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KPopCon5: An event by the fans, for the fans
'Saranghaeyo Oppa! (I love you!)' A fangirl flashes a heart hand sign to Boyfriend.
(Updated 2:40 p.m.) A fan would normally swoon about her favorites alone in front of the computer screen or a poster. But events like the Philippine KPop Convention are fan havens where you can ogle, swoon and even dress up like your favorite idol without being judged.
What’s better is that at events like these, fans are able to give back to the less fortunate while having a good time. Held at the SMX Convention Center last Saturday, KPopCon divided the venue into two stages—one by the fans and the other for the fans.
By the fans
Fans gather at booths to get their bingo cards stamped
As it has done every year year, the KPopCon hands out "bingo" cards together with KPop goodie bags to fans upon entry.
This year, Stage 2—the half of the SMX Hall dedicated to fan events—featured Q&A portions, Korean beauty tips, voice lessons and KPop dance lessons with professional choreographers and top vocal trainers. After the voice lessons, some of the fans applied what they’ve learned at the Noraebang (Korean videoke).
The classic KPop bingo game was also held at Stage 2. To get your bingo card stamped, you must do what the fan club requires you to do, like wear the official fan color of the band, or participate in different games, or simply vote for your favorite member of the group. Once completed, fans can drop their bingo cards into a raffle box for a chance to win some cool prizes such as home appliances.
For shoppers, there were also different KPop-themed shops, mostly online shops bringing their merchandise to a wider audience.
For the fans
LC9 member Rasa picks up a fan for a 'selca' (selfie).
At Stage 1, fans got more than what they wished for: instead of only watching their “oppas” perform on stage, they were able to get up close and personal with their favorite groups: A.Cian, LC9, Lunafly and main guest Boyfriend.
The prizes at the mini games were the most coveted: the winners got the chance to hug their idols. But the consolation prizes weren't so bad either, as they got a chance to stand next to their KPop crushes. And after their performance, each group held their own “High-Five” event in which fans lined up to high-five their idols.
The idols' powerful performances were the result of several years of training, but talented fans also showed their best as cover groups, cosplayers and KPop singing star contestants battled it out on stage for prestige and recognition from their fellow fans and respected judges. The champion of the dance cover competition, SE-ON, won the chance to be the opening act for the main guest, Boyfriend.
The prizes at the mini games were the most coveted: the winners got the chance to hug their idols. But the consolation prizes weren't so bad either, as they got a chance to stand next to their KPop crushes. And after their performance, each group held their own “High-Five” event in which fans lined up to high-five their idols.
The idols' powerful performances were the result of several years of training, but talented fans also showed their best as cover groups, cosplayers and KPop singing star contestants battled it out on stage for prestige and recognition from their fellow fans and respected judges. The champion of the dance cover competition, SE-ON, won the chance to be the opening act for the main guest, Boyfriend.
Dance cover group SE-ON performs as Boyfriend's opening act.
Moments away from Boyfriend’s performance, the host Kring Elenzano announced the winners of different contests and raffles, both live and online—a few weeks before the convention, an online voting was held for fans to vote for their favorite idol in different categories much like a real Korean awarding body. The artists who won the online categories came to claim their trophies—their standee version, that is!
Kim Jaejoong—the standee—came to claim the “Hottest KPop Male Artist” for the fourth time. Fans had a good laugh when standees were brought in to claim their awards.
Kim Jaejoong—the standee—came to claim the “Hottest KPop Male Artist” for the fourth time. Fans had a good laugh when standees were brought in to claim their awards.
Kim Jaejoong—or at least his standee— 'claims' the 'Hottest KPop Male Artist' award for the fourth time.
The champion of the KPop dance cover battle was SE-ON, who performed as the opening act for Boyfriend.
The anticipation of the Bestfriends (what the fans of Boyfriend call themselves) grew after SE-ON performed. When the host introduced the main act, fans who had been there since morning managed to muster every bit of energy they had in their bodies to cheer for their favorite idol.
Boyfriend last visited the Philippines in 2012 for a one-night performance, and one thing they didn’t get to try was authentic Filipino food. So they got what they wanted when they tried “kwek-kwek”—quail egg dipped in batter and deep-fried.
The anticipation of the Bestfriends (what the fans of Boyfriend call themselves) grew after SE-ON performed. When the host introduced the main act, fans who had been there since morning managed to muster every bit of energy they had in their bodies to cheer for their favorite idol.
Boyfriend last visited the Philippines in 2012 for a one-night performance, and one thing they didn’t get to try was authentic Filipino food. So they got what they wanted when they tried “kwek-kwek”—quail egg dipped in batter and deep-fried.
Members of Boyfriend try out kwek-kwek for the first time.
The Korean group also enjoyed the Filipino experience through other mini-games such as the yoyo showdown and guessing what Filipino item was inside a concealed box.
As they closed their performance, Minwoo prepared something special for the Filipino Bestfriends. He took out a small piece of paper with words written in Hangul and tried his best to read it out loud: “Maraming salamat po.” Bestfriends swooned in delight that he made the extra effort to greet the them in Tagalog.
As they closed their performance, Minwoo prepared something special for the Filipino Bestfriends. He took out a small piece of paper with words written in Hangul and tried his best to read it out loud: “Maraming salamat po.” Bestfriends swooned in delight that he made the extra effort to greet the them in Tagalog.
'Maraming salamat po!' Boyfriend’s youngest member Minwoo reads from his cheat code written in Hangul to express his deepest gratitude to fans in Tagalog.
But wait, there’s more! After Boyfriend performed their last song, they returned to the stage for the fansigning event. Lucky fans got their albums signed, capping a perfect night of fan service after waiting since morning.
The Philippine KPop Convention is an annual KPop event organized by PKCI in partnership with the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO), the Korean Cultural Center (KCC), and Pulp Live Productions. Proceeds from the convention will be donated to Gawad Kalinga Philippines and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). PKCI also has several support programs such as KPop Con’s Make-A-Wish Project, which provides educational materials and lab equipment to student beneficiaries, whether KPop fans or not. — BM/KG, GMA News
The Philippine KPop Convention is an annual KPop event organized by PKCI in partnership with the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO), the Korean Cultural Center (KCC), and Pulp Live Productions. Proceeds from the convention will be donated to Gawad Kalinga Philippines and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). PKCI also has several support programs such as KPop Con’s Make-A-Wish Project, which provides educational materials and lab equipment to student beneficiaries, whether KPop fans or not. — BM/KG, GMA News
