TAN (To All Nations)
Recognizing the immense popularity of Korean entertainment and content in the Philippines, the new K-Pop boy band To All Nations (TAN), chose the country as the maiden stop of its first international promotional tour.
The seven-man group, composed of Changsun, Jooan, Jaejun, Sunghyuk, Hyunyeop, Taehoon and Jiseong, arrived last Nov. 3 and will stay here until Nov. 14 for a series of fanmeets, shows, magazine shoots and guest appearances on television and digital platforms. Aside from Manila, TAN also visited Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.
“The Philippines is a very important country when it comes to promoting K-Pop or Hallyu (Korean wave). We know that a lot of our senior K-Pop groups like BTS, Seventeen and Blackpink have already performed here. In order for us to conquer the global stage, we visited the Philippines first because we know that the love and support of the Filipino fans are amazing,” Jooan said.
According to data released by Twitter last year, the Philippines ranked third among countries with the most number of K-Pop fans on the platform, behind only Indonesia and Japan.
Social media power
“The SNS (social networking service/social media) power of Filipinos is amazing when it comes to Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram,” related Geong “Tatang Robin” Seong-han, the founder and CEO of the Philippine-based talent and entertainment company SBTown, which helped bring TAN to the Philippines.
“Filipinos really use social media a lot. And so, promoting the group through such platforms can help them to make it into the world stage,” he added.
In preparation for the two-week visit, the members learned Filipino phrases. “Nag-aral ako mag-Tagalog para magkaintindihan tayo,” Jaejun said. “We really wanted to not just perform, but also communicate with our fans. I studied a bit about the culture and some facts about the Philippines… I have also heard about SB19 and learning about P-Pop.”
The band also delighted fans—of the SODA (the group’s fan base)—with Filipino songs like Sam Concepcion’s “Diwata.” “This is our first time in the Philippines. Aside from our usual performances, we also showed something new. We prepared songs that we thought people would really like,” Hyunyeop said.
The K-pop group is in the Philippines for a series of fanmeets.
Sunghyuk, on the other hand, wanted to go on a food trip. “I saw a lot of Korean restaurants here. But of course, Filipino food is a must-try. I wanted to taste sinigang, crispy pata. And I love coconut,” he said.
Extreme training
The boys, whose ages range from 18 to 26, were discovered through the Korean network MBC’s survival competition program “Extreme Debut: Wild Idol,” which tests not only the contestants’ talents in performing but also their abilities to survive in the wild outdoors.
“The survival show was also a test of our physical and mental capabilities. We went through extreme training and experienced a lot of things that helped us develop our mental strength,” Taehoon related.
The group debuted last March. And after only seven months, TAN has already released three EPs and a single album. Among its most popular songs so far are “Du Du Du,” “Louder” and “Walking On the Moon.” Its music, it said, aims to bring positive energy “to all nations.”
“That’s why we’re called To All Nations,” Changsun pointed out.
“We just want to share positive vibes with listeners around the world,” Jiseong added.
Think Entertainment CEO Yoon-san, who manages TAN, said he was proud of the progress the group members have made in less than a year. “They exert effort to improve their skills and talents. They comfort each other and comfort the fans through their music,” he said. “Their determination is one of their strengths. They show that in their practice and performances.”
“But instead of bragging with words, you just watch their performances and see how they give their best,” he added. INQ