“I Love OPM’s” Grand Touristar and newly-minted Star Music artist Yohan Hwang proves how much he loves the Philippines
As long and winding as Yohan Hwang’s road to releasing his eponymous album was, it doesn’t seem like it’ll take him long to become a bona fide star.
The new album is composed of nine radio-ready tracks bound to earn a place on many a music lover’s playlist. Also, it doesn’t hurt that he can work a crowd like it’s nobody’s business.
When he met with the press at the album launch last July 25, Yohan won them over easily with his charm and, of course, his impeccable singing voice – both of which helped him win on ABSCBN’s televised singing contest “I Love OPM” in 2016.
As one of Yohan’s prizes was a record deal with Star Music, he spent some time in recording studios after his big win, working on new material under the supervision of producer Rox Santos.
Eventually, Yohan released two versions of the Sugarfree original “Wag Ka Nang Umiyak” – one in Filipino and another in Korean. Both were released on Spotify and other digital music platforms fairly quickly, but his fans had to wait a year and a half for his album to drop.
“Nagustuhan nina Sir Roxy Liquigan and Tita Malou Santos ng Star Music ’yung ginawa naming pag-translate ng isang OPM song into Korean. Kaya naisip nila na gawing ganu’n ang concept ng magiging album ni Yohan. OPM songs lahat, but bawat track may Filipino at Korean versions. Medyo natagalan lang ’yung pag-release dahil sa schedule ni Yohan,” explained Rox, who added that Yohan took charge of adapting the OPM songs himself.
“Binigyan nila ako ng Filipino songs which I translated into English. Then I asked some professional Korean songwriters for help. Fifty-fifty kami. We did real collaboration work,” Yohan said. “It was also like that when it came to
Donita Rose has made a name for herself all over Asia as an MTV VJ. More than a decade since, Donita takes hosting to a different level and stage – the kitchen.
She will host GMA’s cooking show “HeartMate Kitchen” to demonstrate her own recipes.
“These are some tried and tested recipes that I have made over a period of time. We have to compress it to make 12 recipes na we’re also going to feature on social media. We’re very proud of the recipes I have done,” Donita said at a press conference.
Unknown to many, it’s Donita’s dream to be a chef. She earned a culinary degree in 2012.
“Ma-i-pagmamalaki ko na when it comes to taste, these recipes are very personal to me,” she said.
Donita worked at Zappos restaurant in the US as prep chef. When she came back to the Philippines, she further enriched her culinary knowledge by joining a regional festival tour as Jolly Heart Mate’s ambassador. Along the way, she learned about certain provinces’ specialties, adding her own twist to each.
“Kung ano ’yung festival nila sa mga probinsya, maghahanap ako ng mga recipes na pwede ko ituro sa kanila.
“Like for Cebu na famous for lechon, I thought hindi naman ako pwede gumawa ng recipe ng lechon na hindi pa alam ng mga Cebuanos. Ang mga Cebuanos yata kumakain choosing the songs that would be part of the album. I picked half and the other half were songs recommended to me by Star Music.”
“Sabi ni Yohan sa akin at the time na walang direct translation ang ibang Filipino words sa English or Korean,” shared Rox. “So sinigurado nila ng mga tumulong sa kanya mag-translate na kahit hindi direct translation ang ginawa nila, na-capture pa rin nila ’yung essence nu’ng original.”
Yohan is full-blooded Korean, but he’s fluent enough in Filipino to translate OPM hits into English. Yohan picked up the language in the three years he spent pursuing a degree in Education at La Salle College Antipolo.
“My Dad is a Christian missionary. He invited me to come here for a vacation and dinala niya ako sa Antipolo. Nagandahan ako sa lugar kaya I decided to stay here. Nu’ng pumasok ako sa college, tinuruan ako ng mga kaklase ko kumanta ng Filipino songs, like ‘Ako’y Sa’Yo, Ika’y Akin.’ When they heard me sing, they encouraged me to keep singing. They told me I should join a contest, which is why I auditioned for ‘I Love OPM,’” he said. “I didn’t expect that I would become at least three times a week. So gumawa ako ng sarili kong twist. Then, I discovered I have never tried making lumpiang ubod before so I made my own version of it. And I really loved it. That was one of the dishes we created na talagang madaming veggies sa loob,” she said.
Donita shared her experience in the kitchen has made her become more health-conscious. Rest assured her recipes are nutritional without compromising the taste.
“When Jolly approached me to become their brand ambassador, it a singer in this country. When I look back on my journey, I feel happy and thankful.” Yohan isn’t the first Korean to establish a career in the Philippine showbiz scene. But he says he’s nothing like Ryan Bang and Sandara Park. “I’m looking forward to doing another album under Star Music after this one. OPM singer ako. I think I’m the first Korean OPM singer sa Pilipinas. was perfect timing because I believe one of the first things that we do when we cook is we cook with oil. So naging revelation sa akin na one of the first things na kailangan natin palitan in our diet is the kind of oil that we use and Jolly is one of the healthiest oils out in the market today,” she said. With a number of cooking shows locally and internationally, Donita isn’t down for competition. “Hindi ako pwede makipag-compete sa mga celebrity chefs today because they have been doing this for a long time. I’m just in the beginning stages kumbaga. I can say na if you were to pit me against celebrity chefs here in the Philippines, they may be better in techniques but when it comes to flavor, ma-ipag-mamalaki ko talaga na I have good taste when it comes to flavor,” she said. Donita also takes with her the many years of experience she had as host. “When I was living in the States, we have people from different walks of life. It doesn’t matter if you have a culinary background or none because what matters is your passion. It is what drives you. I could say na may mga tao na walang culinary background pero magaling sila.I don’t believe in competition because I believe everybody has something to offer to this world. So instead of focusing on my weaknesses, because I only have few years practice, may strengths din naman ako as host and cook,” she said. Ryan is a comedian. Puro comedy ang ginagawa niya sa ‘Banana Sundae’ and ‘It’s Showtime.’ Si Sandara naman was more of an actress when she was based here. Magkaka-iba talaga kaming tatlo.”
His “I Love OPM” stint was actually his second attempt at stardom. When he was younger, he tried and failed to join a singing competition in Korea. He’s still open to having a career over there, but for now he says his focus is mostly on growing his fanbase in the Philippines.
Aside from releasing music by himself, Yohan hopes to work with OPM legends Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, and Ogie Alcasid someday. He looks forward to collaborating with Bugoy
KRIS LAWRENCE continues to raise the bar for Filipino singers and their quest for originality.
Despite bagging the Most Downloaded Artist of the Year and Texters Choice awards, the former “Star In A Million” grand winner had to struggle being a freelance artist.
Heeding gut feel, and with moral support from his HomeWorkZ Music brothers and sisters, Kris took a bold step by releasing the first two of three thematic singles (“Isang Numero” and “Isang Saglit”), both downloadable on Spotify, iTunes, CdBaby and Soundcloud.
He explained, “If you just want to be known, then do a cover album and sign up with a label. But if you want to make a name as an artist, and actually make a dent in the OPM scene, you have to have original songs.”
Kris appreciates the musical advice and mentorship he gets from good buddy Jay-R, the man behind the music label’s “Original Music Only (OMO)” concert tour, which kicked off earlier this year.
Kris said, “It’s great to see crowds stay until the end of every show, bopping their heads to fresh music. The local bar crowd is so cover-song driven, but during the ‘OMO’ tour, it Korea,” Rox revealed.
“Maybe I can go back and forth from Korea to Manila, like Sandara does. Honestly, I had an offer to guest in a Korean show, last year pa, medyo matagal na. But I was very busy then so I had to turn the offer down. Pero someday, maybe I’ll get the chance to do something like that,” Yohan shared.
That said, Yohan is becoming more and more Filipino every day. He’s proof that one doesn’t need to have Filipino blood to love the Philippines. At his album launch, he expressed his desire to become a member of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), the country’s leading and most respected group of Filipino professional singers.
“Why not?” he asked. “Even though Korean ako, pwede naman siguro akong sumali doon. Pusong Pinoy kasi talaga ako.” dawned upon us that they want fresh new original Pinoy music.”
Not one to rest on his laurels, the proud daddy still has a few items to tick off his bucket list.
Rattling off some short-term goals, Kris disclosed, “I want to score an international hit, collaborate with an international artist and land a network contract.”