“Fill in your Korea” by KOCIS Online Induction Ceremony for 2021 K-Influencer & Honorary Reporters feels surreal!

    I, myself is an Honorary Reporter since 2019 and this would be my second year as part of K-Influencer though I attended the Induction Ceremony through watching the Online Live Streaming at Korea.net's Youtube Channel only, Why it feels surreal!? That it really hits my heart and feels so motivated then everything became so special.

    I'm quite surprised that our members have grown drastically from last year, proving that Hallyu is getting more popular and different nationalities are falling in love with Korea and its culture!

    Everyone is welcome in becoming an Honorary Reporter and K-Influencer as long as you can show your love and passion for Korea through writing an article, making videos, photos, illustration, webtoon or creating any contents that are related to Korea.

    Let me share to you the highlights from the Induction Ceremony held last May 20, 2021.

    Opening the ceremony is a Traditional Performance (Minyo'Baetnorae') by Castro Gonzalez Nancy Lorena. How cute she is in a Pink Hanbok and I love how a foreigner is confident and enjoys singing a Korean folk song and she's really good at it.

    Followed by Emcee's Yoo Na-young and Kim Sun-woo who formally welcomes this year 2021 Class of K-Influencers (1,224 from 76 countries) and Honorary Reporters (3,432 from 105 countries) who are selected by KOCIS to help promote Korean Culture worldwide.

    It was such a great honor to have the First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Mrs. Kim Jung-sook in giving a Congratulatory Speech and everyone watched it LIVE, including myself which I can't participate from the past years because I can't go personally to Cheong Wa Dae that time.

    Not just congratulating the class of 2021 but First Lady Mrs. Kim Jung-sook gave an inspiring message to everyone relaying peace and harmony between different nationalities but through Honorary Reporter & K-Influencer everyone is having unity to achieve one goal and She also mentioned to give full support to one another and stop hatred or discrimination during this pandemic for everyone to fully overcome this crisis together.

    Lastly, First Lady Mrs. Kim Jung-sook looks forward to 2021 Honorary Reporters & K-Influencers to give positive influence to humankind and be the messengers of hope and encouragement to the whole world.

(Photo Credit to Korea.net)

    Present at the ceremony also was 2nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Kim Jeong-bae and Director of the Korean Culture and Information Service, Mr. Park Jung-youl.

    How special it is to participate actual on the studio like K-Influencers, Jang Ipek Damla and Katarzyna Helinska; also Honorary Reporters, Cao Thi Huong and Maziyar Farbod. They each shared their stories and everyone is really amazing which I wanted myself to participate actively like them. One thing, everyone is wearing their National Costumes including the First Lady, she is wearing a Hanbok and that was so elegant and cute!

    One of the highlights as well is "Kimchi", which is known as the popular Korean food right now which I really agree and Kimchi is also my favorite that I can eat it everyday. Kimchi tastes real good and very healthy!

    During the ceremony, it was fun to see few members I knew (from the 40 Honorary Reporters & K-Influencers) on the screen participating through online video conference representing different countries especially from Philippines. The moment they presented past activities and experiences of Honorary Reporters and K-Influencers from the previous years just felt so good which motivates everyone to work harder and participate more in the upcoming activities this 2021 including me.

    Another thing is a surprise quiz for everyone, first an “O or X” event asking if this year were the 40th Anniversary of KOCIS, and most of us got it right! The answer is X=wrong because this year is the 50th. Next question is to make the certain hand gesture that expresses love which everyone knows and that is “K-Heart”. I used to call it finger heart but from now on it is K-Heart for me!

    Lastly, group ceremonies which is very meaningful for me; giving out of certificates (which I received in advance online) then card performances by the 40 Honorary Reporters & K-Influencers participating through video conference showing the slogan of the ceremony “FILL IN YOUR KOREA” and a Thank you message to the First Lady Mrs . Kim Jung-sook.

    For finale is a Congratulatory Performance (Why not?) by LOONA (Ambassadors for this year's promoting Korean Culture Overseas)

(Photo Credit to Korea.net)

    All in all, I am beyond grateful to be part of Honorary Reporters & K-Influencers again for this year 2021.Having an Induction Ceremony online is very meaningful and special to me. It feels like I am at the studio as well, meeting the First Lady and everyone. I will work harder this 2021 and can't wait to join actively in every activity that the KOCIS has prepared. Sharing my love and passion for Korea and its culture will always be one of my happiness and its actually the most reason why my life is full of excitement. Thank you so much to KOCIS and to every Honorary Reporters & K-Influencers this year 2021, Fighting~!

You can watch the Full LIVE Replay of the Induction Ceremony here:

(Credits to Korea.net)

My First on a Korean LIVE Broadcast! Sharing to you My Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR Experience...^^

I didn't expect that by doing covers of K-Pop songs on Youtube will lead me to my first ever appearance on a Korean Live Broadcast!

The Boyz Kevin & Jacob, Me and Minzy
Photo Credit to Arirang K-pop Youtube Channel (Simply K-Pop Con-Tour)

Annyeonghaseyo~! Hello! I am Zestian Rivera Revilleza from Philippines. First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude to Arirang TV Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR Team especially to its Author for letting me appear on the Program Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR in Philippines last May 3, 2021.

Photo Credit to Arirang K-pop Youtube Channel (Simply K-Pop Con-Tour)

Let me share to you “How it all started?”

I received a message from the Author on my Instagram last April 21 to make it short, they are looking for Filipino Youtubers who’s doing covers of Kpop Songs and they want me to sing on their program through the video connection.

My first reaction to this was:

“What!? Am I being asked to appear on a Korean Live Broadcast??? Yes I love doing Kpop cover songs but I am not a professional singer. What to do!? Eottoke!?”

Then April 23 I received an email from the Team saying, they saw my Kpop songs cover online and if I am interested in making an appearance on their show. “Like OMG is this for real!???” I answered all their questions and they replied April 26 saying they will be checking back with me later that week. Then I received emails from Simply Kpop from time to time until the day of event comes.

“I can’t believe that I will be appearing on the show until it happens”. 

The Simply Kpop Team guided me well from the start until the Tech Rehearsal last May 2 (Sunday) 5:00PM KST which went smoothly that not lasted even 10 minutes then up to D-DAY May 3 (Monday) though I got to join the meeting room 1 hour late because of an error in connecting on my part “which I am really getting sad and afraid that what if I can’t make it ㅠㅠ” but fortunately I was able to catch up on time for the final rehearsal that day 15 minutes prior to the Live Broadcast. “Thank you so much to my cousins (Lycca and Vj) for allowing me to stay on their house and got no problem in connecting and ofcourse, my Family (especially Mami Rose, Brother and cousin Paw for all your help) and Friends who's supporting me always”.

Finally! The Live Broadcast has started May 3, 7:00PM KST opening the show were MCs Kevin and Jacob from the Kpop group The Boyz. “who’s I’m currently watching on a Korean TV Program “Kingdom: The Legendary War” so I feel so related to them hehe”. It feels great as well when Joyce Guerra “a Kababayan/a fellow Filipina” was featured on the show as a successful actress in Korea who took part already in 50 Korean Dramas.

I enjoyed and had a lot of fun during the whole show; I was able to watch amazing performances of different Kpop groups from OnlyOneOf (Libido), which performed first followed by NTX (Choco Icecream) and Majors (Dancing in the starlit night).

Due to covid-19 Kpop artists had to perform in an empty audience but with Simply Kpop CON-TOUR it’s really cool because fans we’re able to watch and cheer for their idols on screen live which it makes everyone feels as if they are on the actual venue together.

I felt so proud when Iñigo Pascual “A Filipino Singer/Actor” got to show his love not just for Kpop but also to Korean Productions and how amazing Koreans in everything they do. Lastly, when he sings one of my favorite song “If You by BIGBANG”.

More performances came up Bibi (Bad Sad and Mad), Dongkiz (Universe) and Keembo (Whatever) Kpop groups that I watched performing for the first time and they are actually all great and has amazing vocals. Followed by a special video message by Sir Nick Lizaso “Chairman, NCCA of the Philippines” who’s very supportive of the Korean and Philippines culture exchange.

Next is performances by Soran (Be with me), GreatGuys (Touch by Touch), Lim Seo Won (Shoulder Dance) and Norazo (Vegetable) then video message from ITZY.

Followed by my most awaited artist MINZY “Gong Minji”. It’s time for Minzy’s interview. I was really happy to see her again and when she mentioned about Lovely “Tagalog version” which she released under an entertainment here in Philippines I got more excited like she really love Philippines that she committed on that project and feels like she really has a special connection with her Filipino fans. When Minzy showed a bit of her dance moves for “Superwoman” I suddenly remembered the moment I am watching her performed just right in front of me way back year 2018. I can’t believe that my moment is about to come. I’m close to crying that time but I’m saying to myself that “NO! You still have an interview! You will be flashed on that screen! So don’t cry! Haha”. 

I won’t forget how Kevin called out my name “Zestian” and that’s the moment my heart was beating so fast like “Keep calm self! You’re about to go on screen”. Words can’t explain how happy I am during that time. I was able to talk with Kevin and Jacob of The Boyz and especially Minzy. I introduced myself, I shared how I started loving Korean contents and the most important is I reminisced the time I meet Minzy at a Meet & Greet last year 2018 and got to have a duet of “Lovely” with Minzy. “Soooo precious!”

Photo Credit to Arirang K-pop Youtube Channel (Simply K-Pop Con-Tour)

I can’t believe that all of those things are going to happen in my life as ever. I love Minzy since 2NE1 and supporting her even as a solo artist. It was always been my dream to interact with her, like for Minzy to know that I am here supporting and loving her always.

Thank you so much to Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR for making my dreams come true! I made it! ^^ My friends say that I am a successful fangirl! And indeed, this was another achievement on my fangirling journey! 

More than 24,000 people were watching worldwide that time and they saw me as one of the biggest fans of Minzy including Minzy herself, she saw me, she knew about me! And I would be forever grateful for that.

Next is “Lovely” performance of Minzy and I can’t contain my feelings that time and my tears just fell down. I held back my tears during the interview but as I am off the screen and while watching Minzy performing Lovely I feel so overwhelmed like how can I be so blessed and lucky all those time. Feels like I’m representing the whole Filipino Blackjack and POS.

Last but not the least was performances from Enhypen (Not For Sale & Drunk-Dazed), I’m so happy as well for the two Filipino fans who was given an opportunity like me to interact with their idols. Followed by an interview with Ben & Ben “a popular band in Philippines” and then performances from AB6IX (Close) and ONF (Ugly Dance).

Hands up to Simply K-Pop for doing a great job for making an online concert tour (streaming worldwide for FREE) which surely gives a lot of happiness to every Kpop fans watching all over the world who misses going into concerts, watching their idols live, because we all know that everyone is having a hard time during this pandemic so Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR is really a brilliant idea!

Again, Thank you so much for this wonderful experience! I will never ever forget this. Maraming Salamat! Kamsahamnida~^^

You can watch the full replay here: https://youtu.be/bWuzbhwHdCs I’m on 50:32 =)

Watch also my Vlogs, from behind-the-scenes: https://youtu.be/F1PV9SaFUZk

and what can i say about my full D-day experience: https://youtu.be/IyaLMpMVkYU