1. HIS LOOKS

Fast forward to ten years, TVXQ has become an established and respected group, not just in the KPOP industry, but in the worldwide music scene. The group might have split into two now (with three members forming a new unit named JYJ), but obviously the fans still have their whole support for the five of them. Fans widely celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the group online by reminiscing the best moments of the group on twitter. The twitter hashtag #동방신기와10년 for the event even trended worldwide across various countries.

(twitter screenshots taken at around 1:45PM today)

Good job Pinoy Cassies! ^__^

Sometimes dreams can span years before being materialized. You'll just have to always keep the faith.




Happee Sy is one of the main brains of Pulp Live World. One of the reasons why I am so happy that they are the promoters of this concert is that she is a fangirl herself. She understands how important this event will be for all the fans. Maybe it also helps that she is close friends with Kring Elenzano-Kim, one of the founders of Cassiopeia Philippines, TVXQ!'s official fanclub in the country. With this, she gets further insight of what would make the fans happy for this concert.

"Over a decade of anticipation."
This sentence right there holds true on how long Filipino Cassies have waited to finally see the men (yes Yunho and Changmin already are!) they adore so much. This blog is witness to how emotionally invested I am to this group (a quick search will unveil all of my oldest posts about them 😅).

I got to know this legendary KPOP group during the height of their lawsuit with SM Entertainment, their agency, in 2009. Although their future as a group was very uncertain at that point, it didn't hinder me into wanting to know more about them. Youtube served to be one of the greatest sources of information for me for their past interviews, music videos, and other content. When the three members (Jaejoong, Yoochun, Junsu) decided to leave the group, I was in a rollercoaster of emotions. For the years that came, I still tried to support all of them in their activities.

But still, the longing ensued. I have asked this question in 2013 - when will I see TVXQ! in the flesh? It was already a given that I won't be seeing them as a five-member group, but still I wanted to at least see each of them live. Two years ago, that dream came true, as Kim Jaejoong visited the country for a fanmeeting. My happiness was beyond me. It was such an eerie experience seeing his face in real life. It was really fulfilling seeing 1/5 of the group that really gave me happiness especially during the latter years of my college life. I guess it's an understatement that this group saved me. With what I know now about my mental health, I could have suffered breakdowns during those times. It was perfect timing when I got to know their music because it sure served as a healthy distraction from my own destructive train of thoughts, of which helped me get focused on my goals amidst all the stress and pressure of acads.

I'm planning to see the show together with friends whom I share the same passion of loving this group. My happiness will be multiplied to infinity because all of us will share this feeling that finally, we'll be able to see Yunho and Changmin live on stage. 😭 This will also tick off another item from my 2012 Christmas wishlist.




If all goes well, I'll accomplish seeing 3/5 of the original TVXQ! members. Unfortunately, it will be impossible to see Park Yoochun because he has already retired from the entertainment industry (which is very controversial at the moment). Which brings Kim Junsu as the only one left on the list. He's my bias in the group. So, save the best for last, I guess? :D

Aaah I really can't wait anymore! But first things first, I'll have to find a red lightstick to bring to the concert. Wooh~ See you Cassies! Always keep the faith!

The day has come for all the kpop fans in the country to unite for this one grand event!

It's the KPOP Convention 4!

Held last Saturday (December 29) at the PICC Forums 1-3, hundreds upon hundreds of kpop fans all over the country gathered to celebrate the music that we all have come to love. Gates opened at 9AM but upon our arrival at around 10:30AM, there was still a loooong line at the entrance and the queue keeps on piling up (in a very fast rate I must say) that it already reached the curve to another street outside the hall.

By the way, we were not able to witness the CassPH Flashmob. I heard they did great though! Good job Cassies! :D

It was Miss Kring Elenzano  who hosted the event. She looked so stunningly beautiful (as always hehe)!

the stage at the kpop con 4

Dreams do come true, always keep the faith.



Until now, days after these all happened, I am still feeling incomprehensible emotions. Did it really happen? Was I not dreaming? Did I really see Kim Jaejoong live? It still hasn't really sank in, but the photos and videos that I have captured are the things I hold on to remind myself that yes, it all happened. Yes it was real, I really saw Kim Jaejoong, at long last. 💓

I've been a fan of TVXQ since 2009. As much as I want to talk about my fangirling history to make you (if I have actual readers, 안녕!) realize how much this event meant to me, I want to talk more about this fateful day that I finally saw Kim Jaejoong live. (you can read about my fangirling journey here and here).

I'm not actually sure how to start. Let's just say I believe the Universe have arranged this meeting so that I'll be as close as possible to Jaejoong, to able to understand him more, and also to take home the best memories possible with me. I decided to take risks for him, and I am forever grateful to friends and connections that made me experience this concert the best way possible.

I already know basic Korean (recently took formal classes!).
I invested on a better camera.
I upgraded to the best seats in the house.
I received a media pass.

I think subconsciously, I was actually preparing to finally meet him. He's 1/5 of the guys that I loved since I was in college. And to finally meet him up close? IT REALLY FELT SURREAL. I HAVE NO WORDS.

The first few seconds that I saw him on stage was in slow motion in my head. My stomach ached and I couldn't breathe. HE'S ACTUALLY STANDING RIGHT THERE. 😮After a few seconds of being in a trance, I slapped myself out and started to shoot photos and videos (ehem I had some tasks to complete for KPOPChannel. 😉).

Not Just a Concert, But A Reunion of Friends
For us mga lumang tao ng KPOP (as host Kring Elenzano said - long-time fans of KPOP), this event is a milestone in our lives. As early as 2004, there already have been local fans doing simple meetups spazzing about TVXQ (this is pre-Youtube days guys). They can't follow their favorite groups' activities in real-time, unlike what's possible today. It's really the fans' connections to each other that held their fandom alive. As the years passed, people have graduated out of TVXQ's fandom and moved to other more active groups (sadly TVXQ's disbandment and each member's military enlistment hugely affected their presence in the KPOP world).

But tonight, I saw a lot of people excitedly hugging and greeting people they passed by. I observed this not only while I was outside the venue but also when I got to the audience area inside. It was really indeed a reunion. For my case with my friends, I initially recognized them by face only... l had to ask them what their names were coz it's been years since I last saw them😅). Even before the fanmeeting started, the atmosphere was so happy because friends have reunited here again because of their love for Jaejoong.

fangirling friends (they're the same people from my DBI family)

Ms. Kring: Perfect Host for the Night
That night was also extra special because it was Ms. Kring who hosted the event. I'm so glad she was the one chosen to do it, as we can't really have anyone else do that precious role. She's a fellow fangirl that has been with us all these years, so she has all the right to have the honor to be on the same stage with Jaejoong.

Look where 7 years worth of keeping the faith brought her. 💗

The Fanmeeting Program
I'm not fond of attending fanmeetings (I'm 100% a concert girl), but this is Jaejoong so this is definitely an exception. So what exactly happens in a fanmeeting? Well for this one, there's an activity part and a concert part (yaaay!). In the first part, Jaejoong gets to interact with fans through games and Q&As.

Jaejoong chose selcas sent by fans and answered questions written at the back.

He also played charades with chosen fans on stage.

There's also a "guess this song" game wherein the audience had to guess the OPM song Jaejoong was humming.

I also realized how much he loves drinking. During the segment where he tried our local pulutan (food to eat while drinking beer), he really loved the San Miguel beer. He even recognized the taste. I think Jaejoong would be a cool drinking buddy. 😊

During the concert part, I realized that I really loved the musician in him over everything else. When he started to sing, that's when he got me under his trance. I always loved his vocals. To hear him sing live was heaven to my ears.

Superb Fanclubs - Thank you!
Of all the KPOP concerts I've been to, this is the first time I experienced raising lightsticks and also participating in a fan project. With that said, I am very thankful to the fanclubs that went above and beyond to provide these merchandise for the fans (these are the only items I got hold of, so if there are other fanclubs that arranged something, thank you also!)

JYJ PH provided lightsticks and banners

This is another item checked on my fangirling bucket list. One down, four to go. #alwayskeepthefaith

Thank you 재중! It was a memorable night for us. If you still can, please come back again. We'll always wait for you. 💗

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and SM Entertainment Co., Ltd have partnered to showcase a one-of-a-kind experience of the Korean culture for foreign tourists with the launch of the Hallyu Concert and Moonlight Tour Program for Foreigners. From April 1 to 2, foreign tourists had a chance to watch a hologram concert at the SM Town Theatre, and at night join a Moonlight Tour at the Changdeokgung Palace.

Luckily, me and my sister were among the chosen 30 foreign tourists to participate in the program! Yay!


Hologram concert of Girl's story at the SM Town Theatre

I was lured to the kpop scene because of TVXQ. As the year went by, I started to recognize other artists that were also from SM Entertainment. This is why a trip to SMTown is the perfect treat for me as a KPOP fan!

SM Town Theatre credits: smtownland.com

Located on the fifth floor, the SM Town Theatre is a multifunctional theatre that can hold hologram, musicals, and actual concerts. Aside from the stage at the center with the hologram effect, there are screens also at the center stage (that scrolls down) and also on both sides that extends the vision from the central stage.

The GIRL STORY hologram concert features SNSD's Yoona and SHINee's Minho as robot dolls that seeks to find the true love of their life.