PHOTO: Instagram/@direkjoey
“I AM a general of the BTS Army!”
‘Yan ang proud na inamin ng chairman ng Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) na si Direk Joey Javier Reyes nang maging isa siya sa guest speakers ng naganap na opening ceremony ng 2024 Korea Festival sa SM Mall of Asia noong May 4.
Ngayong taon din kasi ipinagdiriwang ang 75 years of friendship sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at South Korea at isa sa mga naging selebrasyon ay ang nasabing event na pinangunahan ng Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC).
Sa talumpati ni Direk Joey, marami siyang ibinunyag sa pagiging fan ng Korean culture at entertainment.
“As the result of the pandemic –locked us in our houses, we were trapped in our houses watching nothing but K-Drama. And as a result of that, Korean culture has not merely become a culture across the seas but it has already become a part of our lives,” sey niya.
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Chika niya, “Let me explain why, beside my bottle of San Mig Light are bottles of Soju. In my refrigerator, I never ever lacked a tub of kimchi, and one of my favorite spots is to go to a Korean grocery to buy Melona. That is when I come to realize that each time I see a subway restaurant, I immediately relate that to K-Drama.”
Patuloy niya, “And that leads me…we’re not just merely friends, Korean culture has become a way of life for us Filipinos.”
Kasunod niyan ay ibinunyag na niya ang pagiging avid fan sa K-Pop sensation na BTS at kasabay niyan ay binanggit pa niya kung sino ang mga “bias” niya.
“I will be the first to admit that I am a general of the BTS army. In a few days, I know Jin is going to step out of the army, that much I know and if you asked me, who are my biases? There are the three J’s –Jin, Jung Kook and Jimin,” pagbubunyag niya.
Bukod diyan, inihayag din ng FDCP chair ang kanyang pagkahumaling pagdating sa Korean movies na kanyang napapanood.
“Korean culture is no longer just exclusively Korean, it has already become world culture. It has become part of the larger culture because their popular culture has become the culture of the worlds,” sambit ni Direk Joey.
Dagdag niya, “Yes, Korean culture is next door but the fence that divides the Philippines and Korea is practically gone. We are more than friends, we are Asians celebrating our differences and our similarities by embracing and appreciating Korean culture, we are intensifying our identity as Asians and for that maraming salamat, Korea.”
Ang “K-Culture Next Door: 2024 Korea Festival” ay ginanap nitong May 4 at 5 sa SM Mall of Asia Music Hall na bukod kay Direk Joey ay dinaluhan din ng ilang opisyal kabilang na ang Korean ambassador na si Lee Sang-hwa, senior assistant vice president for operations ng SM Supermalls MOA na si Perkin So, at ang executive assistant for social services ng Pasay LGU na si Ma. Angelica Roa Yu.
Hindi lang diyan matatapos ang event dahil magkakaroon din sa Mountain Wing Atrium and Skyhall ng SM Seaside City Cebu sa darating na June 15 at 16.
Libre lang ang festival at kahit sino ay pwedeng magpunta at maki-join sa inihanda nilang mga aktibidad na ibinabandera ang Korean culture – mula sa Hangeul (alphabet), Hanbok (costume) at Jeontongnori (traditional games).