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Merch, awards and boyband Offroad delight fans at Kpop event PKCI
There was nothing but happy vibes at the Philippine K-Pop Convention (PKCI) last Sunday. Thousands of teens and tweens flocked to the Philippine Trade Trading Center to attend the biggest and most-awaited K-Pop event in the country.
There were over a hundred fanclub and merchandise booths celebrating K-Pop fandoms. Pins, photo cards, hand creams with band members’ faces, foldable fans, bookmarks, posters, T-shirts, and official merchandise decorated the tables of each booth. Con-goers kept streaming in, walking around with bags of merchandise from their favorite bands.
One of the booths that attracted many con-goers was the one for EXO Philippines , offering discounts on their merchandise if you sign up to become a member. Membership included a certificate of recognition, exclusive access to EXO events, and a membership card featuring one’s bias (in the K-Pop world, "bias" means one’s favorite member).
At 11 a.m., the program was kickstarted by a fashion show starring the finalists of KPop Kosplay Idol. To qualify for the competition, one must dress up as his/her favorite K-Pop Idol. There were solo and group categories.
Next up was Korean dancer-entertainer Dasuri Choi, who taught everyone how to dance with confidence. A big fan of the South Korean variety show “The Weekly Idol,” Dasuri sported a white crop top and skinny jeans. A regular at the PKCI, she had overwhelming support from the crowd when she started to perform.
The PKCI did not only feature Korean performances; there were several Filipino dance groups that graced the stage as well. These include Diversity Dance Crew, The Movement, and DMC (Dance Moverz Crew), who wowed fans with jaw-dropping stunts and heart-quickening dance moves.
The PKCI also held its 8th Philippine KPop Awards. Upon announcement of the winning artists, representatives from the corresponding fanclubs were called onstage to receive the award.
Twice was awarded Best Female Artist (Group), while BTS won Best Male Artist (Group). Taeyeon from Girls Generation was awarded Best Female Artist (Solo), and Nam Woo Hyun from Infinite was named Best Male Artist (Solo).
One of the most hyped events of the convention was the K-Pop Idol Lookalike Contest where four winners were picked from hundreds of Filipino aspirants online.
The finalists were Haruka Shiratani, Euniess Dacara, Lewi Vidad and Christian Bugaoan. Each of them showcased one talent, with Vidad removing his shirt and eliciting cheers from the audience. After that, all four winners played a thrilling version of the Newspaper Dance with some members of the audience.
A Korean boyband also performed at the PKCI. The five-member OFFROAD expressed their love for the Philippines using Tagalog phrases; one of the members, Harang, admits to loving “mango shake.” It is OFFROAD’s second visit to the Philippines; their first was a month-long stay in the country to film their latest music video, “Cry.”
With a wide array of fandom merchandise, interactive games and extraordinary performances, the PKCI just keeps getting better and better each year. — BM, GMA News
