Korea Observer

Super Junior's Siwon in Manila for ad shoot | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

January 2, 2012 siwon407   SiwonChoi   Now We are at Orchard Road Metro Manila‎ Quezon City.

It's a happy start for a new year for K-pop fans in the Philippines.  Super Junior's Siwon tweeted that he was on his way to Manila tonight. 

2PM's Nichkhun immortalized at Madame Tussauds Bangkok | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

Via  http://www.redcross.org.ph/donatenow DONATE NOW Emergency Alert: Typhoon Sendong Tropical Storm Sendong (international name: Washi) ravaged Mindanao, slamming it with devastating rains and unleashing flash floods and landslides that have left a horrifying trail of destruction. As of 10AM, the death toll has reached 497 (Cagayan De Oro 215, Iligan City 195, Bukidnon 47, Negros Oriental 22, Lanao del Norte 9, Compostela Valley 5, Zamboanga del Norte 3, Surigao del Sur 1). Most of the dead were asleep Friday night when raging floodwaters pounded their homes from rivers and cascaded from mountain slopes following 12 straight hours of heavy rains in Mindanao. 

By JONATHAN M. HICAP MANILA, Philippines - The organizing committee of Korea’s 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards 2011 revealed the nominees for this year with the film “The Frontline” getting the most nominations. Best actor nominess. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com)

I had the chance to interview Korean pop star Jay Park last Oct. 30, 2011 for Manila Bulletin when he visited Manila for the MTV EXIT Live concert. The interview was held at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila hotel in Pasig City. Also had the chance to meet fellow K-pop writers from the Philippines' major media outlets.  MANILA, Philippines - When popular K-pop star and b-boy Jay Park visited the Philippines for a show last year, he was just starting his solo career and was determined to make it on his own. A year later, he was back in the country armed with a flourishing career, and a fiery passion to do things that he loves the most including his advocacies. 

In September, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC), under the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, launched the “Pinoy K-pop Star 2011” contest to search for the ultimate K-pop singer in the country. Last October 8, the KCC held the grand finals of the contest and the winner is Karla Carreon.  Here are the finalists and Karla's winning performance after the cut: 

JAY PARK, EVALINE, PAROKYA NI EDGAR, PUPIL, EBE DANCEL, AND ITCHYWORMS TO PERFORM AT MTV EXIT FREE CONCERT ON OCTOBER 29 AT SM MALL OF ASIA CONCERT GROUNDS SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY NEW MTV EXIT CELEBRITY AMBASSADOR, DINGDONG DANTES MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking), in partnership with the Philippines Government, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development (AusAID) today announced the return of the MTV EXIT campaign to the Philippines with a free Live concert in Manila on October 29.

By JONATHAN M. HICAP Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines — Boy bands JYJ and TVXQ, whose members used to be in one group, have achieved No. 1 feats with their albums in Korea and Japan, respectively.