I’ve talked for two weeks about the girls needing to have more activities and this week, it is becoming more than apparent that there is a grand flurry of activity behind the scenes as the girls seem to be gearing up for something.
It’s easy to dismiss this as “false hope,” but not when Group Captain Alice herself is the one teasing us with the Theater. Yes, the friggin’ theater, the same one that we haven’t received any news of for about two months now. There’s been news lately that Movie Stars Cafe in Centris is finally opening at the end of this month (no confirmation, but they said there were posters on site), so the MNL48 Theater – which is supposed to be located just beside MSC – might be receiving some long-overdue attention.
If a certain “leaked” image is true, the floor plans show an ambitious Theater which will also feature a Cafe, a merchandise shop, the theater proper, a lounge for the members, a training area, an office for the Theater Manager, a Recording Booth (!), and the all-important hall bearing the pictures of the girls. Of course, not everything in the plans make it to the final version (and there was an earlier, more modest version), but even if they get only 80% of those in the plans, the Theater is shaping up to be a truly all-in-one stop for fans.
But the theater might still be months away (might, because no one really has any clue as to its construction progress), and several of the girls have hinted at preparations for something. We don’t know yet if it’s an appearance, another event, new merchandise, the single being announced, their actual debut, or maybe gracing the (re) opening of MSC. It seems to involve Photo-cards because some of the girls have posted pictures of them wearing a 48 Group T-shirt and appears to have been taken during a shoot.
It’s a very welcome development as the girls can’t survive with just one event per month, and I’m sure the financial problems of TPE48’s management must have lit the fire in HHE to do something to avoid the same fate. Due also to the increase in the girl’s activities, MNLife and MNLaugh are taking a hiatus this week. While MNLife episodes are fun and informative, MNLaugh’s begun disintegrating into messy, chaotic, and loud affairs and while it’s still fun, I appreciate the breather. Suffice to say, the fact that the whole show is put on hiatus means that something big is about to happen.
People are asking if MNL48 will appear in Asia Pop Comicon Manila 2018, but I personally think it’s unlikely. It is certainly within the realm of possibility though, since HHE managed to secure a booth plus stage time last year, and which was announced really close to the convention itself. But I’m not going to get my hopes up, even though I really want it to happen. The reason why I felt it unlikely, however, is because appearing on APCC will make it their debut of sorts, and I would like to think that HHE would prefer that such an important occasion to happen in an event where MNL48 will occupy an important space in the program, and not have to hijack another show for it.
Sure, APCC is one of the biggest pop-culture conventions in the Philippines, arguably the best and certainly the most prestigious non-anime centered convention. Holding a debut there would have to be one of the goals of many an idol group if only because of the caliber of its celebrity guests and the reputation of the event itself that can rub off on you. But a convention is hardly the place you’d want for MNL48 to debut because then, they wouldn’t be the main attraction. Being relegated as a side-show to the international celebrities might not be a good idea from an image stand-point.
I’d think that if MNL48 were to make an appearance, the likely event will be at the upcoming opening of Movie Stars Cafe. Not only is it HHE’s territory, they will be operating by HHE’s own rules, with a show that can be built around them. Would it be a sign of hubris that HHE would rather have a show on their own ground in their own terms rather than in one of the premier pop-culture events in the country? On the contrary, it means that they are playing safe. For a fledgling group that hasn’t yet broken into the greater public’s consciousness, the reward for appearing in APCC might be great, but so are the risks.
Stage time in these events are paid, unlike others where you can actually beg to let your team go on the stage for a small fee, or maybe even for free if you’re feeling lucky. If your fans don’t come in droves for whatever reason (and this is a three-day event, mind you, and some fans might just come for one day.), you will be looking at a small audience. Not the kind of thing that HHE would want for MNL48’s first public performance.
In any case, as the end of July comes nearer, I expect we would hear a few more announcements. Anything to see MNL48 perform again is fine by me.
For now, let me leave you with picture of a beaming Dian with enough warmth in her smile to drive away the rain.
1 Comment
Wooh. Excited 😀