We sat down with Alexander Lee, the hotshot K-Pop star who stars now in a Filipino dramedy with a Korean touch, My Korean Jagiya. We’re interested to know how he has been since he started taping scenes for the show in the Philippines with his Filipino co-stars and crew. The actor gladly answered our questions.
Below are excerpts from our conversation with Alexander Lee.
Any new Tagalog words you learned?
Yes! “Isuko mo ang Bataan.” (laughs)
Do you know what that means?
Give me a flower. (laughs)
Who taught you that?
It’s one of… it’s actually inside the script. So, the audience could expect me to say something very funny. Hugot.
What made you decide to sign with GMA?
Working with them, from the beginning until now, everything’s so good. People here (are) so nice and the working environment (is) really good. So, I’m willing to stay here longer to work.
Koreans are supposed to serve in the military.
I don’t have to, ‘cause I was born in Hong Kong. It’s a very sensitive issue ‘cause a lot of you know, Korean-American. People are like, “you have to go to the military, blah blah blah.” Thank God, I was born in Hong Kong.
How many shows are you supposed to do?
I’m happy ‘cause the contract is not too long and I see it as trust, you know. I work for trust and I believe that so far, they’re doing so good for me during this project, My Korean Jagiya. So, I’m sure it’s gonna be good after. But I have to learn Tagalog, that’s the thing I have to.
So you’re staying for a year?
Yeah. I have to.
You go to school. How many years do you still have?
I have two more semesters left. I’m thinking, maybe if I have to stay here, maybe I’m thinking they might have an exchange program so I could just go to school here and work.
What’s course are you taking?
I am still undergrad actually. Like the oldest senior in college. (laughs) But I’m doing double major. I don’t know why but, Media Communication and Business Administration. Yeah. They have good (schools) in here. ‘Cause my school, the Korea University, I think it’s associated with some of the Philippine [University]. I have to check it.
Have you met all your fans?
I didn’t really have a fan meeting yet. But Yeah! Especially the Kapuso Brigade, they have a really close, you know they were close in front, there’s a time that there were those who were crying, (make sob sounds). And I was like, “whooa! I’m not Michael Jackson.” That only happens in Michael Jackson’s. Like whoa, I was really glad. I mean, that’s how good to show me the kilig, that’s why I’m very, very happy about it. And they gave me a lot of, like their specialties; like nuts, chocolates, a lot of food, I can’t name all of it. They let me try different Filipino specialties, food.
The conversation went along fine, drifted to other topics, future project, stars he wants to work with on GMA and a lot other things. Alexander is a good raconteur, if only he could speak English fluently or can speak passable Tagalog or Filipino.
But, the next time we’d meet him, he promised to speak Tagalog better. That would be the day, Alexander.
* * *
Meanwhile, Philippine TV’s Sweetheart Heart Evangelista-Escudero made her Bicolano fans happy when the My Korean Jagiya lead star flew to Naga City to celebrate Peñafrancia Festival .
Heart, who plays Guadalupe Immaculada Asuncion or “Gia” in the first-ever Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series, was joined by the newest Kapuso oppa Alexander Lee who portrays Kim Jun Ho. Returning Kapuso actor Edgar Allan Guzman, who plays Ryan, added fun to the event.
Those who flocked to SM City Naga were treated to an evening of fun and kilig as cast went on stage to make the Kapusong Bicolanos’ celebration of this year’s Peñafrancia Festival extra special.
Showing their hospitality, Bicolanos in turn, warmly received Heart, Edgar, and Alexander—screaming their hearts out during the stars’ song and dance numbers. Some fans even went to the venue with posters and placards confessing their love to their Kapuso idols.
Heart expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support they got from their fans—an estimated 20,000 crowd—in Naga City.
“Overwhelming,” shares Heart. “Hindi ako makapaniwala na ganun ‘yung crowd and sobrang appreciative ko and grateful and I hope we can do more mall shows.”
Alexander was also touched by what he witnessed. “They [Bicolano crowd] were really welcoming and I was really happy. You know when the crowd is good you also feel good like there was a mutual thing and I was very impressed because there were some fans who cried.”
“Nakakataba ng puso kasi solid ‘yung suporta nila sa show,” adds Edgar.
“As one of the country’s most popular and revered religious festivals, GMA Network is happy to be part once more of this year’s celebration of Peñafrancia Festival,” says Oliver Amoroso, Vice President and Head of GMA’s Regional TV Department.