Booming drum beats of both South Korean traditional music and Cebu’s famed Sinulog dance welcomed the crowd that gathered at SM City Cebu’s Northwing Atrium for the Fourth Cebu City Korea Day last Saturday evening.
“The presence of over 34,000 Koreans in Cebu doing business or studying and enjoying Cebu convince me to say that Koreans are part of Cebuano lifestyle,” Cebu City Vice-Mayor Edgar Labella said in his address.
With over 3,000 South Koreans and Filipinos in attendance during the event Hon. Lee Yong Sang, Police Consular official of South Korea said his team is helping the Cebu Korean Association Inc. ensure the safety of every Korean in the province.
“We appreciate the warm welcome Cebu’s been giving us. It shows the close-relationships of both countries,” said Cebu Korean Association Inc., President Bong Huan Cho.
The Cebu Korean Association acts as a consulate in Cebu for the huge number of Korean tourists in the province.
The opening messages were followed by a performance from the Yeosu City contingent who played on barrel-sized drums called “Jang gu” and copper pot-like cymbals. Yeosu City has sister city ties with Cebu City.
Exhibition
They were followed by the University of Cebu’s Dance Co. who delivered an ethnic dance followed by an exhibition of the Philippine taekwondo team.
“The event was nice, really improving every year,” said 26-year-old Katrina Estrada, who added that she never missed attending the show.
Other highlights include Miss Cebu 2014 Cheriemel Diane Muego and runner-ups Eva Psychee Patalinhug, Hannah Marie Gore, Grace Anne Marie Yap and Crystal Star Abearsturi and Ms. Cebu 2013 Neesha Lucero Murjani parading on stage wearing traditional Korean dress.
The crowd later cheered when Korean pop (K-pop) group N.O.M or Nature of Man performed their hit songs “Noona Neomu Yeppeo” and “You It You.”
Not to be outdone, a rookie Filipino group also drew cheers when they performed the viral hit tune “Pusong Bato” of singer Jovit Baldovino.
Close ties
Winners of this year’s Cebu K-Pop Star contest held the night before–Merge, Phifty Shades of Gray, Magnitude 7.2 and K—delighted the audience with cover performances of hit Korean songs.
The Cebu City Tourism Commission designated Junjet Primor as the event’s artistic director since 2010. He said they’ve prepared for the event for over six months.
“The presence of N.O.M. really drove the Filipino and Korean teens crazy,” Primor said.
“I really love directing the event because I have been to Korea for almost eight times and I could see the close ties of the two countries,” he added.
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