The weather in Manila may be sweltering, but K-Pop girl group sensation Itzy, who’s known for their electrifying hits and commanding stage performances, kept it “icy” as they sat down with journalists in an exclusive press conference yesterday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel prior to their upcoming event, “WannaBe with Bench: The Itzy Fan Meet,” which is happening on Sunday afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Text and photos by Angelica Demegillo
Additional photos by Ericsson Castro
The Philippines is not only recognized for its awesome tourist spots and scenic beaches, but also for its mouthwatering food and sweets. Among them is the bananacue, the famous Filipino snack made of skewered fried bananas coated in caramelized sugar. It seems like it’s becoming a favorite among K-Pop idols visiting the Philippines, particularly girl group sensation Itzy, who just recently flew back to the country upon the invitation from leading local lifestyle and clothing brand, Bench.
“I want to try a food that I’ve heard about a lot of times, which is the bananacue. I heard that it’s a very sweet banana. I’d really want to try this while I’m here,” Itzy’s main vocalist and resident “sunshine,” Lia, shared with a big smile painted during their exclusive press conference held.
The global BENCHsetters Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna, garbed in Bench outfits, looked effortlessly chic and exuded a cool, girl-next-door vibe. They waved and flaunted picture-perfect smiles at the cameras that captured their angelic visages. To everyone’s delight, the ladies greeted members of the media in Filipino and even spoke some Filipino phrases.
“Masaya akong makita kayo!” Ryujin, the group’s main rapper and lead dancer, who captivated the crowd with her adorable “whisker” smile, greeted.
“Magandang gabi! Na-miss niyo ba kami?” The group’s maknae or youngest, Yuna, who’s known for her sweet personality, asked the press who can’t help but fall for her charms.
It isn’t the first time that Itzy has visited the country. In fact, Manila was included in the stops of their first-ever world tour titled “Itzy The 1st World Tour Checkmate,” which spanned three legs and 20 shows across Asia and North America. Recalling the first time they stepped foot in the country in January, the group’s leader and main dancer, Yeji, can’t help but be amazed by the warm and passionate welcome of their fans, dubbed “Midzys,” who waited patiently to meet them.
“What we experienced there was still unforgettable for me up to this day,” Yeji said through an interpreter.
“We feel the overflowing passion of the Filipino fans, as well as the bright energy that they give. Every time we arrive here, we get to recharge with the energy that the fans are giving us. We really love our Filipino fans,” Lia added.
The quintet just recently wrapped up their successful world tour last week, and Yeji expressed her gratitude and joy in being able to hold the concert as they were able to meet and interact with fans.
“When we saw our fans from other countries, we were shocked about the fact that there are also other countries and nationalities that really enjoy [our music] and appreciate us. I am very happy and we really receive so much strength through the fans,” shared Yuna when asked how she feels about having a solid fanbase in South Korea and overseas.
Debuting in 2019 under JYP Entertainment, Itzy took the world by storm with their first single album “IT’z Different” and the title track “Dalla Dalla,” which means “different” when translated from Korean. From the onset, Itzy was fashioned to be “different.” With their diverse concepts, flair for performance and kaleidoscopic music videos, they have garnered countless fans across the globe, swept numerous international music charts and sold out concerts and fan meets.
With every performance comes big effort and preparation. As Ryujin explained for their “Checkmate” tour, they followed a specific theme, then went into specific detail on how they would execute and implement the ideas in order to showcase a stage that will impress their fans. It is no question that they are now considered as one of the biggest K-Pop girl groups at present. Among their famous tracks are “Icy,” “Wannabe,” “Not Shy,” “Loco,” “In the Morning” and their most recent song, “Cheshire.”
PeopleAsia asked the girls what keeps them grounded despite their immense success. Yuna answered that one of the many things that keep them as such is the time they spend together as a group.
“This also helps us a lot to stay grounded and stay firm as a group. And of course, we cannot forget to mention Midzys!” She said.
Amid their hectic schedule, the girls still managed to get some free time for themselves. Asked how they spend the lull in their busy days, Yeji said she likes going out for walks, especially when the weather is good.
“I really enjoy having time for myself where I get to think and contemplate about myself while having a walk,” she shared through an interpreter.
As for Chaeryeong, who enjoys listening to slow-paced music, she shared that her favorite song these days is IU’s “Secret Garden.”
Wannabe with Itzy
For the much-awaited “WannaBe with Bench: The Itzy Fan Meet,” which is set to take place today at the Mall of Asia Arena, ITZY promised a fun and unforgettable experience for Midzys. The ladies said that they have prepared corners and games, which will allow them to interact and have fun together with fans.
Itzy also revealed that they have studied some Filipino phrases, so they could communicate with Filipino Midzys even better. Make sure to catch their surprise at the fan meet event, presented by Bench.
