What happens when an irresistible force meets an immoveable object? Or in this case, what happens when a girl who had sworn never to be a "fangirl" catches the Korean wave?
 
Since Korean dramas started airing on primetime local television in 2003, Filipino viewers of all ages have caught the Korean wave or "hallyu," a term for the spread and surge of Korean pop culture.
 
As a self-confessed American entertainment junkie, I might have been hiding in a cave when all of this was going on, save for watching a few Korean movies like “Il Mare” and “Sassy Girl,” which are great films by the way.
 
So I think it was very understandable that when I caught a glimpse of thousands of screaming fans camping outside SM Center Stage for the Korean Cultural Center’s Hallyu Fest, I felt like I stumbled into this other dimension of the universe. I was shocked.
 
“Ate, ate, isama mo naman ako,” young girls who weren’t lucky enough to get one of the 400 free tickets distributed early that afternoon nudged me as I fought my way into the entrance of the venue at the SM Mall of Asia.
 
I let myself be swept into this hallyu world, both alien and confusing to me, without knowing that I would eventually swallow my words.



Into the hallyu universe
 
Hallyu Fest 2012 is one of a string of events the Korean Cultural Center put up for the month of July in celebration of its first year anniversary in the Philippines.
 
The theater was full of fangirls and fanboys who came for the K-Pop Cover Dance Group contest and a sweet peek of the “Rookie of the Year” K-Pop group Boyfriend, whose members comprised the panel of judges.
 
When Boyfriend appeared and walked towards the judges’ table, the crowd went wild. At first, the 1,000-seating capacity theater, to my amusement, suddenly turned into a classroom when the show’s host had to remind the audience composed mostly of tweens, to settle down and behave; otherwise, bid Boyfriend goodbye.
 
But who could blame them? The six members of Boyfriend -- Kim Donghyun, Shim Hyunseong, Lee Jeongmin, Jo Youngmin, Jo Jwangmin and No Minwoo -- though wearing eye-blinding clothes with hues of orange, all looked cute and ridiculously irresistible. Give me a Korean wave like this, and I’d gladly surf it everyday.
 
Though the real attraction of the event was Boyfriend, I found the cover dance contest very enjoyable, even impressive.
 
There were 12 finalists who danced and sang to the beat of the hottest K-Pop groups like Super Junior, Exo and 2NE1. Now I have never listened to K-Pop records, except of course Wonder Girls’ but I immediately took a liking for the combination of electronic, hip-hop and R&B music.
 
It has of course its similarities to American pop, but manages to remain distinctly Korean.
 
KCC Director Seong Un Hwang said, “We included Korean style there. We included fashion and Korean beat and singers are Asians so that’s why many Asians like them.”
 
All the dancers were gifted, showing their passion for K-Pop, and I could tell Boyfriend was having a difficult time judging the contest. Boyfriend gave their comments on each group, to the screams of fans. It was fun hearing them speak Korean and then waiting for the English translation.
 
At the end of the event, the runners-up were groups Se-Eon and Elfinity, while Boys on Fire, who covered 2NE1, bagged the grand prize. Boys on Fire is composed of David Tiu Pascual, Dan Arro, Jr., Mark Anthony Madjus and Dion Serapio. They are going to represent the Philippines in the K-Pop Dance Cover Festival to be held in Gyeongju, Korea from September 21 to 23.
 
The fourth-year college students from Fatima University were jumping up and down with joy when I interviewed them. “Akala ko po first runner-up po kami kaya naging happy na po ako tapos nung sinabi na kami yung grand winner, ayun po talagang nagtatalon na ako. Kaya nga po nung pag-akyat namin ng stage noong una, parang tamang saya lang po tapos nung in-announce na kami, nagtatalon na ako,” said group leader David.

Appreciating the wave
 
During the festival, K-Pop fans were also able to participate in a cosplay and photo contest.
 
The excited crowd took on a more somber mood when the host segued to a video presentation of almost a decade of Korean dramas, wonderfully complemented by Pinoy K-Pop stars who sang the theme songs.
 
Even the older members of the crowd suddenly started singing, revealing the fangirls and fanboys behind their more reserved exterior.
 
The event was capped off with Boyfriend singing two of their hits: “Love Style” and, of course, their staple, “Boyfriend”.
 
As I watched how the crowd went wild and sang lyrics most of them probably do not even understand, I began to absorb what makes Korean pop culture so inviting. They were fresh, they were young, they were wholesome. The Korean style might border on being “pa-cute” but there is a sweet charm to it, hooking one’s eyes with the vibrant colors and one’s ears with the reverberating, danceable music.
 
In fact, I felt a tinge of envy for the Koreans who have managed to break into the typically Western-dominated entertainment scene. I wish Filipinos can have their own thing too. Someday, I guess. Soon, I hope.
 
So, I thought, this is what happens when a girl like me catches the Korean wave. - BM/YA, GMA News