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| (Image Source: AnimePH Project) |
While
the whole world has its eyes on The International 2019 in Shanghai, there was
another interesting affair that took place in the said city and an all-Filipino
group is looking to make its own impact there and is not seeking glory as it is
slated to have fun and entertain its loyal fans around the world. And that
would be none other than the all-female pop idol group MNL48 who is looking to
show pop culture fans in China and around the world what its girls are capable
of.
AKB48,
the globally renouned Japanese pop idol group, staged its second Asia Festival
this year inside the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai,
China last August 24, 2019 following the success of its first event held last
January in Bangkok, Thailand. For the second time, MNL48 joined six other groups
including BNK48, JKT48 and SGO48 in interacting with their domestic and
international fanbase as well as performing with their own renditions of the
songs popularized by the Japanese pop idol group as well as their own to the delight
of the audience.
As stated
on AKB48's official Facebook page, the one-day affair is headlined by a series of
mini-concerts featuring all the participating groups followed by a grand performance
in one huge stage. In between them is the High-Five session where fans and
spectators can meet, greet and interact with their favorite members of the
participating groups. For MNL48, the audience didn't disappoint them with their
blue lightsticks on (considering that blue is the group's official color) and
huge cheers coming out of their smiling and ecstatic faces when they performed an
acapella rendition of one of their singles "365 Araw ng Eroplanong Papel" led by former Center Girl Shekinah Arzaga, Brei Binuya, Belle Delos Reyes, Sela Guia, Rans Rifol, Abby Trinidad, Coleen Trinidad and Kay Ishiyama
Since
its inception back in 2018, MNL48 is trying to prove its worth to Filipino pop
culture fans and strives to be a renouned pop sensation of its own. So far, in
my case, the girls' continuing traction on social media and participation in
the AKB48 Asia Festival are strong testaments to their worth and I think more
Filipino pop buffs will begin to recognize the group's efforts to entertain its
audiences. I am hopeful that MNL48 will continue to become resilient despite
what it has gone through and will face in the foreseeable future. Good luck and
keep striving harder, MNL48!!
In
any case, I would like to end it with some good news for fans of MNL48 and AKB48's
international sister groups. They can now enjoy and indulge on the latest
happenings regarding AKB48, MNL48 and other sister groups through
48Circles.com, a website that contains and features news and updates on AKB48
and sister groups worldwide in various languages including English. Sign up for
an account and you may enjoy exclusive freebies upon successful registration to
the website.
