About 5,000 people on July 1 gather for the festival "Everyone's K-Pop: Manila" hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines at Robinsons Galleria Ortigas in Pasig, Metro Manila.

By Park Hye Ri
Photos = Korean Cultural Center in Philippines

Approximately 5,000 people attended last weekend a K-pop festival in Metro Manila, the Philippines, showing the heated popularity of Hallyu in the archipelago.

The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Taguig on July 3 said the event "Everyone's K-pop: Manila" was held at Robinsons Galleria Ortigas in Pasig and jointly hosted by the KCC, Seoul Shinmun Daily, Philippine K-pop Convention and Robinsons Galleria Ortigas.

The festival's purpose was to promote the diverse appeal of K-pop in going beyond dancing and singing and covering games and fashion, as well as emphasize the enjoyment of K-pop culture through communication and becoming one with Philippine fans.

On the morning of the festival, participants in the program K-pop Playground looked around fan club booths for 14 K-pop groups. Mission card events throughout the venue added to the fun by offering gifts to visitors for completing missions.

Visitors on July 1 explore fan club booths of K-pop groups near the venue of the festival "Everyone's K-Pop: Manila" at Robinsons Galleria Ortigas in Pasig, Metro Manila.

The stage at the venue showcased games and K-pop performances.

The K-pop Cosplay Show attracted the most visitors as they wore K-pop costumes and gave performances. The Philippine groups Ver5us and Eclipse presented random play K-pop dance with the audience.

Visitors told the KCC that they had fun playing games that they saw on Korean entertainment shows and a good time looking at the booths of other fan clubs to meet people with the same interest.

The group Alpha on July 1 poses for a photo after winning this year's K-pop Cover Dance Festival in Pasig, Metro Manila.

Later in the afternoon, the finals of this year's K-pop Cover Dance Festival were held. 

Among the 13 teams from all over the country, Alpha came out on top after dancing to "Talk That Talk" and "Dance the Night Away" by the K-pop girl group Twice. The winner will represent the Philippines in Seoul in September at the annual K-pop Cover Dance Festival World Final.

Throughout this month, the KCC will also open the venue K-Space every Friday on its multi-purpose hall on the fifth floor to K-pop communities for hosting their own events.

hrhr@korea.kr