My high is Epik!

You have no idea how much I love Epik High. I do, I really do. Not only are they unbelievably talented, they're also gloriously hilarious. I was lucky enough that my city was added to the list of their stops during their ongoing Epik High Concert Parade and I could not let that opportunity pass me by. And I'm glad I didn't.

The Manila leg of the tour took place last Saturday night, April 18th, in SM North's Skydome. And we had such a blast, my friends and I. Tukutz was hilarious, Mithra was awesome, and Tablo was epic. Watching them perform live was a surreal moment for me. In all of my k-pop stanning life, I never thought it was possible to get to see them live. For one, they never used to tour extensively before. Also, k-pop is huge all over Asia but the Philippines has some catching up to do. My best bet, I thought, was to try to catch them in a nearby country. So imagine my surprise when they announced a Manila date.

Singing along to Korean music is not the easiest thing. Rapping along is a whole other feat. But Filipinos love to sing during concerts and we really did try our best. And believe you me, the crowd would erupt with excited singing whenever the English lyrics came along. So was it any wonder that the loudest singing/rapping happened when Tablo dished out his own version of Taeyang's "Eyes, Nose, Lips"? Every single person in the room was singing along, the whole way through.

After watching all these concerts and coming home with sucky fancams (photos and videos), I do realize I need to invest in a better camera. My Samsung phone can only provide so much. But, nonetheless, here are some photos and videos from the Epik night that was.

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Big Bang drops tour trailer --- OMG

This is really happening! This comeback is real and I can't breathe.

First it was just that teaser poster with headless Big Bang. But then YG just up and drops a tour trailer on our laps like that's not a big deal. And duuuuude. This tour trailer is insane. It's literally the most awesome thing I've seen in years. I don't know how to deal with this, honestly. This is some Fast & Furious shit, if Fast & Furious were directed by Quentin Tarantino

The album isn't even out yet and it looks like they will be dropping singles on a monthly basis starting later this month or on May 1st until September -- so does this mean the actual album doesn't drop till September? Ugh. But in any case, the Manila leg of the Made Tour happens in the end of July, and maaaan, I can't wait.

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Big Bang to embark on World Tour, album still pending

So... Big Bang will embark on a World Tour beginning on April 25 and 26 in Seoul to promote their comeback album. Tickets for the Seoul concert dates will go on sale on April 6 and 7. Hell, even the local concert promoter has already confirmed that Manila will be one of the stops of this World Tour. The concert has been set for either July 30 or 31.

Meanwhile, no one knows when the album is actually going to be released. According to that fabulous teaser poster, it could be any time between April and September. Trust Big Bang to get sold out concerts without even dropping the album first.

YG, gimme the album. NOW.

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CNBLUE Can't Stop Tour 2014

The guys are coming back to Manila and I need to be there!!! I caught their Blue Moon concert last year and had so much fun. Possibly one of the best concerts I've ever been to. Not only because they sounded flawless live, but also because of how much effort they had put into connecting with their fans. The endless banter they exchanged with the Filipino audience was endearing because they endeavored to speak not just in English but also in Tagalog. And even when they spoke in Korean, most of the fans could still understand.

One of my favorite moments from last year's concert was when bassist Jungshin noticed the audience responding even to their banter in Korean and so reverted to his native tongue to ask the audience a few things.

Jungshin: 재밌어요? [Are you having fun?]
Fans: 네! [Yes!]
Jungshin: 여러분 재밌어요? [Everybody, are you having fun?]
Fans: 네! [Yes!]
Jungshin: 한국말 알아요? [Do you understand Korean?]
Fans: 네! [Yes!]
Jungshin: 대박! [(Daebak) Awesome!]
Fans: /screaming/
Jungshin: 필리핀 대박! [The Philippines is awesome!]
Fans: /more screaming/

And who could even try to forget the entire conversation the 3 other guys had in full Tagalog as they conspired with the fans to surprise Yonghwa for his upcoming birthday? It was beyond fantastic.

It's not flawless Tagalog (or English), but still. They're the only foreign artist I've watched live who dared to speak this much Tagalog. Ever. Sandara Park totally does not count.

So, even though I'm not exactly rolling in cash right now (what with my upcoming trip to Seoul), I kind of really want to catch the boys in concert again. Especially now that my appreciation of them goes way beyond just Yonghwa and Jonghyun. Jungshin and Minhyuk have totally stolen my heart as well. And my love for their music is a given. Ugh. I'm such a fan right now.

The tickets are not exactly cheap, so I'm crossing my fingers for a miracle.

Because I'm in a CN Blue mood right now, here's a bunch of awesome live performances. Just because I can.

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2NE1 to hold concert in Manila on their 5th year anniversary

Merry Christmas fellow k-pop fan! I bring you good tidings to put a smile on your face. YG just recently partially announced concert dates for 2NE1's 2014 World Tour, including a pit stop in Manila on May 17th - which also happens to be the 5th year anniversary of the 4-membered girl group. Earlier today, Sandara Park tweeted in Tagalog letting her Filipino fans know of the good news.

"Our concert in Manila will be on May 17. That day is very special as well because it’s 2NE1’s 5th anniversary!!! Yeah! Let’s celebrate!" she announced.

This is exciting for Filipino Blackjacks who have yet to experience an actual 2NE1 concert on domestic soil despite Sandara's eternal popularity in the country she once called home (The Party: 2NE1 doesn't count as it featured many different local artists and the girls only performed about 7 songs - for which Blackjacks had to pay an exorbitant amount for).

We have 5 months to go before the concert, giving us ample time to save up for those coveted concert tickets. Here's to hoping they won't cost an arm and a leg to purchase. I'm crossing my fingers for all of us!

2NE1 is scheduled to hit Manila on May 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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Super Show 5 Live in Manila

Indeed, the best things in life are free. Especially when they happen to be VIP tickets to Super Junior's concert.

So, yes. I was able to watch Super Show 5 last night and the boys were beyond awesome. And how are they all more gorgeous in real life? I don't understand. There were countless of moments when Donghae or Sungmin or Kangin would be standing right in front of me and I would shout to my sister in awe, "Oh my gawd, how is he so pretty?" Like, seriously. All of them.

I don't even think I have words to explain the pure awesomeness of seeing k-pop idols live and that much in your face. This certainly wasn't my first k-pop concert. I've seen both Big Bang and CN Blue live. But I had upper box tickets to both those shows and even if they blew my mind with their talent it would probably have been a hundred times more mind-blowing if I had better seats. Seeing Super Junior just a few feet away from me brought the experience to a whole different level.

Really, I wasn't expecting VIP seats. The last time my friend got me free tickets, we got general admission passes to Lee Min-ho's concert. To have gotten that much would've been awesome already. So to have been given passes to stand 4 feet away from Donghae is just a little short of manna from heaven.

Also, this concert marked Heechul's return to doing Super Shows after his recent discharge from the army. Seeing how much the crowd loved him was a special moment. For both him and the fans, I'm sure. "Saranghaeyo, Kim Heechul! Wooyoo bichkkal, Kim Heechul!"

Here are some photos and videos from the best night ever.

From my Instagram account

Henry's "Trap"

Dance off: Shindong, Eunhyuk & Donghae

"Go" / "Shake It Up"

"Rockstar"

Here are more photos and videos I've stolen from my sister's Instagram account.

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Super Show 5 might be within my reach

I've been self-pitying over the fact that a number of my favorite k-pop artists will be visiting the country and I'm going to be too poor to see them. Aside from the fact that I have bills to pay, I'm also saving up for my upcoming trip to Vietnam, and there are those Wicked musical tickets I've also been coveting. Concert tickets just isn't in the budget. So I had put on a brave front and said goodbye to the prospect of watching Super Junior's Super Show 5, Infinite's One Great Step, and 2PM Nichkhun's /Bench fanmeet - all of which are to take place one after the other on a weekly basis, from end of October to the second week of November.

They were right when they said be careful what you wish for. K-pop fans have begged concert promoters time and again to bring their favorite acts to the country, but the promoters have always said to sit back and relax and to wait for them one at a time. Bringing the acts to this part of Asia is not the hard part, the problem is in assuring the idols' agencies that the concert tickets will sell. Everyone wants to see their oppas, but not everyone can afford to, especially when they come in droves. And isn't that just too true?

Last week, I even thought to ask a friend, who previously got me into Lee Min-ho's concert, about the possibility of getting into Super Junior's concert later this week. This was going to be my last ditch effort to try and get my hands on some tickets. But I felt awkward having to ask her and so I stood my ground and resolved not to ask for something that clearly wasn't meant to be.

Over the weekend, news broke out that Heechul (one of my favorite Super Junior members who was recently discharged from the army) had rejoined the guys for the SM Town concert in Beijing, and that he's also set to join the group for Super Show 5 this week. Again, self-pity knows no bounds and I was sad for all of 5 minutes before pulling myself back together because, seriously, there wasn't anything I could do about it. So there I was, all ready to miss out on the biggest events of the year only to be reminded that the world is, indeed, a beautiful place.

Today, as is my daily morning routine, as soon as I woke up at the crack of dawn, I reached for my phone and checked Twitter. I had a direct message from last night from aforementioned friend and she had two succinct sentences for me: SuJu, this Thursday, 7pm MOA. Game ka? 

I replied and asked her if she was serious. It was 5 in the morning and I was freaking out. Though it was still dark, I couldn't go back to sleep over the sheer giddiness of possibly getting to watch Super Junior for free. It's 10 am now and I still haven't heard back from her so I don't know how legit this is. But oh. my. god.

I'll let you know how it goes in a later blog post. For now, let me bask in my Super Junior playlist.

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So guess who's watching her 2nd k-pop concert ever?

Ha. My friends and I finally decided, at almost the 11th hour, to go ahead and buy tickets to CN BLUE's upcoming concert.

The announcement that the 4 boys would be making their way to Manila for their 2013 Blue Moon World Tour came months in advance but I was not quite sure if I had the budget to watch more concerts this year. I had also been waiting for confirmation from a friend on whether or not she could get us discounted ticket. That option fell through so we had to buy our tickets at regular price. I don't mind, really. They weren't that expensive to begin with. It's just that with Fall Out Boy and Super Junior headed this way in a couple of months, I'm finding myself quite broke.

Anyway, the tickets have been bought. We're all set and the concert is next week. I'm guessing we were extremely lucky there were still tickets available. I just really had to make sure we got seats on Jonghyun's side of the stage. Ha.

I'm not CN BLUE's biggest fan but I still love them. And, damn, I'm excited.

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