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| (Image Source: MSN.com/Genesis Media) |
October
4, 2019 was a monumental day for ABS-CBN as the premiere media and entertainment
company in the Philippines signed a groundbreaking partnership deal with Korean-based
talent management firm MLD Entertainment to co-manage the career of the popular
and globally renouned all-girl Korean pop group MOMOLAND in the Philippines
making the group certified Kapamilya. On the other hand, the network has also
signed a co-management renewal agreement with Hallo Hallo Entertainment that officially
sealed the Filipina idol group MNL48's stay as part of the Kapamilya network's
family.
Both
MOMOLAND and MNL48 (represented by Senbatsu members Sela, Abby, Sheki, Jamie, Rans
and Gabb and Under Girls Coleen, Brei and Belle) were graciously welcomed by ABS-CBN
executives headed by chairman Mark Lopez, president and CEO Carlo Katigbak,
chief operating officer for broadcast Cory Vidanes, head of treasury Rick Tan,
Star Music head Roxy Liquigan and Star Hunt business unit head Raymund Dizon. Joining
the groups in the signing of their respective co-management deals were MLD Entertainment
official Lee Hyoung Jin for MOMOLAND as well as Hallo Hallo Entertainment
president Paulo Kurosawa and talent manager Gio Medina for MNL48.
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| Kapamilya heartthrob James Reid and international Korean pop sensation Nancy Jewel McDonie to star in an upcoming ABS-CBN drama series under the helm of Dreamscape Entertainment, Project 8 Productions and director Antoinette Jadaone (Image Source: ABS-CBN News) |
What
can Filipino pop culture buffs expect from MOMOLAND and MNL48 now that they are
considered great additions to the powerhouse roster of Kapamilya stars and
artists? For starters, MOMOLAND fans can see their favorite group in some of
the network's content, future collaborations with Kapamilya stars and other projects
in the foreseeable future. In fact, one of these projects is The Soulmate Project,
an upcoming drama series from Dreamscape Entertainment in cooperation with
Project 8 Productions which is slated to air in 2020. Under the helm of Antoinette
Jadaone, headlining the cast for the series will be none other than MOMOLAND's
lead vocalist Nancy Jewel McDonie and Kapamilya matinee idol James Reid who is fresh
from his stint as one of the judges of "Search For The Idol
Philippines" and now managing his own recording label and talent
management agency.
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| Some of the current MNL48 members present during the co-management renewal signing between Hallo Hallo Entertainment and ABS-CBN (Image Source: ABS-CBN News) |
Meanwhile,
avid MNL48 fans can look forward to the group's upcoming and forthcoming
projects such as its fifth single produced under Star Music and its first team
concert which are slated to be held throughout the month of October. Those who
are missing out on how the MNL48 journey began can have a chance to discover it
for themselves as a documentary series regarding the lives of the MNL48 members
behind the scenes entitled ICYMI: I See Me (The MNL48 Documentary) will hit the
big screens as part of the QCinema International Film Festival starting October
21st. Abby, Kay, Coleen and Brei are set to make their big screen debut in the
highly anticipated film adaptation of the hit Japanese manga series Sekimatsu
Blue which will premiere first in Japan in January 2020.
MOMOLAND
was formed in the reality talent show Finding Momoland and debuted in 2016. The
group became a household name with its hit dance crazes Bboom Bboom and Baam
gaining international fame, including the Philippines. The all-girl group has
bagged numerous awards and recognitions from award-giving bodies within and
outside South Korea. MNL48, on the other hand, was formed through the efforts
of Hallo Hallo Entertainment and ABS-CBN with members carefully selected
through a four-month talent search in It's Showtime back in early 2018. Under
ABS-CBN and Star Music, the international sister group of the all-female
Japanese pop phenomenon AKB48 released singles such as "Aitakatta - Gustong
Makita", "Talutot Ng Sakura", "Amazing Grace",
"Palusot Ko'y Maybe", "365 Araw Ng Eroplanong Papel" and
the Himig Handog 2018 entry "Dalawang Pag-Ibig Niya" along with
Sheena Belarmino and Krystal Brimmer.
