Last October 5, KNATION Music Showcase 2014 was held at the SMX Convention Center in MOA. It showcased 5 Kpop groups with the main act being UKISS. The other 4 were MPire, Bigstar, 4 Ladies, and Winners Crew (a dance group). I know of MPire and Bigstar because I've seen them on M Countdown, and Feeldog, leader of Bigstar, as a guest on KBS's Dream Team. This is the first time I've of 4 Ladies and Winners Crew though.


Anyway, I didn't know about this until 2 days before it was set to happen. My friend and colleague, Dompy, texted me and told me that UKISS will be in Manila (she knows I'm a KissMe). OMG! How could I have missed this?! I'm an 'effin useless fangirl. I haven't been reading Kpop news in a while and haven't been logging on to the Kpop Forums (OneHallyu in particular) because some crap at work was ongoing. But that was not an EXCUSE!

So, I redeemed myself and bought a ticket the very next day. I didn't even think about that hardship of commuting to SM MOA located at the other side of the Metro from where I lived. Since this was held at SMX, SM Malls sold the tickets. I thought about buying the VVIP tickets which cost PHP 4,200, but then settled for the VIP tickets at PHP 3,180 because I reasoned that the only I act really wanted to see was UKISS and that they will probably just be on stage for like 30 minutes (they were on stage for like 45 minutes).

I got there about 3 hours early because I wanted to look around the mall first and then buy merch at the Knation booths. I bought a lot of UKISS stuff like a lightstick, 2 shirts, posters, a bagtag, and a door sign. Yey! Finally, I have all my fave Kpop groups on my wall: SHINee, Infinite, and UKISS. Weeehoo!

I was also, finally, able to taste Melona ice cream. I was in Seoul in May and wasn't able to taste this ice cream. It was delicious! I want more! Need to find some Korean Mart near our house, fast!

The stage where groups performed Kpop dances

The merch section

The Faceshop's Photo Booth with Kim Soo Hyun

After, waiting for hours and going through a crazy, disorganized line (I was getting angry at management for not properly labeling lines for different ticket holders. They acted so late that the show which was supposed to start at 6 PM ended up starting at around 7:30 PM or even later!) I was finally inside the SMX Halls 3 and 4 and about to see UKISS for the very first time. I was so excited.

My UKISS stash.  Love the black shirt.

I enjoyed the parts before UKISS, but wasn't really into the other groups. So, when finally UKISS came on stage, I was shouting my butt off. I was placed perfectly to the right side of the stage where Kevin and Jun were always positioned in their dance routines. YEY!

Eli, Hoon, Soohyun, Kevin, and Jun (missing in photo: Kiseop)

I was filming the whole time, so I would have a remembrance of when and where I saw them first. Hopefully this won't be my last, and hopefully I will be able to get to them up close and personal. I was blown away by how good they were live and on stage. Unlike the previous groups who performed before them, UKISS' vocals were always spot on even if they were dancing so hard. Kevin's voice was so clear and strong and didn't even go off pitch (but who was I to tell, not an expert by any means). There was backtrack playing in the background but you can definitely hear that they were singing live. It was so obvious in that small, intimate venue. They should be bigger in Korea, sadly, they are not. But their international fans love them a lot, so they continue to make music.

Kiseop saying his message to KissMes

Kevin the interpreter X-)

In the end, UKISS seemed very pleased with the adoring KissMes that Soohyun promised, "as the group's leader", to come back to the Philippines to a bigger venue for a full concert. They also cited that they held their very first concert here in Manila, so they are very thankful to the Filipino KissMes. Ahhh, I know UKISS love their fans a lot. You can tell how they appreciate the fans. They never forget, and that's what makes them worthy of my support and love. Nucks.

In preparation for my sojourn to the land of Kpop and Kdrama, I find myself browsing through countless blogs, travel sites, and OTAs (online travel agencies). Though I've yet to look for must-visit attractions and must-buy items, there are certain things I want to do when I'm in South Korea, particularly in Seoul.

1. Eat bibimbap and samgyeopsal

Bibimbap @ Bibimbob

I've had the pleasure of tasting bibimbap here in Manila at a fast food joint called, Bibimbob, which is located at the food court of SM North EDSA in Quezon City. This signature Korean dish literally means mixed rice, and that's really what you do with it, mix the rice with vegetables and beef (usually it's beef, but at Bibimbob they also have pork and chicken). It's surprisingly delicious and tasty, and I'm all for having as many vegetables in my rice as possible, well, except kimchi as it is spicy. Not a fan of spicy anything. Needless to say, I fell in like with it and now must have this when I visit Seoul soon.

Samgyeopsal, on the other had, I have been curious to try ever since I saw it in a Kdrama. Savory grilled meat with garlic, bean paste, bean sprouts--even rice--wrapped in crisp lettuce and dipped in sauce. I'd be willing to forgo my hate relationship with anything spicy for this, and still try to enjoy it.

2. Stay in a Hanok guesthouse

image from kimchicrew

Even for just a night, I would like to experience a stay in a hanok, a traditional Korean house with wooden floors, columns, doors, and sometimes tiled, sometimes straw roofing. If you watch Korean dramas, I'm sure you'd have seen one. Most would have an ondol, or floor heating to keep you warm during the winter months. Sure, I might have to endure a trip outside to the bathroom if I feel to urge to pee in the middle of the night, as hanoks will commonly have a shared bathroom that's located in a separate structure. But all this will just add to the whole South Korean experience that I'm planning to savor on my trip. On the plus side, most hanok guesthouses are affordable and located within city limits.

3. Watch a Korean pop music show

SBS Inkigayo

Yeah, I'd queue up for this one, maybe even get up early. I don't actually mind who will perform (it would be great though if SHINee, Infinite, SuJu, FTIsland, or SNSD will be there), I just want to experience watching a live show instead of on cable or on YouTube. Plus, I'm really all for Kpop.

Mnet Countdown

There are different ways of getting in, one is by joining a Daum or a fan club, and you'd have to show you are a fan by producing a copy of the band/ singer's album to the fan club president/ representative. But you can also take a chance by signing up as a studio audience in any of the 4 music show's website: SBS Ingkigayo (Sundays), KBS Music Bank (Fridays), Mnet Countdown (Thursdays), and MBC Music Core (Saturdays). The audience would be selected randomly from those who signed up at the site.

4. Eat in a Pojangmacha

Again, as seen from countless Korean dramas, I'm curious about trying a meal in a Pojangmacha. These tented street stalls are a common sight in South Korea and, I'm thinking, might be a great place to sample Korean street food and see how the locals are like. Basically, people watch. it's not something I do very often, as I think it's rude, but then I'm a tourist so, maybe, certain liberties could be granted and taken. :D

5. Try the Jjimjilbang

South Korea's public bathhouse cum sauna. As a first-time tourist in SK and a regular spa visitor, I would like to try this very Korean form or relaxation. I believe it has become some sort of tourist attraction, if not for the unique experience you'll get. For a few thousand wons you can spend hours inside the jimjilbang lounging by the common area while watching on a big-ass TV or having a meal. You can even head to the saunas and start your jimjilbang adventure (but you have to be butt naked in these areas. Not to worry, it's separated by gender.) Some budget travelers even bunk for the night in jimjilbangs, saving them thousands of wons in the process. It's a fantastic idea, if you're not too picky about where you sleep. I would do this for the experience, but only when I'm not traveling alone.

I'm quite excited about this trip that hopefully will come into fruition as scheduled. However, there are so many things to do first before this happens...and that's my cue to start moving my ass and get started.

PS

Thanks to SHINee, EXO, Infinite, Spica, Super Junior, and Henry for getting me in the mood to write this long post.

After rediscovering K-pop this year (I say 'rediscovering' because I've known Kpop for a while, but didn't really care for it as much before), I have to say I pretty much like songs from boy groups. I find their songs are better suited to my tastes, plus their voices are not pitch-y (meaning, it doesn't irritate the hell out of me) like the girl groups. I admit it's also because I'm female. But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate girl groups. Proof of that is Spica. I love their new song so much I'm posting it here. The only other Kpop video I blogged about was SHINee's Why So Serious, and I LOVE that group. Seriously.


Tonight by Spica

Tonight. Tonight is the night
geutorok gidaryeotdeon urimanui sigan oh yeah
Tonight. Tonight is the night
kkumcheoreom neowa naega hanadoeneun i bam oh yeah

mam gatji anheun sesange dapdaphaetji
deungdwiro neukkineun siseoni chagawotji
geurae nan andwae motae pogihal ttaejjeum
nae ape jjan hago niga natanangeoya

jeo meolli barkge bitnaneun jeo byeolbit
eokkaereul dudeurineun baram
modu nareul bichwo dasi kkumeul kkune
naeil achim tteooreuneun taeyangdo
seororeul wihae kkok jabeun son
dasi nal ireukyeo naneun noraehane

Tonight. We feelin so high
jeo nopi haneullo Fly fly fly kkeuteobsi naraolla oh yeah oh

hanbeon deo Hi-five urineun jukji anha
seonban wi motnani inhyeongcheoreom ulji anha
dagachi Get up. Stand up. bukkeureoma
urin da juingong iljjik jibe gajima

jeo meolli barkge bitnaneun jeo byeolbit
eokkaereul dudeurineun baram
modu nareul bichwo dasi kkumeul kkune
naeil achim tteooreuneun taeyangdo
seororeul wihae kkok jabeun son
dasi nal ireukyeo naneun noraehane

Feels good nuneul gama
Feels good mwoga boyeo?
Feels good geuge baro neoya It alright~ Oh~

Turn it up. Burn it up
modu nareul bichwo dasi kkumeul kkune

jeo meolli barkge bitnaneun jeo byeolbit
eokkaereul dudeurineun baram
modu nareul bichwo dasi kkumeul kkune
naeil achim tteooreuneun taeyangdo
seororeul wihae kkok jabeun son
dasi nal ireukyeo naneun noraehane

modeun geosi dallajyeosseo
neowa hamkkehaneun i bam
nunbusige areumdaun Tonight is the night.

You won't hear teeny-weeny, cutesy, pitch-y voices here. Goes to show that what they're saying about the group's talent is true. I hope they do make it big, especially now with the support of Lee Hyori.