire to become K-pop stars now have the chance to do so through reality-based talent search “KISPinoy” or “K-pop Icon Search” launched on April 22.
Gracing the presscon held at K-Pub BBQ in Taguig were K-pop stars U-KISS and Laboum and award-winning Korean actress Seo Young-hee, as well as judges Rico Blanco and Nicole Asensio. Show hosts Richard Gutierrez and Jinri Park, “KISPinoy” founder and producer Matthew Choi, composer Won Sangwoo from NH Media, president Yu Jeonghoon of YU&IQ Entertainment in Korea, and Wilma Galvante, TV5 entertainment division head, also attended the event.


“KISPinoy” is open to Filipinos who are at least 13 years old on audition date. It is said to be the biggest K-pop talent search in the country and it will air weekly on TV5 starting June 27. There will be a Korean judge on the show every week.
The champion and possibly one of the top 10 finalists will win a multi-million peso recording and management contract in Korea. From a pool of 100 selected contestants, the group will be trimmed to 30.
Asked what they look for in contestants, Blanco said he doesn’t have a set of requirement in mind.
“Great talent is when you don’t know where it’s coming from and you just get blown away by it. I would like to remain open,” he said.
Asensio echoed the notion.
“I can’t really tell you what exactly I’m looking for because I don’t know what to expect,” she said. “But I do know that we have a bunch of talented people and I do know from a little K-pop that I had the privilege to listen to, it spans many genres. There is no specific genre I’m looking for, no specific look or character.”





Asked why organizers picked the Philippines to launch the K-pop star search, producer Choi said, “We think the Philippines is the best place to launch our series.” He said Filipinos are very talented when it comes to singing.
“Personally I love this country,” he quipped.
What will the “KISPinoy” winner do in Korea?
“The winner will go to Korea and stay there to have training, not just in singing but to know the culture, language, different expressions. (The winner) will train just like any Korean artist,” he said, with the main goal of releasing an album.
U-KISS advised “KISPinoy” contestant to be confident.
“Just try your best and don’t give up because one day the results will be good for you and we will always support you guys,” Kevin said.
People can audition by recording their songs and dance performances in booths that will be set up in selected SM malls in the country. The recordings will be sent to Korea for screening.




The audition dates and venues are April 25, SM City Pampanga; April 27 and 30, Pampanga (venue to be announced); May 2 and 4, SM Southmall; May 4 and 5, Davao City (Almendras Gym); May 7 and 9, SM City Cagayan De Oro; May 9 and 11, Mandaluyong (City Hall Gym); May 12 and14, SM City North Edsa; May 13 and 15, SM City Cebu; and May 21 and 23, SM City Dasmariñas and SM City Bacolod.
Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: http://www.mb.com.ph/k-pop-icon-search-kispinoy-launched-with-u-kiss-laboum/#ZdCKqVxQIASLRvY1.99

To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

Saturday, December 20, 2014

‘MAM Awards’ recognizes Manila Bulletin scribe for best migration story

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), led by Secretary Imelda Nicolas, feted the winners of the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards held at the SSS Magsaysay Hall of the Social Security System (SSS) headquarters in Quezon City, last Thursday.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Korean Embassy expresses deep concern about increasing criminality ​

BAE MINJU, a Korean businessman in the Philippines, died when his car was being stolen by armed men last July 27, 2014. His wife was kidnapped but later released unharmed, and the family driver was arrested for possible involvement in the crime. This is the ninth documented crime-related death of a Korean national in the Philippines since January of this year. In March, 21-year old college student LEE JI WON was abducted and murdered by suspects that include the taxi driver. It was a brutal and senseless crime that rattled the Korean community in the Philippines.

Monday, April 7, 2014

T-ara to hold first ever concert in the Philippines

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
K-pop Girl group T-ara will make its first-ever visit to the Philippines for a concert, as they announced via their official Facebook page.
The visit, which is tentatively scheduled around “June-July,” is part of their 2014 tour dubbed the “Kingdom Under Fire 2 Joint Concert.”

Thursday, March 20, 2014

DJ Gennie Kim eases Pinoys’ loneliness, problems in South Korea

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
Seoul, South Korea – Since March last year, Filipino-Korean DJ Maria  Genevie “Gennie” Kim has been giving valuable advice, news and  information to Filipinos in South Korea through her radio program,  ”Philippine Language Multicultural Family Music Radio,” also known as  the “Multicultural Family Broadcast for Filipinos,” which streams via  the internet.
DJ Gennie Kim at the radio station (Photos: Gennie Kim and Jonathan Hicap)

Friday, January 10, 2014

Dinner at Bulgogi Brothers

My friend and I met last night to have dinner and watch a movie at Alabang Town Center. 

Bulgogi Brothers 

Monday, November 4, 2013

MANILA BULLETIN: Infinite shines in first Philippine world tour

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
Korean boy band Infinite fulfilled their pledge of making lasting memories with their Filipino fans upon their arrival on Nov. 2 when they held their concert “2013 Infinite 1st World Tour: One Great Step” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

Sungkyu, Hoya, Dongwoo, L, Woohyun, Sungyeol and Sungjong headline the concert that ran for almost three hours, showcasing their vocal talents and impressive dance routines.
“I missed you so much,” Hoya told the fans at the concert.
Infinite opened the concert with “Destiny,” the group’s latest single that won them awards on music TV shows in Korea.
They followed this with “Tic Toc” and “Paradise” from their first studio album and its repackaged version released in 2011.
Other songs performed were “Wings,” “Inception,” “She’s Back,” “Man in Love,” “The Chaser,” “Nothing’s Over,” “Cover Girl” and “BTD.”


Infinite H’s Hoya and Dongwoo performed “Special Girl” while Sungyeol and Sungjong sang “1/3.”
Other solo performances were from L (real name is Kim Myung-soo), who did “Love U Like You,” and Woohyun, who sang “Beautiful.” Group leader Sungkyu, meanwhile, performed “60 Seconds.”
Overall, Infinite performed more than 20 songs during the concert.
At one point during the concert, Sunggyu announced, “We prepared one more special gift for you,” before performing their rendition of the Filipino folk song “Bahay Kubo” to the audience’s delight.
The group obviously did their homework: Not only did they speak in English throughout the concert to communicate with their fans, they also greeted the audience in Filipino.

Fan Eunisse de Leon told Bulletin Entertainment that her favorite concert moment “was when they rapped one by one during one of the gaps. It showed their cool and charismatic side.”

Yhe-Yhe Peñaredondo recalled, “There’s my bias L singing his solo performance with lots of ‘aegyo’ (cuteness), which he rarely does. Another one was when members kept doing eye contact with us fans that was really breathtaking.”
She nevertheless added that the most memorable part for her involved a touching moment with Dongwoo, who actually cried when the fans sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

Dongwoo is celebrating his 23rd birthday on Nov. 22 and at the concert, members of his international fanbase Infinite Updates and the Philippines’ JangDongwooPH and Infinite Philippines distributed party hats and banners to the audience. What made the concert more special to Dongwoo was having his parents in the audience.
Yhe-Yhe said, “His parents looked so happy about it. All our efforts for his birthday project didn’t go to waste for we met our goal of making him cry. Everything was worth it. It was truly magical.”
As they were saying their goodbyes, Hoya exclaimed, “Thank you Philippine Inspirits. Thank you for making good memories (with us)!”
Sungkyu gave huge props to the Manila fans, saying, “Your support keeps us going all the time.”
He ended with, “Thank you Inspirits for making this world tour possible. I can’t believe we are going to meet Inspirits all over the world especially here with Philippine Inspirits. (We are) glad to be here to hold a concert for you. I love you.”

The “2013 Infinite 1st World Tour: One Great Step” in Manila was organized by the Araneta Group’s Uniprom Inc. and supported byAsiana Airlines, Pepsi, Crowne Plaza, Astroplus, Myx, JAC Motors and When in Manila.

Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online http://www.mb.com.ph/infinite-shines-in-first-philippine-world-tour/
To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

2 Filipino film projects get support from Busan Int'l Film Festival's Asian Cinema Fund

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
A total of 27 film projects including two from the Philippines have been chosen by the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)'s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) as funding recipients.

The Asian Cinema Fund aims to help "activate more independent film productions and the creation of a stable production environment for Asian filmmakers by offering funding for projects in different stages of production."
The ACF called for entries from March to May this year for three categories: Script Development Fund, Post-Production Fund and Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund.


Racquel Zaballero-Sanchez (left) and Jewel Maranan
(Photos courtesy of Sanchez's Facebook page and @shinematutina on Twitter

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

4 Filipino choirs win in Korea

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
Four choir groups from the Philippines won in the 2013 Yeosu International Choir Competition and Festival held from June 11 to 17 in Yeosu, South Korea.

The competition, which had a total prize money of $140,000, drew 63 choirs from the US, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, Lithuania, Philippines and South Korea.
Six choirs represented the Philippines. 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Philippines bags 2 prizes at Korean Travel Fair

SEOUL, 4 June 2013 – The Embassy reported to the Department that Post’s Tourism office received two prizes at the recently concluded 26th Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA).

Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy in South Korea

Filipino entry wins best film at Jeonju Fest

SEOUL, 4 May 2013 – The lone Philippine entry to the International Competition of the 14th Jeonju International Film Festival was chosen as Best Picture among the 10 films in competition at the recently concluded nine-day festival, the Embassy said on Saturday.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Korean Food Festival in the Philippines from May 8 to 12


Along with the immense popularity of Hallyu in the Philippines, Korean food has been gaining more and more momentum in the local food scene, with numerous Korean restaurants mushrooming virtually everywhere.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

[My one-on-one interview with Park Shin Hye]: Park Shin Hye Celebrates 10-year Career With Asia Tour

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines--Popular Korean actress Park Shin Hye looked beautiful, radiant and elegant as she entered the Ruby Room inside the Manila Diamond Hotel at the presscon for her Asia Tour "Kiss of Angel in Manila" fan meeting scheduled on March 16 at the Aliw Theater.

Award-winning Korean actress Park Shin Hye answers questions at her presscon. 
Kring Elizano emceed the event. (Photos by Jonathan Hicap)

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Big Bang to use new Mall of Asia Arena for concert in Manila on Oct. 24

By JONATHAN M. HICAP
MANILA, Philippines - Mark the date: October 24.

K-pop boy band Big Bang announced on May 31 that they will hold their Alive Concert Tour in the Philippines on October 24.

Big Bang (Photo by Big Bang Facebook page)

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Jay Park’s Manila album showcase set on May 4-6

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines – K-pop rapper and b-boy Jay Park’s mall tour in Manila will be held on May 4 to 6 in different venues.
Jay Park will be in the country to promote his new album “New Breed,” which contains 15 tracks including the carrier single, “Know Your Name.”
(Photo courtesy of MCA Music Facebook page)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

[NEWS] Sandara Park: 'Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat'


By JONATHAN M. HICAP, MANILA BULLETIN
MANILA, Philippines – Korean girl group 2NE1 left Manila for Seoul  on Feb. 5, bringing with them lots of fun memories from their vacation and photoshoot in Manila and Albay in the Bicol region.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I love pajeon (or Korean pancake)

I first tasted Pajeon when we ate at a Korean restaurant in Paranaque, which is located south of Manila in the Philippines.  The restaurant, called Sam Won, is a popular place inside a subdivision.



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