Remarkable Filipino and Korean talent once again took front and center at the 2021 Philippines-Korea Cultural Exchange Festival last September 25, 2021.
Although set online anew to ensure the safety of all participants, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, United Korean Community Association (UKCA), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) organized event has still raked in a combined total of 103,000 views at the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines YouTube Channel and Facebook Page.
This year, the PhilKor Festival commemorates the 30th year of celebrating friendship and promoting cultural exchange between the Philippines and Korea. Aptly titled “We Stand Together,” its aim to remind the Filipinos that the two countries stand hand-in-hand against the pandemic has been a success through the vivid cultural and artistic presentations from both countries.
Hosted by Sam Oh, SB19’s Justin de Dios, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, the viewers got to witness not only traditional culture but also pop performances from YouTuber-Singer Jin Ho Bae, TikTok Sensation Mona, Baritone and Soprano tandem Byeong-in Park and Rachelle Gerodias, K-Pop Dance Diva Dasuri Choi and traditional performers Tago and PWU Indayog Gong Ensemble. Meanwhile, P-pop groups: 4th Impact, Alamat, and the globally recognized – SB19 showed what true Filipino talent is about through their own segments.. To cap off the show, the artists performed a virtual collaboration of the Korean song Evergreen Tree to show some hope and inspiration during these trying times.
Apart from the performances, another much-awaited aspect of the show is the announcement of the Talent Contest winners. Homies were named as the Dance Category Winner while Julles was hailed as the Voice Category Winner. Finally, AESIR PH wowed the judges and took home the Grand Winner award. The Grand Winner in the Online Talent Competition took home P50,000 in cash while the Vocal Category and Dance Category winners received P30,000 each.
Although the successful event has already ended, the celebration of the friendship and the cultural exchange between the Philippines and Korea will continue today and would most certainly become stronger in the years to come.
