Another long over due blog but I still want to write about this. Everyone knows that I'm a fangirl. As a K-enthusiast, coming to South Korea is really a dream come true. What more if my whole trip is a fangirling trip?
I was in South Korea last May 8-13, 2019. A lot of travelers wanted to visit South Korea because of its beautiful scenery. It's not that I do not want to visit those scenery but I wanted to use my time to fangirl more in Korea. Besides, I can always come back to see those beautiful places.
In this blog post, I will be sharing to you the places I visited and events I attended that boosted my fangirling life.
This is my first time going to JYP Entertainment's new building. As an international JYP stan, seeing the building is already a dream come true. Although I was hoping to meet a JYP artist too. So how to go to JYP new building?
The new building is around Sungnae-dong, near the Olympic Park. The nearest subway station is the Olympic Park station (Line 5 or Line 9) and exit at Exit 1. You can see a bus station there and ride the bus 3319 or 3220. Go down the bus on the second bus stop. You will actually pass by the Soul Cup Cafe and you can immediately see the red cup.
We decided to have a drink inside the cafe, since we're also looking forward to see any JYP artist. I brought with me Kke so that he can visit Korea again (since he'll be staying with me in the Philippines lol).
There were only few people who was at the cafe when we visited it. So we were able to choose a seat and our drinks conveniently. They offer coffee, tea, smoothies, dessert, and some natural food. I ordered Mango and Blueberry Smoothie which costs 6500KRW or around 6.5USD.
I don't know if I made the right choice of choosing this drink. It was a bit cold when were there yet I still chose a smoothie. Well, I'd rather drink a smoothie than have palpitations because of the coffee. It actually tastes pretty good. You can try it.
While my friends and I were enjoying our drinks, two guys - one with a hoodie and one with a cap - entered the cafe and when those two looked at our side, I realized they were Stray Kids! I was so happy that I got to see them again. They were Hyunjin (my bias) and I.N!
Even if I want to share to you more decent photos of them, I just want to keep it to myself especially it was not an official event. It was their private time. So, I respect them. I didn't come near them. I just stared at them. I.N was even looking at me too especially when he was about to get some utensils(?) which was near our place.
I was in South Korea last May 8-13, 2019. A lot of travelers wanted to visit South Korea because of its beautiful scenery. It's not that I do not want to visit those scenery but I wanted to use my time to fangirl more in Korea. Besides, I can always come back to see those beautiful places.
In this blog post, I will be sharing to you the places I visited and events I attended that boosted my fangirling life.
JYP Entertainment & Soul Cup Cafe
This is my first time going to JYP Entertainment's new building. As an international JYP stan, seeing the building is already a dream come true. Although I was hoping to meet a JYP artist too. So how to go to JYP new building?
The new building is around Sungnae-dong, near the Olympic Park. The nearest subway station is the Olympic Park station (Line 5 or Line 9) and exit at Exit 1. You can see a bus station there and ride the bus 3319 or 3220. Go down the bus on the second bus stop. You will actually pass by the Soul Cup Cafe and you can immediately see the red cup.
We decided to have a drink inside the cafe, since we're also looking forward to see any JYP artist. I brought with me Kke so that he can visit Korea again (since he'll be staying with me in the Philippines lol).
There were only few people who was at the cafe when we visited it. So we were able to choose a seat and our drinks conveniently. They offer coffee, tea, smoothies, dessert, and some natural food. I ordered Mango and Blueberry Smoothie which costs 6500KRW or around 6.5USD.
I don't know if I made the right choice of choosing this drink. It was a bit cold when were there yet I still chose a smoothie. Well, I'd rather drink a smoothie than have palpitations because of the coffee. It actually tastes pretty good. You can try it.
While my friends and I were enjoying our drinks, two guys - one with a hoodie and one with a cap - entered the cafe and when those two looked at our side, I realized they were Stray Kids! I was so happy that I got to see them again. They were Hyunjin (my bias) and I.N!
This is how the place looks like inside. There is also a big screen and a mini stage inside wherein they are playing the music videos of the JYP Artists.
SMTOWN at Coex Artium
If you're also an SM stan like me, it is really a must to visit the SMTOWN @coexartium. What does this place offer? A lot! It has a museum inside where some fan artists display their works, a merchandise shop where almost all kinds of SM merch from albums to face masks can be seen. The place also have a cafe inside. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see any SM Artists there. T_T. Some memorabilia of the artists can also be seen there like their costumes and trophies.
Aside from these, outside the building, there were two walls with the hand prints of SM artists. That is when I realized that some artists hands were really smaller than mine.
Of course, I have to take a picture of my hand with my SM biases. Look how small Donghae's hand is. I have longer fingers than him. The only hand bigger than mine was Shindong's hand if I'm not mistaken. :D
K-Star ROAD: GangnamDol
Of course, you shouldn't miss this famous road where the dolls of (mostly second generation) idols are located. GangnamDol is actually a mixture of the terms ‘Gangnam’, ‘idol, and ‘doll’.You can just visit this for free.
How to go here? Ride a subway and go down to Apgujeong Rodeo Station and take Exit 2.
There were a lot of dolls there but of course I have to take a picture with my favorite groups, the groups that made me enter the KPOP world - Super Junior, TVXQ, and SHINee. There are other groups like SNSD, Miss A, etc.
Subway Ads
Whenever you are riding the subway, you will definitely see a lot of subway ads of different artists. Most of these ads are from the fansites. When you're in Korea, you can see these ads everywhere. So make sure you have sharp eyes.
It's actually hard to take photos with the ads since a lot of people are walking. Here are some of the subway ads that I managed to take a photo of.
AB6IX!
TWICE's Mina
WINNER for their OREO ad
Not only do they have the subway ads, they also have a lamp post banner. I was able to see these banners in Hongdae and also in the streets of Myeongdong. They were promoting NUE'ST's comeback as 5!
Broadcasting Networks
If you're already in Digital Media City, well, it's a must to go Broadcasting Network hopping. They are really just near each other. The cool thing here is that, while you are walking, you can see the hand prints of different famous actors and actresses.
I was actually having a hard time looking at all these hand prints because my eye glass keeps on falling. Since I actually lack the time, I just managed to just go around the area. I was not able to enter the shops or some other places there. Here are some photos:
Beautiful Mint Life 2019 Festival
Of course, my fangirling adventure won't be complete if I won't watch an event by my favorite group. The main reason why I wanted to go to Korea at these dates was because of DAY6. DAY6 had a schedule last May 11. They are going to perform on a Festival in Korea.
It has been a long time since DAY6 last performed in a festival. That is why I am so happy that this time, I'll get to see them again. I wasn't able to go to Korea for their Encore because of my thesis. But I'm happy I still got the chance to see them on a different occasion.
For more details about Beautiful Mint Life 2019 and also about my experience here, check this link. It is where I have a detailed explanation on how to get tickets and other stuff. Plus, my whole experience on attending a festival in Korea.
I'm looking forward to visit Korea again next year since I'm gonna be busy with my internship this late 2019 and early 2020. Plus, GOT7 and DAY6 are coming to the Philippines this October and Novemeber, respectively, for their concert!
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I wanted to write this topic for so long since a lot of
people have been messaging me about this. How
did I become a part of a media? Do I have free tickets for the concerts? What
do you do? What cameras you use? And many more. Like what the title of this
post, it will simply be all about me in the media industry.
Just to give you a bit of an information about myself, I am
a fangirl ever since the start of time. I started being a fan of Westlife when
I was a little kid because of the influence of my parents and my cousins. I
also am a fan of SCLUB7. Years later, I became a fan of KPOP. Anyway, continue
with the blog post.
To be very honest, there’s a heavy burden in me whenever I
wear the media ID. Maybe because I feel like I really don’t deserve it? Or
maybe because people might think I’m just using it to have free access on
different events. I don’t know. But it somehow feels good to wear one because
it makes me a little bit important.
When did I start?
Although I have been writing blogs since 2014, I don’t
consider it as a media thing. There is a big difference between being a blogger
and a media – I will probably talk about this in the latter part of this blog
post.
I started writing for this Korean website last April 2017. I just found them through a blog when I was searching for
fellow K-enthusiasts blogger. I tried applying for their Global Correspondent
and eventually was accepted.
One is focused on KPOP, one is focused on Thai Events, and the other one is about the latest events and trends in the Philippines (so it can be a
western act or fellow Asian act).
What do I do as a media?
Many. I do a lot of things. I write articles – mostly news articles and feature articles (which
is way different than writing a blog post). During events, I also take photos of the artists that will be posted on our
respected social media sites. Sometimes, I also do the live updates on Twitter wherein I tell everyone what is
happening on the event.
If you may have noticed, I usually post the links or share
the posts on my Facebook page and Twitter. So, I guess you have an idea on what
I really do.
READ MORE: A One in a Million Moment: TWICELIGHTS in Manila
What equipment do I use during the concert?
Most of the time, I use my Nikon D3400 with Tamron 70-300
lens. Sometimes, I get to use the Sony RX10 iii camera which is my favorite
because even if we are far from the stage, I can still take good and up-close
photos.
Here are some samples of my shots:
Do I really get free tickets during concerts?
To answer this, it’s a yes and no. Why? Like what I have
mentioned earlier, some of my works are volunteer duties. Meaning, I don’t get
paid with the articles I write or the photos I took. So, yes, technically
because I don’t have to pay for tickets or passes on events. No, because I
consider those tickets as a payment for the things I do.
How does it feel to be a media?
To be very honest, when I was starting, I feel a bit anxious
since I have no idea on how this world works. I know a bit of writing and
photography, but I mostly do not share my works online. When I have been
attending different events, I started to learn more about how it really works,
and I started enjoying it.
It is fun to see and meet different artists, especially the
artists you didn’t know you would have a chance to talk with. There are also
times wherein I get to meet my favorite artists up-close. It’s fun, right? But
of course, I must separate my fangirl life whenever I am a media. After all the
tasks I am required to do, that’s when I can fangirl on my own social media
accounts of course.
Recently, there were a lot of KPOP events. Most of the time,
I get to cover those events which eventually made me feel tired with what I am
doing. I started questioning myself if this is what I really want. Yes, I get
to see my favorite idols, but I can’t fangirl in front of them, I can’t focus
on just being a fangirl because I must write down the details since I have a
post-event article to do.
Most of the time, people see us media people as very lucky
people. We get to see the artists for free. Sometimes, we can even have a photo
with them. But what people don’t usually see is the sleepless nights whenever
we edit videos, the stress we feel when we have a lot of things to post, the
tiredness from running to the lowerbox section to the upperbox section just
because some of the management don’t want us to be there. Most of the time, I
also end up studying the names of the members and their songs in order to write
a correct update.
It’s fun to be a media but at the same time a tiring one.
Media or Blogger?
I believe that I am both a media and a blogger. I am a media
on those media outlets and a blogger on my own page. A Fangirl’s Heart is a
blog and not a media outlet, just to clarify with everyone. Although sometimes
we are invited but that doesn’t mean we are already a media outlet. It is just
a spazzing platform wherein we share updates about our favorite artists and at
the same time spazz about them.
There is a big difference between being a media and being a
blogger. Mainly, is the tone when writing an article or post. Media articles
are more formal than a blog post. I can’t even use the word “I” whenever
writing a news article. But for the blog post, it’s a personal post so I
definitely should use the word “I”.
Another thing, like what Journalist Saleem Khan said, “the key difference between bloggers and
journalists is one of process. Bloggers tend to offer opinion and analysis that
links to news stories reported by mainstream media, while professional
journalists tend to gather and report facts and opinion from expert sources…while
all journalists may be bloggers, not all bloggers may be journalists.” [1]
So, why am I saying this? There are some people who feels
intimidated whenever we post updates on our page. Maybe because they thought
that I am competing with them as a media outlet (when there shouldn’t be any).
I would like to clarify that I may be a media for some outlets, but I am a
blogger in this page. If I plan on making this a media outlet, then I would
re-brand this. ^^
How to be part of a media?
First, you need to have your portfolio - writings or photos. It can be an online portfolio or a soft copy one. Next, you need to search online whether those media outlets have openings or none. Be updated with them on their social media accounts since they usually post it when they have openings. If ever they have openings, make sure to submit your portfolio to them and then wait for their reply.
If ever you have no portfolio yet, then I suggest that you start making one. Compile all your works. It will really help a lot if you have a portfolio so that the media outlet will know if you are worth hiring or not.
But before sending those portfolios, make sure that you are determined to be a media and not just because you want to have passes. It is a difficult job. And there might come a time that you may lose all those fan feels. Are you ready for that?
Another thing is that, you are there to do your job. I'm not stopping you to fangirl/faboy during concerts, but you have to remember that you are there to be a media. Do your tasks first before you do your fan duties.
But before sending those portfolios, make sure that you are determined to be a media and not just because you want to have passes. It is a difficult job. And there might come a time that you may lose all those fan feels. Are you ready for that?
Another thing is that, you are there to do your job. I'm not stopping you to fangirl/faboy during concerts, but you have to remember that you are there to be a media. Do your tasks first before you do your fan duties.
I hope I have somehow answered some of your questions in
this post. If you have more questions, you can leave a comment and I will try
my best to answer those.
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Meeting Park Bo Gum last June 22, 2019 actually changed everything that I think of him. Let me get it straight. I haven’t watched any Park Bo Gum drama or film yet. I know him since he is quite famous here, plus, he became a host together with Red Velvet’s Irene. The thing is, I just know him. So it’s okay for me not to attend his fan meeting.
Days before his scheduled fan meeting here in Manila, I was
asked to cover it. Meaning, I will be writing an article as well as sharing
updates about the event.
READ MORE: Park Bo Gum In Manila - Definitely a Good Day to Remember
Park Bo Gum singing DAY6’s I Like You
Park Bo Gum caught me off guard. He opened his fan meeting
with DAY6’s I Like You. If you have read most of my blogs, I am an avid fan of
DAY6. I wanted to scream at that moment. I wanted to fangirl. But I can’t
because I’m taking a video of it. My voice will be heard.
I didn’t imagine him singing a DAY6 song because let’s admit
it even if DAY6’s songs are beautiful only few people appreciate them. So, I
wasn’t really expecting it. Because of that, Park Bo Gum gained points from me.
Park Bo Gum asking the fan’s name
Park Bo Gum was making a special diffuser for a lucky fan.
When a fan won in the raffle, he asked the fan’s name. Unfortunately, they
can’t hear it because the fan was located at the lowerbox section. What Park Bo
Gum did was he went to the extended stage and kept on asking the fan for her
name. “What? I can’t hear you” he even said. And I was like, “OF COURSE BO GUM.
SHE HAS NO MICROPHONE!”
He really made me laugh that whole time. The fan even
spelled out her name through hand gestures and Bo Gum was like “What are you
doing?” I can’t contain my feels. He is very adorable. But him asking for the
fan’s name persistently added more POGI points.
Park Bo Gum playing the piano and singing "I Will Be Here"
Even though I am not an avid fan of Park Bo Gum, I know that
he is a Christian. Hearing him sing I Will Be Here and ending it with “Yes,
Jesus loves me” just warmed my heart. Only few people profess their
Christianity. It was really memorable for me that the person I’m currently
watching loves and believes in God.
Park Bo Gum performing One Candle
One of the most memorable performances of Park Bo Gum was
him performing g.o.d’s One Candle. Let me get it straight. I am not a fan of
g.o.d. But I know them. It just happened that the song “One Candle” was also
performed in Dream High 2 that’s why I know it.
I love the song ever since I first heard in on Dream High. I
felt some goosebumps because I remembered how addicted I was to Dream High
before.
Park Bo Gum dancing to different KPOP songs
I actually thought Park Bo Gum’s fan meeting was over. I was waiting for the lights to turn on. But then, TWICE’s What is Love started playing and then he danced to it. He really danced to it. I was actually mentioning it earlier to my friends that I wanted to see Park Bo Gum dance any TWICE song.
Not only did he perform TWICE’s What is Love, he also danced
to Seventeen’s Pretty U and BTS’ Boy with Luv.
Park Bo Gum being hyper all through out the event, even during Hi-touch
He definitely made an impact with this fan meeting. I
thought that I have seen the best fan meeting ever before but I was wrong. THIS
IS THE BEST FAN MEETING EVER, well not because it was well-handled, but because
Park Bo Gum’s fan service has surpassed everyone. You can feel how he loves his
fans, the same time, does not tolerates his fans.
I can still remember when I felt like he was a teacher
asking the fans to sit down. He went around the arena to become closer with his
fans so the fans were running near him. He then asked everyone to go to their
seats. Not all artists have the guts to say that to their fans. Which made me
like him even more.
During the hi-touch session, I was expecting that he is a
bit tired so he won’t be that hyper. But I was wrong. He was even more hyper!
It was as if he was playing with the fans.
How does he look like up-close? Handsome is an
understatement. I can’t explain it. He is too precious. I want to hug him that
moment. He was sweating a lot but he still gave a big smile to everyone. I
don’t know but Park Bo Gum is the purest idol I have ever met in my whole life.
Good day Park Bo Gum in Manila
I can’t say it’s a fan meeting. It’s more of a concert! Now
I realized why a lot of fans like him. He is handsome, kind, funny, talented,
what more can I say? He has it all! I’m really thankful for PKCI for choosing
me to cover the event. If I didn’t attend it, I would not have witnessed this
event and would have missed a great event in my life.
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Sunshine Family, a movie about a family living in South Korea. They are set to come back to Philippines in a few days but an accident happened. The father "Don", played by Nonie Buencamino, got in a hit-and-run accident. The whole story revolved around keeping their family together despite what happened.
There are different reasons why I wanted to watch this film. First reason was this film is a Filipino-Korean film. For those who knew me ever since the start, you'll know that I am a K-enthusiast. The cinematography and the plots of Korean movies and dramas are really good. So I was really expecting a lot.
Second, the trailer of the film was so captivating, especially Sue and Shinwoo's part. "Shine, Mahal Kita!" "G*go" This part actually made everyone I know laugh. Third, I badly want to live in South Korea and this film might help me gain some insights about living there as a Filipino.
Last June 4, I was invited by Spring Films to attend the Celebrity Screening which was held at the Trinoma Cinema 6. And here are my honest thoughts about the film (which may or may not contain spoilers).
Things I liked about Sunshine Family
1. How it showed the differences and similarities of the two cultures
Filipinos and Koreans surely have different cultures. This film actually did well in showing these cultures. I actually learned new things about Korean culture.
During the film, I told my friend, "Kahit pala sa Korea may chismosa din no? (It seems like there are also gossipers in Korea, right?)" The film showed that gossiping is really a part of people's lives but it can harm you. Another similarity that I have seen in the film is giving food to your neighbor. Both Filipinos and Koreans love to give food to their neighbor whenever they cooked something special that day.
One thing that I have noticed in the film, although it was just a short part, is that Koreans put a lot of value on their work to the point that taking breaks or leaves are not recommended. One employee was asking for a "paternal leave" and the boss does not allow him.
2. Great actors and actresses
The actors and actresses really did well in portraying their characters. They are not afraid about their looks. They only care about the right emotions that should be felt in the film. The love can truly be felt from this true to life couple, Mr. and Mrs. Buencamino. I guess being a true to life couple helped them portray their characters even more. It doesn't seem like they were acting, it felt like they were showing their true selves. And it was very effective.
Not only that, the Korean veteran actor Han Tae Ill really put a big smile on my face. I never had the chance to be close with my grandfather but seeing him in this film made me want him to be my grandfather even if he can't remember that much already.
3. Not forced comedy scenes
Most of the time, I hate films who seem to be trying hard to make people laugh. But this film is not one of them. They are just using simple gestures, simple lines, yet it left a great impact.
The people watching this during the celebrity screening are laughing and clapping their hands whenever the comedy scenes came. Aside from the scene where Shinwoo shouted, "Shine, Mahal Kita" and Sue answering "G*go", another funny scene that I really loved the most was when the old man took the snowman inside the car and said "Nunsaram" which means snowman. I really liked how he said it. (You should really watch it to understand more about what I am saying).
Their strategy in this film is what I want to see in other Filipino films, simple lines and gestures yet impactful.
Things that can still be improved
Although I have liked a lot of things about the film, I still think that it could be better and there are other things that could be improved.1. Sue's and Shinwoo's characters and love plot
To be very honest, I was looking forward to see Sue and Shinwoo as the main characters here, since they are the most promoted ones. But while I was watching the film, it felt like both of them were just side characters that will add scenes to the film. Maybe because this film is a comedy-drama film that is why their characters were not given much dramatic feels.
During the film, I was carefully thinking if their characters were really needed in the film. Because I really felt like the story can go on without the two. But when I arrived home, I realized that somehow, they played a role and showed the situations of families nowadays.
Sue, being in a relationship with Shinwoo and pretending to be pregnant, made his father realize that he really doesn't know his children anymore since he started working. It can really hit parents' emotions. A lot of time, the parents are too busy providing their children a good life that they forget to be with them in their life. They always think that they should give their children all their needs but forgets to be there when they needed them the most.
I believe that their character has a purpose but I was still expecting for a deeper use of their characters. The film somehow lacked in this area. The character development were not really developed well.
2. The use of Korean language
It is really hard to speak Korean. I know it. Trust me. I've been there. I applaud the actors and actresses for doing their best in speaking the language but it somehow felt awkward. It's not the pronunciation that made me feel awkward since I understand how hard it is to speak the language. It is the shifting from a Korean conversation to English. Asking in Korean and answering in English, and vice versa.For me, it felt like "Ah I can't memorize these statements, I should just use my language on the next sentences". I can't actually give a suggestion for this part's improvement because I still lack knowledge about script writing, but I guess it would have been better if they just tried conversing on a certain language in each scene.
Final thoughts (things I realized) about Sunshine Family
It wasn't a perfect film. But it is a good film to make every member of the family realize that love is the most powerful thing in the world. Love will keep the family together and love will allow you to accept everyone no matter what situation they are in.Even if one member made a huge mistake, it's the family who will stay by your side. It is them who will be with you through the darkest times. And these darkest times are the times that families should stand by each other. Like what Sonya said in the film, "Edi mahalin na lang natin sila". We may feel disappointed with a fellow family member, but I believe that accepting them and loving them will eventually erase all of these disappointments.
Although the film failed to make me cry, it still has touched my heart and made me remember my family and all the love they have offered for me.
So the question is, do I recommend you to watch Sunshine Family? My answer is, Yes, you should especially if you're looking for a not-so-heavy-plot films. The casts and the staff really worked hard to produce this film. Do watch it with your family. The film will really make you want to hug your family.
So what are you waiting for? Make sure to visit the theaters now and watch Sunshine Family.
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All photos used in this blog post are from Spring Films. I would like to thank Spring Films for the invitation at the press conference and the celebrity screening. Photos during the press conference and celebrity screening can be seen on our Facebook page.
