5 favorite moments from Song Joong-ki's first Manila event
Song Joong-ki made sure that his first-ever visit to Manila would be one for the books!
The Korean A-lister's May 24 stop in the Philippines was even made more special as he visited Manila for the first time (although he had been in Cebu for a vacation 15 years ago) for a brand event by local wellness company IAM Worldwide.
Whether you've been a long-time fan or are a newbie to the fandom, we're recapping that kilig of finally seeing him in flesh.
Joong-ki talks about possible Vincenzo season 2
During the press conference ahead of the fan meet, Joong-ki was surprised to know that Filipinos love his character as the Korean-Italian mafia lawyer in the 2021 TV series Vincenzo.
“Vincenzo? Really? Wow. I think I have to call my writer of Vincenzo and director. They should make a season two of Vincenzo, I think. Wow, I had no idea about that.”
The 39-year-old actor said that he also loves Vincenzo, saying he enjoyed portraying the title character.
“I love my Vincenzo character so much, deeply,” he said. “And I don't know why, because just when I shot Vincenzo in Korea, I felt something like, [I] feel free. And I really enjoyed that.”
“So okay, I will call my writer. He has to write a ‘Vincenzo’ Season 2. And shooting in the Philippines, right?”
Asked about which K-drama character he would like to switch lives one, Joong-ki answered that it would be his iconic Italian-Korean character.
“I think that this would be the refreshing character that I want to try living in, the Vincenzo character,” he said.
He wants to play a vampire character
In his two-decade career as an actor, Joong-ki has played a wide range of roles. From playing Eun Seom in a mythical world of Arthdal Chronicles, Jin Do-jun, a member of an elite family in Reborn Rich, Lo Kiwan, a refugee in My Name is Loh Kiwan, and Tae Ho, a space pilot in Space Sweepers, among others.
Asked what role he'd like to pursue in his next projects, Joong-ki said that he'd like to play a vampire character.
“When I did my movie called A Werewolf Boy, I really enjoyed that movie and my character. And then after finishing that movie, I was dreaming, ‘Oh, I want to have something like kind of a vampire character one day in the future,’” he shared.
He reiterated this during the fan meet, saying he wanted to play a vampire character in a fantasy project ever since he was a child.
Learning Filipino words
It wouldn't be a Filo fan meet without an idol learning some Filipino. Joong-ki was more than game to show off his skills speaking the local language. He even greeted members of the press with, "Magandang hapon. Kumusta kayong lahat?"
He continued to expand his Filipino vocabulary with "Masarap po," and "Mahal na mahal kita." He also said that he likes the sound of Filipino words.
"Parang gusto ko mag-aral ng Tagalog din," he said via an interpreter.
He wants to return to the PH with his wife and kids
As a first-time visitor to Manila, the Korean actor said that one of the things he wanted to do was to immerse himself in the local scene.
"I really wanted to go out, but I can't," he said. “I want to go to supermarkets, places that Filipino locals really go to on a daily basis, those are the places where I want to look around—public markets, local restaurants…That’s what I really prefer when I go to countries,” he said.
Since his trip will be short, he looks forward to returning to the country with his wife, former British actress Katy Louise Saunders, and their two kids.
“I also want to go to the beach to enjoy the peace… and think of nothing else and really enjoy the scenery,” he said. “I heard that there are a lot of beautiful islands in the Philippines.”
Janice de Belen receives flowers from Song Joong-ki
One of the highlighted segments of his fan meet was called "Ready, Set, Bloom," where he showcased his skills in flower arranging, referencing his role in his newest drama, My Youth.
After finishing the arrangement in under three minutes, Joong-ki and host Janeena Chan looked for a lucky fan who would receive the bouquet. Actress Janice de Belen later stepped on stage to receive the flowers, as well as a signed poster.
After hugging and shaking hands, Joong-ki said he noticed Janice in the crowd.
"Kanina pa nag eye-to-eye contact kami. Sobra siyang masaya kanina," the actor said through an interpreter.
Joong-ki then got down on one knee and handed the bouquet to Janice.
Janeena later asked the actress, "Ano po ang balak ninyong gawin, Ms. Janice, with our new bouquet from Song Joong Ki na siya pa talaga ang gumawa from scratch?" to which Janice answered, "Itatabi ko sa pagtulog ko."
Janice later took to her Instagram account to share her surreal experience with Joong-ki, which she said is her "ultimate fave Korean actor."
"I really did not expect to be on the same stage as my crush!!! May bonus pang flowers at madaming yakap. He is my ultimate fave Korean actor," she captioned her post.
