SANDARA Park Eloisa Lopez
Korean celebrity Sandara Park, who was recently here to meet with her Filipino fans, said Manila “still feels like home.”
“I don’t go out that much in Korea, that’s why I don’t feel like I’m a superstar. But here, I already feel the love at the airport. I’m thrilled to hear people call out my name,” Sandara said in a mix of Filipino and English when asked to compare her fans here to those in Korea and in other parts of the globe.
“The thing I miss the most is spending time with my fans. I’ve known them since 2004. I’m very grateful for their support. What we have is a different kind of friendship,” Sandara said. “I always want to go back to Manila to do a movie. I want it to be a romantic comedy. I’d really do it when schedule permits. I miss the place so much, especially the food. I like sisig, pinakbet and sinigang.”
The member of the K-pop group 2NE1 said she would also like to visit Boracay island in Aklan. “I have only been there once, some 10 years ago. I didn’t get to enjoy it because I had to work. There’s so much to see in the Philippines,” she pointed out.
Sandara’s family moved to Manila when she was 10. Prior to returning to Korea in 2007, the 31-year-old star was a Kapamilya talent. She ranked second to grand winner Hero Angeles in the reality-based talent search, “Star Circle Quest.”
Sandara was also part of several Kapamilya big-screen projects like “Bcuz of U,” “Can This Be Love?,” “’D Lucky Ones,” “Super Noypi” and television programs, “Krystala” and “Your Song: Everything You Do.”
She also said she wished to work with comedian Vice Ganda “kasi pareho kaming krung-krung.”
“Ang Pambansang Krung Krung” was her title in the early 2000s because of her crazy but cute and funny antics.
“I also want to be a judge (in a talent contest). I was a contestant in ‘Star Circle Quest’ before, so it would be interesting to be on the other side of the fence. When I become a judge, I’d tell every contestant: ‘You’re in!’”
Sandara recently finished a dramatic film in Korea, titled “One Step.”
“I would also like to do a Koreanovela. I enjoy romantic comedy projects,” she added.
Her most recent trip to Manila was to promote her latest endorsement, the clothing brand Penshoppe.
During her chat with reporters on April 1, Sandara was asked how she was as a student. The Korean star said: “I’m not very fond of studying, although I know that school is very important. My favorite (time of the day) was recess and lunch. I like joining cheering competitions. I would always sing during the ‘Linggo ng Wika’ celebration.”
She then proceeded to performing her favorite, the Regine Velasquez ballad, “Dadalhin,” which she sang a cappella.