Shot in SEOUL: KELVIN MIRANDA and KIRA BALINGER for "Chances Are, You and I"

There are still a lot of stories to be told and this one is both romantic, heartbreaking at times, and could pull heartstrings. It also talks about love, friendship, taking chances, and dreams... this of which will be discussed lengthily in this movie by Pocket Media Productions Incorporated. This stars Kelvin Miranda and Kira Balinger, some of the country's most promising stars.

A Little Backgrounder:

This is the first project of Director Catherine Camarillo under her production outfit PM Productions Inc. This was during the pandemic, and when the franchise of ABSCBN wasn't renewed. This was a family decision, more or less, and since her daughter had this script for a while now, they wanted to do this specific one and offer it to streaming services pre-prod. The scenes were all shot in 2022, and a little during the latter part of that year because production ceased when restrictions came during those times. 

The film had to be shot in two locations, one in Manila and the other in Seoul in South Korea. It was mainly due to the look they wanted to portray especially during winter time, which they find perfect, and hellish when they got so cold after scenes were cut.

This is also the first time that Kelvin and Kira are being paired on screen, but they've got quite different first impressions when we interviewed them yesterday. It was essential for them to not only wear 3 layers of clothing, have heaters, and several heat packs underneath just to survive all of that. They were so grateful the crew from Manila and Seoul stepped up and made sure they were comfortable as arrangements were made during filming.

Director CC says "It was really the perfect weather to shoot in the snow because of the visuals. We might have had a hard time shooting because of it but really, I was so impressed with how Kevin and Kira held up in that temperature. They knew the vision of what we were doing and really understood the script. They knew their lines, so I really didn't have a problem with the scenes we had to shoot in Korea. I was happy how they really portrayed the roles, and I hope you appreciate how it felt during our teaser drop (check @catherineocamarillo on IG) because that is made with pure love, passion and hard work."

She adds "I may have had problems securing artists in my home network, but I told my staff I needed a new pairing. It was an audition, I pitched it with Kelvin and Kira then profiled how they both speak, or see how they could add to the characters/role they needed to do... and I appreciate how they interpreted it."

Director CC also holds several hit projects under her belt including "Halik" and "Wildflower" on TV. Her real orientation is film, so this is the caliber of what you're about to see in CAYI.

Here's our interview with Kelvin, Kira and Direk CC yesterday, please enjoy!

 

About Sol and Gabi

Kelvin says "My character was more or less an opposite of me. Sol is quite happy, with a loving family, and might have bottled up angst which would surface when he's dealt with a very huge scare later on. It made him look at life differently, but manages to deal with it like it's not a big thing. He takes these challenges easy, and learns from it. He's also quite adventurous and tough, a man's man and is fond of extreme sports which you'll see in the film. That's where he feels that he exists, and I think that's who he is in a nutshell."

He adds "Maybe I gave a lot to my character because I felt like an actor in this film. It's a big concept, and the trust given to me is no joke. I really felt like I was Sol when we made this."

Kira told us "Gabriela Sinag is a hard worker, she volunteers and is so bubbly... severely a person for others. Behind that, she's hurt, and will perhaps get through things with the help of Sol. That's where the fun starts. Honestly, I don't know if I'm crying because of the emotions or the cold, but it gives you a sense of focus so you could do the role and not just because of the environment. It was a different experience for me. The Korean team were so professional, so you really need to step up, and they take care of you. It was so wonderful with our short stay, it was memorable. Personally, I thought he was a bad boy because he was always wearing black, he had earrings, the works! He showed me that under all that machismo, he's a nice person and very devoted to his craft. He is such a giving actor, and it was so easy to work with him."

Flip a coin and take a chance in CHANCES ARE, YOU and I when it comes out in theaters this May. Official release will be done by Regal Entertainment in theaters nationwide!

PS

It was such a joy to talk to Kelvin and Kira, and the stories of Direk may just be the tip of the iceberg. Hope to get to interview them about this film before it shows soon!

What is Sandara Park's Secret to Looking This Good?

Shots from Sandara Park's IG account @daraxxi

Ever wondered how KPOP Icon Sandara Park always looks fresh and radiant? It's a mystery, but for Sandara it's actually quite simple to look this good and feel great, all at 39 years old!

Sandy is known all over Korea as someone who enjoys small portions. She takes time to enjoy every bite, and this makes it possible to enjoy even more dishes without getting full or gain weight. Contrary to purists, she actually enjoys beer but opts for those that are low calorie instead. Those smart choices actually pay off.

Dara also works out. If you remember, she really enjoys the dance routines they had in 2NE1 because it was fast and great for partying. YG also had them in different cardio workouts and boxing too. She still dances quite a lot on her spare time and even now that she's actively promoting her single FESTIVAL. Even if she doesn't eat breakfast, she does her morning workouts with a personal trainer and stays energetic. She even does a whopping 400 crunches before she sleeps, which is amazing!

Sandara also knows how important it is to pamper her skin. She does a lot to keep it hydrated and moisturized all the time. It's one of the reasons she doesn't look a day old over her "In or Out" days and still stays happy. 

We sit and wonder how she never gets wrinkles and fine lines at this day and age!

Liza Soberano to do YT Series "Liza In Korea"

Dubbed as one of the prettiest faces in the world, Liza Soberano is set to do a new YouTube series called "Liza in Korea". If you've been following her recent appearances in Korean shows, she's always said how much she adored Korean drama, artists, idols and KPOP music too.   

The series premiere will happen on September 13th at 8PM and the consecutive Wednesdays thereafter in this 15 episode cultural and experiential tour of the land of the morning calm. This will of course be extra sweet because we'll all be seeing it through the eyes of Liza. Also in the show will be several businesses and individuals who's stories will also inspire more people through the digital production.

She will also be doing the actual narration, so you will feel like you're traveling with her and experiencing the things she's just beginning to discover. Liza will also share her experiences about entrepreneurship (with Lacimer) and talk about how it could be a viable way to improve lives in our home soil, which is pretty new to see coming from the beautiful actress.  

The first few episodes will be very exciting as she talks to top Korean content creators, the media, big networks, even a trip to world famous Lotteworld, even learn from top Korean choreographers so Liza can do a few KPOP dance numbers on the YouTube series.

To get you more excited, here's a teaser from the show!

For those who want to see the series when it comes out, go and subscribe via the PHH TV YouTube channel here. You may opt to see it on IG via the Lacimer official account which you can find here. If you're excited about what Liza Soberano is doing in Korea, this certainly will get you acquainted with what she's been up to these past few months. I'm sure just like me, you really miss her!

This is produced by JJ Global Group in Korea.

Award Winning Movies on UPSTREAM via GMovies

Looks like your evening movie dates won't be left watching the run of the mill content from other streaming platforms because UPSTREAM has several award winning movies from different countries which you can watch via GMovies.

This includes Svetlana Cvatko's Show Me What You Got that won Best Narrative Film, Cinematography in High Falls film Festival, Best Supporting Actress for Cristina Rambaldi, Best Cinematography in Loudoun Arts Film Festival and more. If you are fond of K-Dramas, you can opt for the Korean movie Hahaha, The Woman, Right Now, Wrong Then, Our Sunhi, In Another Country which are all masterpieces of Director Hong Sang-Soo.

There's also Promising Young Woman by Emerald Fennel, David Byrne's American Utopia by Spike Lee, Come Play by Jacob Chase, Land by Robin Wright, Brothers by Blood by Jeremie Guez, which are all award winning mix of action, horror and drama which you can watch in one platform. If you want to see them all, just download the GMovies app or visit their site GMovies.ph and select the movie you want to stream, tap the pay button and cconfirm. You should see them all on your "My Shows" tab and hit play to see it all. This is all possible with the partnership between UPSTREAM.PH and GMovies, pretty affordable too. It kinda simplifies everything if you want to watch the latest movies intended for international audiences. We didn't even have to leave the country for it.

It should be this easy.

Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin in "Be Unstoppable with Smart 5G" Campaign

Looks like Smart Communications is making 5G more possible in the country by rolling out network projects left and right, plus having Korean superstars Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin as their brand ambassadors too.

FVP Consumer Wireless of Smart Ms. Jane Basas says "This is another milestone in our country and we have featured Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin plus the music of Ben&Ben in our ad released during Valentines day. We also have Smart Signature, and the success of our Crash Landing on You stars Asian superstars campaign and our offers have been brought out. We owe this to our subscribers who love them and the trust of our customers propelled us to make this into a reality. We will do our best to serve you better, to put a smile on your face. When we started our campaign initially with Hyun Bin, people clamored for more and wanted Son Ye Jin in the commercials. We decided to have them both and renew them too, we might see them soon as they owe us a visit to the Philippines and perhaps a live online event, we'll have to fix that in the next few weeks. Our objective is simple, it is our way how much we love subscribers, to tell you honestly it wasn't easy. To bring both of them together is really a lot of hard work, plus most loved band Ben&Ben to make original music for this campaign, INEVITABLE is our love song to our customers, the kind of hard work we do, it's our best, our best postpaid plans and best 5G network."

Corporate Marketing and Strategy for Smart Lloys Manaloto says "We promise a superior network, now we are the fastest as measured by Ookla and Open signal. Now you can stream videos seamlessly, no lags with 5G. It gives us a new platform, fiber like speeds on mobile has changed the way we connect. World class digital services is now on our fingertips and all these is because Smart ako!"

VP for Postpaid Mark Dimagiba says "We are constantly partnering with phone manufacturers in order enjoy 5G and plans now include unlimited call and texts among other services. We want to make the impossible possible. iPhone, Samsung, Huawei and Vivo already have launched 5G phones. 5G is part of our tech platform, part of our network, we have the nationwidest LTE already, but now with 5G we will have fiber like speeds on your mobile so you can get exceptional speeds with the new technology."

Ben&Ben says "We didn't really force anything with the creative song, what Smart wanted to achieve was in line with what we wanted to pull off as a band. It was just like, we flowed in the same direction and it's a beautiful partnership. After talking with Smart and over the holidays, I thought of the song and it was inspired by personal experiences in the past few months. I shared it with the band over the holidays and we got back, it was just good in its rawest form. It just happened. It tells the story of two contrasting feelings, one of mystery, one of certainty, and the music we made for it just highlighted it, it was just inevitable. We're really excited because Hyun Bin was going to be part of it and Son Ye Jin, it was super kilig for us because we thought of the couple too when we made it. The message is no matter how hard things are now, the good things are bound to happen, whether it's love life, career, family, finances, you'll really attain it when you keep it real, it's inevitable."

 

 

Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin says in a video message "I'm very happy to see you in Smart's project, we have prepared something for you. Simple Smart ako!" then they showed us their bts for their latest commercial with Smart.

Now there's a lot to look forward to in the next few months, few years in fact. Aside from the Korean superstars, there will be lots of things to see in the 5G technology that they're rolling into the country. Wish I can get a plan with it soon!

GLOBE x Blackpink: Get Ready for the YG PALM STAGE - 2021 BLACKPINK: THE SHOW

 

Seoul South Korea's very own BLACKPINK composed of Rosé, Jennie, Lisa and Jisoo is making our pandemic times more bearable as they just recently held the GLOBE x BLACKPINK "The Opening Act" event on KmmunityPH group on Facebook. This is just the a taste of what's about to happen in the YG PALM STAGE - 2021 BLACKPINK: THE SHOW concert which will happen on January 31, 2021 via global livestream. The ladies last went live about a year ago in Fukuoka, Japan but since COVID hit, this new experience of seeing them online is going to be just as good. Albeit pushed back a few months from its original date because of Korea's travel and COVID-19 restrictions, the ladies will be in full force for THE SHOW this month and they are bringing it.

This is their first livestream concert prepared by YG Entertainment in partnership with YouTube Music. Fans are expected to also participate in the concert online, so if you're one, you better catch this quick! About the drone show, it was extremely nice of Globe to make sure Filipinos won't be left behind in starting the festivities as they also hosted this awesome opening act for Blinks old and new in the country on their Facebook community. For those who don't know, YG has been known for mounting jaw dropping live shows and they've dedicated much time to make this particular concert even bigger, better, while you stay at the comforts of your own home.

 About the event, it was extremely nice of Globe to make sure Filipinos won't be left behind in starting the festivities as they also hosted this awesome opening act for Blinks old and new in the country on their Facebook community (we were then informed they will reschedule the drone show on a later date because of some technical difficulties). Candy Gamos hosted the show and even read some lucky BLINKS messages live. Fans also get the chance to win tickets to the first livestream show as the promo for it has been extended. All you have to do is register to the specified promos, register and get the chance to see them live online in concert. This partnership with Globe and Blackpink is just amazing! Speaking of which, they showcased the latest Globe x Blackpink commercial, they even said a piece in Filipino!

 

 

They said "We are excited to be part of the Globe family, please join us to join the reinvention revolution, choose to reinvent yourself, your goals and anything you want. Reinvent yourself with Globe. Mahal namin kayo!"

 Here's the commercial!

 

By the way, during the stream, they also gave random BLINKS and Globe fanatics initially 20 tickets for the show. Instead, they ramped up and got 1000 The Show tickets (seen here). Now that means a lot of Blinks and Globe fans will get membership access and see the event! That's awesome!

I even joined the contest but I wasn't picked, but that's okay... I still have a lot of years to see Jisoo hahaha. Hey again, make sure you get tickets for the YG PALM STAGE - 2021 BLACKPINK: THE SHOW concert on the 31st. Go reinvent your world!

 

I'm pretty sure, it'll be worth it!

 

HYUN BIN: What You Should Know About Smart’s Campaign

Here is first hand information about Smart's Hyun Bin campaign talked about a few minutes ago  with Smart's executives. We had an announcement livestream just for the media.

Mr. Al Panlilio says "The new tagline #SimpleSmartAko is their promise to have technology available for every Filipino. To keep customers lives as simple as possible. During this time, we saw an opportunity and it allowed us to see the possibilities. We were fortunate we did it on the 12th. It happened on a zoom meeting. We talked to him. He was nice and very down to earth, we thanked him for endorsing the product. He learned tagalog, it was fun for the people there on the ground.

Ms. Jane Basas added "We asked ourselves "What is Smart in the lives of our clients?" Making it simple for our customers, we realized we are important for peoples lives. The GigaLife, expand our offers and digital services while keeping it as simple as possible. Entertainment, KDrama. We knew there was a huge following, I was a fan. A lot of us were, it would have been crazy for us not to do it. The feedback has been quite phenomenal. It is a one year engagement, he will be with is for the next few months. He will be making our customers happy during trying times. I planned to do this and physically tried to be there, but this hit us too. We just had to get it done and we did it all online with his management and crew."

Lloyd Manaloto who leads marketing says "We talked to the team in the other country. It was simple and easy, we monitored it remotely and did it in a tight deadline. They didn’t have a fuzz, very professional, all in one day, imagine doing that complex ad in that timeframe. His team and Hyun Bin were all so nice!"

Mon Isberto says “I have been hounded by people when he is coming to the Philippines, it is not definite because of the situation but it is definitely coming. I will be hiding when it happens. We will certainly announce it.”

New Giga Promos

They are lining up a few more promos in the next few weeks. GigaVideo, you can watch movies and subscribe to Viu. Still, customer centric, use it to serve their passion and it will be their driver to move forward. The PLDT group is talking to partners like Microsoft, enterprise, all mobile wireless solutions to create ecosystems for students and teachers under the new normal for e-learning. To find ways to make it easier. Smart recognize how to provide them support and connectivity to make it easier for everyone. They are also working with DepEd with schools in the next few months, to build with private sectors and the government to make it happen. To empower educators. They knew Bench was also getting his services, they got lucky too with the timing.

Hyun Bin merchandise will be soon available with Smart!

They also are currently investigating the leaks online. Captain Ri according to them will just be the start, they said he will be lonely if he will be the only one so some Korean stars might appear soon. They are finalizing plans of doing Hyun Bin Merchandise so you can bring him home if you apply new subscriptions and do business with Smart Business centers. The campaign should have been started in June but things happened so they got to release early. He is so excited to come and wants to be here once flight restrictions are lifted. They see passions of customers and might have plans designed specifically for watching videos soon other than GigaVideo.

Hyun Bin was simple, he wanted to do a practice run. It was a breeze doing voice over requests, some of his jackets, all signed, they might give that away soon for fans.

So stay tuned for more!

 

Descendants of the Sun Starts February 10

It was nice to see the actors that will portray the interesting characters of the hit Korean drama Descendants of the Sun. Some GMA Executives, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy and other sectors got a treat to finally see a very long video telling us a short bio of these interesting soldiers, medical personnel and their families. 

We were all surprised because after the intro, they had us watch the first episode of DOTSPH, where honestly, it was quite awesome. They probably spent a lot of time meticulously shooting and editing this, you must see it for yourself this January. 

Dingdong says "We have been waiting for this to happen and hope viewers would be able to appreciate it. We've made the story more pinoy. We're very proud of it!"

Jennylyn adds "Each scene is big, super hard to do but all worth it. We all kept ourselves in character, the director, peoole behind the scenes and actors did all their best to make this even better." Jen and Dingdong play Captain Lucas Manalo and Dr. Maxine Dela Cruz, a soldier and a doctor, who's lives intertwine, unceremoniously.

Big Boss and Beauty (of which they are fondly called) will also have Rocco Nacino and Jasmine Curtis on the helm to play Technical Seargent Diego Ramos and Captain Moira Defensor, who is also going to be an interesting love story. Jennylyn is in her element, the romcom treatment is a cool addition to the original story, I guess that will certainly be different with Pinoy humor. 

Descendants of the Sun The Philippine Adaptation will begin this February 10, 2020. The first episode is something to look forward to because it will include some back story of the different characters plus the effective little romance that Jennylyn and Dingdong could do. If we didn't know they're married we'd mistake them for a pair really.

The Philippines as Country of Focus at Busan International Film Fest

FDCP is heading to Busan International Film Festival as the Philippines becomes the country of focus on their 23rd year. It’s also the Philippines 100th year in Cinema and it’s but the right time for us to take the spotlight. The variety of Filipino films that will be showcased is just phenomenal.

FDCP’s Mary Liza Diño says “This is a momentous event for Philippine Cinema. In 2016 I went there for my first film festival. I met partners there to be able to connect with different people, personalities beyond the country. This inspired me to see and find markets not just on the festivals but other collaborations with different stakeholders. The opportunities were all overwhelming. They will feature around 10 films to showcase different facets of the Philippines. They have showcased a lot of Philippine films, old and new. Our 100th year of cinema was recognized and we will be the country of focus. We will be integrated to all the parts of the festival, 6 in exhibition and a few more in the showcase. We will also have an exhibit, all part of this international event. FDCP is now supporting our partners for us to be able to penetrate the international market, nothing beats the support of our fellow Filipinos. Mabuhay ang Pelikulang Pilipino!”

19 Filipino films will be featured at Busan Film Festival. 10 of which will be films of our time, this is part of the classics entitled Cinema as a Response to the Nation, curated by Roy Del Mundo, Nick De Ocampo, NCCA Commission on Cinema’s Teddy Co, Manuniri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (critics) Tito Valiente too. The titles include A Portrait of the Artist as a Filipino by Lamberto Avellana, Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon by Eddie Romero, Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos by Mario O Hara, Ang Panday by Fernando Poe Jr., Cain at Abel by Lino Brocka, Moral by Marilou Diaz Abaya, Himala by Ishmael Bernal, Bayaning Third World by Mike De Leon, Dekada 70 by Chito Roño and Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria by Ramon Siega Zuasola.

They will also be a few titles to be shown on the A Window in Asian Cinema section which includes Citizen Jake by Mike De Leon, Alpha: The Right to Kill by Brillante Mendoza, The Eternity Between Seconds by Alec Figuracion, Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus by Dwein Baltazar, Lakbayan by Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza and Kidlat Tahimik and Signal Rock by Chito Roño plus the Wide Angle selection featuring Manila is Full of Men Named Boy by Stephen Lee, Last Order by Joji Alonso, and Land from God (a docu) by Kevin Piamonte. They will also do a book launch for the Centennial Anniversary of Philippine Cinema on October 5, and an exhibit that will run from October 6-11 including the Asian Film Market where they will sell and market their films.

If you want to know more about the Busan Film Festival activities, you may see updates at the FDCP Facebook page facebook.com/FDCP.ph/ and the Busan International Film Festival page at facebook.com/busanfilmfest/.

There is a need for PR help and they will see how they can tap everyone who will join Busan and they will be doing efforts together with other Philippine companies like Regal Entertainment. We hope they do good and make a good impression to the international film industry, to get more opportunities for our film makers and industry partners.

Hope they get that.

KUMAGCOW

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Meet Vlogger Pancake Hong

Had so much fun asking questions last weekend with new Vlogger Pancake Hong. She's a South Korean native who also appeared in hit GMA Korean show My Korean Jagiya which ended a couple months back. Honestly I didn't know her prior to this so in a way I'm only getting to know her now just like you.

After working hard in a Korean Entertainment industry for a couple of years, she had this urge of finding her path and have always wanted to go back to the Philippines because she can talk in Filipino afterall. This skill wasn't put to good use while she did reporting in her own country and she felt it would be a waste not to use the Filipino language in Korea. She studied here for a few years and have remained in contact with friends, and I admire what she plans to do with her new YouTube channel.

Here’s our interview with the bubbly lady during her blog conference:

Pancake adds “Right now I will try my best to be a bridge between Filipinos and Koreans because I want to accomplish this in my Youtube channel. For sure a lot of pinoys have KPOP knowledge but I’m sorry to say Koreans know nothing much about the Philippines. I also talk in Korean so they can get to understand what my interviewees are saying, I am just starting so with this but it’s a nice way of doing that. I just finished uploading my time with EX BATTALION and they didn’t make me nervous, I must say they were all so kulit during that video shoot.”

With a positive attitude and urge to make a connection between South Korea an the Philippines, she’ll definitely go places. Please make sure you subscribe to her channel ( here ) and find a fun way to do interviews with the Philippines brightest celebrities because Pancake Hong is here!

She’s staying!

KUMAGCOW
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Ji Soo in Manila

It looks like more Korean stars are arriving in the country which as of late is one of the actors of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and Strong Woman Bo Dong Soon, the man they call Kim Ji Soo. Ji Soo as he’s fondly called arrived today from Korea and is doing a fan meet tomorrow at SM North EDSA’s Sky Dome. If you haven’t gotten tickets yet, you may purchase then at the venue or SM Tickets before they run out!

If you’re a big K Drama fan, you must have seen him in a lot of other series and films as he’s no stranger to the Philippines because he made and indie film a couple years back called Seoul Mates in 2014. He’s done a lot of things afrer that and quirps “I’m only 25 and still have a lot to learn about my craft. I am so excited to work on films with different characters because I learn a lot in the process. As for the perfect date, I’d rather have dinner and eat something that my date would love, just to be someone that has a conncetion with, where we can talk and understand each other, that’s the perfect date for me. I am no singer but I prepared a little something for you which I'll perform during the fan con, I hope you appreciate it.”

“I hope I get to see all my Philippine fans tomorrow because it’s going to be like our Valentines date. The Philippines to me is like home, it’s got that distinct smell like what Korea has for me, it’s like I am very familiar with it.”

Here’s the video of the press conference held this afternoon.

Again if you want to be at the fan conference tomorrow get your tickets at the venue or SM Tickets. You don’t want to miss the chance to see your Oppa right?

KUMAGCOW

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Devon Seron Excited for "You With Me"

Devon Seron has surely grown after her stint in PBB. Several movies, shows, and now a lead role in a movie with 2 K Drama stars called "You and Me". Now there's a funny story behind this because during the auditions, they had a set list of people that they planned to choose from but Devon thought they were doing an indie movie and kinda gatecrashed to be there. Sure enough, she had to go through a KDrama look makeover, then she got the part. They have already finished shooting the scenes for it here in the Philippines and in Korea. They also did a short meet and and greet earlier this year where tons of Kdrama fans went and supported them. Mind you Kim Hyun Woo and Jin Ju Hyung is part of this film, and they are going to be her leading men so imagine how cool this would be on screen.

Devon says "I was a bit teary eyed earlier, but it was really worth the wait. Every role, every part I played I have really worked hard for it. I almost had a year of no work before this so I really took the chance and did this for my family. I only got the chance to speak Korean because I was working with them. Their characters, how they make it is really different. When I got the chance to do the meet and greet, I thought they were going to be a bit snobbish, but they were not at all. They were really charming, real gentlement, and we had to shoot about 80% of it in Korea so it was dreamy. I was like a kid in my dream places, like the parks we went to, that have iconic Kdramas also shot there. I didn't really schedule this but I only asked a friend for a favor to audition for this role. I was already happy to have tried and when I got it, even more. I'm Kim Soriano, a wealthy, obedient, strong woman. She maybe a little matured, but she wanted to be more independent so she ended up in Korea. I actually learned a lot while shooting this because everything is on time and on schedule. They really took care of me when I had problems with the script, I didn't also get used to the weather because when they were already hot, I still had a jacket on and they were laughing at me. But this really was an awesome experience. I had no boyfriend since birth, but I've experienced a lot already and I think that helped."

Director Rommel Ricafort says "We chose her because of the story, we had to look for a Filipina look, so we chose her. There were a lot of people who auditioned, but even of she wasn't there during the process of choosing, I sent the photos to the Korean production, and they put a heart on Devon's photo just like what I was thinking. Even the actors there auditioned, and they're really good actors who won awards recently. You will love Hyun Woo and Jin Ju Hyung in this film."

Make sure you watch YOU WITH ME showing this September 27, 2017. The film also stars Tonton Gutierrez, Assunta De Rossi, Jon Lucas, Hazel Faith Dela Cruz, Lee Seung Yun, Sung In Ja, Shin Dong Hun, Lee Soo Ryun, Oh Ja Hun and the Hashtags. This is produced by Gitana Film Productions, RR Entertainment, Seoul Film Commission, Film Line Productions and supported by MyPhone, Green Cross, Lewis and Pearl Scentshop, Orabella.

KUMAGCOW

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PSY, SHINee, CNBLUE + MORE for ONE K Global Peace Concert In Manila

This news is just CRAZY.

I just got hold of this news today. And when I found out who's going to come to the Philippines I already freaked out. I honestly thought it was just going to be a small one but seeing PSY, SHINee, CNBLUE, B1A4, BAP, BTOB and my favorite ladies from AOA... this is huge!

But what actually is more impressive is the cause o this campaign. World Peace? Is it acheivable? Is it possible? Yes it is. This campaign is asking for international support together with 800 non governmental organizations calling for the reunification of Korea. Seo In-teck Co-chair of Action for Korea United (AKU) and President of the Global Peace Foundation Korea Chapter says they want to push for this civic-led campaign for Korean reunification, a development that could help promote regional stability and build a new economic powerhouse in Asia. This is monumental if you think about it and having these artists in one place already means a lot, because they believe in the cause and they are putting together Korea's biggest artists at the Mall of Asia on March 2-3, 2017. Party starts at 7PM and you're not just having a great show, you'll also be helping achieve dreams of our neighbors as they become ONE KOREA! 

KUMAGCOW
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Grace Lee's New Dining Spot: Kko Kko Home of Seoul Chicken

It's been a while since I've seen Grace Lee, last time of which I think was during a men's magazine launch. A lot has happened in the past few years and now she's one of the most sought after host and news presenters in the country. Star power aside, she's got her hand on kitchen tables a few years ago and put up a business with her Mom and a couple of business associates. That restaurant has flourished and is very successful especially with the young Korean crowd that's already in the community. The demand for authentic, current food from Korea has increased over the years and they're giving Filipinos what they want. This time, they're donning a new name and keeping the same good dishes that they've served over the years. They're also taking it up a notch by putting the great food in an equally better ambiance at the Sapphire Bloc in the Ortigas business district and calling it Kko Kko. As the name suggests, it's going to be about the good chicken that they're serving... which I absolutely loved that evening. 

The place can hold about 40-50 people. That includes outside seating for those who prefer to do that on lunch and dinner. The interiors are mostly farmed wood, concrete, some bunk chairs, mirrors, some greens and flowers on the wall. I like that it's like a modern Asian kitchen, a little cute from outside.

Kimbap - This is a staple in most Korean meals. The white one was done with soy and green mangoes/jicama if I'm not mistaken. The red one is a little spiced up with kimchi, which I actually liked. I'd order the latter if I'd go back to this place.

Snow Chicken - You can have this ordered half or whole. I'd suggest you order the whole one if you're a bunch of guys because I'm sure it'll be out quite quickly. Don't be fooled by it's appearance because those things on top of the chicken ain't snow but tons of cheese, cheese, and cheese. It's out of this world and I thought this won't work but it actually did. This was a hit also on their other restaurant so they kept it on the menu and tons of people are absolutely praising it. You can also have this with Fire Chili, we didn't have it that evening but I'm planning to get some the next time I'd visit. They say it's the hottest stuff on the planet! I'd give this a 4/5 and definitely recommend it.

Chicken Cheese Fondue - This is the craziest thing on the menu and a LOT of people absolutely LOVE this. It's sweet soy glazed chicken fingers, tons of fries, and a batch of beer battered onion rings with a bread bowl full of Cheese in the center. Contrary to the usual fondue, this is a savory treat that shouldn't be missed because its crazy good. You would be sorry if you don't order this especially for cheese lovers because that thing in the center is made of dreams. If I was the only person in the table I would gladly drink that concoction and be happy for one day. It's freakishly awesome, but don't take my word for it... you should try it out yourself.

Here's a short interview we did with Grace Lee during the event.

Thank you so much to Kko Kko and Grace Lee for having us in their lovely restaurant! It's located at the ground floor of Sapphire Bloc along Garnet Road in Ortigas. Can't wait to see more branches of these soon!

For more information about their food:

Kko Kko Home of Seoul Chicken

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Visit their official website

https://web.facebook.com/KkoKkoPH/