K-PoPhilippines!

Once on top of the Philippine hit charts are our very own Eraserheads, to the Taiwanese boy band F4, to a leap to Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber…to Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Wonder Girls, 2NE1 and many, many more of Korea.

K-PoPhilippines!

By Glenda Orocio 

K-pop boy band Super Junior

Once on top of the Philippine hit charts are our very own Eraserheads, to the Taiwanese boy band F4, to a leap to Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber…to Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Wonder Girls, 2NE1 and many, many more of Korea.

            THE Korean Wave, (also known as “Hallyu”), introduced by the Chinese in the late 1990s is referred to as the trend in which Korean Culture paves its way to every corner of the globe.

This wave got into Philippine shores and is currently taking the country by storm.

RISE OF KOREANOVELAS

           

Asian dramas captivated Filipino hearts’ in the 2000s and Korean dramas, locally known as “Koreanovelas” gained the top spots after the upsurge of Meteor Garden’s F4. These dramas enthralled many Filipinos because of its light drama, romance comedy genres where many Filipinos relate. This at some point in time turned out to be the Filipinos’ idea of fun - watching Koreanovelas.

            There are also Philippine remakes of some Koreanovelas that topped the charts. One is the very famous Stairway to Heaven, with lead roles by Dingdong Dantes and Rhian Ramos. Another is Full House, which was originally starred by two of the most hailed names in Korean entertainment, Song Hye Kyo and Rain, had its Philippine remake with Heart Evangelista and Richard Gutierrez. Now on air, is another adaptation, also a Korean hit, Endless Love topbilled by our very own Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

K-POP INVASION

            Along with this so-called “Koreanovelas”, K-pop arises. “K-pop” or “Korean Pop” is the music counterpart of Korean Entertainment. Filipinos were easily exposed to Korean Pop music with the help of Youtube, and Philippine hit charts.

            Korean’s best singers and bands walked into the scene almost all at the same time. In a week, Wonder Girls, the renowned girl group who sung the famed hit Nobody achieved the top spot incredibly fast, jumping to upper slots in hit charts. The succeeding weeks, one-by-one, new entries of K-pop with new singers, and louder hits, got into the charts in an extraordinary fast pace, almost all at the same time.

The next weekend, more than half of the top spots in Philippine hit charts are dominated by K-pop.

            2NE1, another Korean girl group gained popularity in the Philippines having our Pambansang Krung-krung, Sandara Park, as one of its members. Their hits such as Lollipop, I don’t Care and Fire are considered as one of the best upbeat songs for dances in school programs.

            Have you ever heard of a boy band consisting of 13 members? There is. And their fame in the Philippines is very plain as the nose on your face. Super Junior is one of the Korean boy bands raking good comments with their talents in singing, dancing, entertaining, and good-looks.

            One may think that if ever these songs become a hit, its just because of the beat, the melody, – but it seems different for die-hard fans. “Gusto ko ‘yung deep meaning ng kanta nila. Ipinipakita rin sa video kung ano ang sinasabi ng kanta. Seven years of love is one of my favorites, nakakatouch!” Myrna Doctor said, a big fan of Super Junior.

            K-pop songs are of course, primarily in Korean language. When asked if she memorize Kpop songs, she says, “Oo, memorized ko. Inaalam ko rin ang ibig sabihin ng mga kanta nila.” She gets to know the new singles of her favorite boy band in the T.V. – Arirang channel (an international network based in Seoul, South Korea) and sometimes through internet. “Lyrics naman sa MYX Mag and internet din.”

            With all these sources of Kpop music, its not impossible for the Filipino fans to get a taste of Korean Wave. In the Internet, there are a lot of social networking sites, and blog sites that promote appreciation for Kpop. There are even other sites that serve as Kpop merchandise shops that sell Kpop goodies like shirts, concert goods and many, many more. No wonder why the next day you may see these teenagers walking in the street wearing outfits like those of their idols, with eyeliners going beyond their eyelids to get that Korean “chinita” look.

           

            Foreign music and culture never fails to get into our own, outshining what is really ours. Now, after all these waves from distant lands, when will Philippine waves get back to its own shore?

K-pop girl group Girl’s Generation