So Ji Sub's fan meeting in Manila is probably what I consider a miracle fan meeting. I've known So Ji Sub since 2005 because of his drama "Memories in Bali", which is by the way one of my mom's favorite drama. I was around 9 years old that time! Who would have thought that after years So Ji Sub came and visited the Philippines for a fan meeting?

Last March 16, 2019, So Ji Sub had his first ever fan meeting in the Philippines, brought to you by Pulp Live World. Since I am a photographer and writer (well, I believe I AM! haha), I was able to be a media for this event. Special thanks to PKCI.

READ: KPOPCON X Story: Why Volunteering for PKCI Matters to Me

What are the Most Memorable Happenings during So Ji Sub's Fan Meeting in Manila?

Seeing the Titas of KDrama

I was around the venue at around 4:30 in the afternoon because I still need to claim my ID for the event. The ambiance around the venue was different from the past concerts and fan meetings that I have attended. There were fewer people outside the venue and I barely see anyone my age.

As I was waiting for Kuya Bryan (one of the PKCI officers), I saw this group of Titas. Like yeah, they were almost same age as my mom! The cool thing about them is that they were also wearing a special shirt for the fan meeting. I also got to hear some of them saying that they have waited for years!

Almost all the people I saw there were older than me. I can't remember seeing someone younger than me (well except for other media people). But what is cool seeing them is that age doesn't really matter. You can be a fan for the rest of your life! I suddenly thought, "Will I be like them in the future?" Who knows?

Live Performances of So Ji Sub

So Ji Sub opened the fan meeting with a song, "I Can't Smile Without You". I honestly thought that because the fans were mostly Titas the screaming will not be that too loud. But I was wrong. IT WAS LOUD! The Titas really let go of their hidden feels!

During the second part of the fan meeting, So Ji Sub, together with the group named Soul Dive, perfomed iKON's Love Scenario. It's really fun to watch him do most of the raps! Of course, my hidden iKONIC feelings came out at that time and sang with them.

Everyone loves to share their blessings!

The huge difference during this fan meeting is that the fans are not greedy. How did I say that? There was a portion in this fan meeting wherein So Ji Sub asked the fan the meaning of "Mahal Kita" to avoid the penalty. If So Ji Sub answered it correctly, then the fan would have a signed shirt. But if So Ji Sub answered it wrong, then he has to pick a penalty. The penalties were wearing angel's wings, wearing a flower crown, doing a morning call, and more.

Who wouldn't want to have a signed item by your idol, right? But guess what. The fans gave So Ji Sub wrong answers so that he would get a penalty and everyone would see him do those penalties. The fan meeting became happier because we manage to see So Ji Sub's cute side as he wears the angel's wings and flower crown while doing some heart aegyo.

Seeing the Other Side of So Ji Sub

Whenever I hear So Ji Sub's name, I get always remember him as a tough guy (like his character in Battleship Island). But this fan meeting showed me another side of him. In real life, he was actually a shy person. His laughs were so precious which makes everyone fall in love with him.

Another great thing is that Ms. Kring Kim was the host. Well, I consider her as the best host since she knows what it feels to be a fan. And that feels gave her a high edge to other hosts.

I am so thankful that I became a part of So Ji Sub's fan meeting in Manila. I don't know when he'll come back again but I can finally say that I saw my ahjussi live!

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Check out this link for more photos during the event: https://www.facebook.com/pg/philkpopcomm/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156170301991439

It’s funny to think that I was still able to attend Taeyeon’s concert in Manila even thought I was not able to buy tickets on the day of the ticket selling. I am very much thankful for kpopchannel.tv for this opportunity.

Like what I have said, I was not able to buy tickets during the ticket selling. But days before the concert, kpopchannel.tv asked me to cover the said event. So, I immediately grabbed the chance even if the concert falls on the same day as my thesis defense.

I was actually planning to vlog my “Thesis defense to Taeyeon’s concert” experience. Unfortunately, I was too nervous for my thesis defense that I forgot to take a video. Instead, I’ll just be sharing to you my experience through photos and the video I took for kpopchannel.tv.

Thesis Defense

Like what I have stated earlier, my thesis defense falls on the same day as Taeyeon’s concert here in Manila. So instead of being excited for the concert, I was so nervous for my presentation. Let me give you a little bit of a background with my thesis.

I am a Multimedia Arts student at Asia Pcific College. My thesis is all about promoting my hometown, Tuy, Batangas, to APC students by using illuminated paper diorama through projection mapping.

Here is an example of what I an looking forward to do:



I was too nervous with this defense because a lot of people said that our panelists love to see the presenters suffer. Well, I am actually pretty confident with my project. But the problem is, I am not confident with my speaking skills.

But thanks God, I was able to finish the presentation. Although I got a lot of comments, still, I was able to finish presenting without collapsing. Lol. Anyway, after presenting, FINALLY!! I can now be excited for Taeyeon’s concert.

Taeyeon’s Concert

Ate Minsei (from kpopchannel.tv) told me that the call time for the media people was 6:30pm. I was actually nervous of not reaching on time because Ate Minsei and I met at around 5pm at Ayala for the camera and tripod.

The concert day was on a Friday. The time we met was rush hour, Ayala to Cubao is far. Plus, it’s raining!

But thankfully, I was able to reach on time.



Having no sleep because of the preparation for my thesis defense, I really feel weak even before the concert starts. If you would have seen me, you will really think that I was a zombie. Good thing, my body still managed to finish the whole concert even if I am on the standing area.

For the recap of the event, read more here.



Oh, and by the way, during the start of the concert, I saw Inang, Winter, and London, in front of me. But I was not able to take a picture with them because I was too “bangag” at the moment.

Thoughts on the concert

It is already an overstatement to say this but Taeyeon is really good. I was actually not expecting much from her since I was a bit disappointed from her last performance during Best of Best 2015. But I felt that she was trying to make up from that performance that is why she interacted more with the fans.

SONEs were really cute when they are trying to keep the quietness when Taeyeon was singing. Plus, it’s cute how they call Taeyeon “beshie”. The intimate relationship between Taeyeon and SONEs was really felt.

The PH fanclub did a pretty good job preparing those fan projects. I love it especially the special banner for Taeyeon.



Regarding the staff of PULP, well, they are very organized as usual. Comparing it to DAY6’s concert in Manila, which happened on the same place, this concert was very organized.

I would love to watch Taeyeon’s concert again in the future. Though, I am lowkey hoping for a Girls Generation concert. The next time I attend Taeyeon’s concert, I would be on the seated area. I will enjoy the concert more if I am on the seated area.

Here are the videos I took for kpopchannel.tv:

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/1moN9598tDU [/embedyt]

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/IEpS8VhDtxM [/embedyt]

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/Mb6dGfhnETk [/embedyt]