BY BELLA JAVIER
EXO singing Hawak Kamay? Yes, please!
It’s not unusual to find Filipino covers of K-pop songs on YouTube, TikTok, or anywhere else online. But have you ever watched a video where the reverse happened? Yeah, we didn’t either.
K-pop idols are all about fan service and, in the case of international fans, sometimes that fan service comes in the form of singing local songs from other countries. OPM hasn’t been an exception — a blessing to our Filipino stans out there. Here are some examples to prove it.
Astro’s Cha Eun Woo Singing Kathang Isip by Ben&Ben
Some fans there may not know this but K-Pop idol and actor Cha Eun Woo actually lived here in the Philippines for six months back when he was still in elementary.
It’s this personal connection that made Filipino fans even more kilig when he performed an OPM song during his fan meet in 2019. Specifically, Cha Eun Woo performed a cover of Ben&Ben’s Kathang Isip.
Dara and iKON’s Jay Singing Dahil Sa’yo by Iñigo Pascual
Dara, otherwise known as Sandara Park, is no stranger to the local music scene. Even before she became a member of the legendary K-pop group 2NE1, she’s released songs of her own here in the country.
It’s no surprise given her love for the Philippines that Dara makes it a point to highlight Filipino culture even when she’s in Korea. An example of this is her cover of Iñigo Pascual’s Dahil Sa’yo, which she performed with iKON’s Jay.
EXO Singing Hawak Kamay by Yeng Constantino
It may be almost 13 years ago already, but it’s safe to say that Filipino EXO-Ls have not forgotten that EXO once sang an OPM song as a treat for their local fans.
The OPM song in question is Yeng Constantino’s Hawak Kamay, which they performed here in Manila back in 2013. The performance brings back so much nostalgia, especially when you consider that all 12 original members of the idol group were present for the performance.
IU Singing Say You Love Me by MYMP
Singer and actress IU performed MYMP’s Say You Love Me not once, but twice. The first time she performed this song, it was during her guest appearance in a 2014 episode of a popular show called Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook.
IU performed the same song five years later during the Manila leg of her tour.
Jessica Jung and Jun Hyoseong Sing Someday by Nina
Nina’s Someday has been covered by two K-Pop idols in the last couple of years. The first of which was done by former Girls’ Generation member Jessica, who performed the song while her sister, former f(x) member Krystal, played the piano.
The song was then covered by Jun Hyoseong just six years ago. Hyoseong is a former member of the K-Pop girl group Secret.
Which Filipino song cover is your absolute favorite? Shop the look and grab your idol’s style right here!