A decade since it was launched in the country, the annual Philippine finals leg of the K-Pop World Festival went full circle as it achieved yet another milestone this 2021. From being the Korean Cultural Center’s on-ground talent event, Pinoy K-Pop Star went online this year to follow health and safety protocols. Hundreds of viewers joined in the fun and cheered on the performances in the Pinoy K-Pop Star Transcend.
Hosted by K-Influencer Kring Kim, the show, streamed last July 30, had an almost 5,800 combined live viewers on KCC’s Facebook and YouTube. Gracing the event and sharing their jaw-dropping performances were New Generation Dance Princess, AC Bonifacio, and phenomenal P-Pop group SB19.
Pinoy K-Pop Star Transcend challenged this year’s dance performers to “go beyond their limits” by wowing the audience and the judges, bringing their moves, creativity, talent, and charisma onto the small screen. Among the group and solo entries, six acts shone and will represent the Philippines in Changwon this October. First-, second-, and third-place winners will receive P30,000, P20,000, and P15,000, respectively. Fourth to sixth placers will receive special KCC gift bags with this year’s special PKS Transcend trophy.
Bagging the first place was the all-female dance group Alpha PH. Formed in 2016, the group has been producing K-Pop dance covers in different genres for live events, competitions, and for their own social media. Despite a tight schedule and the limitations of the pandemic, the group made time to practise every weekend to prepare for their PKS performances. One of their biggest feats is their viral dance cover of Everglow’s anthem Dun Dun, which now has almost 2 million views.
Credit: ALPHA PH/YouTube
Six acts shone and will represent the Philippines in Changwon
In second place was the newbie girl group DES7INY. The number 7 represents the number of days they work in a week to prepare for a particular cover. Their participation in PKS Transcend, quite interestingly, was the first time they danced together.
In third place was Aesir PH. This all-male cover group is united by its love of K-Pop. K-Pop brought the members closer to each other and inspired them to help one another. Dancing their favorite artists has allowed them to express themselves and encourage others to do the same. Although it is their first time to cover the song by Stray Kids, they took the challenge as a means to prove their skills and flexibility as performers.
The groups Mix’In, Hiyas, and Fatal completed the six winners, finishing in the fourth, fifth, and sixth places, respectively.
Pinoy K-Pop Star has been an avenue for Filipino performers to share their talents and love of Korean music with the world. All six entries will be sent to KBS to join the other PKS winners from all the KCC’s abroad. The list will be trimmed to 20 to 30 groups/performers, from which will be selected 10 groups/performers, the finalists. These finalists will compete in the 2021 K-POP World Festival in Changwon, South Korea.
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