CEBU, Philippines — It’s no secret that much of Korean culture has weaved itself into the lives of Cebuanos. Beyond popular Korean music and TV shows, the Korean language, fashion, cosmetics, and even gastronomic experience have become pieces of their sensibility that Cebuanos have been appreciating.
Through a four-day K-Fest held at SM City Cebu, the Cebu Korean Association alongside the Cebu Provincial Government, Cebu City Government and the support of the Korean Consulate Office in Cebu, celebrated the 8th Cebu City Korea Day as a strong reminder of the relationship between Cebu and South Korea.
After all sorts of festivities like the time travel-themed Korean Film Festival (Sept. 26, 29-30) which featured five riveting movies; the Korean Cultural Exhibit, Korean Culture Bazaar, Korea Food Festival (Sept. 28-30) by the Korean Women’s Association of Cebu which presented the lives of traditional Koreans, their crafts and clothing, as well as food; and the 2018 Cebu K-Pop Star Grand Finals (Sept. 29) that had 25 Cebuano cover units performing their favourite K-Pop tracks and saw the victory of RABB7E who was hailed 2018 Cebu K-Pop Star with P50,000 in cash, followed by XOXO Chemical Edition as first runner-up with P30,000 for their “MAMA” by EXO performance, and SOLSTICE as second runner-up with P10,000 for their rendition of NCT 127’s “Cherry Bomb” – the K-Fest came to a close on the Cebu City Korea Day Main Event held at the Northwing Atrium of SM City Cebu where Cebuanos and Koreans gathered to celebrate.
This year’s main event was hosted by Jonathan Cimafranca and Lee Soyoung and featured performances from both Cebuanos and Koreans, showcasing the best of both worlds and the rich culture and talent of each party.
The Knapsack dancers shared the stage with the KanSugbo Dance Fusion (KDF) to present the best of Cebu’s places, products, and people. They also gave the crowd a glimpse of the vibrant festivals in Cebu namely, the Bonga Festival of Sibonga, the Palawod Festival of Bantayan, and Cebu City’s very own Sinulog Festival.
Professor Sharon Quintero-Manalo performed two Korean folk songs, one of which included “Arirang,” considered as the unofficial national anthem of Korea because of its popularity. A thrilling exhibition of doce pares (a form of Filipino martial art arnis, kali and eskrima) by the Cebu Arnis Team also took the stage, while the Cebu Taekwondo Association gave a fiery demo of the Korean martial art, taekwondo.
The 2018 Cebu K-Pop Star Grand Champion RABB7E stole the show as they performed their winning cover performance of Korean music group BTS’s “MIC Drop” MAMA Remix. The group also performed one of BTS’s latest singles, “Idol.” The Knapsack dancers and KDF joined the group for another round of “Idol” during the finale.
The Cebu Korean Association likewise brought a handful of Korean talents to Cebu for the affair. Among these were the kids of L-STAR, who followed up their adorable performance with a fierce stage. Nanta group TA:POS gave a unique Korean percussion performance, new to the Cebuano eye. Rookie K-Pop idol group ASTIN, set to debut this month, also performed and did a fan meet for Cebuano fans. Made up of members Mir Jung-hoon, Yoo Chan, Elvin, Jin Kyu, Theo, and Seung-jun, ASTIN did a cover of BTS’s “Fake Love,” “Idol” and “So What.” They also performed their debut song “Pandora.”
The event was graced by Cebu Korean Association President Cho Bong Hwan, who believes that the annual Cebu City Korea Day and Korean Festival are among the factors that strengthen the Cebuano-Korean relationship. Korean Consul General Oh Sung Yong was also at the affair. The two also recently celebrated the Korean National Day in Cebu with the local government on October 2 at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.
“Next year, our two countries will celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of our diplomatic relations as blood-tied allies since the Korean War in 1950s,” Consul General Oh Sung Yong said during the Cebu City Korea Day Gala Night, pointing out that despite safety concerns, Koreans and Cebuanos continue to work together.
“Our two countries continue to foster and support the various mutual exchanges in the fields of infrastructure, finance, defense industry, education and culture through K-Pop and K-dramas, and significantly, in the tourism sector wherein Korea’s contribution in Central Visayas is incomparable above all other nations,” he said of the 900,000 Koreans who visited Central Visayas last year and the 405,000 Filipinos who visited Korea also in 2017.