Posts by Caths

Tourism is the theme of “Philippines-Korea” partnership forum

Posted by Caths on Dec 7, 2012 in Education, Press | 0 comments

[PRESS RELEASE] The Embassy of the Republic of Korea, in cooperation with the Ateneo Initiative for Korean Studies (AIKS) will be holding a one-day partnership forum on tourism on December 11 at the Intercontinental Manila. With the theme “Strengthening Bilateral Relations through Mutual Cooperation,” the third Philippines-Korea Partnership Forum
will be discussing policies, strategies and cooperation in the field of tourism following the influx of Korean tourists in the Philippines and the increasing interest of the Filipinos in Korea, largely due to popularity of Hallyu.

Members of the academe, media and the government will be part of the
partnership forum. The first panel will be focusing on analyzing the tourism policies and promotion strategies of the Philippines and Korea. Presenters will be Hon. Daniel Corpuz, Undersecretary for Tourism, Planning and Promotions of the Department of Tourism and
Mr. Sangyong Zhu, Director of the Korea Tourism Organization Manila.

The discussion for the second panel will be zeroing in on the problems and prospects of the Philippines-Korea ties in tourism. Mr. Alexander Lao, Vice-President for Commercial Planning and External Affairs of Cebu Pacific Air, will be discussing the emerging opportunities and challenges of the influx of Korean tourists in the country.

Koreans comprised the biggest number of tourists by nationality with close to a million visiting the Philippines last year. Prof. Reil Cruz from the Asian Institute of Tourism of the University of the Philippines-Diliman will be tackling the future of the sustainable
partnership in tourism.

For more details, contact the Korean Cultural Center at 555-1711 or you can email us at info@koreanculture.ph. You may also visit koreanculture.ph

K-Pop girl group Secret comes back with “Talk That” MV and digital single

Posted by Caths on Dec 6, 2012 in KPOP | 0 comments

Less than two months after ending promotions for its hit single, Poison, K-Pop girl group Secret has releasedTalk That, a hot track produced by K-Pop hitmaker Shinsadong Tiger.

Talk That is a sultry mid-tempo R&B song that features some of the best vocal work of Hyosung, Sunhwa, Jieun, and Zinger. In particular, rapper Zinger, whose singing voice is actually quite nice (as Secret fans got to hear in the Japanese release So Much for Goodbye), gets some quality singing time here. It rather reminds me of SISTAR’s Alone, which rocketed that K-Pop girl group to superstardom.

TheTalk ThatMV is also another great release from Secret. In the MV, the girls showcase some dramatic acting skills to complement the song. Jieun showcases some bright red hair, while Zinger’s soft locks make her look even more feminine than ever. With the soft lighting and Hyosung’s dance explosion towards the end of the song, the girls are given even more opportunity to show new colors.

What do you think? Will Secret earn its first music show win since Starlight Moonlight with Talk That, or is the competition much too stiff?

[REVIEW] Shinhwa impresses with “The Return”

Posted by Caths on Dec 5, 2012 in KPOP, Music Reviews, Reviews | 0 comments

It is a well-known fact that Korean idol group Shinhwa is one of the most respected idol groups in K-Pop. Admired by the young and old, Shinhwa members Eric, Minwoo, Junjin, Dongwan, Andy, and Hyesung have been together for 14 years, the longest running idol group in Korea. Today, Shinhwa continues to entertain through their successful television show entitled “Shinhwa Broadcast” and their comeback album “The Return”.

“The Return”, released in Korea early this year and recently in the Philippines, marks the idols’ comeback after serving in the military. “The Return” is an important milestone in the history of Shinhwa as it is not just a comeback album but a promise fulfilled to their fans who waited for them.

Was the wait worth it?

Very much so. I believe that one of the best singing voices in all K-Pop belongs to a Shinhwa member–Hyesung. Even stars like Big Bang, SHINee, 2PM, and others express admiration for Shinhwa specially Hyesung. Hyesung’s voice is pitch perfect, pure, and melodious rendering every song he sings a pleasure to listen to. In “The Return”, Hyesung assumes the lead vocal role and combined with the also exceptional vocal and dance talents of other Shinhwa members, the resulting album delights loyal fans and wins new ones.

“The Return” starts with “On the Road”, an soft pop song with a strong forceful chorus symbolic of the group’s return after a long hiatus. This is followed by the ballad “Hurts”, a fan favorite written and arranged by leader Eric. In “Hurts”, the Shinhwa members sung with an authenticity that can only come from experience. This beautiful ballad also communicates to fans that they are no longer boys but are now men. “Venus”, their title track, is a unique electro-pop track that builds up to a fantastic climax. Those who saw Shinhwa perform “Venus” know that it comes with ultra-sexy choreography further securing their “manly hot” idol status. “Red Carpet” and “Move with Me” are good examples of how Shinhwa has retained their signature dance and pop sound. “Let It Go” is a special gift to Shinhwa by Aziatix member Eddie Shin and Solid member Jung Jae Yoon. Hyesung wrote the lyrics to this electro-club track with multiple rap elements. The resulting track is truly pleasing to the ears. The succeeding tracks “Stay” and “Welcome” did not appeal to me since I do not like too much synth and I feel these tracks lacked excitement. However, any disappointment I felt for “Stay” and “Welcome” were much forgotten after hearing the last three tracks. “Be My Love” is definitely my favorite track from “The Return”. It was the perfect Shinhwa track complete with an infectious melody and an unmistakable sexy vibe. Even my male friends liked this track. In “Re-love”, the voices of the Shinhwa members shine specially in the memorable chorus. I feel that “Re-love” is the best vocally performed track in the album. The final track “Breathin” is another beautiful mid-tempo ballad that highlights the strong voices of the Shinhwa members.

Shinhwa is indeed one of the top Korean stars of their generation. The quality of their album “The Return” ensures that they did not only return but are here to stay.
Shinhwa “Venus”

[Toys] Mega Bloks and V-Tech

Posted by Caths on Nov 27, 2012 in Education, Press, Toy Reviews | 0 comments

I received the press release below from a friend and I did not hesitate to share it with you because I myself am a fan of V-Tech and Mega Bloks. I got a V-Tech laptop for Christmas for my son when he was 2 and the toy lasted until I gave birth to my daughter who is now 5. My son is 9.

Hallyu on Everyone’s Fingertips

Posted by Caths on Sep 19, 2012 in KPOP, Personal | 0 comments

I was invited by the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines to share on the topic “Hallyu on Everyone’s Fingertips: The Role of the Internet in Sustaining Filipino’s Interests in Hallyu”. This was my speech. Photos of the PowerPoint are available on my Facebook.