MNL48 were the special guest performers in the 2019 JPOP Anime Singing Contest Grand Finals organized by Embassy of Japan in the Philippines last Saturday, February 16, 2019 at SM Cinema Centerstage, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
As the special guest of the JPOP Anime Singing Contest Grand Finals, the Philippine J-idol group MNL48, represented by the Senbatsu members (Top 16) Ella, Faith, Alyssa, Kay, Jan, Mari, Lei, Jem, Rans, Coleen, Gabb, Belle, Brei, Sela, Abby, and the center Sheki performed two songs: “First Rabbit” off their second CD release, and a special performance of the original/Japanese version of their platinum hit single “Pag-ibig Fortune Cookie”.
“First time po naming i-perform ang ‘Koisuru Fortune Cookie’ para sa mga fans namin bilang MNL48 members kasi po noong una po naming siyang sinayaw ay aspirants pa lang po kami,” Abby said on the group’s performance of the AKB48’s mega-hit song.
As with other international sister groups, MNL48 performs their own version of AKB48 hits. Making this performance of the original track very special for fans.
“Masaya po kasi grabe po sila mag-embrace sa MNL48. ‘Yung performance namin talagang na-feel namin na nagugustuhan nila ‘yung binibigay naming energy and how we deliver our performance kaya nakakatuwa po kasi naa-appreciate po nila,” shares Sela.
MNL48 also invited everyone to join them on their “Pag-ibig Fortune Cookie” Handshake Event which will be held on March 10 and 17,2019 at the Centris Elements in Quezon City. Fans who wish to attend the group’s second handshake event may get their tickets by purchasing the Pag-ibig Fortune Cookie CD on the MNL48 official website www.mnl48.ph or Lawson stores nationwide where it contains one (1) ticket per CD album.
The JPOP Anime Singing Contest is an annual event lead by Embassy of Japan in the Philippines as part of their goal to help strengthen the longstanding friendship between Japan and the Philippines through J-pop and cultural exchange. The singing contest was announced last November 28 where hundreds of amateur Filipino solo and duo singers sent their entries.
This Saturday, from 10 finalists, Embassy of Japan announced its winners where Julius Matthews won 3rd place, Racianne Castro Elorde won 2nd place, while Sheila Faye S. Labanan won the grand prize of a four-day, all-expenses paid trip to Japan for two.
After 10 years of the successful run of the JPOP Anime Singing Contest, Japan Information and Culture Center Director, Ms. Junko Sato thanked its contestant and the JPOP-loving fans for their continuous support for the event.
“We are very grateful to the Filipino public for the constant support and interest on Japan and in this competition through the years,” she said.