Joyce Guerra, Sandara Park, Chantal Videla. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/POPKORN, Instagram/@daraxxi
As Chantal Videla and Joyce Guerra have been showcasing the undeniable Filipino talent in South Korea, they believe that Sandara Park of 2NE1 fame is the most popular Korean in the Philippines.
Videla, also known as Chanty, debuted as the vocalist and face of K-pop girl group Lapillus, while Guerra appeared in a vast number of K-dramas including “All of Us Are Dead”, “True Beauty”, and “Hospital Playlist”, to name a few. Lapillus is a six-member girl group under MLD Entertainment which is also composed of Shana, Yue, Bessie, Seowon, and Haeun.
In a video uploaded by The Korea Times’ K-pop platform POPKORN, Chanty and Joyce opened up about popular Filipino stereotypes, as well as their thoughts on Park being the most well-known Korean in the Philippines.
Videla was first requested to read the stereotype, “Sandara Park is the most popular Korean in the Philippines”, then she and Guerra were asked to raise either a circle (true) or cross (false) sign.
“I think because Sandara sunbaenim (or senior) also pretty much had a career in the Philippines before she debuted [as a] K-pop [idol],” the Lapillus member said, after raising a circle sign. “And then all of a sudden, she stopped and then became really big in K-pop [girl group] 2NE1.”
“Also because Sandara senior promoted [the] Philippines a lot in Korea, everywhere she went. She was like, ‘I love the Philippines’ or ‘My heart is in the Philippines’. And she can speak Tagalog, I feel it made the Filipino fans more happy, so every Filipino embraced her like a Filipino too,” she added.
Park, who’s also known as Dara, debuted as the vocalist and visual of 2NE1 in May 2009. The girl group was formed by music label YG Entertainment, which consisted of members Dara, CL, Bom, and Minzy. After seven years, the agency announced their disbandment in November 2016.
Guerra revealed that she met Dara twice, noting that she was still living in the Philippines during their first encounter.
“First, when I was working in the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, and Sandara senior came as a guest to an event that we organized. The second time was at the Filipino market in Seoul’s Hyehwa neighborhood. I was walking around after a meal when I ran into her, so we took a photo together,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Lapillus member looked back at a time when she saw Dara at a makeup shop, and was unsure how to greet her due to cultural differences. She added that while she wished that she would have talked to Dara, the latter “seemed really kind and approachable” in person.
“I was a trainee [at that time], then I was in the shop where you get your makeup done. There’s a mirror and Sandara senior just came behind me, and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, did I just meet Sandara senior? What if I speak Tagalog? Will she stop if I speak Tagalog?’ But I didn’t know [how would I] react,” she said. “Because if it’s in the Philippines, I would normally just say ‘Hi’ right away. But here in Korea, I didn’t know whether I could speak to [an] idol and I’m like [just] a trainee.”
Experiences back home
In the video, Chanty and Joyce also shared their thoughts about riding a jeepney and the Christmas season in the Philippines, as well as a brief meaning on what 13th month pay is about.
The K-pop idol revealed that it’s “easier” to pay jeepney drivers “with coins”, as she shared a few of experiences when she used to live in the country.
“It’s much easier to pay with coins, right? You can pay with a P20-bill and it’s pretty cheap,” Chanty began. “It’s really long [at] the back [of the jeepney], and there’s lots of people in it. I like to sit somewhere between the middle or the end so it’s easier to go out and then you say ‘Para po’ which means this is my stop.”
Chanty also clarified that Christmas season in the Philippines starts in September, as she explained the meaning of “Ber” months in local culture. On the other hand, Guerra said the festive season is a “fun” time for employees due to the 13th month pay.
“A 13th month pay means we literally get a full month’s wages,” the actress said.
When Videla and Guerra were asked by the producers if Christmas can be seen as an “important holiday in Korea,” they immediately shook their heads in response.
“No, not at all. It just feels like a normal day here,” the latter added.
Prior to debuting in Lapillus, Chanty was a commercial model and a Star Magic actress who appeared in “Starla” and the film “Familia Blondina”. The K-pop idol signed a contract with Sparkle GMA Artist Center in November 2022.
Meanwhile, Guerra has been living in South Korea since 2015. She told The Korea Times in a September 2021 interview that she works as a manager in a financial company aside from being a background actor. EDV