Two idols, 25,000 screaming fans. We’re surprised Trinoma’s roof hasn’t been blown sky-high after the deafening clamor they’d raised during the press launch/fan event last Aug. 15. The crowd erupted into shrieks every time Siwon and Donghae moved; a smile here, a wave there, and everyone went ballistic. That pretty much meant the fans were screaming nonstop for a good 30 minutes or so.
Oh, it was Super, all right. Super crazy. But for the legions of diehard fans, it was super worth it.
Our top 3 favorite moments from the SiHae mania:
#3: Fans going the extra mile. When it comes to their idols, fans would do anything. People bought P1,000 worth of Bench products just so they could join the raffle and be one of the 700 fans who were entitled to good seats at the event. And because it was a school day, younger fans from all over the metro came straight from class and braved the traffic and the downpour just to see their favorite K-pop stars up close.
#2: Crossing sound and language barriers. The two answered mostly in Korean during the Q&A portion of the event, but they gamely tried their hand at talking in English and Filipino with the fans at times. “Hello, Philippines!” Siwon said, and the rest of his friendly greeting was drowned in the collective squealing. Donghae went a little more hip-hop: “Wassup Philippines! My name is what?”
When asked what they thought of their fans, the two switched to Filipino. “Maganda,” Siwon commented, grinning slyly while Donghae said with feeling, “Nami-miss ko kayo.” Then, they announced in unison: “Mahal ko kayo!”
#1: He kissed a girl … and we liked it. If his role in the 2010 Korean drama “Oh! My Lady” was any indication, Siwon is a natural with kids. But to witness it firsthand simply melted our hearts (among other things). During the short autograph signing onstage, his face lit up when a little girl, hardly any taller than the table, stood timidly in front of him. He leaned over and planted a big kiss on the lucky kid’s forehead, eliciting the highest-pitched shrieks of the night. Getting crazy jealous of a 4-year-old might be wrong on all counts, but not this time. Girls, methinks he really would make a great dad. Feel free to dream away. Angela V. Ignacio
