By Cecille Santillan-Visto
SOCIAL MEDIA has greatly contributed to the burgeoning interest in Korean pop music worldwide.
Social networking platforms are exploding with K-pop-related content, and in many instances in the past, Korean entertainers became overnight online sensations way before their official public launch. For others, their otherwise lackluster careers were given a unique boost by viral videos.
Such was the case of MOMOLAND, arguably one of the hottest K-pop bands today. The all-girl group’s song, “Bboom Bboom” spawned a myriad of dance videos through Facebook and other SNS. The catchy song, shared several million times over, made them an overnight sensation not only in Korea but in many other Asian countries.
Acknowledging their popularity, Facebook (FB) and Viu Philippines organized a one-of-a-kind gathering with MOMOLAND and their fans through FB Live when the nine-member team was in Manila last week.
MOMOLAND members — Nancy, JooE, Daisy, Hyebin, Ahin, Jane, and Taeha — also had a chance to interact with some their Philippine fan club members, who were invited to an FB Live party. Two other group members, Yeonwoo and Nayun, were unable to join due to prior commitments.
“We really don’t get the chance to meet all our fans around the world and I think Facebook is a great platform which gives us the opportunity to do that,” Daisy said. “But now we are here and we are excited.”
Nancy, who is the most recognizable member in the Philippines owing to her striking resemblance to actress Liza Soberano, added that MOMOLAND is thankful to social networking sites, which allow them to share their daily activities in fun and engaging ways with their followers.
“To finally be here in person in Manila to meet some of our fans is really a thrilling experience,” she noted. She said that it was not her first time in the country as she earlier spent a memorable vacation at Bonito Island in Batangas, where she went scuba diving to her heart’s content.
MOMOLAND’s official FB page got nearly 620,000 followers barely three months since it was launched. Half of the followers are from the Philippines, and the page has reached 1.2 million users this month. In Instagram, MOMOLAND has one million followers and counting.
QUESTIONS
During the press conference, MOMOLAND gamely answered questions from fans as well as reporters — from the Filipino food they want to try to the reputation they want to build in the K-pop industry.
“We want to be known (even in the future) as a group which radiates great energy to people who listen to our music and watch our performances,” said JooE. Jane said the fact that the group’s “Bboom Bboom” and newest song, “Baam!” are topping music charts not only in Korea but also overseas is “surreal.” Naturally, the members of MOMOLAND hope that its fame will be sustained and that it will not just be a one- or two-hit wonder.
Hyebin admitted that there is pressure to consistently come up with hits as explosive as “Bboom Bboom.”
“But we just try to enjoy when we come up with new songs,” she said. There is no new album planned this year but Nancy said MOMOLAND wants to try a “new concept” with a new CD. If given the opportunity, they want to collaborate with PSY of “Gangnam Style” fame, and other fast-rising K-pop groups.
“We are open to working with other groups. There are so many [that] we cannot (readily) decide which,” said JooE.
MOMOLAND, which has been active on a number of Korean variety shows, was tagged as the female counterpart of K-pop superstar Super Junior, in terms of vibrancy and fan interaction.
CONCERT
Aside from the FB event, MOMOLAND was also in Manila as part of a roster of Korean performers in the concert K-Pop Live at the Theatre at Solaire Resorts and Casino last Saturday. As expected, they performed “Bboom Bboom,” “Baam!,” and their relatively new songs, “Freeze” and “Wonderful Love.”
Due to insistent demand, “Bboom Bboom” was sung again as encore.
During their segment, the girls — wearing their white-and-blue cheerleading uniforms — threw a surprise mini-party for JooE, who turned 19 last Saturday.
As the Solaire show was an “exclusive event” for the hotel’s patrons and guests, Daisy promised to return to see more of their Philippine Merries, as MOMOLAND’s fans are called. The fans will not have to wait long as the group will be back for the opening of the 81st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on Sept. 8 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
More than 10,000 fans and millions at home will then be able to witness MOMOLAND’s energetic performance — complete with trademark trendy choreography — when the group opens the UAAP next month. With the group crossing over to Philippine sports and with even boxing champ and Senator Manny Pacquiao apparently a fan, MOMOLAND is definitely in “bhoom.”
