SANDARA PARK WAS back recently in the country together with her popular girl group 2ne1 (CL, Bom and Minzy) for a one-night-only concert at the Araneta Coliseum. Dumagundong ang buong Big Dome sa tindi ng hiyawan ng mga fans na nakikanta at nakisayaw sa mga awitin ng 2ne1. K-Pop devotees were in for an exciting treat when the group sang their famous songs Fire, Go Away, Lonely, Please Don’t Go, Can’t Nobody, Clap Your Hands and I Don’t Care. Kinanta rin ni Sandara ang kanyang Pinoy novelty hit na In or Out.
It amazes me how hardcore K-Pop fans knew every step of the choreography, every word, every line of the songs kahit ang iba ay hindi naiintindihan ang ibig sabihin ng mga ito. Pinoys totally imbibe the Korean concert culture where audiences hold glow sticks and cheer their fanchants – isang patunay that the K-Pop mania is definitely here to stay.
In na in pa rin si Sandara sa puso ng mga Pinoy. Sabi nga ni Angela na isang fan na nakausap ko, “Hearing Sandara singing In or Out brings back happy memories. I really wished before the concert na sana ay kantahin niya ito at hindi naman ako nabigo. Talagang hindi pa rin niya nakaka-limutan ang mga Pinoy kahit sikat na siya sa Korea.” Another fan, Elaena said, “Sandara improved a lot. 2ne1 are great performers.”
Sandara came back to the Araneta Coliseum almost seven years matapos siyang tanghalin bilang 1st Runner-Up at Voter’s Choice awardee sa Grand Questor’s Night ng Star Circle Teen Quest Season 1 noong June 2004.
Nakakatuwa itong si Sandara (o Dara sa Korea) dahil marunong pa rin siyang magsalita ng Tagalog hanggang ngayon. Miss na raw niya tayong lahat. May dugong Koreano man siya pero Pinoy na Pinoy ang kanyang puso. Super sikat na si Sandara sa Korea pero para sa atin ay siya pa rin ang nag-iisang Koreanang minahal natin with her chinita eyes, cute smile, awkward Tagalog, and the Sandara wave.
I have fond memories of Sandara. I still remember her during her audition in Star Circle Quest kung saan isa ako sa mga jurors with Direk Lauren Dyogi and Ms. Gloria Diaz. Tinanong siya ni Direk Lauren kung bakit gusto niyang maging artista. Sinabi ni Sandara na gusto niyang sumikat at magkaroon ng mga fans. I then asked her to wave to the fans. Dito isinilang ang famous Sandara wave. There was even a time during the audition when she was crying while waving at sinabi niyang “Mahal ko kayo”.
Sinuwerte talaga sina Sandara at kanyang pamilya when they went back to Korea. Her younger brother Sang Hyun is now famous as Cheon Doong/Thunder of the idol group MBLAQ.
I am happy for Sandara dahil nagkatotoo ang kanyang pangarap na sumikat at magkaroon ng maraming fans hindi lamang dito sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa Korea at ibang bansa. I wish for her greater success at sana ay hindi siya makaka-limot na muling dumalaw sa Pilipinas.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
