On Repeat

I have been a K-Pop fan since time in memorial, and being a fan here in the Philippines is a constant battle with these questions that are "mas gasgas pa kesa sa sirang plaka" type of queries. If you are a fan of K-Pop even just the dramas, I'm sure you have been asked with the following questions.

There are questions asked by non-fans to K-Pop fans, and some of these questions have made me reach the point where I would just roll my eyeballs and think in my mind to escort the person out of the door.

When being asked with these questions, I can be explanative, witty, satirical, or a combination of the three, so here are some of the questions people usually ask me:

1. it's ching-chong music

First of I'm not familiar with what is the definition of ching-chong? I can't seem to find it in any dictionary, and why would you associate it with Korean pop. Is it Chinese? Must be Japanese pop. Stop. Ok, just. I don't understand what part of Korean pop music most people don't comprehend and why non-fans are calling it names? It's literally a genre of music people, simple as that.

2. they all look alike

This has to be the most popular question asked to K-pop and K-Drama fans. First of all, they don't. Second, that's racism. Telling every K-pop group that each member look alike will immediately get the NO hammer from fans. No matter how many times you ask, no matter how many times we answer, it will always be a no. It doesn't take the keenest of eyes to set one member from the other.They may look all the same when it comes to their stage outfits and wardrobe, but accusing each Korean person that they all look like each other is a derogatory slur to Koreans and other Asians.

3. plastic surgery beauty

"Ay nag paretoke yan", "plastic naman yan" these crude remarks will be the first things you will hear from people who to me are "narrow" minded. Cosmetic surgery is not a taboo activity over there, it's basically a walk in the park for them. Getting these surgeries not solely for fitting the ideal idol image but sometimes it is a requirement to avoid health risks. Some idols have indeed, came out of the spotlight to address these issues but for me, as long as it is for the improvement of one's self, and they are happy with their decisions, I don't see anything wrong with it, their agency has a lot of money to blow for these procedures, just deal with it and enjoy the show

4. K-POP = Person

This has to be the most face-palming worthy question of all: "K-pop ka ba?" I would reply with "Nope, tao ako". Have I never imagined this would be a real thing especially within the online community. Not only it is grammatically erroneous, it is also a question where it personified the music genre. This question just really makes me uneasy because, as a grammar Nazi, I can't stand seeing my fellow Filipino fans using this mistake, and it is so jejemon.

5. No respect for the country (?)

The most Earth-shattering question I have encountered it "Bakit mo tinatangkilik ang mga yan? Di mo tinatangkilik ang sariling atin, pag palit mo ang bansa natin para sa mga banyagang yan?". First of all, excuse you? Who are you to accuse me of treason? Who are you to make conclusions for me? and I'm Filipino as I can be. I understand that there is no backlash between loving American pop music and your country for America has been our "savior" during times of war but can't we embrace our fellow Asians? Listening to other genres does not mean betraying your own, it means you are open enough for diversity.

Those were just some of the questions that quickly escalates me, the list could go one for miles but it's better not to pay attention to all the hate and just enjoy the music. What about you? What is the most ridiculous question you have faced being a K-pop fan?