A dream come true for Filipino K-pop fans
(From left to right) Super Junior M members Ryeowook, Donghae and Kyuhyun during talk segment. PHOTO by Hotaru Niitsu/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—For many Filipino K-pop fans, their dream turned into reality as All Access Productions, together with JU Entertainment and MBC, brought another set of K-pop groups for the second installment of Dream K-pop Fantasy Concert, known for short as DKFC, last Feb. 2.
Following the success of the first DKFC last year, this year’s sizzling K-pop groups consisted of A-Jax, A-Prince, Block B, BtoB, B.A.P and the phenomenal Super Junior subgroup, the Super Junior M. In a surprise announcement by the organizers, Han Seungyeon of girl group KARA had a special participation during the concert.
On that sunny Sunday, fans packed up their concert paraphernalia and donned their best as they headed early for the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Concert with perks
With a little bit of sprinklers added to it, DKFC 2 was the first concert held in the country to provide special perks to Gold to SVIP ticket holders—a privilege to join fan parties of their chosen K-pop groups for free. Fan parties were possible for fans of A-Jax, A-Prince, Block B, B.A.P and BtoB except Super Junior M, which had a different fan-signing event.
As for Super Junior M fans, lucky first 100 SVIP and VIP Diamond ticket buyers, plus Tony Moly promo winners, were given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close and receive a poster personally signed in real time by a Super Junior M member. Some “Ever Lasting Friends,” or “ELFs,” the Super Junior’s official fan club’s name, became teary- eyed and expressed their great happiness as their dream of meeting their idols face-to-face came into fruition.
A chance to become a star
The concert was not only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to meet their idols up close, but also a stepping stone for aspiring Filipino K-pop fans who dream of becoming idols themselves, with the chance to train under different K-pop groups.
JU Entertainment and MBC brought the “Dream K-pop Filipino Champion” talent search to the country in order to select Filipino K-pop fans with outstanding vocals, amazing dance moves, stage presence and star factor. The winners of the said competition will have the chance to go to Korea and to train like their idols.
As opening act for DKFC 2, the finalists battled it out for their dreamed stardom.
Sizzling start, hotter than summer
Enough to make one’s heartache in shock, BtoB, or BIIB of Cube Entertainment, was the first group to perform for the throbbing audience inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Composed of Eunkwang, Min Hyuk, Changsub, Hyunsik, Peniel, Ilhoon and Sungjae, the group exhibited snappy dance moves. During the romantic song “2nd Confession,” fans jaw-droppingly ogled at the handsome guys as they walked toward the second stage. They also performed “Wow,” “I Only Know Love,” “Insane” and “Thriller.”
During their introduction segment, member Hyunsik shared in English that when he was young, he visited the Philippines once. He really wanted to come again and was glad to be in the country. He screamed, “Mahal kita!” and the audience lapped it up.
A-Jax of DSP Media—composed of Hyeong Kon, Jaehyung, Hyojun, Yunyoung, Sung Min, Seungyub and Seungjin—on the other hand, showcased fascinating and synchronized dance steps enough to earn other fandom fans’ cheers. “Insane,” in particular was an addictive beat that turned the arena into a rocking dance floor.
But what got the crowd squealing was their performance of their sunbae (senior) SS501’s “Love Like This.” Another titillating number was a rendition of Guy Sebastian’s “Angels Brought Me Here,” which melted the hearts of every spectator.
The Kamilias, official fanclub’s name of KARA, were also surprised as Han Seungyeon of girl group KARA was ushered down the stage by A-Jax’s Sungmin and shared some of her feelings to her beloved fans.
Other notable songs A-Jax performed were “ONE 4 U,” and “2MYX.”
Do you wanna B?
Hip hop group Block B, otherwise known as “Blockbuster” of Seven Seasons—composed of Zico, P.O, Kyung, Jaehyo, U-Kwon, B-Bomb and Taeil—returned to Manila with spectacular performances that wowed their Filipino BBCs, their official fanclub’s name, since their first visit in the country was not enough to rock the house down. This time, they performed their favorite song “Very Good” with undeniably high energies inviting everyone to jump to the beat.
Another song worth remembering was “Be the Light,” a slight tear-jerker with its emotional feel that deviated from their typical rowdy songs. They also performed “NalinA,” and “Nice Day.”
Since it was also P.O’s birthday, Block B asked the fans to sing with them the Happy Birthday song.
Green Bunnies and Ginger Princes
Other than the dominant blue lights, green lights also hovered around the coliseum, together with the loud, shrilling whistles of fans, as B.A.P of TS Entertainment—composed of Yong Guk, Him Chan, Dae Hyun, Young Jae, Jong Up, and Zelo—finally made their explosive entrance on stage with the song “Warrior,” complete with their fancy dance moves.
The whole arena turned upside down when their leader, Bang Yong Guk, uttered the words “Wazzup Philippines” with his deep-down-the-well voice. The venue felt like shaking from the wild roars it gathered.
Other notable performances were “Excuse Me,” “Bad Man,” “No Mercy” and “One Shot.”
A-Prince of New Planet Entertainment—mainly composed of Sungwon, Minhyuk, Seungjun, Siyoon and Woobin—was a group that was somewhat new to some Filipino K-pop fans, but these princes probably knew how to capture the hearts of the Filipino audience. Other than their own K-pop songs, they performed a medley of Daniel Padilla’s romantic song “Nasa Iyo na ang Lahat” and popular butt dance “Ocho Ocho” by Bayani Agbayani. Both renditions, especially the “Ocho Ocho” dance, garnered much appreciation from excited fans as they shouted in chorus the group’s name “A-Prince.”
Converted into instant fans, the audience continued cheering for their other songs like “Yes or No,” “Mambo,” “Hello” and “My Lady.”
Kings of Fanservice
The night was just starting for ELFs who continuously waved their Sapphire Blue lighsticks as Super Junior M—composed of Ryeowook, Henry, Donghae, Kyuhyun, Eunhyuk, Sungmin, Zhou Mi, minus Siwon—finally popped out of the stage and performed charismatically as always.
Much awaited by their loyal fans, Super Junior M performed “Breakdown” while ELFs chanted their practiced fan chant for the song.
The group also took ELFs by surprise with the performance of “Oppa, Oppa,” by Donghae and Eunhyuk, who were later joined by other Super Junior M members. Zhoumi, on the other hand, sang a melancholic solo of “Distant Embrace.”
During their introduction segment, Donghae further titillated ELFs as he continuously asked them, “My name is what?” with them responding, “Donghae!” Kyuhyun then cutely said “Magandang Popon po” in the effort of saying “Good afternoon” in Filipino. Almost all the members said that they greatly missed and loved their Filipino fans.
They performed songs like “Goodbye My Love,” and “Go.”
The concert ended too soon for all the K-pop fans present who wished for an encore. Overall, the experience was immensely fulfilling. Definitely, a part three of this concert should be held, with perhaps another set of blazing K-pop groups to surprise K-pop fans in the Philippines.
