The Life Before, During and Beyond the Pinoy Hallyu Community

NOTE: This article first appeared on DaebakPH last July 28, 2016. You may read by clicking here.

Okay, before I will backtrack to the days of the Pinoy Hallyu Community, you can credit the success and contributions of the KPOP culture in all forms, not with reservations (pardon the Alma Moreno reference tho). But I have a Q’s for you, who needs Cable TV when you have a PC or a Laptop with Internet Access and who needs Audio CDs when you have phones with most likely illegally-downloaded MP3s.

But hey, we’re getting ahead what I’m talking about.

This should have been all about the mostly ups (and sometimes downs) in the Filipino Hallyu Community. But the success of this that I’m talking about is all about the issue that you loved them (or most likely hated them) — which is… KPOP.

But the success of KPOP music is a reflection of the Filipino Popular Culture made by the millennials of this generation.

I’m have no regrets about the genre when the fans have mental illusions, death causes stampede and other things tho.

But you need to appreciate all the things. Imagine, what is the Philippines when KPOP is not conquered yet.

Before we embraced the new millennium that changed the universe. Before KPOP comes in, there’s Mexicanovelas. In the 90’s the Mexican Telenovela named Marimar has became a massive success and also became a household name. And because of that, the Mexican Actress Thalia made also a household name and she conquered to our country to give thanks to her Filipino fans and also, she recorded and released her album under OctoArts (now PolyEast) and I think I got LSS-ed over her version of Ogie Alcasid’s Nandito Ako just for Filipino Fans. And because of the that, she became a part of the Filipino Popular Culture.

After we embraced the new millennium, the Mexican Dramas are still in loop until around 2003 if my memory serves me right. After the networks stopped airing Mexican titles, they ventured into Asians. Particularly, Meteor Garden was broadcasted in the same year that I mentioned, just like Marimar, they became a hit, they have a cult following even the Flower Boys (or should I say F4) and just like that, they also became a household name — even Shan Cai, Dao Ming Si, Hua Ze Lei, Xi Men and Mei Zuo and most of all, became a Number 1 drama in our country. Do you remembered they conquered our country to say “Thank You” to the Filipino Fans? And also, GMA Channel 7 was the first television network to air Korean Dramas and the first K Drama which is Bright Girl starring Jang Nara in the same year that I mentioned.

Around 2004 (F that short term memory), before Nobody, Sorry Sorry and Fire was claimed to be the so-called first KPOP Song that invaded the airwaves, here is the first (Really. First.) KPOP song that that invaded the Philippine airwaves, the song titled Answer the Phone by Mina. The song that I mentioned was so mysterious because, we didn’t know what is the title of the song and the artist who sang. But nevertheless, it was LSS-inducing track to make our bodies moving and fists pumping.

In the same year I think that I mentioned, the Korean Drama “Autumn in my Heart” was the first KPOP Drama was gained awareness in Korean Culture (even KPOP is not yet blossomed) I think if my memory always serves me right. Also, Lovers in Paris, My Name is Kim Sam Soon and Stairway to Heaven became a hit, and the characters are now became a household name.

Also in the same year, I remembered watching Star Circle Quest and Dara (Sandara Park) as a contestant and also, she named as a champion and the rest is history. She became a popular TV personality until she left our country I think 2007 rather and 2009 she became a member of the popular KPOP Girl Group 2NE1.

Around I think 2005, Full House was aired in our country way back 2005 (when TV Programming was not already fucked up yet that time), they topped the ratings which is around 50%, making it the one of the highest-rated TV programs of all time. And also, the actor Rain has now became a household name among Filipinos. And also, they aired his music videos on MYX and if I’m not mistaken, he endorsed the shampoo brand.

Also in the same year around 2004–2005 I think, some Korean Dramas was aired on GMA 7 used their tagalized OST done by Faith Cuneta. I listened her songs particularly the OST from Stairway to Heaven and Winter Sonata.

Based on my collective memory, around 2009, the three of the popular KPOP songs particularly Nobody by Wonder Girls, Sorry Sorry by Super Junior and Fire by 2NE1 became a masive hit on both record stores, music channels and airwaves. But because of that, KPOP is now fully blossomed, not just Dramas, but also the Music, Fashion and Pop Culture. Also, most of the record labels has officially started distributing KPOP titles to sell in the Philippine Market. They started organizing KPOP events, particularly the biggest and most-attended KPOP Convention and KFEST. Also, they started with their gimmicks like KPOP Merchandises, Cover Groups, KPOP Cosplayers and the very infamous… KPOP Idol Lookalike. And most of all they started growing the Filipino Hallyu Community up to now.

In 2012, when PSY released his single Gangnam Style, the song has now became a massive hit on the airwaves and became viral on Youtube with a whopping views I think around billion so he started the Gangnam Style craze following up his follow-up single Gentleman which was became viral also I think.

And around 2013 up to the present, EXO, BTS, APINK and other KPOP Groups has now became a household name for many Pinoy KPOP Fans, the community has made even better and blossomed. But there’s an unexpected thing that adding the dirt which is fanwars. But I’m already talked about last time. Speaking of better, KPOP Fans inside the community is now growing better and better in terms of numbers, the artists are conqured our country just to see up and more KPOP Events was organized (either major or minor).

Also a KPOP gig, after all, it is also an avenue for the people who became a talk of the town. Particularly Kring Elenzano-Kim and Jimmy Kim (collectively known as Krimmy Couple), Dasuri Choi, Ryan Bang, Rojean delos Reyes, KM Santos, Elij Tolosa, Chrisha Mae Carlos and other personalities inside of the community.

Then there is a magic of KPOP music and artists: when you are bored, grab your phones and listen to KPOP music anytime and anywhere. And if you feel uninspired, print the pictures of your bias and stare all day long huh. But don’t be a sasaeng, okay?

And to cap off this piece, KPOP is not just good looks and chinky eyes is not just a very simple thing. It’s a complex subject to this matter. In a world full of Keneth Quintos, there’s a place that can make your KPOP Life wonderful. Be like Krimmy Couple, KM Santos, Kristine Almazora, Dasuri Choi, Yohan Hwang and other well-loved personalities in the community. Our KPOP Life will goes on and life will be colorful, just like SHINee’s “Colorful”.

Cheers to the Pinoy KPOP Community and KPOP the good work.