My Love from Another Star Exhibition at KINTEX

I'm such a huge fan of the Korean drama 'My Love from Another Star', which was a big hit across Asia, that when I heard about the exhibition of the drama's filming sets at Dongdaemun Design Plaza last year, I was sooo tempted to book a flight to Seoul just to see it.

Unfortunately though, the exhibition at DDP ended last August.:( But the good news is, they just moved to a new location! :)

This special exhibition, which was formerly featured at Art Hall 1 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, has been moved to Ilsan Kintex (Korean International Exhibition Center) since September 2014 and will remain there until August 2015.

The exhibit, which is located at the outdoor venue of Exhibition Center II in Kintex, is open to both domestic and international visitors. It features actual film sets where indoor scenes of the show were shot such as the house that Do Min Joon & Cheon Song Yi used to live in, and the comic book store; exhibition of SBS drama props, photos, and costumes used by Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun in the drama, along with many photo op zones.

As seen from the drama

Guests may also have their pictures taken with CGI technology Chroma-Key effects at the balcony where a lot of the scenes of the 2 main characters were shot, and with the cast from the drama (virtual photo). Other highlights include 3D video image exhibition of the drama, an opportunity for fans to be a TV presenter and weather forecaster for a day, as well as trying their hand at producing a news program and soap opera.

Balcony scene from the drama

Balcony scene from the drama

Over-all, this seems to be a thrilling chance for fans to relive their favorite Kdrama and have the ultimate hallyu experience, so hurry and visit the 'My Love from Another Star' exhibit at Kintex! ^^

Admission fees are 15,000 won for adults and 10,000 won for youth/ children.

~~~

When I was watching the drama, I actually thought everything was shot on location and that there was an actual condominium somewhere in Seoul that has those luxurious rooms. I was surprised to know most of the scenes (especially the ones shot indoor) were done in  a studio set, which means those rooms were all done from scratch by the production design team. (Congrats to them for doing such a great job!)

I was very much fascinated at how detailed and intricate the filming sets were, and my personal favorite was Do Min Joon's library/study area :)

Do Min Joon's room from the exhibit

Do Min Joon's room as seen from the drama

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Period of Exhibition:

09.05.2014 ~ 08.31.2015

Address:

1542, Jungang-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

경기도 고양시 일산서구 대화동 킨텍스

Location:

KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center)

Telephone:

+82-70-8260-8807

Sponsors / Management:

SBS A&T, SBS Contents Hub / Goyang City, Korea Tourism Organisation, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization

Performance Times:

September 5, 2014 (Friday) - August 31, 2015 (Monday)

10:00-19:00 (Last admission: 30 min before closing)

* Closed every Monday from December 1, 2014

Admission/Participation Fees:

Adults 15,000 won / Youths & Children 10,000

* Children (ages 6 & below) may enter free of charge.

Duration of Performance:

Anytime during the event

Discount Information:

Inquire at the ticket box.

Age Limit:

Open to visitors of all ages

Ticket Reservations:

Interpark: +82-1544-1555

ticket.interpark.com (Korean Only)

How to get there (Transportation):

[Shuttle Bus]

From Daehwa Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 1.

- Bus runs from 10:00-19:00.

- Interval 20 minutes

* Special Drama shuttle (reservations required)

- Please refer to its official website for more information on the special bus.

[Subway + Bus]

From Gimpo International Airport, take bus 56 (Gyoha line), 150 (Paju Line)

- Get off at Daehwa Station.

From Incheon International Airport, take bus 3300.

- Get off at Daehwa Station.

From Daehwa Station, it takes only 20 minutes if you 'll walk.

Or,

Take the bus

-If near exit 2, take bus 58.

-If near exit 6, bus 39 or 82.

From Seoul Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), get off at Daehwa Station and take bus 1000, 2000, 1100, 8880, 9714 or M7106.

For more details on the exhibition, you can visit their official website:

lovefromstar.sbs.co.kr  (Korean,English, Japanese, Chinese)

Credits to Korea Tourism Organization (visitkorea.or.kr) and Korea Tourism Organization Manila

~~~

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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KTO announces Global Super Connector Winners (Round 2)

The results are out for the 2nd round of KTO's search for Global Super Connectors (You can see my previous post about this HERE)!

Last April 22, KTO (@KoreanTravel) posted on Twitter the link of their event page on Facebook where the winners of their event Global Super Connector 2 are listed.

50 event participants were chosen as Global Super Connectors who will be tasked to upload various Korea tourism-related content in their personal Facebook page in order to introduce Korea to their friends. And again, my friend and I are lucky enough to be among these 50 individuals! ^^

30 individuals were also selected as winners of Line Character Merchandise.

The winners were selected from an KTO's online event where participants were asked to simply vote for the most delicious Korean food that they've had or would like to have, which include Street Food, Kimchi, Bulgogi, Bibimbap, Bingsu, and Hanjeongsuk... And looks like my vote (Street Food) did win with 309 votes :)

All event winners are required to input their information for claiming/sending of prizes until April 28. Failure to do this on or before the deadline may result to cancellation of their prize...So if you're a winner, hurry to the event page and input your information :)

You can access the event page with list of winners HERE.

I'm indeed super excited to take on another task from KTO as Global Super Connector, especially because I've been a staunch supporter of Korean Tourism ever since :)

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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Seoul Attractions: Ihwa Mural Village- A neighborhood transformed by Art

This is the first time I heard of Ihwa Mural Village in Seoul, and I find the story behind it really inspiring, and one that we must try adopting locally.

For one, who would have thought of finding a hidden gem at the very top of Mt. Naksan?

Located less than a 10-minute walk uphill from the buzzing Daehakno area, this "moon village" or daldongne (so called because their locations high in the hills gave the people there a better view of the night sky) boasts of the rich collection of street art found in its walls. Metal sculptures stand guard over the laneways while brightly painted murals hide behind every corner. Steep staircases come alive with colorful paintings and mosaics.

The most captivating pieces are found on Guldari-gil, which starts in the backstreets of Daehakno, behind Marronnier Park at Hyehwa Station (Exit 2), and snakes its way up the hillside to the lower edge of Naksan Park and into the village, finally turning into Yulgokro 19-gil.

The narrow alleys showcase murals large and small, while sculptures dominate the road by the park. Maps direct visitors to the largest and most famous, but new paintings are always springing up.

But all these did not come easy for Ihwa-dong.

Only a decade ago, the neighborhood was set for demolition to clear away what was considered an aging and unattractive slum to make way for new development.

The residents of Ihwa-dong were primarily working class and poor people who couldn’t afford housing in the more convenient, flat, or central parts of the city. So the neighborhood stayed much the same even as rapid economic development in the ‘80s and ‘90s brought prosperity and high-rise apartment towers to other parts of the city. Finally, the area was slated for demolition and redevelopment, which would bring an end to both the area’s mid-century buildings and to the community that lived there.

In 2006 though, the city of Seoul, through the Art in City – Naksan Project, gave hope to the village by inviting dozens of artists selected by a local committee and were commissioned to create 64 different installations under the theme of “Mix, Connect and Get Together.” The plan to create a cultural space that would attract both foreign and domestic visitors was a success, and soon thousands of people were flocking up the mountainside to enjoy the new artistic ventures.

Unfortunately, the change came a bit too quickly for a number of Ihwa-dong’s long-term residents. Littering, noise, graffiti and other bad behavior on the part of tourists left many grumbling that the neighborhood was better off back when it was still neglected. About a year after the project began, many of the murals, amounting to almost half the original art, was removed at the residents’ request.

It wasn’t the end of the Mural Village, however. In 2013, artists again assembled to redecorate the area, adding another 60 displays and bringing the total number of works to well over a hundred. Along with professional artists, students from local institutions such as Kookmin, Konkuk, Chung-Ang, Dankook and Ewha Womans University all contributed works of their own. The display continues to evolve and expand its reach as more people join in the beautification efforts, lending a new sense of dynamism to the sleepy hillside village.

The tenor of the relationship between residents and visitors also changed for the better. Signs remind visitors that the neighborhood is a place where people live and whose daily lifestyle should be respected and not disturbed. The local artists whose work is on display here have put down real roots in the neighborhood, opening galleries and cafés that support artistic ventures and engage with the community.

Minoz would definitely want to take sefies with this really cute Lee Min Ho mural :)

Today, it’s a lively and thriving neighborhood that welcomes artists and visitors while still preserving the charm and intimate bonds of its long-standing and tight-knit community. It’s a surprising success story, and not one without challenges, but the Mural Village illustrates the ability of art and human ties to bring new life to the city.

Key Attractions in the Village:

• Lock Museum
• Ihwa-dong Village Museum
• Blacksmith Museum 
• Gaeppul Museum- devoted to displaying wine openers
• Live Well Memorial - for remembering the teachers of a local school for the underprivileged
• Naksan Park- provides green space and yet more art, along with stunning views of Seoul and the ancient city walls
• Ihwajang - a beautiful hanok and home of former president Rhee Syngman

There are not much full service restaurants in Ihwa-dong Mural Village, so tourists are advised to have their fill of food in  the Daehakno area. There are some small cafes and adventurous within the village though, and some of them are as follows:

• A-mong - offers coffee, tea, dumplings and ice cream
• On The Hill (T. 703-7044) - serves coffee, roll cakes and homemade teas in a renovated house that offers one of the best views in the neighborhood
• Gaemi Dabang(T. 3676-5995) - offers sandwiches, tea, coffee and a variety of makgeolli slush drinks and makgeolli-based baked goods 
• Dallyeora Gaemi(T. 762-5995) - offers a wider menu of traditional and fusion makgeolli, along with Western and Korean-style pub grub
• Jazz Story(T. 725-6537) - offers light drinking snacks with relaxing music

For those who want to stay overnight in the village, here are a couple of guesthouses that they may want to look into:

• Rose & Candy(T. 010-8828-3720) - offers basic but clean accommodations for those who want to stay in the village itself
• Eugene’s House (T. 741-3338)- a hanok-style homestay only a few minutes away from Mt. Naksan and the buzzing Daehakno area.

For more details and inquiries on Ihwa Mural Village, you may visit the official website of Jongno-gu Seoul HERE (look for Daehangno area).

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

Credits to Seoul Magazine, Korea Tourism Organization (visitkorea.or.kr) and Korea Tourism Organization Manila

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Flowers from around the world at Int'l Horticulture Goyang Korea

One of the things that I've loved about Korea is its colorful foliage. Flowers and trees are everywhere, even amidst modern structures. With shades of green, yellow, orange, and red, this is simply one of the most breathtaking things to see there.

Spring is definitely one of the ideal seasons for nature lovers to visit Korea especially since this is the time that the flowers are in full bloom. And one event that you may want to check out is the International Horticulture Goyang Korea. [Hmm, this pretty much reminds me of our very own Panagbenga Flower Festival in Baguio...BTW, for those of us who don't know, Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation.]

This event, which started in 1991 and features new flower species and flower planting technology, takes place every year in April at the Goyang Flower Exhibition Center. It features a wide range of programs, including a large exhibition, seminars, and a flower arrangement contest. Organization and promotional committees from floral business from many different countries are regular participants in this event, where they are able to showcase their flower collections.

This year, the International Horticulture Goyang Korea is to be held at Ilsan Lake Park from April 24 to May 10, 2015. Under the theme of “The Grand Collaboration of Flower, Peace and New Korean Wave,” the fair will showcase flower exhibits from a total of 320 foreign companies from 35 countries.

The exhibitions are spread out on a venue approx. 150,000 ㎡ in size, divided into indoor and outdoor areas. The gardens will exhibit rare species of flora in a variety of themes, offering unique attractions for visitors. In addition, there will be hands-on activities you won’t want to miss out on, such as making small flower ornaments or sailing on a boat decorated with flowers on the lake (5,000 won per person). (Now, that's something I'd like to experience for myself! :))

The exhibition hours are from 9:00 to 19:00 on weekdays and 8:30 to 20:00 pm on weekends and public holidays.

Ilsan Lake Park, where the Goyang Flower Exhibition Center is located, is one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions, known for its stunning beauty.

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Venue: Ilsan Lake Park in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
Period: April 24 to May 10, 2105.

Admission Fee:
Adults 10,000 won / Youth & Seniors (ages 65 & over) 8,000 won
(8,000 won for foreigners with passport or Alien Registration Card (ARC))
*Discounts available to those booking in advance:
Adults 8,000 won / Youth & Seniors (ages 65 & over) 7,000 won

Performance Times:
Weekdays 09:00-19:00 / Weekends & Holidays 08:30-20:00
Duration of Performances: 1 hr 30 mins

Programs:

World Flower Exchange Pavilion Ⅰ, Ⅱ

• Coco Brand Pavilion: Flower products, Goyang-si brand items 
• Gardener’s Experiment Pavilion
• Explorer’s Pavilion
• Lifestyle Pavilion 
• Peaceful Reunification Pavilion: Video, pictures and wild flowers from North Korea
• Goyang New Hallyu Harmonized Pavilion: Multimedia Harmony Pavilion. Multimedia presentation combined with flowers and greenery on the ceiling. walls, and various other floral elements.

Outdoor Exhibition

Peaceful Goyang Garden, Sculpture Garden, Happiness Stage Garden, Flower Tunnel, Lakeside Flower Road, Healing Garden, Children’s Garden, Theme Garden, Nostalgia Garden, Flower Wall, Mosaic Culture Garden, Korea Garden Show 2015, Display of Urban Agriculture, etc.

Performances

• Lakeside Stage (Main) - Dance, Nanta, Cheerleading, and other exciting performances
• Happiness Stage - Mainly classical musicians
• Every spot at the IHK 2015 area is a stage! Over 300 various performances and parades take place.

Flower Events 

• The 17th IHK Flower Design Contest
• The 16th Traditional Flower Arrangement Contest
• The 4th Preserved Flower Cup Contest - April 26
• Flower Drawing Contest - May 5

Hands-on Activities:

• Flower Boat Ride: Available only during IHK season. 
• Flower related Experience : Making flower pots/soaps/perfumes/herbal teas/hand-made flower props, etc. 
• Traditional Culture Experience: Traditional clothing/wedding experiential programs

For inquiries and more information on International Horticulture Goyang Korea, visit the official website of Goyang International Flower Foundation HERE.

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

Photo credit: Goyang Int'l Flower Foundation
Credit: Korea Tourism Organization

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Classic Trolley Buses now operating in Seoul

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I've always wanted to tour Seoul by bus, just like on a road trip! Unfortunately we could only put so much activities in our itinerary that we weren't able to try the bus tour when we went there. But for those of you who would like to try, here are some bits of information and updates on Seoul City Bus Tours :)

The Seoul City Bus Tour is a shuttle bus that circulates the courses, starting with Gwanghwamun. With a one-day pass, you can get on and off any City Tour Bus for a day.

There are several Seoul City Bus Tours available that will take you to the main tourist attractions in Seoul, which include the Downtown Palace Course, the Seoul Panorama Course, the Single Night Course, and the Double Night Course.

Just recently, the Seoul Panorama course launched a new addition to their bus line that will surely enhance the travel experience of tourists-- trolley buses. These buses have a design that is reminiscent of the old Seoul tram, which actually reminds me of Victoria Peak tram in Hong Kong! :)

Photo Credit: Honeymoon Travel

The new trolley buses depart from Gwanghwamun near Cheonggye Plaza, making stops at Myeong-dong, Namsan N Seoul Tower, 63 Building, Hongdae and Sinchon, and returning to Gwanghwamun to end the trip.

The new trolley buses are operating in addition to the original double-deck buses, shortening the bus interval from 1 hour to just 30 minutes, which is expected to make the tour a more convenient transportation option for travelers. 

The Seoul Panorama Course has 14 stops which include Myeongdong, Seoul Animation Center, Namsan Cable Car, Hongik University, and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

Other Seoul City Bus Tours include stops to traditional palaces, such as Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeonghigung, and Unhyeongung, as well as Seoul Tower, Cheongwadae, Namsangol Korean Village, Insa-dong, Daehakro, and other popular shopping districts such as Namdaemun, and Dongdaemun.

Reservations can be made through the official Seoul City Bus Tour website and an information guide on the bus is offered in English, Chinese and Japanese. 

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE THE SEOUL CITY BUS TOUR?

• It is safe and comfortable. 

          - Every City Tour Bus is fueled with eco-friendly national gas (CNG) with more legroom and 

             reclining seats.

• Each rider is provided with individual headsets to listen to tourism guides in several different languages.

          - The international voice guidance system on individual seats provides information about every

            stop of City Tour Bus. The history of Seoul and the directions of the traditional palaces and

            cultural heritages are provided in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

• A single City Tour pass guarantees an affordable and memorable tour of Seoul.

          - The one-day pass for Seoul City Tour is more affordable than any other city tour passes you

            can find around the world. You can also get free or discounted entrances into museums,

            exhibitions, and/or concerts with your one-day pass.

OTHER DETAILS:

Where to buy tickets:

Purchase from guide on a City Tour bus

Ticket Booth next to Koreana Hotel at Gwanghwamun (02-777-6090)

Departure Location:

In front of Donghwa Duty-free Shops at Gwanghwamun (Subway Line No. 5 to Gwanghwamun Station (Exit #6)

Price of Passes:

Seoul Panorama Course: (Adult) 15,000 KRW; (Student/Children) 10,000 KRW

City Circulation Tour/Downtown-Palace Course (All day Passes): (Adult) 12,000 KRW; (Student/Children) 10,000 KRW

Single Night Course: (Adult) 6,000 KRW; (Student/Children) 4,000 KRW

Double Night Course: (Adult) 12,000 KRW; (Student/Children) 7,000 KRW

So, do you want to try the Seoul City Bus Tour? Visit their official website HERE for more info and for reservations. I'll definitely give this a try on my next visit to Seoul. :)

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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KTO launches new medical tourism insurance

Good news for medical tourists visiting Korea! 

Korea Tourism Organization recently launched a new medical tourism insurance and assistance service specifically designed for international tourists in collaboration with Dongbu Insurance. 

The insurance, designed to ensure the comfort and convenience of medical tourists, includes the following major features:

• Coverage of Dangers that May Occur During Your Stay in Korea

         -  In the event of an accident (including medical accident)-led death or injury-led stress disorder             during a medical tourist's stay in Korea, he/she will be paid up to 50 million Korean won as 

            compensation for medical bills.

• Insured for Seven Days from Your First Visit to a Hospital

         - A medical tourist will be insured for up to seven days from the first visit to a medical

           institution in Korea. He/she will be insured for an accident which has caused a medical dispute            during the period. 

           However, a medical tourist may also apply for the insurance covering an injury-led death or 

           stress disorder during his/her stay in Korea as well as compensation over a period from the 

           date of entry to the date of departure (up to 30 days).

• Interpretation Services for Medical Disputes

          - If an unexpected medical accident happens to a medical tourist that results in a medical 

            dispute, the case shall be accepted by the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration 

            Agency. Upon acceptance of the case, interpretation services (accompaniment, by telephone) 

            will be provided up to five times in accordance with the relevant procedure.

           * Interpretation service languages: English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian

• Financial Service to Extend Stay

          - This is to compensate for accommodation and transportation expenses arising from a medical 

             tourist's overstay necessary upon acceptance of the medical dispute.

             The maximum compensation is 800,000 Korean won for accommodations (up to 200,000 

             won per day) and 200,000 won for transportation (up to 50,000 won per day).

The eligible insurance applicants are foreign tourists visiting Korea. Dual nationals, Korea National Health Insurance Service holders and foreigners living in Korea cannot apply though.

Starting in April, 2015, the first 5000 people to sign up will receive travel health insurance for FREE. 

For more detailed information, please visit the medical tourism insurance page HERE at the Visit Medical Korea website. 

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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My Best of the Best Kpop Experience

With 4 power performers from the Kpop world--Super Junior, Girls generation, Born to Beat (BTOB), and Red Velvet-- Best of the Best in the Philippines was indeed the ultimate Kpop concert of the year to date. Screams of thousands of loyal and die-hard fans and wonderful Kpop music filled the air, as the 3 hour show rocked the Philippine Arena.

Read on for my fan account! (Yay, first Kpop Post!) ^^

PRE-EVENT:

Things really happen when you least expect it. In this case, I never would have thought of being able to watch Best of the Best Concert last April 12 at the Philippine Arena, even if I’m a true blue Elf (fans of Super Junior) and Melody (fans of BTOB).

But fortunately for me, I won 2 upperbox A tickets from Channel M and IndiEvents Inc. (so it pays to really join online contests right?). I couldn’t even remember when I joined but all I know is that a dear friend, who’s also a huge fan of Super Junior, tagged me in the Facebook contest.

It was April 9 when I received the email and was informed that I can already claim the tickets. I screamed out of delight and excitement, and hurriedly told my sister (who’s also an Elf) that we’re seeing the SJ boys on the 12^th. And as if my luck wasn’t enough, a good friend sent me a PM that very same day and told me she has 2 free Lower Box A tickets to the concert. I was totally in cloud 9! Just when I thought I’ll be sulking during the concert day, 2 ‘kpop angels’ appeared and made me one happy fangirl.

CONCERT DAY: Getting to the concert venue

(According to my sister who seems more updated than I) Best of Best Concerts have actually been happening around Asia for years now, and it had travelled around China the most. The line ups were pretty cool, since they invite great Kpop artists (hence the name Best of the Best), and most of the time, this includes Super Junior.

It was a typical summer day- hot and humid, and we’re all set to have this little ‘field trip’ to the Philippine Arena, which is considered as the world’s largest indoor arena that could accommodate a maximum capacity of 55,000 people.

At first, I actually found it unbelievable for the organizers to choose a venue for a Kpop concert that’s outside Manila. I mean, I know fans would do everything just to see their favorite idols, but well, not all parents would allow their children to go that far, especially if they’re commuters. But well, come concert day, I did appreciate the fact that organizers thought of a way to make it easier for fans to go to the venue by designating pick-up points where shuttle buses will be there to pick them up (Trinoma for fans from the North and Alabang Town Center for those from the South, if I’m not mistaken). And what’s more convenient is that they can buy roundtrip bus tickets via ticketnet/SM tickets at the cheap and affordable price of 50 pesos. (Ain’t that fair enough?).

So with the 4 tickets that I have, I got my sister to come along, together with a friend and her inaanak (and this was her first concert!). We met at around 3:30pm along the EDSA entrance of Trinoma (near MRT) where the buses going to Philippine Arena were waiting for us. There were actually a lot of buses, and the fans can board whatever bus they like so there was no need for queuing. The tickets were collected once everyone was settled, just before the bus left Trinoma at around 4:30pm.

It was surprisingly a very hassle-free and pleasant trip. There was no traffic at all and we were at Ciudad de Victoria in 30 minutes (around 5pm).

As our bus entered the vicinity of the concert venue, we could already see the thousands of fans already lined up. But here comes the hassle part, our bus had to go on a detour to a designated drop off point which was still at Ciudad de Victoria but a few kilometers away from the Philippine Arena. From there (and because guests aren’t allowed to loiter around and walk along the roads going to the concert venue), we were supposed to take another bus (New Era Buses) which seemed to be the only buses that are allowed to drop off passengers near the arena. I just find it absurd to be taking another bus when the bus we were on could have easily dropped us in front of the arena and then they could have just left right away. Anyway, I’m sure this may still be improved by Philippine Arena management. J

Upon finally reaching the concert venue, we were delighted to see fans from 4 different fandoms convene and anticipate the show, all wearing their best Kpop inspired outfits and equipped with different kinds of cheering goods such as light sticks and banners. We heard some fans were there as early as 1pm to prepare for their fan projects (ain’t fan love the best? J)

Loud Kpop music kept everyone’s energy at a high. There were also some pre-concert events such as GLOBE’s Kpop Studio and Link Up Productions’ KPOP Summer Solstice Extended which kept everyone entertained. There was a huge LED TV outside the arena showing greetings from the artists, and below it are the entrances to the arena.

Since we’re excited to get in, we went straight to the ticket validation area. Fans were asked to line up (females were separated from males) under the scorching heat of the sun in a rather disorderly manner. We couldn’t even find the end of the line at that time. The tickets too were validated manually, which takes more time than usual.

After around 30 minutes of queuing, we finally made it out of the ticket validation ‘maze’ J We posed for a few photo ops near the entrance before finally going in since it’s our first time in the venue.

The lobby of the arena looked quite impressive with high ceilings, and huge red colored pillars that match the red carpeted flooring. A lot of fans were already lined up in the different entrances at that time, and. at around 5:30, our tickets were checked and we were allowed to go in one by one.

It was quite easy to find our seats once inside. There were ushers that direct the guests to the different seating sections. The row numbers can be found at the floor of the stairs and the seat numbers at the back of the chairs. Since we were at row 2, and near the aisle, our seats were very near the entrance to the VIP section, and have a good view of the stage.

We waited for quite some time for all the seats to be filled up. We were actually wondering how long it will take or if all the seats will be filled up at all because the venue was so big. At around 6:30 pm though, an announcement was made for fans to fill up the seats because the concert was about to begin. Unfortunately, I think they misunderstood it as a sign to fill up the empty seats at the lower sections. I saw all the guests at the General Admissions section hurriedly leaving their seats and going to the upper box section. It was almost a stampede. I got a little worried there, because the same thing happened to us before at the 2pm concert in MOA Arena. Only then, we were the ones running to get better seats below and it wasn’t really a good experience at all. It can get people hurt.

And as if a chain reaction, all the guests at the Upper Box section also went down to the Lower Box section. Some people from the Upper Box section at the sides even swarmed the VIP area. And I’m not sure if the bouncers were just shocked with what happened, but all I know is that they weren’t able to control the crowd. And I guess when the organizers realized what was happening, they made an announcement that guests need to stay at their reserved seats. The commotion seemed to die down a little at that time, but nevertheless, most of the seat numbers are not followed anymore. I saw a few guests complaining that their seats were already taken. Some just took whatever seats are available, and yet some insisted on taking their reserved seats. Some even decided to stay on the aisle. (Well, if you’re a fan, it doesn’t really matter if you’re seated or not. Eventually, everyone will stand up watching the concert anyway J )

CONCERT PROPER: It’s party time! J

RED VELVET

The show started 30 minutes late from the expected time (around 7pm). The first performer was SM Entertainment’s newest girl group, Red Velvet.  

I only know them from watching their MVs, but I learned from my sister that originally, they only have 4 members (Wendy, Irene, Seulgi, and Joy) but added a new one (Yeri) just this March.

The 5 girls were really entertaining and they’re fitting to be the opening act of the concert. My personal favorite was Wendy, who’s really pretty and also has the best voice (for me) among the girls. She’s usually the one hitting the high notes and she’s good with English too.

Joy was also really pretty so she was always focused on cam. All the girls are such good performers they instantly captured the hearts of the crowd.

The girls sang 4 songs which include 3 songs from their mini album (Ice Cream Cake, Something Kinda Crazy, and Candy) and their debut song, Happiness, all of which are catchy and set all the fans singing and dancing to their girly tunes. A behind-the-scene clip from their Ice Cream Cake MV was also shown afterwards at the LED screens.

BTOB

Born To Beat (BTOB) composed of  Seo Eunkwang, Lee Minhyuk, Changsub, Lim Hyun-sik, Peniel, Jung Il-hoon, and Yook Sungjae, was next to perform. They are the only group that are not handled by SM Entertainment among the performers (they’re under Cube Ent.). As a Melody, I’ve been looking forward to seeing them perform live since last year (because I missed their performance at DKFC2). I’ve know these boys as the total package- they can sing, rap, dance, and steal your heart with their crazy antics.

And indeed, they didn’t disappoint me one bit. They totally rocked Philippine Arena, performing their first 3 songs Thriller, Irresistible Lips, and I Only Know Love. After that, they introduced themselves to the crowd. Eunkwang was first: “Hi everyone, I am Eunkwang, the leader of BTOB.”; followed by Peniel and Sung Jae: “Nice to meet you, you can call me Sung Jae, Yook Sung Jae! (ends up laughing and all the girls scream!). Min Hyuk was next and he said something in Korean, which when translated caused the fans to scream even more. He was followed by Hyun-sik who said “Mahal kita”, and the crowd went wild again. Ilhoon said “We came to make you happy. We’ll make you happy tonight”. And finally, Changsub (who’s so funny, he can be funny without trying) was last to introduce himself, and he asked the crowd to screeeaaam, which they did! It was crazy, and everyone was on a high watching them.

“We’d like to say thank you for having us here. It’s an honor to be able to perform at Best of Best in the Philippines!...It’s been a while since we’ve been here, but we’re really glad that we’re finally here with you guys. We really missed all of you guys! Did you guys miss us?”  said Peniel, whose English speaking skills made it easier for the members to communicate with the audience. Everyone answered with a strong “Yeeessss!”.

They performed the rest of the songs in their set-list: 2^nd Confession, Winter’s tale (a Christmas song), and my favorites, Beep Beep and of course, Wow.

All throughout their performance, BTOB’s energy sent everyone on party mode. Sung Jae was crowd and camera favorite with his aegyo skill (he threw some hearts in the air!) and laughing eyes that can send all the girls’ hearts fluttering; Min Hyuk was the silent but charming type with equally heart stopping aegyos and superb rapping skills; Il Hoon was so cute with curly hair and rapping skills that adds that swag to their songs; Eunkwang and Changsub are both so entertaining and funny, and they have the best vocals in the group (along with Sung Jae); Hyun-sik looks  even more handsome in person, especially when he dances. The boys were all such good performers, they totally rocked Philippine Arena. Everyone enjoyed their insanely amazing performance, and I personally think these boys are so good they deserve a concert of their own.

GIRLS GENERATION

I’m not a Girls Generation fan, but I love the girly tune of some of their songs, so I also anticipated watching them perform live.

Hailed as one of Kpop’s royalties, Girls Generation, which is now only composed of Tiffany, Yuri, Yoona, Hyoyeon, Seohyun, Sooyoung, Taeyeon, and Sunny, is one of the most sought after Kpop girl group in Asia. Earlier this year, of one of their members (Jessica) left the group and BOB was their first time to appear on stage with only 8 members. Even so, the support of their fans remain stronger than ever. I know half of the fans in Philippine Arena at that time are SONEs (Girls Generation Fans) and I simply love how they came up with huge, pink foam hand signs, hearts and banners to cheer their idols. And they also made sure most of them are at the VIP section so they can easily be seen by the girls when they perform.

The girls sang 7 songs that include MR. TAXI (Japanese Version), Genie, Gee, Hoot, Kissing You, Complete, and Mr. Mr.

Surprisingly, I think I developed a huge girl crush on Tiffany, who’s the camera’s favorite that night. She was just so pretty and adorable, and since she’s very fluent in English, she took on the role of interpreter and host during their performance. I used to dislike her, especially since she became Nichkhun’s girlfriend. But BOB changed my insight about her. J

The rest of the girls were as adorable and eye candy as ever. And they kept saying ‘see you again’, which may be a hint for a Girls Generation concert in the not so distant future. At the end of their performance, Seohyun gave the fans a message in Korean (which was translated after):  “It’s been a while since we’ve been in Manila and we’re so happy to be here…The energy you’re giving us, we’ll be taking back home with us. Thank you so much! We love you Philippines!”

SUPER JUNIOR

And at last, we’ve come to my most favorite part of the concert!

Last year, when I watched Super Junior at DKFC 2, I was a bit disappointed because somehow it felt lacking since their energy wasn’t that high as compared to Super Show, and of course, they sang less songs as well. But this year at BOB, it was the complete opposite. When it was their turn, it really felt like I was watching Super Show because they boys really gave it their all. The crowd screamed the loudest when they came out of the stage.

With members Leeteuk, Siwon, Donghae, Heechul, Kyuhyun, Eunhyuk,  and Ryeowook, Super Junior certainly gave everyone the fitting finale. Even with the absence of 3 members (Yesung, Sungmin, and Shindong, who are currently in military service), they showed the audience their superb dancing skills, impressive vocals, and excellent fan service.

They sang songs such as SHIRT, This Is Love, and Evanesce during their first half. During their intro, ‘Angel leader’ Leeteuk set the mood by saying “Mabuhay Philippines!” which was followed by their signature "Uri neun Supeo Juni-oeyo" (We Are Super Junior) with matching signature hand pose. The fans went wild and responded "Uri Elpeu-oeyo" (We Are ELF). This was followed by the individual introduction of the members from Ryeowook, Donghae, Kangin, and then Siwon who spoke in straight English: “To a beautiful city, hello everyone! This is Siwon Choi…We missed your voice. Did you guys miss us? Ok, I’m gonna count to 3. If you guys missed us, you guys are gonna scream, ok? 3…2…1!.” And everyone screamed at the top of their lungs. It was actually deafening. Siwon answered this with “Thank you for coming and let’s enjoy tonight! Rock and roll, baby!” And the crowd roared louder.

Up next was Kyuhyun who imitated his hyung and also introduced himself in English. “Hi, I’m Kyuhyun. I missed your voice. I’m gonna count to 3, and you’re gonna scream, ok? 1..2..3”…And everyone screamed again while Kyuhyun enjoyed the attention with closed eyes and outstretched hands. “Okay, okay, thank you. Let me introduce myself. I’m a member of the one of the popular boy groups, Super Junior. You know?” We were laughing our hearts out at this. Even Kyu was laughing at himself. That evil maknae, he’s really funny. “Today, have a good time. (Laughs) Okay, thank you. I love you!” And the elfs went wild. More so, because Heechul was next and he said “Saranghaeyo! Hello my Philippine baby! My name is… Saranghaeyo Kim Heechul!” And the fans began to chant in response “Saranghaeyo Kim Heechul! Wooyubiccal Kim Heechul" (We Love you Kim Heechul. Milky White Skin Kim Heechul).

Next to introduce himself was Eunhyuk who said: “Mabuhay! My name is Eunhyuk. Really very, long, long time no see. I really miss you guys, mahal kita!” And then  he thanked everyone for coming and said I love you as well.

Last but not the least was Leeteuk, who brought everyone’s energy level on a high when he chanted “Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-Mabuhaaaaaaaaayyyyy!” The other members joined him and added beat boxing effects “Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-Mabuhay! Mabuhay Philippines! Are you happy? Philippine, mahal kita!!!” And then he spoke in Korean “It’s been a really long time for us to say hello to all of you. How have you been? You all look so much better than the last time we had a concert here.” It was a surreal moment to see Leeteuk back on stage. As an Elf, I truly missed him because he was always one of the best when it comes to fan service. (Welcome back, Leeteuk!).

For the second half, the boys performed At Gwanghwamun (c/o Kyuhyun), Oppa Oppa (c/o Donghae & Eunhyuk), and Mr. Simple.

As usual, Kyuhyun’s excellent vocals when he sang ‘At Gwanghwamun’ made the hearts of the fans swoon. His voice has that dramatic quality that makes one feel the emotions in his songs. And he always sings from his heart and hits the high notes perfectly.

Eunhyuk and Donghae on the other hand totally rocked the arena with their hit song, ‘Oppa, Oppa’. They danced and sung to their usual routine and asked the fans to chant ‘oppa’ after saying their names. The other members joined in the end, dancing goofily as each member’s name was chanted (Siwon and Leeteuk). Siwon even did a butt dance in front of the fans. And Heechul danced so cutely as they chant his name at the end of the song.

Of course, there was uproar among the fans the moment they realized what the next song is. “Hey, I’m Mr. Simple!” Everyone was dancing and singing the song as the members perform onstage. Donghae, Heechul, and Leeteuk are crowd favorites, all the girls scream when they are focused on cam. Eunhyuk’s hand stand was so cool. I could see sapphire blue light sticks everywhere. It was truly an insane performance; we were all on a high.

Before singing the final song, Super Junior spoke to the fans again. Leeteuk said that they want to express how they feel through dancing if the fans will scream loud enough. First was Eunhyuk, followed by Leeteuk (who danced so cutely and made us all laugh), and then Heechul. They made the fans chant again during his turn, that he really did a cool break dancing move. Leeteuk joined him followed by Siwon who did a hand stand (which allowed us to see his abs!) and then Kangin took of his jacket, laid on the floor and covered himself with it. Heechul jokingly tried to revive him via CPR, making it appear that he was kissing him. And we laughed and screamed our hearts out at that. They were all so entertaining and charming. After that, they did the "Can You Feel It" choki choki dance, and all the fans joined them. Then, Leeteuk asked Donghae to give it a try. He managed to do a short break dance move but stopped after that. He said “30 years old” (haha!) but they encouraged him to do it. All the fans started to chant his name. So he did it again and he was sooo good (again, we had a glimpse of his abs, lol)!

After that Leeteuk told the fans: “These things honestly were not on the script. But it would be a little sad if we don’t show them to you. Why don’t we show you some more? Are you happy?! We will see you next time…” And the boys left the stage.

I just love Leeteuk’s sincerity when he talks. It made me feel he really did miss us and loves giving his best just to make everyone happy.

But of course, that was not the end of it. A short video clip for Mamacita was shown on the LED, and the fans screamed in excitement. I think it was one of, if not the most well received performance of the night as fans, even from other fandoms, sang "Hey! MAMACITA naega Ayayaya!" and danced to the song. Everyone screamed as if there was no tomorrow, probably because it was the finale song, as confetti filled the stage. The concert ended with a bang, and no doubt the boys made everyone happy. Super Junior bowed as a group one last time, as the fans begin to chant ‘SS6!’. They scattered and went to different sides of the stage while thanking the fans. Heechul even sang "Let it go~ Let it go~" before leaving the stage.

Leeteuk was last to leave the stage as always. He went to every corner of the stage and did his customary 90 degree bow, while forming heart signs over his head in between, to show his gratitude and love for the fans for their continued support and for the successful show. It was my first time to see him do it live and I’d say that as a fan, I was deeply moved by his gesture. I admire his sincerity, hard work, and fan service. He really made us all feel loved and happy.

The fans were all smiles as they left the venue and even continued to sing the songs they just heard at the concert. My heart was on a high the entire evening that I didn’t mind walking a few kilometers from the concert venue to the passenger loading area which was on a field somewhere in Ciudad de Victoria.

Overall, it was a really awesome and unforgettable night. It was indeed a night of the Best of the Best because all 4 groups showed exemplary showmanship, and excellent fan service.#

[NOTE: I am yet to upload all photos T_T. It may take a while to sort all of them.]

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