Prudential and SuperM Host Virtual Concert and Fan Meet across Asia.

Prudential Corporation Asia (Prudential), the regional headquarter of Pru Life UK, and K-pop super group SuperM threw an unforgettable experience titled “PrudentialxSuperM We DO Virtual Concert & Fan Meet” for fans across Asia over the weekend on Saturday, 7 August. The event was exclusive to the winners of Prudential’s “We DO” campaign and Dance Challenges, as well as users of Pulse by Prudential, the company's all-in-one health and wellness app, across the region.

A special treat for SuperM fans brought to us by Prudential

We DO!

The virtual concert and fan meet brought people together for an uplifting experience in these challenging times. The activity was held as an extension of Prudential’s “We DO Well Together” campaign, which aims to encourage everyone to stay well and healthy, and have fun doing it.

Since the announcement of the PrudentialxSuperM partnership in January this year, the collaboration has encompassed various ways to inspire Filipinos to attain a healthier lifestyle. These include the #WeDoDanceChallengePH where Filipinos are invited to submit a video of themselves dancing to the “We DO” song on social platform such as TikTok for a chance to win tickets for the virtual concert and fan meet as well as exclusive SuperM merchandise.

K-pop fans from Prudential’s 11 markets in Asia tuned in to the virtual concert and fan meet from the comfort of their homes. SuperM lit up the stage and united fans across the region by performing their campaign song “We DO” in their signature dynamic moves. Released in April this year, the “We DO” song showcases efforts by Prudential and SuperM to promote health and wellness, and inspire optimism and positive actions.

Allan Tumbaga, SVP and Chief Customer Marketing Officer of Pru Life UK said, “We are excited to host our exclusive, first-ever virtual concert and fan meet with the widely-popular K-pop group SuperM for our employees, agents, customers, and K-pop fans across Asia. Through this platform, we want to connect people through music and dance and inspire them to take charge of their wellbeing in a fun manner so they can continue to live well in these extraordinary times.”

SuperM, described as the “Avengers of K-pop”, held a very special fan meet activity. Lucky fans had a once-in-a-lifetime interactive experience to get up-close-and-personal with SuperM.

Lucky fans had the chance to talk (online) with the SuperM members!

The fan meet activity was followed by SuperM’s performance of the fan-favourite songs, including 100, One (Monster & Infinity), Wish You Were Here, and With You. An enormous LED screen on the back of the stage displayed a multitude of fans tuning in live and interacting with their favourite idols.

Although Baekhyun and Taemin were not physically present being enlisted in military services, they wanted to spread positive energy to fans through pre-recorded messages shown during the fan meet and actively participated in pre-recorded performances, melting the hearts of their fans at the event.

Baekhyun and Taemin were present on the big screen. :)

SuperM sends love to fans across Asia!

Kai recently tested negative for COVID-19, but unfortunately could not attend the event due to a two-week self-quarantine imposed in accordance with Korean health regulations. He sent his sincere apologies for not being able to attend the event at the last minute.

Seoul Searching | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards + COEX C-Festival!

A few days before we flew back to Korea, Ms. Ana Park of Buhay Korea informed me that the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards will be held on May 3 at the COEX Mall. Most Kdrama and Kpop fans know how important this event is - it's the most prestigious arts awards in South Korea, given to the cast and production staff of TV programs and movies broadcast or shown during the previous year.

I was floored - not only because I will already be in Korea by then, but also because the venue is just a few subway stops away from where we live. I know the route like the palm of my hand!

The nominees of the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards.

The 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards experience after the jump!

And yes, it was surreal! :)

Seoul Searching | SMTown at COEX Artium!

For any Kpop fan, no trip to COEX (or Seoul, for that matter) would be complete without visiting SMTown - a sprawling, six-story hub of all things Kpop.

Hello, SMTown! We finally meet! :)

The huge 'SMTown' sign was actually the first thing that I noticed as we entered the premises of COEX Mall. And like a piece of metal attracted to a magnet, my feet just automatically took me there. My boys obviously had no choice but to follow suit. Haha!

Life-size versions of EXO Paper Toys.

Follow me to SMTown! Virtual tour after the jump! :)

UFC Fight Night Macao | Le vs Bisping.

Macao will once again see some hard-hitting mixed martial arts action, as the UFC returns to the Cotai Arena for a showdown between two top 10 contenders in the middleweight division.

UFC Fight Night Macao.

Former Strikeforce champion Cung Le (9-2 in his professional mixed martial arts career, fighting out of San Jose, California), makes a comeback after a two-year hiatus that saw him serve as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter China, the organization’s long running reality series, as well as further his action movie career. In his return to the Cotai arena, Le will look to build on his reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in combat sports history when he meets Manchester, England’s Bisping (24-6, fighting out of Orange County, California) in the Octagon.

For Bisping, a win over Cung Le would mark his first victory over a former champion, which could possibly lead to another shot at the middleweight title.

Kim and Woodley stare down at the weigh-ins.

In the co-main event, 'Stun Gun' Dong Hyun Kim (ranked no.9 in the welterweight division) will go up against no.4-ranked Tyron 'The Chosen One' Woodley.

This fight has quite a divisional significance, as well as major world title implications. A well-rounded mixed martial arts fighter, Kim has a ton of momentum after crushing victories over John Hathaway and a knockout of the night performance against Erick Silva. Woodley, on the other hand, is potentially one huge win away from a shot at UFC gold. Both fighters will be looking to cement their place among the elites in the welterweight division.

Also included in the main card are Yang Jianping and Ning Guangyou - who will battle to become the featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter® China and win the coveted UFC contract.

UFC Fight Night Macao will be held on August 23, 6 in the evening at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Hotel.

Foodie Goodie | Instant Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cake).

Tteokbokki or topokki (others refer to this as ddukbeokki) is a dish made by sauteing cylindrical rice cakes (tteok) in red pepper paste (kochujang). It's a very popular snack in Korea, and can be bought in restaurants, street carts, and even convenience stores.

I've seen all sorts of tteokbokki from all the Korean dramas and variety shows that I've watched. There's haemool tteokbokki, which is made with seafood: jjajang tteokbokki, which is made with black bean sauce, and then there's rapokki - tteokbokki with ramen noodles. But I've always been curious with the traditional tteokbokki - the one in spicy red sauce.

Luckily, I chanced upon some instant tteokbokki while I was at the supermarket yesterday. Without thinking twice, I grabbed a pack, together with a pack of instant jjajangmyun which I will be sharing in a different post.

Yopokki - instant tteokbokki!

This 320 gram pack of Yopokki serves two, and sells for Php 164. I did a bit of research and found out that this brand is manufactured by OK Food of Korea. This instant tteokbokki also comes in 200 gram bowls similar to that of cup noodles, though there were none available at the local supermarket.

Yopokki from OK Food.

Cooking is a breeze. Simply put the tteok (rice cakes) in a saucepan, add 100 mL of water, and let it boil for five minutes.

Tteok + kochujang. :)

Add the spicy sauce once it starts boiling, and let it simmer for another two minutes before serving.

Tteokbokki in a flash! 

So how do I find this instant tteokbokki?
It's pretty good, although I can't really compare it with the regular tteokbokki since I haven't tried one yet. The tteok is soft and chewy, and the sauce is sweet, salty, and spicy all at the same time. The spiciness stands out, but it's not too overwhelming. For someone who is not a big fan of spicy food (yes, that's me) the spiciness of this one is tolerable.

I'm thinking of buying another pack next time and try to amp the dish up by adding ramen and hard-boiled eggs. Heol, I am being ambitious after a first successful attempt at the instant kind. Haha!

How about you, have you tried tteokbokki before? :)

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

The Face Shop | 10 Years of 'Natural Story'.

I must admit, the main reason that I started buying and using The Face Shop products was because of their poster boy, Kim Hyun Joong.

He was my favorite Flower Boy (from the hit 2009 drama 'Boys Over Flowers'), my favorite among the members of SS501 (his now defunct boyband), and one of the first Hallyu stars that I literally went gaga over, lol.

My favorite Flower Boy.

Moving forward, Kim Hyun Joong has been endorsing The Face Shop for the past three years. Launched in 2003, the brand opened its doors to the public with its very first branch in Myeongdong, South Korea, and has since become a household name in the global beauty industry.

'Natural Story' was the brand's concept, and it was as simple as it could be. The Face Shop wanted to share the benefits of nature, and together with science, deliver the best products for the skin.

Taking pride in using only the highest-quality, all-natural ingredients, The Face Shop also boasts of products that are reasonably priced for the modern woman of today. Their successful line of skincare and cosmetic staples is testament to worldwide consumer loyalty, and product effectiveness.

Natural Story.

It's been a decade since that fateful day in Myeongdong, and to commemorate this glorious occasion, The Face Shop has released a 10th Anniversary Limited Edition set containing five of their most popular, best-selling products of all time.

Happy Anniversary, The Face Shop!

Included in the set are:

Natural Sun Super White SPF50+ PA+++.

The brand's signature sun care line. Since its release in 2006, the Natural Sun AQ line of products has seen additions and evolution due to advancements in sun care technology. Nine products comprise this trendy sun care line with each product empowering consumers with sun protection plus added skincare benefits based on their activities and needs.

Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask.

Koreans are known for incorporating mask sheets in their daily beauty regimen, and The Face Shop's 'Real Nature' and 'Raspberry Roots' masks are consumer favorites. The 'Real Nature' line sells over a million pieces globally per month while the 'Raspberry Roots' line is a favorite among international customers since its release in 2006.

Rice Water Cleansing Foam.

Staying true to its commitment of providing effective and affordable skincare products, the brand’s famous 'Herb Day 365' and 'Rice Water Bright' cleansers have remained at budget-friendly prices for 8 years in a row. These products are best known as long-lasting cleansers that have superb brightening and cleansing powers with instant results guaranteed.

Chia Seed Moisture Holding Seed Cream.

One of The Face Shop's signature skin care lines, Chia Seed is armed with an eco-friendly concept and packed with premier hypo-allergenic quality ingredients. The Chia Seed Moisture-Holding Seed Cream,  which keeps the skin soft and hydrated 24/7 by sealing in moisture, has been a steady best-seller since its release last year.

FACE IT Power Perfection BB Cream.

One of my favorite BB Creams of all time (I even regard heralded this as one of my HG BB Creams), and the number one selling product in the brand’s BB cream category. More than 1 million pieces have been sold since it was first introduced in the market, making it a legend among consumers - a hit in countries like China, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

The 10th Anniversary LE set. :)

Selling at Php 1500 (around $34) here in the Philippines, this Limited Edition Set is now available at all The Face Shop outlets worldwide.

Have you tried any of these products yet? What's your favorite beauty/skincare product from The Face Shop? :)

Hair Story | Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring in Wine Red.

If you're a loyal follower of this blog, then you've probably read about my hair coloring adventures. You've seen me sport orange, take a stab at blonde, and even try a Japanese brand out of desperation. Haha!

I had the chance to go shopping at Etude House a few weeks back, and made it a point to buy another box of Bubble Hair Coloring. As always, there was no Mocha Pink available, so I took the next best thing - Wine Red.

#4 Wine Red.

I didn't take pictures of the contents, but as always, inside the box were the Bubble Coloring Solution, the Pump Bottle, a sachet of the Silky Perfumed Hair Treatment, plus the Latex Gloves and the Plastic Cape (that still rips apart within seconds, lol). You can view the photos of the contents here and here, together with the step-by-step instructions on how to apply the product.

Now here are the before and after photos.

Before - previous color all gone and my hair has turned almost black.

After - Red hair ala Lee Kiseop! :)

And it looks burgundy-ish from behind.

All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with the result. I've grown tired of brown hair, and this burgundy-ish shade is right up to my alley. Oh, and in case you're gonna try this shade out, let me just warn you about the purple foam. The hair coloring is actually purple once you pump it out of the bottle. The purple shade gets darker as you pump out more of the product. It leaves a nasty stain on clothes, so be sure to cover yourself up with a towel or the plastic cape provided.

I'm still waiting for the day when I could finally lay my hands on that box of Mocha Pink Bubble Hair Coloring. Somehow, someday, I will have the chance to try that forever elusive color. Haha! :)

The Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring is available at all Etude House branches, and sell for Php 378 per box.

Super Junior | Super Show 5 Manila!

Oh yes. It's real. And it's finally gonna happen. The boys are coming back to Manila for Super Show 5, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Especially since there was no Manila leg of Super Show 4 last year. Made me even more eager (perhaps even dying) with anticipation to see my most favorite Kpop group of all time back in Philippine soil. And I'm sure all Filipino ELFs feel the same way.

Siwon, front and center. :)

Happening on October 24, 7pm at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the Kings of Kpop will return for a one-night only concert that will leave every ELF spellbound and wanting for more. This will be the group's third visit to Manila. Their 2010 and 2011 concerts (Supershow 2 and 3, respectively) were hugely successful, with the fans showing all-out support for the boys.

And now, here's the moment every Filipino ELF has been waiting for... seat plan and ticket prices! :)

VIP Standing - Php 8,800

Lower Box A - Php 8,800

Lower Box B - Php 8,000

Upper Box - Php 3,400

General Admission - Php 2,000

(exclusive of ticket service charge)

Tickets will go on sale starting September 6, and can be bought at SM Tickets nationwide. This event is made possible by Pulp Live World Productions.

See you at the concert, ELFs! :)

Four Eyes | Nerd Glasses, KPop, and my Frozen Yoghurt.

If you're a fan of Korean pop music, Korean dramas, or just about anything that has to do with Korea (like me, lol), then you're probably aware that eyeglasses are big in Korea. Not big in terms of size, mind you. Rather, they've become part and parcel of Korean fashion. It's a trend that will remain huge, and stay for years to come.

I know right? :)

I must admit, I have a penchant for eyewear. But that has nothing to do with my Kpop fangirling or addiction to Korean dramas. You see, I wear prescriptive contact lenses and I need to have some sort of protection for my eyes (sunglasses, nerd glasses, or whatever) whenever I go out. Why not just wear my prescriptive glasses, you ask? Well, I have really bad eyesight, and my eye grade is -8.00. So you can just imagine how inconveniently thick those lenses are even if they're already of the 'air wear' kind.

Now let me show the latest addition to my growing collection of eyeglasses. It's a simple yet stylish pair from Four Eyes - the first online optical store in the Philippines. Launched in May 2013, Four Eyes aims to revolutionize eyewear in the country - by making it more affordable and accessible to every Filipino.

When shopping for glasses from the Four Eyes website, buyers will simply need to choose their desired frame, (they have an array of styles that I'm sure KPop fans will love) upload the doctor’s prescription (for prescriptive glasses) and pick the lens type (multi-coated, bifocal, polycarbonate, or transitions).  Four Eyes even allows buyers to try the glasses at home because they understand that 'people like to touch, feel and wear the product before purchasing'.

The best part? They don't charge shipping fees at all - even for their Home Try-On service.

Frozen Yoghurt!

Going back to my eyeglasses... Dubbed as 'Frozen Yoghurt', this style features a square shape with a saddle bridge. It's a full rim frame that looks half-rimmed from afar, and is made of sturdy plastic material.

Zooming in for the view.

It features the Four Eyes logo on the temple, with designs on the hinges that remind me of Ray-Ban's RX Eyeglasses.

Four Eyes!

This style can be worn both by men and women, and suits those with oval and round faces best. I have an oval face, and I love how this pair accentuates my cheekbones. :)

Half-rimmed? Not. :)

This pair comes with a protective carrying case and a cleaning cloth inside it. A 'Care Card' also comes along with the package.

Instructions written on the 'Care Card'.

'Frozen Yoghurt' reminds me of Yoochun's eyeglasses in the drama 'The Rooftop Prince.'

Yoochun as Lee Tae Yong.

And this pair worn by Bae Yong Joon, who - as far as I'm concerned - made nerd glasses look cool in Hallyu.

Bae Yong Joon aka Yon-sama. :)

Now here's how 'Frozen Yoghurt' looks like on me.

Well-proportioned shape that accentuates my cheek bones. :)

Channeling Yoochun. :)

Wanna get this pair, too? 

They sell for only Php 1495, but you can get Php 300 off if you use my Special Discount Voucher when you purchase from Four Eyes.

Simply key in the code 'REBELSWEETHEART' prior to check-out so you can enjoy the special discounted price of Php 1195! This code is valid until November 2013, so enjoy it as much as you can!

Get to know more about Four Eyes!
Like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and on Instagram.

UFC Fight Night | Chael Sonnen for the win!

Talk like a gangster. Fight like a boss. Win like a champion.
That's exactly what Chael Sonnen did in UFC Fight Night 26, when he beat Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua with a first round submission.

In front of more than 12,000 fans in Boston's TD Garden, Sonnen proved that there's more to his trash-talking and unpredictable shticks. Using his impressive wrestling skills, he took Rua down early on in the round, and they pretty much stayed on the mat the entire time.

Rua, a former light heavyweight champion, managed to defend himself and got back on his feet. And just when you thought the odds have turned in favor of the Brazilian, the American Gangster got a standing guillotine, brought it down, and locked it tight. And at 4:47 of the first round, Rua (who happens to be a black belter in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), tapped out.

Photo credit: Jared Wickerham / Zuffa LLC

After the fight, Sonnen dedicated his win to his grandmother, to his friend Alaina, and to all cancer patients and survivors. Of course, no interview would be complete without his witty remarks, and this time he picked on another Brazilian. "Wanderlei Silva. 6 feet tall and 205 pounds, but until I met you, I didn't know they could stack crap that high," said Sonnen, quipping a line from Full Metal Jacket.

He was a bit 'tamer' however, in the post-fight press conference. When asked how he felt about snapping his two-fight losing streak, Sonnen answered, "It feels good because it's Shogun."

Check out the pink ribbon!
Originally posted on my Instagram. :)

He went on by saying, "The guy's a former world champion. He's going to be in the Hall of Fame. He's beaten [Chuck] Liddell. He's beaten Forrest Griffin. He's beaten [Lyoto] Machida. He's beaten all these guys. He's beaten guys I've known and looked up to, from the Kevin Randlemans and Mark Colemans of the world. So yeah, it feels good."

And boy, do I feel good.
And why not? I am perhaps the biggest Chael Sonnen fan in this country, if not the world. So yeah, my happiness is beyond the stars.

Congrats Chael Sonnen!
And to all the other winners in UFC Fight Night 26 - Travis Browne, Urijah Faber, Matt Brown - kudos to you, too! You've all made me a happy fangirl. :)

Wordless Wednesday #50 | The Face Shop, finally!

One of my favorite Korean cosmetics brands has finally found its way to my hometown. The Face Shop SM San Pablo is now open, and I couldn't be happier. Yay! :)