weekend@sunstar.com.phSaturday, March 26, 2011

wheels

3A feast on wheels

movies

4

Red RidingHood

Fashion maven Clint Holton P. Potestas introduces us to an up and coming Cebuano fashion icon.

Style Mate

Sun.Star Weekend | Saturday , March 26, 20112CCHERRY ANN LIM Managing Editor, Special Pages and FeaturesJIGS ARQUIZA Editor CLINT HOLTON P. POTESTAS Writer

RALPH RHODDEN C. CAVERO Graphic Designer

cover story

“Ma-matay ko dri,” laughs Rei Escario about his workplace strategically located five steps away from his house, reciting a Cebuano metaphor that refers to death by suffocation. Ironically, where he sits is far from fatal – at the entrance, a resort. Or at least, it is that thought that strikes you upon your arrival at Rei’s front yard, after driving through several junctions in Villa Aurora, Mabolo where streets are named after either former presidents or military generals. A Zen-inspired trail on the Bermuda grass leads to the main door, flanked by dark lounge furniture and a leisure swing. The interior feels like a rest house, minimally decorated but boldly detailed: a wooden-framed mirror that reflects the sunlight passing through the French windows. A fitting room at the corner, parallel to an antique cabinet with Renaissance crucifix and other sacred images. On the other end is his working area. A long glass table with sketches of skinny models, swatches, beads right across a three-layered rack, housing panels (and more panels) of fabrics from Singapore, Manila, or wherever his designer brother, Jun Escario, travels. Ever since the atelier (or studio) was transferred to the Escario residence in 2008 from the commercial area on Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Rei has memorized the first and foremost sales talk. “Do you know where Castle Peak Hotel is? Turn left where you see the Atek’s signage; go straight to the tennis

MateStyle

Sun.Star Weekend | Saturday , March 26 2011 3C

PHOTOS: CRIS GELLA OF FRAGILE

A feast on wheels

court, then turn right on Gen. Lim Street, second house, gray gate,” the 23-year-old mimics his own line whenever a customer asks where the atelier is located. “I’ve memorized it.” He is not dying anytime in this business. He loves his job. Otherwise, he would have practiced his degree in Nursing, which he completed at University of Southern Philippines in March 2010. It is a once again a busy day for Rei whom Jun entrusted to design and supervise the production in Cebu and Manila where the line’s ready-to-wear clothes are displayed in Greenbelt 5 and LPL in Makati City. Not to mention the list of famous clientele: Nanette Medved, Ruffa Gutierrez, KC Concepcion, Anne Curtis, et. al. “I have been exposed to fashion when I was young. I grew up, observing how my brother started (more than a decade ago) and worked his way up,” he says. “But I am a bit uncomfortable with introductions that associate me with my brother. Yes, he is famous, but I don’t want to be living under his shadow.” Then he changes his mind and gives a burst of laughter, saying, “But you know, what he likes is what I like. It’s just that I’m now more into glittering details. I think he has moved on from that stage.” In the coming months, fashion fans can expect minimalist designs from the duo, ranging from separate pieces to cocktail dresses to evening numbers. The inspiration board – mounted on the right wall, set aside from his table with photos of runways shows of Valentino and Lanvi – changes season after season. “It’s not copying,” Rai explains. “It’s just getting a spring board that gets you going.” In this business – where the demand to look good is higher than any other field – something (or someone?) has to keep you going. If fashion would be too corny, what would it be then? “Love life would always be just around the corner,” he giggles and avoids further questions with “Why are you laughing, Clint?”

People say that big things come in small packages, and in the case of the all-new Ford Fiesta Sport, that saying comes true in every sense of the word.Ford Cebu’s newest offering, the 5-passenger Ford Fiesta Sport five-door hatchback, with its bold, European-inspired body styling, eye-catching colors and numerous features make this car one of the most practical vehicles to own.

Its unique body shape acknowledging its racing heritage, the Fiesta Sport is designed to slip through the air for maximum performance and yet still retain maximum fuel efficiency.

16-inch alloy wheels fitted with 50-series tires and a European-tuned suspension keeps the car planted firmly on the pavement, yet still gives its driver and passengers a smooth and very comfortable ride.

Reminiscent of the rear spoilers in Ford’s European rally cars, the Fiesta Sport’s rear spoiler not only gives the car a sportier look, but also enhances its stability.

Twin-chamber halogen lamps light the way at night, with front fog lamps for additional illumination should the driver need it. The Fiesta Sport’s side mirrors are fitted with signal lights, designed to make the car more easily visible to other motorists.

Power comes courtesy of a 1.6-liter DURATEC 16-valve engine with Twin-independent Variable Cam Timing, which helps improve peak power and low-end torque, contributing to livelier driving. The six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission gives the car the responsiveness of a manual, with smooth downshifts and upshifts. An anti-lock braking system comes standard, as does an Electronic Stability Program to keep the car on the road and out of trouble.

Aside from its dashing looks and sophisticated engine, the Fiesta Sport comes chock-full of goodies. A speedometer and tachometer comes standard, complemented with an on-board fuel computer that gives the driver essential information such as the remaining distance you can drive until the tank becomes empty, the car’s average fuel consumption, the distance traveled, and the car’s average speed.

The Fiesta Sport’s multi-function display, found at the center of the dashboard, provides the driver with data on what functions are presently engaged, such as Bluetooth and USB connectivity, voice control, and phone functions. Adding even more to the ease of driving is the car’s steering wheel audio controls, which allows the driver to keep his or her hands on the wheel

even while changing the volume of the sound system. Additionally, the car computer also offers connectivity with external devices such as iPods, iPhones and USB devices. A really nice feature of the car is the voice interface with the car’s computer, which lets the driver tell the car which functions to engage, like the cellphone, giving a truly hands-free experience.

Of course, other features come standard, such as power windows, airconditioning, sunvisors, power door locks, and power-adjustable side mirrors.

Safety- and security-wise, the Fiesta has more than one can ask for. Dual airbags are found in front, one each for the driver and passenger, backed up by front and rear seatbelts. A keyless entry system provides access, complete with an engine immobilizer, which prevents the engine from being started without the real ignition key.

With all these features, plus a genuine driving experience, the Ford Fiesta Sport can definitely bring a smile to your face. And as the car’s name would suggest, it’s definitely something a motoring enthusiast would feast on.

wheels

Sun.Star Weekend | Saturday , March 26, 20114C

movies

IMAGES FROM THE INTERNET

“Red Riding Hood” aims not for little girls who want to hear a fairy tale before they go to sleep at night, but rather for teenage girls who want a soapy melodrama full of angst and

hair product – with some supernatural flourishes thrown in, just to make things extra sexy.

Does that sound vaguely familiar to you? It should. “Red Riding Hood” suggests what it might look like if the kids from “Twilight” got dressed up and went to the Renaissance Faire. And that is not a good thing.

Catherine Hardwicke, who directed the first “Twilight” movie – which set a record for the biggest opening ever by a female director with nearly $70 million – is working from a script by “Orphan” writer David Leslie Johnson, which takes this classic story and turns it into a medieval love triangle.

Hardwicke’s early films, “Thirteen” and “Lords of Dogtown,” felt stripped-down and immediate, and they vividly conveyed the restlessness of youth. “Red Riding Hood” sort of hints at that in the character of Valerie (Amanda Seyfried), who’d rather be with the bad boy she loves than the good guy she’s been arranged to marry. She knows that Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), a hunky woodcutter, is wrong for her, but she longs to run away with him, rather than live a safe, comfortable life with Henry (Max Irons), a hunky blacksmith.

They all live in a tiny village on the edge of a dark, dangerous forest, where everyone’s more on edge than usual following the latest werewolf attack. Hardwicke depicts the place in haunted fashion, with scenery and lighting that often have a misty, ethereal, almost otherworldly glow. But then the set design feels super chintzy, like something you’d see in a theme park. The Big Bad Wolf itself, meanwhile, is rendered with CGI

work that looks so distractingly fake and disconnected from the rest of the film, it’s hard to take this creature seriously.

The menfolk think they’ve hunted down the wolf and killed it. Gary Oldman, who’s perfectly slimy as a clergyman with questionable ethics, warns them that they’re wrong, and that they shouldn’t let their guards down just yet. But, of course, they do — with a wild, drunken party, no less – which makes them all even more vulnerable when the wolf strikes again.

Oldman, as Father Solomon, suggests they shouldn’t waste their time looking for the wolf outside the village, because he (or she!) lurks among them, hidden in human form. Hence, “Red Riding Hood” becomes a whodunit, with plenty of red herrings. Could it be Peter or Henry? Valerie’s mother (Virginia Madsen as a social climber with a secret) or grandmother (Julie Christie as a bohemian outsider)? Maybe it’s Valerie’s dad (Billy Burke, who just happens to play Kristen Stewart’s dad in the “Twilight” movies).

The wolf does have a soft spot for Valerie – and who could blame it? She’s gorgeous, with the contrast of her porcelain skin, big blue eyes and that striking red hood against the snowy backdrop. But with everyone feeling so paranoid and mistrustful, Valerie’s spiritual connection with the wolf makes her a suspect. This is the perfect time for the guys in this love triangle to step up and prove themselves – and they’d probably be shirtless more often if the film didn’t take place in winter.

Speaking of body parts, “Red Riding Hood” does trot out the classic what-big-eyes-you-have routine. It’s a pretty amusing moment, and it makes you wish the rest of the film had that same sort of knowing sense of humor. (AP)

Sun.Star Weekend | Saturday , March 26 2011 5C

short reviews

IMAGES FROM THE INTERNET

Yogi BearA combination of Borscht Belt comedian

and Hanna-Barbera animation, Yogi Bear was a clever enough creation that more than 50 years later, we still can’t help but impersonate his “pic-a-nic” basket and “Ay, Boo Boo!” Inspired by Art Carney’s Ed Norton from “The Honeymooners” and originally voiced by Daws Butler, Yogi Bear has always had an intelligence that surpasses that of your typical clawed mammalia. He has finally gotten his own movie – in 3-D, no less – and so it comes with little surprise but still some disappointment that “Yogi Bear” is a bland pic-a-nic, indeed. There he is, in trademark green tie and white collar and voiced by Dan Aykroyd, with the bow-tied Boo Boo (Justin Timberlake) at his side. Of course, this being the highly advanced 21st century, simple animation won’t do, so we must suffer through mediocre, lifeless computer-generated animation of this treasured twosome. They’re in an otherwise mostly live-action film with the typically charming, motor-mouthed Tom Cavanagh (“Ed”) as Park Ranger Smith and Anna Farris as Rachel Johnson, a documentary filmmaker visiting Jellystone Park, most likely trying to beat Ken Burns to the punch. (AP)

Of Gods and MenMONASTIC LIFE is anything but

tedious in Xavier Beauvois’ masterful drama “Of Gods and Men,” based on the real-life tragedy of seven French monks abducted and beheaded during Algeria’s civil war in 1996. The film is largely built of ordinary tasks and everyday moments: monks tending their crops, treating Muslim villagers at the monastery clinic, caring for their beehives and taking the honey they produce to market, sharing simple meals, and, of course, chanting in devotion during Mass. Underlying all this is a tangible, terrible tension. These good Christians know there are forces – both in the besieged government and among terrorists who want to bring it down – that no longer want them there. The atrocities happening all around them – Croatian construction workers whose throats are slit, young women shot dead because they were not wearing veils – make it unbearably clear to the monks that their lives are in danger each day they choose to stay. (AP)

audiosyncracy

foreview

The Penthouse, Cebu’s hottest international dance club, turns two. That’s 96 exhilarating weekends climaxed by 44 standing room only nights, fueled with 88 world chart-topping singles by 22 internationally acclaimed DJ’s – Aldrin, John 00 Fleming, Kaskade, Paul Thomas, Andy Chatterley, Junior Sanchez, Ricky Ryan, DJB, Jim Rivers, Colette, Eric Kupper, Paul Deighton, Meme, Miss Nine, David Puentez, Hannah Hansen, Sydney Blu, Mika Gold, DJ Ivan, Shane Kehoe, Global Underground, Tool Room, Defected, MOS, Housexy, Zouk, and Hed Kandi.

Tonight at 11:00, The Penthouse shows its boundless gratitude to you, their countless patrons by culminating their two years of non-stop party-blazing by bringing you DJ Dankann. This young hot Italian DJ behind the hit singles “I Keep Breathing,” “Shine,” and “At the Edge of this Mountain,” supported by Tiesto, Axwell and Paul Van Dyk, will give you one explosive night to remember.

With a fascination for trance and a love for progressive house, Emanuele Carrieri a.k.a. DJ Dankann is known

as a young Italian producer who forges different styles together to create impressive tracks. He expresses his natural talent and passion for music with the search for a melody, likening it to a mirror which allows him to reflect every emotion.

His first single, “Return from Paradise,” reached the top 10 on the top electronic music charts, Beatport. His next single, “I Keep Breathing,” confirmed his success by remaining on the Beatport charts for over a month. For achieving so much in such a short time, Beatport named him one of the most promising artists in 2009.

Allow DJ Dankann to exalt your clubbing cathedral on its second anniversary where you can discover the vibe, explore the sound, and experience the life only at The Penthouse.

For inquiries and table reservations, e-mail info@thepenthousecebu.com. You may also visit these links to be in sync: www.thepenthousecebu.com and www.myspace.com/dankann.

It’s two for the Penthouse

Cebu City Marriott Hotel celebrates Environmental Awareness Month

Cebu City Marriott Hotel (CCMH) kicks off Environmental Awareness month by turning off non-essential lights in the hotel through Earth Hour on March 26, 8:30 PM. Celebrate ‘green’ initiatives through a candle-light dinner featuring the Saturday Night Prime Rib Buffet at the Garden Café. Treat your loved ones to a satisfying meal and indulge in a perfectly slow roasted prime rib of beef and favorites like Sushi, Fish en Croute, Lechon de Cebu, and homemade desserts while at the Pool Bar, unwind by the relaxing poolside and experience the tantalizing flavors of Asia through the Asian Street Barbecue served from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Fashion Weekend at Magellan’s Landing

Fashionistas, block off March 26 and 27 for a fashion-filled weekend at Magellan’s Landing Pub and Restaurant at the Mactan Marina Mall. On Saturday, March 26, Mag’s will have “Fashion and Beyond”, a fashion show featuring the futuristic yet sophisticated creations of designer Paolo Viajar and Salad Dressing boutique. Sunday, March 27 will see the House of Fusion take charge of Mag’s, with a photo exhibit by Marvin Maning and a fashion show featuring young and upcoming designers of Cebu

Earth Hour at the Marco Polo PlazaJoin local astrophysicist Christopher Go from 6:30 p.m. onwards at the Marco Polo Plaza and gaze at the stars, the moon and even Saturn. Then, help save Mother Earth by switching off your lights for an hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Illuminated at the Shangri-LaShangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa celebrates Earth Hour at the Cowrie Cove, lighting up the sky with hopes for a greener world. Join the party at 8:00 p.m. and wait for lights out at 8:30, where free-flowing Skyy vodka cocktails will be served.

When producer Mark Ronson began working with Duran Duran on “All You Need Is Now,” he reportedly challenged the ‘80s pop veterans to revisit the sound of their formative musical years and conjure up a follow-up to the band’s 1982 hit-spawning album “Rio.”

And on most of the new album’s 14-tracks – five more than in the iTunes-only release in December – the musical DNA of the British group’s early sound is hard to miss.

This gives “All You Need Is Now” a familiar quality, like you’ve heard some of this music before. A rhythm here, a vocal melody there.

On the funky “Girl Panic!,” the percussion recalls the group’s classic “The Reflex,” while on the moody ballad “Leave A Light On,” the synths may bring to mind another seminal Duran Duran song, “Save A Prayer.”

Of course, when you’ve been putting out records for more than three decades, it’s not easy to cover up your musical tendencies.

Duran Duran appeared to try to do just that in its prior studio effort, 2007s “Red Carpet Massacre,” enlisting contemporary pop music heavyweights Timbaland and Justin Timberlake.

By comparison, “All You Need Is Now” is less preoccupied with dressing up Duran Duran’s sound in new threads than in dusting off the old garb that made frontman Simon LeBon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Taylor pop superstars 30 years ago.

For “All You Need Is Now,” LeBon and Co. are once again without the services of founding guitarist Andy Taylor, who joined the band for 2004’s “Astronaut,” but then left the band two years later.

Taylor’s aggressive guitar punch helped forge Duran Duran’s early sound, but his absence isn’t felt overtly in “All You Need Is Now.”

The album overflows with Duran Duran’s other sonic staples: Lush synths layered over driving, dance-floor ready bass lines; disco-inspired percussion, frequently accented with Latin beats; and, the high-flying, moody vocals and harmonies.

On the title track, a whirring synth drone builds to a sing-along friendly chorus: “And you sway in the moon the way you did when you were younger/And we told everybody all you need is now.”

Duran Duran kick in the New Wave

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: “The Man Who Stole a Leopard,” might be the album’s standout cut. Somewhat evocative of the band’s dark and sexy classic “The Chauffeur,” the track features vocals by Kelis and LeBon at his best melody craft when he sings: “You were once running wild, hiding in the morning mist/Game demands I make you mine/I thought that I could resist but the leop-ard in you/Silently preyed on me.”

Duran Duran, “All You Need Is Now”(S-Curve Records)

– or retro, for those of a certain age – in “Being Followed,” where LeBon sings “I’m not alone/Being followed/Someone always watching what we do/Never alone/But I’m in the shadows/I dream things I don’t want you to know.”

The band also dials up old-school disco and funk on the dance-floor ready “Safe (In The Heat Of The Moment).” (AP)

Sun.Star Weekend | Saturday , March 26, 20116C

TEXT AND IMAGES FROM WWW.FULLYBOOKEDONLINE.COM AND THE WEB

books

Last March 19, I joined thousands of pro-life Cebuanos, led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who made a wet trek form Fuenete Osmena to the Metropolitan Cathedral to pray for the protection of human life and to dramatize their opposition to the RH bill now being debated in Congress. Dubbed the the “Penitential Walk for Life,” the protest and lenten prayer action was called for by the archbishop, and happened to coincide with his 61st birthday.

The penitential walk was the second protest action called by archbishop Palma against the RH bill. An earlier rally last February 11 at Fuente Osmena was also the first in a string of mass protests that have been springing up all across the nation, from Manila to Baguio to Iloilo.

I arrived after the walk started but caught up with it near Abellana Sports Complex, where I started taking photos. The huge crowd was largely made up of the young and old representing different parishes and lay religious organizations. They carried alll sorts of placards and banners declaring -- often in a creative manner -- their opposition to the RH bill. I saw a few groups of priests and seminarians as I travelled along the route as well. Estimates of the crowd’s size ranged from a low of 5,000 to as high as 20,000 counting all those who participated at different points.

The walk ended at the beautiful Metropolitan Cathedral which was bathed in a wonderful orange glow by the lights. A steady drizzle made the streets reflective, making for more interesting shots. The cathedral was packed and the attendees spilled over

to the parking area where some 2,000 monobloc seats were made available. After the crowd had settled, the event was capped by a celebration of the Holy Mass by the archbishop and two auxiliary bishops.

We’ve all been there: an Excel spread-sheet smeared across a projector screen as someone on stage mumbles into a microphone while you sneakily check your email on your phone just to stay awake. It’s presentation hell, and we’ve all been there before. But it doesn’t have to be this way, especially when you’re the one delivering the presentation.

As founder of presentation design firm Ethos3, Scott Schwertly knows the difference between a great presentation and a great reason for an audience to take a nap. In How to Be a Presentation God, Schwertly begins to right the multitude of wrongs we have endured at the hands of dull speakers and poorly crafted presentations.

Schwertly shows you how to design and deliver a fire-breathing, earth-shaking presentation that will have your audience praising the heavens and hanging on your every word. You’ll find proven and effective step-by-step secrets for delivering transcendent presentations with an easy-to-implement approach focused on engaging content. Personal storytelling, and effective design elements-the holy trinity that leads to godly delivery.

As a presenter, your job is to move people, and anything less is merely wasted time. Presentations matter. We use them to convince others to do more, think differently, or invest in our ideas. Yet most of us can’t seem to muster the forethought, passion, and execution that our ideas deserve. If you’ve got a presentation to deliver. It’s probably important to you. So treat it that way.

How to Be a Presentation God gives you the tools you need to deliver when it matters and fulfill your own passion and vision for what can and should be. When people take time out of their day to sit and listen to you speak, not boring them to death is the least you can do. Packed with examples and lessons from great presenters-from Abraham Lincoln to Steve Jobs-this book shows you how to beat the boredom, flip your script, and start changing the word...one presentation at a time.

How to be a Presentation God: Build, Design and Deliver Presentations that Dominate!by Scott Schwertly

Walking and Praying for Lifeby Manny Amador

Sun.Star Weekend | Saturday , March 26 2011 7C

Got something to share with us? Sun.Star Weekend invites readers to contribute original, unpublished poems and essays or commentaries about funny or memorable moments in your life.

Please email your contributions to: weekend@sunstar.com.ph

49 Gen. Sepulveda Street, CebuTel. No (032) 255-0105 & 412-5551

Fax No. (032) 412-5552Email: palazzo_pensionne@hotmail.com

website: www.palazzopensionne.net

BED & BREAKFAST

circus of fanciesPami Therese Estalilla

crossline

IMAGE FROM THE INTERNET

IMAG

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When you live on the fringes, there’s something very unrealistic about the “Real World”. It can be so extraordinarily routine that it often seems like a farce. You end up living the same template, inserting a few, minor variations here and there- and suddenly it’s the end of the week. And you put on your worn-out weekend shoes...

I’m not saying there’s anything dull or boring about life. It is, in fact, extremely fascinating if you know where to look. But it can also be very wearying in the long run, and it’s probably a lot to do with the difference between the eyes of an adult, and the eyes of a child (or a fantasist). Something dies in there, along with the belief of Santa Claus and another world behind the mirror, to be replaced with a world of coping- coping with obligation, the slaying of dreams, the knowledge of despair, the awareness of death and destruction, of your own mortality.

I’ve always thought it was a bad deal for the grown-ups.

But let me make this clear. I don’t believe in the defence of the irrational, or of imposing fantastical beliefs on other people under the guises of religion or superstition. I especially don’t believe in it when it forces one to forsake what is really important- the here and now and whoever is in it with you- in the name of such beliefs.

What the grown-ups can learn from children, instead, is keeping the door open. What a wonderful world they live in! Nowhere yet have the filters sunk in- the filters to our vision that have made us immune to marvels like a pebble or a falling leaf. When an adult sees a gate, he generally accepts that behind it is the street outside. When a child does, it might be the street out there, but it can just as easily be another world, another time.

And if, by some miracle, it does lead to such a world, the child would quickly accept this fact, because it always was a possibility. The adult might continue to disbelieve it even when it is right in front of his eyes. He would more readily question his sanity than ask, “Where am I?”

That is why, says Stephen King, there is an ageless quality in the few grown people who keep that door open (himself included). These are the people who can still see around corners, much as children do. And they tell stories- stories of what lies around the bend- to the rest of the world.

You’ll recognize these people when you meet them. If you don’t hear it in their stories, you’ll see it in their eyes.

Seeing Around Corners

Whether you’re for it or not, Korean Pop or commonly known as K-Pop has established a rather strong foothold in the Philippines. And there’s no denying that the fad is continuing to cast its spell on the country.

K-Pop made its presence felt in the country during the rise of Koreanovelas (Filipino dubbed Korean dramas) in 2003. In 2005, the impact of K-Pop reached the silver screens as the Korean hit movie “My Sassy Girl” was dubbed in Filipino and released in Philippine theatres. As part of these dramas and movies, K-Pop artists render Original Sound Tracks (OSTs) for them. This was the turning point. More Korean singers became known, loved and actually had fan bases here in the country.

This certain genre of music has, on average, targeted teenagers 13-19 years old. Filipino fans don’t see their idols on national television; nevertheless, they can still watch them on Korean channels in cable TV such as KBS, MBC, SBS and Arirang. Moreover, with advancement in technology, Filipino fans are tuned to the latest pictures, videos and news on their idols courtesy of tons of K-Pop blog sites in English, made by fellow fans that happen to be nearer and have more access to these types of breaking media. As they say, the Internet is a K-Pop fan’s best friend.

“I love K-Pop because the beat is really nice; their songs hook you. They also look good,” states Diana Avancena, 24. She is a registered nurse, an ESL instructor and an entrepreneur selling K-Pop merchandise online via her shop in facebook, “Kpopislove.”

With Filipino fans facing geographical difficulties, they have their own way of showing their support and love for their favorite K-Pop artists.

Rhenz Abarro, 18 and a fourth year college student from Cavite City says “I buy all their Ph released albums, go to events such as album launches, fan gatherings, attend their concerts, (if there are any) and collect K-Pop merchandise ranging from shirts, to tumblers, to stickers and posters”

To support this, there is also another thing that is coexisting with the growth of K-Pop. It’s the appearance of online K-Pop merchandise stores that fuel lots of fans into becoming more into K-Pop.

Grace Totanes is only 16 years young but she is single-handedly managing her own online K-Pop merchandise store in Facebook named “Shining Dreamss.” She had loved K-Pop since 2006 (she’s about 12 years young when she started). She is from Bulacan and when asked why she loved K-Pop, she concisely said, “because of their music, looks and talent.”

If there are hardcore fans, there are also haters. These people dedicate fanpages in the popular networking site, Facebook, solely to hating K-Pop. Of

the many words of hatred regarding this genre, 5 seem to be the main points of argument. (1) K-Pop is ‘jologs’, (2) K-Pop fans do not understand the song’s lyrics, (3) K-Pop group members aren’t talented, (4) K-Pop fans are not nationalistic and (5) K-Pop boy band members look gay.

Almost as if on a whim, K-Pop fans rebut all these judgments accordingly: (1) there is a difference between the fans that merely follow the trend and the true K-Pop fans; (2) The language barrier makes things more meaningful. Having a deep understanding of the foreign culture and at the same time, having a deeper connection with their favorite groups; (3) these groups are Pop groups. Their total entertainment value does not rely solely on just dancing or singing; it’s an entire package; (4) K-Pop fans support their idols because they are a package, they will not “support” the local music industry just because they need to support their own but they will when local songs are far from mediocre; and (5) K-Pop boy bands are Pop Groups from an East Asian country. For them, being “manly” is not defined by biceps and tight shirts. Koreans, in general, just have an insatiable addiction to cute things. This is a “social” thing in Korea.

Another prevalent drawback to this phenomenon is the apparent decline of Original Pinoy Music (OPM). K-Pop albums have filled the mainstream stands in music stores. This made people in the local music scene wary. The Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) requested President Benigno Aquino III to order the National Telecommunications Commission to implement a “forgotten” executive order by late former president Corazon Aquino.

Executive Order No. 255, “Requiring all Radio Stations with Musical Format Programs to Broadcast a Minimum of Four Original Pilipino Musical Compositions in Every Clockhour and for Other Purposes.” This was not fully implemented upon issuance in 1987 and is now being revived by the threatened local music industry.

Although this does not only apply to K-Pop, fans have been intrigued by the recent stance of the OPM industry.

K-Pop is something new. The support and passion of fans are inspiring. It is manufactured bubblegum music. It’s not hard to see the appeal of Korean Pop, especially to young Asians. The boys and girls are young and beautiful. The music is sugary pop laden with hooks. The dance choreography is precise. The music videos are slick. It’s ear and eye candy par excellence.

Everything just boils down to personal preference. You may or may not like K-Pop but one thing is for sure, K-Pop is expanding and K-Pop fans are growing exponentially, and it’s a force to be reckoned with. As for the threatened, it’s just a matter of proper harnessing of this phenomenon.

Understanding the K-Pop phenomenonby Jose Santino S. Bunachita

Sun.Star Weekend | Saturday , March 26, 20118CCHERRY ANN LIM Managing Editor, Special Pages and FeaturesJIGS ARQUIZA Editor CLINT HOLTON P. POTESTAS Writer

peeps (people, events and places)

Kids and adults alike enjoyed a sultry afternoon at Plantation Bay Resort and Spa last Friday, March 18, as the resort officially launched it’s yearly offering for children, Summer Frolix. The event itself served as a get-together for resort guests, Cebu media and resort staff, with the attendees participating in the games and sharing afternoon snacks. Games like beach tennis, tug-of-war and sand castle-building was the order of the day, with everyone going home tired but happy for the respite.

The first session of Cebu Trivia Night at the Cebu Grand Hotel along Escario St. was held last Thursday, March 24, with hard-core trivia teams Kukurikapu and Fatness First attending, together with some new teams. Questions poured like the rainy night it was, but in the end, Team Merger brought home the bacon. Second place went to Kukurikapu with the special participation of Group 12, with The A-Team catching third. Though only five teams participated that night owing to the heavy rain, regular Trivia Night followers promised to attend next week.

(Clockwise from left photo) Honey Jarque-Loop with PB staff Andrea, Jid, Stephanie and Zuri; PB employees making sandcastles; TV host Chacha with Stephanie Trocio, Hannah Patalinhug and Charo Abecino.

(Far left) April and Richard Ramos.

(Clockwisefrom right) Third plac-ers The A-Team; second placers Kukurikapu with Group 12; the ‘other’ one-man-team ANton Tautjo; first place for the night, Team Merger.

Summer fun at Plantation Bay

A Grand trivia night

Resort guests and staff taking part in the tug-of-war.