RAINBOW SUNSET: THE EXPERIENCES OF GOLDEN-AGE

LGBTQ+ MEMBERS IN MIDSAYAP

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

In this report, we provide a review of what is known about lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
(LGBT) older adults. In doing so, we rely on previous reviews that have approached the study of
LGBT older adults through various perspectives, such as through a life-course
(FredriksenGoldsen & Muraco, 2010) or social historical perspective (Morrow, 2001). Some
previous reports have focused on areas such as health and wellbeing or access and use of social
services (Czaja, 2015; Addis et al., 2009; MAP & SAGE, 2010). We also rely on peer-reviewed
articles, organizational reports, and books published regarding the experience of LGBT older
adults in the U.S. and Canada (research focusing on populations outside of North American were
not included in this report). We also draw upon expert and community members’ perspectives as
recorded in a special meeting convened by the Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elderly
(SAGE) and the Administration of Community Living (ACL) in Denver, CO in November 2015.
The meeting included 50 representatives from various organizations that study and serve LGBT
older adults, including LGBT older adults themselves. Their perspectives are represented in text
boxes throughout this report.

Although definitions vary, broadly LGBT older adults can be defined as the population of sexual
and gender minority (SGM) individuals over the age of 50.1 With no accurate census count of
LGBT people, investigators used various methods to estimate the size of the population.
Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, Shiu, Goldsen, and Emlet (2014) estimated that there are over 2.4
million LGBT older adults over age 50 in the U.S., with the expectation that this number will
double to over 5 million LGBT adults over age 50 by year 2030. Other estimates suggest that
1.75 to 4 million American adults age 60 and over identify as LGBT (Administration on Aging,
2014).
The report suffers from lack of probability samples that can inform us about more accurate
estimates of demographics, prevalence of diseases, conditions (e.g., disability), and health
behavior and access to health care. Only two studies in this report used probability samples (both
studies used state-level data) to characterize LGB older adults (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al 2013a;
Wallace et al., 2011). To our knowledge, no representative data on transgender older adults
exists. We rely on many studies that use various community-based sampling techniques (Meyer
& Wilson, 2009). For that reason, we sometimes present findings that appear contradictory. As
we do not have accurate national statistics, we are limited in our ability to judge which of the
contradictory findings is correct and which is a function of the particular study’s characteristics.
Still, community-based studies provide invaluable data that enriches our knowledge about the
variety of experiences that characterize LGBT aging.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the following: (a) the fashion trends that the female
students acquire from K-pop fandom and (b) how do female students became a K-pop fan.These
objectives fueled the researchers’ interest in understanding the K-pop fandom of grade 11 SCC
female students. This paper will analyze the influences acquired by a certain female individual,
maybe in styles/fashion, behavior or even language.

Specifically, this will seek to answer the following:

1. What fashion trends can the female students acquire from K-pop fandom?
2. How do female students became a K-pop fan?

Scope and Limitation

This study focuses on the influence on fashion trends of the grade-11 female students in

Southern Christian College. And to find out the how do female students become a k-pop fan.
Second, such data need to be analyzed qualitatively. The following analysis may then assist

researchers to obtain a holistic and qualitative understanding of such behaviors.

Significance of the Study

Furthermore this study will benefit the following:

FEMALE K-POP FANS. This study will be beneficial to female k-pop fans for them to be able

to recognize and realize the influences of k-pop in their lives especially when it comes to

fashion.

FUTURE RESEARCHERS. This study will also be beneficial to those future researchers who

wants to study about k-pop fandom.

.Definition of terms

The following terms are operationally defined according to their use in the study:
K-pop. This term refers to Korean Pop which is a genre of pop music and originated in South
Korea. In this study, K-Pop refers as the main topic whose influence on females fashion trends
will be analyzed.
Fandom. This refers to the emotionally involved consumption of media texts, as opposed to the
gathering of people with the same interest for an artist or media content. In this study it refers to
the way female students act about their biases.
Hallyu. This refers the Korean Wave it is a phenomena which is present and alive in the
Philippines
Female. This refers to the respondent/subject of the study
References

Alanzalon, S.K. (2011). Kpopped!:Undesrtanding the Filipino teens consumption of Korean

popular music and videos. UP Diliman, (p.1)

Pacis, J.J. (2012). Popping the K-pop bubble: A Study on the World of K-pop Fandom as a
Subculture. UP Diliman, (p.2)

Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter includes the review of related literature and studies about k-pop fandom which the

researchers have perused to shed light on the topic or study. The theoretical framework is also

presented in this section.

Media Consumption and Fan Subculture

Fans are textual poachers, and Jenkins proved this in his book with the same title. In

his attempt to understand the participatory culture of television fans, Jenkins provided a list

of stereotypes associated with fans: brainless consumers who buy anything associated with the
program, or its cast, devote their lives to the cultivation of worthless knowledge, place
inappropriate importance on devalued cultural material,are social misfits who have become
obsessed with the show, are feminized and/or desexualized through their intimate engagement,
with mass culture, are infantile, emotionally and intellectually immature,are unable to separate
fantasy from reality.

But why is there such a negative connotation on the fans? Jenkins added that it may

have stemmed out of the fanatical, bordering on obsessive, consumption of fans of popular

media. In fact, Sandvoss also said that there is an “emotional commitment” on the part of

the fans, which is mirrored in the “regularity of which they visit and revisit their object of

fandom”. Both Jenkins and Sandvoss said that fans consume media over and again to

consummate their needs. This is the reason why some label them the stereotypes listed above.

Sandvoss added that the subculture in which fans belong to, simply because they consume a

common media text, reflects the consumption patterns of its members. He said that “most –

maybe all – of those who participate in subcultures which evolve around a given media text

or genre conform to the patterns of regular and emotionally committed consumption”.

Based on this assumption, it can be concluded that fans are very active media consumers.

In one study conducted by Phua,he tried to understand the effects of sports fans’

media consumption on their fan identity salience and self-esteem. Phua’s findings reflected

that sports fans are not merely “brainless consumers” who consumed media texts and

“devoted their lives to the cultivation of worthless knowledge”, as what the stereotypes in

Jenkins' book said. Rather, they consumed media for various reasons, such as the formation

of their fan identity salience and self-esteem. As a result of his quantitative interviews and
surveys, Phua concluded that:

As predicted, media consumption enhances positive distinctiveness for fans of the sports team,
leading to enhanced self-esteem due to the ability to seek information about the team through the
various media during the season. By reading newspapers, magazines and articles about the team
as well as individual players, watching or listening to commentaries andsports programs, logging
on to the Internet to read and postmessages on fan forums, and also receive text message updates
ontheir cell phones, sports fans are able to create solidarity withfellow fans, and categorize
themselves as part of their in-group.

Although the framework of Phua was based on the Social Identity Theory, which

involves fans’ membership in different social groups, it posited that the fans’ membership to

a fandom is one form of consumption because of different group activities involved, as a fandom
is one form of consumption because of different group activities involved, as

mentioned in his conclusion. In relation to this, Whiteside and Hardin conducted another

study about sports media consumption. In this study, they tried to understand women's

patterns of consumption of sports-related media. The study found out that women consumed

sports media for various reasons, including the following:

For the participants, the decision to watch sports was not made in a vacuum; rather, it involved
weighing the opportunity to spend time with their husbands and families against choosing to do
other activities that were perhaps more suited to their interests, but likely done alone.

Whiteside and Hardin's conclusion was very strong, as it resonates the fact that fans,

or even audiences in general, consume media most likely because of precise psychological

reasons, and not because of worthless meanings. In addition, many other mass media

audience studies tackle media consumption as means to consummate other psychological

needs and behavior. These studies will be tackled in the succeeding sections of this chapter.
Meanwhile, Andrejevic studied the productivity of online fans through their active

consumption of television drama serials. In the study, fans of certain television shows

gathered online and utilized the Internet, particularly the website Television without Pity, to

produce feedback on the latest episodes. Again, there is a factor of media consumption and

usage to gratify a need for feedback. Andrejevic said that: The site may have the potential to
serve as an instant focus group, as one respondent put it, but perhaps even more importantly, it
helps draw viewers to particular shows and allows them to build up social and information
capital that increases their commitment to viewing.

Although Andrejevic's study focused mainly on the new role of the Internet as a tool for
audience feedback, it touched on the assumption that audiences use and reuse media for
psychological reasons, such as the need for feedback.

Phua, Whiteside and Andrejevic all studied how fans consumed media to satisfy various
reasons. These studies proved that media consumption contributes to the formation,
development, and/or maintenance of the sport fans’ and television fans’ media dependency.
Therefore, fans are active media consumers.

The researcher of the current study also believes that Kpop fans, like sports fans and

television fans, actively consumed Kpop content because of many psychological and

sociological factors, that affects their way of living.

The Filipino Fans

Various studies say that fans are the most active media poachers. However, most of

the studies mentioned in the previous section involved audiences from foreign countries such

as the United States of America. Filipinos have also proven to be very active media

consumers. But what kind of fans are the Filipinos, most specifically, the youth? How do
they use the media in worshipping their idols and favorite media texts?

Ramos and Tanglao attempted to understand the Filipino teens as fans. In their study, they tried
to find out how Filipino adolescents in the multimedia

society worshipped their favorite celebrities. It described the different ways of how Filipino

teens consumed media content related to their idols and how it affects their way of dressing.
This is exactly what the current study also tried to do. Ramos and Tanglao’s study purported that
there are various psychological implications on the part of the fans as a result of their media
consumption. They noted that“media use (as well as access) facilitates fandom”. They added that
“fandom cannot occurwithout media consumption” because it is through the media that
audiences are able to“interact with and learn more about their favorite celebrities”.

Meanwhile, Parungao focused on the social interaction of fans who were members of

fan clubs. He studied fans as a small group of people interacting, as opposed to being

individual consumers. Although his research mainly focused on Filipino adult fans who were

members of Nora Aunor fan clubs, it supported the assumption that Filipinos, as fans, are

active media consumers, to the point that they join organizations to identify with fellow fans.

Parungao said that “a celebrity fan club is one of the life spaces that an individual could

move or operate within”. Although the current study did not dwell on the formation and

maintenance of fandom, still joining fan clubs is one form of consumption.

Both Ramos & Tanglao’s and Parungao’s studies proved that Filipinos have a very

active fan subcommunity – a phenomenon that is very prevalent nowadays with the multitude

of fan clubs dedicated to Korean popular music.

The Korean Wave

In the previous section, the popularity of foreign media content in the Philippines was

discussed. Among these television products, Asianovelas arguably created the biggest impact

not just in the Philippines but in the whole of Asia. To be more specific, Koreanovelas, or

Korean drama series, paved the way for the Korean Wave in the said continent. But why did

Asians appreciate Korean pop culture?

Ryoo, Shim, Hyunand Ju all conducted in-depth analyses of the Korean

Wave. Hallyu, or the rapid spread of Korean entertainment in Asia, took the continent by

storm shortly before the new millennium started. Arguably the most cited paper about the
Korean Wave is Shim’s Hybridity and the Rise of Korean Culture in Asia. In this paper, Shim’s
descriptive study was highly qualitative, which was the same approach that this current study
utilized. He argued that the dominance of American media in the globalization is an unjustified
claim, as South Korea was able to add twists and local tastes on an entirely western invention.
Shim believed thatcultural hybridization contributed greatly to the success of the Korean Wave.
He said that “cultural hybridization has occurred as local cultural agents and actors interact and
negotiate with global forms, using them as resources through which Koreans construct their own
cultural spaces”. Through these cultural agents, Koreans were able to produce media

content that were a “hybridization of well-embraced foreign styles”, and value-laden

themes that were centered on their own culture. Koreans made use of their local identity to

put flavor in an otherwise very western medium.

On the other hand, Ryoo explained the “formation process of Korean popular music

in its present form”. He mentioned how Koreans appreciated and studied Western and

Japanese media content in order to produce their own media texts. Ryoo believed that Korean

popular culture managed to penetrate the Asian market because of its ability to translate

Western ideas to very identifiable Asian content. He also elaborated how the “modernity”
of South Korea served as an important factor in the success of the Korean Wave. Asians

would like to emulate the good and beautiful life, including the advancement of technology,

presented in Korean drama settings. This finding is further supported by Chan's statement:

“Structural changes in the economy and technology in East Asia surely have facilitated

global and intra-regional flows of cultural-media products in the region”.

Both Shim's and Ryoo's studies support the current research's assumption that culture

has something to do with the appreciation of content. Although both Shim and Ryoo didn’t

mention the Cultural Proximity Theory, their findings reflected the assumptions of the said

theory. In connection to this, Ju examined the Korean wave's popularity in East Asia, and she

concluded the following:

Seemingly, the cultural proximity toward Korean TV dramas is

much closer to East Asian audiences’ real life experiences than

American dramas. East Asian audiences more easily relate to

them, and thus can be fans of Korean dramas. The trend of

Korean dramas’ popularity in East Asian countries is embodied in

the notion of cultural proximity within the East Asian regional

media exchanges, and is not simple, linear, or symmetrical in

nature, as suggested by the unified Confucian culture.

Ju suggested that the similarity in culture contributed to the openness of Asians to

Korean media products. Cultural proximity embodies factors that are widely understood by

Asians, such as “norms of beauty (male and female), mannerism, style in clothing, and a
sense of Asianness in contrast to perceived western outlooks”.Also, Lee and Trepte

utilized Cultural Proximity Theory in examining the success of television shows. Trepte

explored the factors that made television shows successful. Lee, on the other hand,

interviewed Japanese fans of the Korean drama Winter Sonata. Both studies proved how

“cultural factors influence audience perceptions”. Lee’s qualitative study concluded that

physical appearance of the actors contributed greatly to Korean dramas’ appeal, similar to the

findings of Oting and Cabato. Trepte concluded that the audience looked for their

“cultural and identity needs” in the television shows that they chose to watch.

All of the studies reviewed in this section analyzed the reasons why Korean media

content became popular amongst Asians. Just like the findings in the previous section,

familiar cultural constructs such as moral values and high-quality production values

contributed to the appreciation of Korean dramas. Even the Philippines already rode the

Korean wave, and more recently, Korean dramas are not the only Korean media products that

can be found in Philippine media. Korean popular music slowly made way to the mainstream

media and many Filipino teens became fans of the Kpop wave.

Integration of Related Literatures

With the help of the literature review, the researcher was able to prove specific and

significant aspects of the study. First, fans use the media to facilitate their fandom because it

is through the media that they can consume their favorite media content. Aside from this, the

media satisfies their various needs, may it be for entertainment, self-concept and fan

identity or maybe for reasons outside a vacuum, like strengthening family ties. In
addition, repeated consumption of media forms subculture and involves the emotional

involvement of fans and this emotional commitment brings about the poaching nature of

audience.

In an attempt to understand the Filipino fans, the researcher chose studies specific to

the Filipino audience. Through various studies, it was deduced that Filipinos, as an audience,

are very active proven by the presence of fan clubs which they use as a life space. Also,

Filipino fans use the media to satisfy their fandom. Many studies suggest that media and

fandom are two ends of the pendulum, therefore one cannot exist without the other.

Next, Filipinos are very open to and appreciative of foreign media content they can

interpret and relate with, proven by the mania created by three types of foreign television

shows over the years, namely Spanish soaps, Japanese animes and Asian dramas.

And more importantly, Korean Wave has hit Asia, including the Philippines because

of its Asianess, value-laden content, good-looking actors and high-quality production which
affects the way Filipinos live
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Media Dependency Theory

Media Dependency Theory was developed by Sandra Ball-Rokeach and Melvin DeFleur (1976).
In its simplest sense, dependency theory states that the more the person depends on the media to
provide his needs, the greater the importance of that media will be in the person’s life, and thus,
the greater the influence of the media on the person. There are two factors that shape the
audience’s degree of dependence on the media. First, the needs of the person that are being
provided more by one media than another, and second, the social changes and conflicts that
could make the audience reevaluate their needs, thus increasing their dependency. Dependency
Theory also assumes that a person’s needs are not always personal. There are other determinants
of needs like various cultural or social conditions. Ball-Rokeach and DeFleur provided a model
of the theory. In the model, the media is seen by both active and casual observers. Through the
exposure, dependency is activated for various cultural and psychological reasons. The intensity
of the dependency would rise for the arousal of cognition and affection. The greater the arousal
of these two, the greater is the involvement in the information processing and the greater the
influence on the observer’s behavior, cognition and affection.

Media Dependency Theory relates to the researchers study because these theory states how
media influences the way certain people live. This theory will be use by the researchers to know
how media has been so influential in the lives of a k-pop fan and on how media has been a great
way for certain k-pop fan to be updated with the trends of k-pop.

CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

Presented in this chapter are the research design and methods, along with the

concepts and indicators, units of analysis and sampling, data gathering and data analysis.

Research Design

In understanding the phenomenon of k-pop fandom among the grade 11 students in SCC, the
researchers will use qualitative research design specifically phenomenology to elicit the data
about the topic.

Locale of the Study

The study will be conducted at Southern Christian College Pob. 5 Midsayap, Cotabato since in
this institution the k-pop fandom and the idolization of Korean stars among students can easily
be observed.

Sample or Participants of the Study

The researchers will use purposive sampling specifically homogenous sample in order to gain
data more effectively. The researchers will select female grade-11 students who are known to be
a k-pop fan so that it could be more easier to gather the data about the topic. Filipino k-pop fans
were specified to be of age 15-19 (Alanzalon, 2011). The researchers chose grade 11 students
because their ages are in the middle of the age range of k-pop fans.

Research Instruments

The researchers will select students who are known to be a K-pop fan. The researchers will use
questionnaires to interview the chosen participants. The researchers will use this method since it
yield a richer data and more in-depth discussion will be done between the K-pop fans and the
researchers.

Data Collection Procedure

At the start of the study, the researchers will seek approval by sending letter to the senior high
school principal to conduct the study. After which the researchers will craft the interview guide
to be used during the interview. Then, the researchers will identify the participants of the study
after that the researchers will conduct the interview. Next, the researchers will record their
answers and gather more information needed for the study by adding follow-up questions.
Data Analysis Procedure

Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) will be used in the data analysis. This approach is used

to interpret qualitative research data. According to Center for Innovation in Research and

Teaching (2018), it refers to the processes and procedures that are used to analyze the data and

provide some level or explanation, understanding, or interpretation. Following are five key steps

that the researchers will follow during the data analysis:

First, the researchers will read and re-read the data gathered from the participants as well

as the notes the researchers have taken down during the interview and will write down

impressions, and then the researchers will look for the meaning of the words the participants

have discussed during the interview and the researchers will also determine which pieces of data

have value.

Second, the researches will focus in the analysis wherein the researchers will identify the

key questions that they want to answer through the analysis. It would be to focus the analysis on

the answers to a particular question or topic and to the discussion of the participants during the

focus group discussion, and the researchers will examine the data as it relates to the topic or to

the questions raised by the researchers.

Third, the researchers will categorize the data and create a framework or also referred to

as coding or indexing the data. The researcher will start by identifying themes or patterns that

may consist of ideas, concepts, behaviors, interactions, phrases and so forth. Then the

researchers will assign a "code" to those pieces of data in an effort to label the data and make it

easier to organize and retrieve. The researcher will also prepare a coding plan to help provide a
framework that will structure, label and define the data. The framework may be explanatory and

is guided by the research question. The framework may also be exploratory in which the analysis

is guided by the data that was collected.

Fourth the researchers must identify patterns and make connections. The researcher will

identify the themes and also identify relationships between theme or data sets, look for relative

importance of responses received from the participants, as well as the commonalities of the

answers of the participants from the focus group discussion and the things they have agreed as

participants of the study who are known to be k-pop fans and the researchers will find

explanations for this answers from the data.

Fifth, the researcher will interpret the data and explain findings. After themes, patterns,

connections and relationships are identified, the researcher will attach meaning and significance

to the data. The researchers will make a diagram to organize the gathered data. Since qualitative

data does not lend itself to generalizations across a population.

CHAPTER 4

DATA ANALYSIS

This chapter will be discussing about the data being gathered by the researchers and will
further analyze the answers to the objectives set by the researchers.

Fashion trends that female students

acquire from k-pop fandom
CLOTHING
“Sometimes I wear rip jeans ganun then ‘yung mga shorts gud kung nasa
bahay lang. Then mga long sleeves…mga ano basta ‘yon.”

“Sometimes I wear rip jeans then shorts if I’m at home. Then long sleeves,
that’s it.”

In this excerpt the participants was so adore and fascinated in wearing korean fashion trends
because it may be look thug, cool, and sexy that’s why they keep on using it.Also Alanzalon
stated that Filipino fans are also attracted to the cultural offerings of K-pop content especially the
visual elements including the physical appearance of the artists face,fashion, hairstyle,and visual
aspect of the music videos choreography sets.

“Astig man gud sila manamit.”

“They look cool with their clothes.”

In this excerpt the participants was so amazed and astonish about the fashion of a K-pop artists.
The participants admired very much the fashion of their idols. Some of them may follow what
are the things that their idols do such as looks and style. According to Yrawda (2013) This
Korean fashion trend exploded the students who love to be hip and chic and “In” with the new.
Even sometimes they may look weird, as long as they tried to imitate the Korean hair,clothing
style and shoes.

COLLECTING MERCHANDISES
“Collecting pictures…uhm…merchandises…yeah pictures.”
In this excerpt the participant stated that collecting pictures of their k-pop idols is just to gratify, fulfilled,
and stands proud on their self. By this, they can express their self to their friends and to those people, who
are idolizing k-pop also, that he/ she also idolizing this kind of group and show itself to their that he/she is
a solid fan of them. Through to the collection of photo of their k-pop idols they felt something inside of
them a different happiness that they cannot encountered in the environment they were belong.
Additionally, the participants collect pictures of their k-pop idols help them to be more inspiring to their
daily life.

“Sometimes when it is in my budget like collecting caps and some posters but
not all.”
In this excerpt the participants where in the stage of setting values in the things or materials of
k-pop whenever they a have a budget, as the participants said it is one way of connecting to their
biases wherein they be able to be updated.

Female students being a

K-pop fan

MEDIA INFLUENCE

“Facebook. Kay sa facebook man gud naay mga pages nga kunyari BTS. Oh
ana, oh tapos magpost-post sila about sa mga…sa BTS. Ana…mga bag-o nila
nga album…”

“Facebook. Because in Facebook there are pages that they can post about the
group BTS and their new albums.”
Social media plays a vital role in connecting K-pop fan to their K-pop idols it serves as a way of
preserving their emotions and feelings for the next comeback of their K-pop idols
“Twitter, youtube…kay sa twitter didto ginapost sa JYP Entertainment kung
unsa ang albums nga marelease or unsa ang bag-o nga music.”

“Twitter and youtube. In twitter, JYP Entertainment post about what albums
will be released as well as their new songs.”
In this excerpt,The participants were very diligent in connecting to their idols, by simply visiting
the site as a way of maintaining their media content consumption .As Ramos and
Tanglao(2004)states“fandom cannot occurwithout media consumption” because it is through the
media that audiences are able to“interact with and learn more about their favorite celebrities”.

“I am using to be updated is ano…’yung nasa Facebook kasi may page doon

na ano, A.R.M.Y. lang. ‘Yan ‘yung mga fans ng BTS.I can be updated to their
new music, their comebacks, and everything that is updated in their lives.”

“I am using Facebook to be updated because there are pages in Facebook

where I can see the latest port of A.R.M.Y. or also known as the fan of K-pop
group BTS. And also through Facebook I can be updated to their new music,
their comebacks, and everything that is updated in their lives.”

Nowadays social media is indeed a very imperative means of connecting the fans to the k-pop artist where
you can be updated of the things that is new and what are the music’s that they already record. Moreover,
Alanzalon (2011) found that consuming K-pop content gratified the entertainment need of the fans
through it’s appealing visual elements and high quality content fashion, choreography and talented
artists.
 “I watched T.V…uhm…uhm… specifically myx channel then I scroll on my
uhm… I follow there uhm…groups in facebook. Then I also…I’m watching
their videos in youtube.”

On the other hand, participants try to access k-pop by just watching television specifically to their channel
where Korean music is prevalent.

ADMIRATION OF BEAUTY
“BTS. Kasi gwapo sila, cute sila, tapos kanang masaya gud sila kapag
magkasama sila. Kung magbobonding. Tapos kanang cute sila. Labi na si
Jungkook.”

“BTS. Because they are handsome, cute, then they are happy when they are
together. They are really cute especially Jungkook.”

Beauty is very powerful weapon in attracting someone’s attention, we cannot deny the fact that K-pop
artist are handsome and they have the charm that everyone could not resist. The participants are indeed
very amazed by the traits that k-pop showed that’s why they keep on chanting whenever they watch or
even just hear the songs of K-pop. Also, Alanzalon (2011) stated that Filipino fans are also attracted
to the cultural offerings of K-pop content especially the visual elements including the physical
appearance of the artists face, fashion, hairstyle, and visual aspect of the music, videos
choreography sets, which are the factors that made the K-pop fan more connected to their idols.

“Cute sila manuot tapos the way .. ano.. the way they protect their skin”

“They are cute in dressing up and the way they protect their skin”

There are also some type of people who judged first the skin complexion before anything else
just like this participants who glorify much the skin rather the facial aspects of the k-pop artist.

Lee (2004)qualitative study concluded thatphysical appearance of the actors contributed greatly
to Korean dramas’ appeal,
 “Got7 kay talented,gwapo,tapos ano…ng ginabalance…kabalo sila mobalance
sa family ug sa ilang carrier.”

“Got 7 because they are talented, handsome, then they know how to balance
their time between their family and their carrier.”
The participants have their own biases and they are upholding it by singing the songs and even dancing
just to express that their bias is better than the others.

FAMILIARIZING SONGS

“Unique man gud siya…unique siya imemorize tapos murag iba pud nga may
namemorize ka nga song nila. It’s hard but unique.”

“Their language is unique, and it feels something when you’ved memorized their
songs. It’s hard but unique”.
In this excerpt the participant tries to memorize the “hangul”/ the korean wave because they
think memorizing it is enjoy and awesome even though its hard and not understandable. Some
korean fans do usually use the “ hangul” words, example Saranghaeyo” (사랑해요) means I love
you in Korean in school, home, public, others

“Nakamemorize na ko ug song nila. And it was amazing! Lingaw man gud siya. Dili
lang ka kasabot pero mapronouce pud nimo siya ug tarong.”

“I memorized some of their songs and it was amazing. You can’t understand it but you
can pronounce it well.”
In this excerpt, As we all know singing Korean songs is so difficult to sing and challenging but
in this case the participant is so willing and interesting to learn just because it’s unique. For her
having Korean song is so different she feel proud and happy. And it’s a big honor to hear that he
can memorize even it’s too hard. Youcan notice that students are listening and singing songs in
different language, that is, theKorean language even though they don’t know the meaning of it
(Yrawda,2013)

“Uhm…ginamemorized nako siya or usahay ginakanta nako siya. Ano kasi it is unique
tapos eventhough mahirap sya bigkasin o intindihin perokapag kanang sa ano man
gud internet yung may translator-translator gud ganyan. Tapos kung kapag itranslate
mo, maganda ‘yung meaning pala nung songs. Ganun gud.”

“Sometimes I memorized it and I sing their songs because it’s unique. Then even
though it’s hard to pronounce and understand their songs but when it is translated
you’ll realized that theirs songs are meaningful.”
In this excerpt, the participants try to adopt the songs and try to sing it even though they are not
aware of what Is the literal meaning of the song, they never mind the meaning but rather they
chose to use it just to fulfill their self as a k-pop fan.