The 60th year of Philippines-Japan Friendship was indeed a milestone event for the two countries as both have had a close and remarkable cultural relationship. Helping celebrate this landmark occasion were members of Japan’s premiere idol group, AKB 48, represented by their Team 8, with a program organized by the Embassy of Japan with co-organizer Hallohallo Entertainment Inc. The group had flown all the way from Japan to perform live in front of their eager Filipino fans for the second time since last year’s Cool Japan event (for our coverages, click here for Day 1 and click here for Day 2). A press conference for them was held just before their scheduled performance at the Market!Market! Activity Center. Our Photographer and Correspondent Ianah was there for arkadymac.com’s coverage as officialomedia partner for the event.
Q: Please tell us your impression on the Philippines upon coming here. For those who came here last year, what are the differences between this year’s visit from the previous?
Riona’s A: First of all, we’re so happy to be back in the Philippines. And thank you so much for welcoming us. And this is our 2nd time to perform here in the Philippines. And what was different from last year was that, this year we have a fan meet and I had so much fun meeting with all of the fans. They were so awesome and all the Filipino fans was so nice. And we had so much fun time so, I hope that we can do this fan meet again some time.
Q: Can you tell us the similarities between Filipinos and Japanese? And then, what are their differences?
Kotone’s A: Filipinos are very kind and friendly, while Japanese are very shy. So that’s the difference of Filipinos and Japanese.
Q: This year marks the 60th year of Japan-Philippines friendship. What do you think is the secret of their long-lasting friendship?
Rin’s A: Caring for each other is the most important thing to keep the friendship between Japan and Philippines.
Q: Do you have a Filipino friend? Also, what kind of Filipino do you want to be friends with?
Yurina’s A: She actually doesn’t have a pure Filipino friend, but she does have friends who are half Filipino and half Japanese. And they are very happy. Yurina wants to have Filipino friends who are very happy.
Q: Where do you want to go in the Philippines? What sort of things would you like to do here?
Nanami’s A: Actually yesterday, she visited some churches here in the Philippines. On her way to the church, she saw a beach. And she wants to go to some beaches in the Philippines and to have fun with her friends.
Q: What things about the Philippines would you like to know?
Ayane’s A: In Japan during Christmas there’s snow. According to Ayane, her image of Santa Claus is with reindeers, a sleigh, and snow. But here in the Philippines of course, we don’t have snow. So she wants to know, What is the image of Santa Claus here in the Philippines because there is no snow.
Q: Do you know some information about the Philippines? Could you tell us about it?
Maria’s A: Actually in Japan, they sell Philippine banana. The reason why she knows banana is a famous fruit in the Philippines. But when she came to a supermarket in the Philippines, she was so shocked to see so many types/kinds of bananas.
Q: Are you interested in Philippine showbiz? If so, what part of Philippine showbiz are you interested in?
Rena’s A: Actually this is her second time here in the Philippines. She presented at ABS-CBN’s Showtime, and her impression was that Filipinos are very good at dancing. She wants to learn or enjoy dancing.
Q: Have you tried Filipino food? Which dish or desserts had a lasting impression?
Nanase’s A: When she was little, she had already visited the Philippines. And this is another chance for her to visit the country. When she was young, she had halo-halo and thought it was very delicious. She says she wants to eat halo-halo again.
Q: Tell us about your impression on your Filipino fans.
Hijiri’s A: Yesterday they had a fan meet. She says that the fans were very kind and powerful.
Q: MNL48 Start has been announced, Can you say some messages to hopefully young girls who wants to join MNL48.
Karin’s A: To believe in yourself because that is the important.
Q: Please say a word or two to your beloved Filipino fans.
Serika’s A: This is her first time visiting the Philippines and she loves Filipino foods and also the Filipino fans. “Please keep in touch with us and we are very thankful to the fans for visiting us on our performance. Thank you very much.”
They were then welcomed by thousands of ecstatic fans later in the afternoon as they had exciting performances with fantasy idol unit STARMARIE at the Market!Market! Activity Center. The program was complete with other features like anime-inspired dance performances, anime trailer previews and a cosplay event.
Also, MNL48 operator, Hallohallo Entertainment Inc., has opened the auditions for first-generation MNL48 members on December 3, 2016, the same day when they also launched MNL48 PLUS, the upcoming group’s official mobile app. The announcements were initially made during AKB48’s first Fan Meeting in Manila, where 12 AKB48 Team 8 members exclusively performed in front of their fans at Movie Stars Cafe in Pasay City. The audition is open to all Filipino girls between 15 to 20 years old who aspire to become part of AKB48’s new sister group. Patterned after the top Japanese idols’ original concept, the Philippine version hopes to find members through a nationwide search that will begin through the MNL48 app.
Hopefuls may now register as applicants and gain followers through MNL48 PLUS. The app is also an essential tool for MNL48 fans, as the platform publishes the latest news, updates, and announcements about the group. Non-aspirants may also get the app to register as a regular user and gain access to a special set of features that will allow them to actively participate as supporters. The mobile app can be downloaded for free on Google Play and MNL48.ph, while it will be available on the App Store soon.
MNL48 is the Filipino version of the famous Japanese all-female idol group, AKB48. The Philippine counterpart was announced together with TPE48 in Taiwan and BNK48 in Thailand as AKB48’s next foreign sister groups that will launch after the successful debut of Indonesia’s JKT48. MNL48 will be composed of young Filipino girls who will be selected through a nationwide search. The chosen members will undergo the AKB48 system, which includes intensive trainings and various performances in their very own MNL48 theater.
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