In her interview, Yeng Constantino tells us that her favorite K-Pop group is 2NE1 in which Dara is a member. She also mentioned how Dara used to be in the Philippines and her evolution from being a raw and innocent artist into a powerful one with a lot of swag.
You can see Yeng mention Dara and 2NE1 at around 0:32 of the video!
“My favorite group is 2ne1, of course Dara is part of the group, we saw her when she was just starting, and her evolution also, WOW, if she can do it, we all can too. We saw her when she was just raw, wow, the innocence in her eyes was gladdening to see. And now, when I see her in their music videos, BOOM, her SWAG is like.. hoo where is the old Dara? There she is the new her. I believe we are capable of doing it also, if we sing songs that we can’t understand, then they should also sing our song there even if they don’t understand it.”
Translation:
One of my greatest dreams is for OPM (Original Pinoy Music) to cross over Asia, really. I do not believe that KPOP is a problem in our country. It just so happened that they are excellent and I admire them. I see videos in Youtube saying, “Wow, their dance, isn’t already for 20 times?”. They rehearse a lot in any performance. And my favourite is 2ne1, of course Dara is there. We saw her start here and then her evolution, and like WOW!!! If she can do it, then I think we can also do it. Didn’t we watch her when she’s still raw and like, her eyes, it’s amazing and her actions on stage as well. And now you can see in their music videos, her swag, woah!!! Where is she, is like, she’s a new person! We can do it also, I really believe it. If the songs that we don’t even understand, we sing them, then it’s not impossible for them to sing our songs too!!! Just kidding! But no, it’s a challenge for us artists to produce music that is also excellent, and yeah, to be challenged. It’s not just something that you feel like writing, but you know, like you want to level-up. It’s how they (KPOP) are. I’m happy that they sang my song, because there are a lot of OPM songs that are really good, especially now, like Ebe ___, I enjoy listening to them, but they chose my song, WOW!!! It was even an old song already. How many years has it been? I think I was only 14 when I wrote Hawak Kamay (Hold Hands). I was surprised why Hawak Kamay was trending in twitter. Then I saw Exo, and was like what is it or who? Then I searched the internet. Wow, they’re so handsome!!! That’s what I said, wow, “pogi” (remember Dara’s name for Seungri)!!! There is Korean and Chinese version. I like them. They’re cute. I think one of the members will look good together with me!!! (laughs) But that’s my dream for OPM, if not during my generation, then in the next generations to come.
Source: PEP Mediabox
Thank you so so so much to GEiA Doctor (@KeYOJtiK) and nicajoyunnie for the translations!
oh-dara.com 
Comments on: "Video: Filipino Artist, Yeng Constantino, Mentions Dara, 2NE1 and Praises K-Pop in an Interview" (15)
I love Yeng! She was spot on in describing Dara. It was Dara’s transformation that made me even more drawn to her. It’s so nice to know that she admires Dara and the rest of the 2NE1 girls. ^^
And I also agree on what she said about K-Pop. We should consider it as an inspiration to produce even better songs, music videos and performers, not treat it like it’s some kind of threat to our own music. I would also love to see OPM as widespread as Korean music one day. 🙂
Aww… I love Yeng! She is one of the most talented Filipino singer-composers. I admire her perceptive answer about KPop. I agree that OPM is also good. The newly released “Himig Handog PPop Love Songs” are my jam right now. They just need to invest for a more quality music videos. Moreover, thank you Yeng for appreciating the significant change in Dara’s ability. 😀
agree with her completely!
go Dara!
go OPM!
Come to think of it, Filipino songs are also good. Problem lies in the music videos. No one would like to invest on QUALITY MUSIC video. I’d love to see one someday. We have good singers. Heck I heard even DBSK/JYJ boys loved MYMP acoustic album. Thanks to Dara though, she’s been our unofficial Champion.
If you look at Dara’s twitter she even endorse a lot of OPM songs. She even tweets in Tagalog.
Even how popular Kpop is and of course her, still she loves where she came from.
And how happy and proud she is when she goes in the philippines.
Thanks for posting my translation!!! 🙂
I agree with what she said. KPOP invasion is not the problem in the Philippine Music Industry ( a lot of local artist says that though). It’s the lack of style and lack of creativity. There is no question that Filipinos are talented, but still we are not getting the attention and admiration from other countries because we lack the visual and auditory appeal that KPOP has. OPM tends to settle for mediocrity when it comes to producing Music and Music Videos.
(Sorry, please don’t mind the first one that i posted. I edited something out! Please just bear with this translation. Thanks!!! I hope this helps. 🙂 )
This is for the first 2 min and 48 seconds. This is the part where KPOP, 2ne1 and Dara are the topic.
Yeng Constantino Talks about KPOP Excellence, 2ne1 and Dara.
One of my greatest dream is for OPM(Original Pinoy Music) to cross over Asia, really. I do not believe that KPOP is a problem in our country. It just so happened that they are excellent and I admire them. I see videos in Youtube saying, “Wow, their dance, isn’t already for 20 times?”. They rehearse a lot in any performance. And my favourite is 2ne1, ofcourse Dara is there. We saw her start here and then her evolution, and like WOW!!! If she can do it, then I think we can also do it. Didn’t we watch her when she’s still raw and like, her eyes, it’s amazing and her actions on stage as well. And now you can see in their music videos, her swag, woah!!! Where is she, is like, she’s a new person! We can do it also, I really believe it. If the songs that we don’t even understand, we sing them, then it’s not impossible for them to sing our songs too!!! Just kidding! But no, it’s a challenge for us artists to produce music that is also excellent, and yeah, to be challenged. It’s not just something that you feel like writing, but you know, like you want to level-up. It’s how they (KPOP) are. I’m happy that they sang my song, because there are a lot of OPM songs that are really good, especially now, like Ebe ___, I enjoy listening to them, but they chose my song, WOW!!! It was even an old song already. How many years has it been? I think I was only 14 when I wrote Hawak Kamay (Hold Hands). I was surprised why Hawak Kamay was trending in twitter. Then I saw Exo, and was like what is it or who? Then I searched the internet. Wow, they’re so handsome!!! That’s what I said, wow, “pogi” (remember Dara’s name for Seungri)!!! There is Korean and Chinese version. I like them. They’re cute. I think one of the members will look good together with me!!! (laughs) But that’s my dream for OPM, if not during my generation, then in the next generations to come.
Thank you so so so much! ❤
No prob!!! It’s my pleasure to translate for Oh Dara! since I have always benefited from all of your updates!!!Thanks!
This is for the first 2 min and 48 seconds. This is the part where KPOP, 2ne1 and Dara are the topic.
Yeng Constantino Talks about KPOP Excellence, 2ne1 and Dara.
One of my greatest dream is for OPM(Original Pinoy Music) to cross over Asia, really. I do not believe that KPOP is a problem in our country. It just so happened that they are excellent and I admire them. I see videos in Youtube saying, “Wow, their dance, isn’t already for 20 times?”. They rehearse a lot in any performance. And my favourite is 2ne1, ofcourse Dara is there. We saw her start here and then her evolution, and like WOW!!! If she can do it, then I think we can also do it. Didn’t we watch her when she’s still raw and like, her eyes, it’s amazing and her actions on stage as well. And now you can see in their music videos, her swag, woah!!! Where is she, is like, she’s a new person! We can do it also, I really believe it. If the songs that we don’t even understand, we sing them, then it’s not possible for them to sing our songs too!!! Just kidding! But no, it’s a challenge for us artists to produce music that is also excellent, and yeah, to be challenged. It’s not just something that you feel like writing, but you know, like you want to level-up. It’s how they (KPOP) are. I’m happy that they sang my song, because there are a lot of OPM songs that are really good, especially now, like Ebe ___, I enjoy listening to them, but they chose my song, WOW!!! It was even an old song already. How many years has it been? I think I was only 14 when I wrote Hawak Kamay (Hold Hands). I was surprised why Hawak Kamay was trending in twitter. Then I saw Exo, and was like what is it or who? Then I searched the internet. Wow, they’re so handsome!!! That’s what I said, wow, “pogi” (remember Dara’s name for Seungri)!!! There is Korean and Chinese version. I like them. They’re cute. I think one of the members will look good together with me!!! (laughs) But that’s my dream for OPM, if not during my generation, then in the next generations to come.
xxx
Dara’s evolution really is amazing!
Yeng was saying, ” My favorite group is 2ne1, of course Dara is part of the group, we saw her when she was just starting, and her evolution also, WOW, if she can do it, we all can too. We saw her when she was just raw, wow, the innocence in her eyes was gladdening to see. And now, when I see her in their music videos, BOOM, her SWAG is like.. hoo where is the old Dara? There she is the new her. I believe we are capable of doing it also, if we sing songs that we can’t understand, then they should also sing our song there even if they don’t understand it.”
Thank you so so so much! 🙂
When Yeng Constantino stated, “I don’t believe KPop is a problem in our country – it just so happened that they are excellent.. even when they were stil training… they’ve done it 20x and they’re still dancing!!!” i totally agree with this… it’s because KPop music is really amazing that’s why people outside Korea, not only Filipinos but all over the world, are loving it!!! and then when Yeng started to talk about Dara, “My favorite is 2NE1, of course Dara is there…. we saw her when she first started, her evolution, it’s like WOW! …. the innocence of her eyes… and then now when we see her in music videos, it’s like BOOM!!! her swag is like…..there she is, the new Dara!!!” well, what can i say? Yeng says it all! Dara’s evolution from one of innocence to a powerful explosion with lots of swag is totally WOW!!!