Turn Up the 'Vibe': TV5’s Fresh OPM Countdown Hits the Screen this August

“If you make eye contact with him… System error,” a fan said, which perfectly encapsulates our experience after seeing Ju Ji Hoon. 

The beloved “Princess Hours” actor graced the Newport Performing Arts Theater stage in Manila last Aug. 2, meeting with over 1,500 Filipino fans for his first-ever fan meet event in the country!

The South Korean actor has starred in a variety of hit K-Dramas through the years, including “Princess Hours” (2006), where he played the brooding Crown Prince Lee Shin, “Mask” (2015), and “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (2025) for which he won Best Actor at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards. He also starred in a string of popular films such as “Asura: The City of Madness” (2016) and “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017).”

So, it’s no surprise that a great actor like Ji Joon has a legion of fans and admirers across the region, with the Hallyu star currently on his Asia Fan Meet Tour, having already stopped in Taipei and Bangkok. The JUNIVERSE in MANILA was nothing short of fun with the actor bringing the kilig and stealing hearts left and right with his easy-going smile and loveable personality. 

Ji Hoon kicked off the show with his rendition of Lee Juck’s “Relieved.” Host Sam Oh led a couch talk with the actor where they discussed about his acting career, answered fan questions and requests, and even teased about two upcoming projects he’s currently working on — one of which is the adaptation of the popular webtoon “The Remarried Princess,” where he’ll be working with other well-known stars like Shin Min-ah, Lee Se-young and Lee Jong-suk. 

Known to have portrayed varying characters in the past, Ji Hoon acknowledged that every person is different in “various ways,” which gives him room to be creative in the characters he plays on screen.  

“Whenever I talk to directors or my colleagues about a specific role, I don’t have a specific idea of how a role is supposed to be played. I accept what other people say about them,” he explained. “I’m the type of person who accepts and understands that people have different thoughts about a certain character. It helps me a lot in setting up my own character as well, so I’m very thankful.”

The actor also showed much love for his fans and went all out with the fan service as he signed posters, gave warm hugs, and even played games with them through the interactive segment. Some memorable moments include a lucky fan recreating the popular “Zootopia” selfie trend with him and Ji Hoon learning to say Tagalog terms from “Mahal kita” to “Gigil ako!”

Ji Hoon also acquiesced to fans’ request to bring his character, Dr. Baek Gang Hyeok from “Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," to life by shouting his favorite word, “Shut up!” 

Never would we have thought a room full of fans would be screaming and cheering after being told this. When asked how he managed to come up with the way of delivering it, Ji Hoon adorably answered, “I just did it with a happy heart like this.”

Despite this being his first fan meet, Ji Hoon revealed that he had actually visited the country before. When asked whether he had tried some of the local fare, the actor replied, “Whenever I go visit another country, I always visit the local market, so I try local food a lot. I don’t remember the exact name of the dish, but I remember eating some kind of fried rice dish and an iced shaved dessert (Halo-Halo).” He also added that he tried a crispy pork dish, which we assumed was the classic Crispy Pata. 

Speaking of delicious food, we observed that Ji Hoon maintains a lean physique, standing at six feet tall with a slightly muscular build. The host asked what he consumes to make him look this way, to which he honestly answered, “I still maintain my usual diet, but I eat a lot more meat. Since the character that I’m going through right now is asking me to have a more defined body, I’m eating a lot more meat.”

A group of lucky fans also got the chance to take photos with the actor, wrapping up a truly memorable event for everyone there. 

For updates on his upcoming dramas and movies, follow Ju Ji Hoon on Instagram.

Ever wanted to live your modelling dreams, or finally get to that Pinterest-worthy photoshoot? 

In today’s content-forward culture, everyone, and we mean everyone has been gunning to try out professional photoshoots and content studios—all beyond the self-made backdrops and ring lights—to get that perfect shot, the perfect look, the perfect pose. 

Answering this demand are all-inclusive photo studios have been popping up here and there all over the metro, offering curated full-on experiences for everyone. Think: wardrobe options, on-site hair and makeup teams, personalized sets, creative direction, modeling direction—everything. 

It’s a one-stop setup for anyone looking to oomph up their branding, celebrate special occasions and milestones, or simply step into their main character era. 

From aesthetic driven setups to creative concepts tailored for any vibe, here are five photo studios that can help you make your dreams a reality! 

Schild Studios

Established in 2022, Schild Studios is one of the trailblazers of the “All-In Professional Portrait Studio” concepts in the Philippines. Known for their highly personalized photo sessions, which they affectionately refer to as “projects,” Schild Studios offers full-on portrait experiences for any kind of moment—from major milestones to “just-because” memories. 

Their packages are thoughtfully categorized based on your vibe: 

• Profile Project: All-in solo portrait sessions to celebrate milestones, or to try out something new.
• Glow Project: A stunning pre-maternity shoot, styled and shot to celebrate a mother’s glow before the little one arrives.
• Spark Project: A romantic portrait session to capture a couple’s journey together.
• Duo Project: Designed for pairs like sisters, best friends, mother-daughter pairs, and more.
• Clique Project: A portrait session tailored for groups and families who want to document their bond.

Each session comes with services: Photo and Video shooter, Hair & Makeup, Studio Use, Creative Direction, Wardrobe Styling, and Soft Copy of photos for their packages. 

Visit Schild Studios’ website here and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages to find out more. 

Location: 2/F, D Ace Plaza, United cor. Brixton St., Kapitolyo, Pasig City, Philippines

BRH Project

BRH Project is a Makati-based photo studio, featuring photo and modeling concepts inspired by what’s trending online. With their motto, “We create what you desire,” BRH Project brings your dream shoots to life—exactly how you envisioned, and maybe even better.

They offer several packages and creative concepts based on what story you want to tell: 

• Create: An editorial portrait session to celebrate milestones, and more.
• Yearbook: Dive into the viral “Yearbook” concept, complete with ready-to-wear and trendy school uniforms. You can even bring in your furry friends on it!
• Portrait: Clean, classic, and focused entirely on you. Let your face cards and smiles do the talking here.  
• Idol: Channel your K-Pop idol dreams here, with a photo session complete with an idol stage and a fanmeet.

Each session comes with a dedicated photographer, Hair & Makeup, Studio Use, Creative Direction, and Wardrobe Styling. Soft copies and add-ons are available at an additional cost. 

Visit BRH Project’s website here, and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages to know more.

Location: Unit 331, Mile Long Building, Amorsolo Street, Makati City, Philippines

Cielo Studio MNL

Cielo Studio MNL is a Korean-style professional photo studio offering enchanting, K-Drama worthy photo concepts. Imagine florals, forest fairytales, and soft portraits you’ll want to frame forever.

Here are their most popular concepts: 

• Warm Bloom: This concept is soft, floral, dreamy, and mystical, just like a princess in a fairytale.
• Enchanting Forest: A dreamy, and magical concept that places you in an ethereal forest straight out of a daydream.
• Flower Rainfall: A classic and romantic concept, surrounded by blossoms in full bloom.

They also offer different packages for everyone: 

• Little Ones
• Ethereal Maternity
• Modest Profile
• Modern Gentlemen
• Dashin’ Duo
• Chic n’ Confident
• Eternal Lovers
• Loving Family
• Paw Prints

Visit Cielo Studios’ website here and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages to know more. 

Location: Universal Motors Corporation, 2232 Chino Roces Ave., Makati City, 1233 Metro Manila, Philippines

JMM Studios

JMM Studios is a photo studio dedicated to turning your best moments into masterpieces—with an editorial edge. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or simply capturing the now, their shoots are personally designed to turn you into the main character, every frame blending aesthetic with personalized storytelling.

One of their packages is the All-In Photoshoot Package, where JMM Studios takes care of everything: hair and makeup, wardrobe styling, creative direction, free use of studio and equipment, professional photographer, and unlimited shots. 

Visit JMM Studios’ Facebook and Instagram to learn more. 

Location: Blk. 97, Lot 37, Fortune St., Brgy. Rizal, Taguig City

LEON Studios

LEON Studios is a photo studio that does everything—from graduation pictures, debut shoots, editorial shoots, and more. Known for their styling and direction, they offer photo shoots that feel like magazine covers, turning you into models for even just a day. 

Their All-In Photo Packages offer a wide variety of services and inclusions that’ll guarantee an experience of a lifetime, complete with hair and makeup, set styling, creative direction, unlimited shots, wardrobe styling, and more. 

Visit LEON Studios’ Facebook and Instagram pages for more information or contact them through [email protected] or 09158074117. 

Location: 815 Banawe St., Quezon City, and 9 F. Manalo, Taguig City.

The BGC amphitheater was packed with the young and young-at-heart donned in their fire streetwear fits to celebrate the very heart of Filipino pop culture: Music. 

Sony Philippines held the ULT Power Sound: Vibe Live last Aug. 2, an event that aims to not only launch their latest lineup of audio equipment from their ULT Power Sound series but also present its duality as both a music companion and a fashion statement. This feature was presented through a mini-concert and runway show featuring some of OPM’s hottest artists and rising talents. 

“Sony strives to create products that tap into your emotions. As part of Sony’s corporate direction, we aim to get closer to the people by deep diving into the heart of what makes people who they are,” said Shuhei Sugihara, President and Managing Director of Sony Philippines, Inc., who opened the show with an inspiring talk on the company’s vision. “It’s their passions or interests, such as filmmaking, movie watching, music, photography, videography, and content creation, that get people to move. I believe our technology can boost creativity and support your ideas and passions.”

The Beat Manila got to sit front row and center at this thrilling music celebration, and we’re here to tell you about some of our favorite moments, as well as what makes the ULT Power Sound series the ultimate music and vibe companion. 

Where Music and Fashion Collide

Anyone who’s anyone knows who Sony is. The Japanese multifaceted brand is known for its diverse activities, from manufacturing consumer electronics to producing films and music. One thing it’s really good at is promoting sound excellence through innovative audio electronics such as speakers and headphones.  

The ULT Power Sound series was first launched in the country last July 2024, highlighting the ULT Field 7 and ULT Tower 10 speakers. They also launched the “For the Music” campaign in 2023, which aimed to promote their classic headphones. 

This year, the brand is expanding the lineup with four new products designed to give customers an unparalleled listening experience—music that you can bring wherever, whenever. 

Portability is one of the top things we consider when purchasing speakers, and the ULT Power Sound series embodies this very feature with its two categories: Tower and Field. The former caters to those who want loud, powerful, and punchy bass, while the latter is designed for music on the go. 

Arbie Bandiling, Senior Product & Marketing Communications Executive, Personal Audio Systems of Sony Philippines, Inc., gave us a brief rundown of the new products, highlighting their best features and explaining how these speakers marry music with fashion. 

Let’s start with the big guy: the ULT Tower 9, which gives you a chance to fully immerse yourself in the music. Its soundfield optimization feature detects local noise and automatically changes the sound setting to deliver clear music even when you are surrounded by other sounds. Another highlight is the prominent “ULT” button, which gives you two types of bass modes: press once for ULT1 to get a deeper, lower frequency bass, and press twice to activate ULT2 for a powerful, punchy bass. 

The ULT Tower 9 also has several fun features that make sure you can carry the party with you wherever.  The 360-degree party lights can turn any room into a rave, while its built-in handle and wheels let you carry, lift, or pull over the speaker with ease across any distance. The speaker also has a splashproof top panel, and has a plugged-in (P39,999) and battery variant (P52,199) — the latter giving you around 25 hours of playtime in a full charge. For context, a full charge will take around 3 hours, and in exchange you get over a full day's worth of speaker power.

For those who want their music on the go, the ULT Field 3 (P10,999) and ULT Field 5 (P19,999) give you top-tier sound quality with soundfield and bass optimization, as well as battery life of over 24 and 25 hours, respectively. It has the signature ULT Power Sound bass, but in a more compact design. Its highlights include a stylish color range and functional handheld features, such as the adjustable strap, which allows you to wear it cross-body or over your shoulder like a purse. Who says your speakers can’t sound and look good?

Lastly, the ULT Mic 1 (P9,999) is for every Filipino karaoke lover. Light, wireless, and powerful, this product aims to enhance your experience with the speakers. Although designed to work best with Sony speakers, you can still use the mic with any audio equipment that has a mic input. 

Sony Hypes Up the Local Music Scene

In Mr. Sugihara’s opening speech, he mentioned the Japanese term “Kando,” a word that describes “the sense of awe and the emotion you feel when experiencing something beautiful and amazing for the first time.”

And what better way to experience that than through live music?

“To strengthen our music efforts in the Philippines, we have exciting synergies with our sister company Sony Music,” mentioned Shuhei, as he welcomed the “ULT Squad” — a group of musicians and dance artists who are inspiring and entertaining the current generation. “We aim to further strengthen the collaboration with several artists to showcase the diversity and strength of our brand. We ask for your continued support in creating kando together.”

Sony organized a spectacular way to showcase their new speaker lineup by allowing their customers to experience it firsthand through a series of live performances by some of the country’s trending musicians, dance artists, and fashion influencers. 

“Sony works with music people behind the scenes, like producers and music engineers, to capture every note — making it feel like they are in the studio with the artists,” said Mr. Kentaro Imamura, Marketing Director of Sony Philippines, Inc. “We keep our promise in creating authentic music experiences by connecting listeners and creators.”

The show began with a fashion show, the night’s guest artists strutting down the runway carrying an ULT Power Sound speaker or wearing the ULT Wear headphones. Artists present at the event include couple fashion influencers David Guison and Angelique Manto, P-Pop girl group KAIA, and singer Jeremy G. 

This was quickly followed by a thrilling dance routine by A-TEAM, who showed us all the moves and grooves, and dance artist Carlos Serrano III, who danced to Destiny’s Child’s classic hit, “Brown Eyes.”

Jeremy G then hit the stage and kept the party rolling with his cover of Bruno Mars’ “Treasure” and Cup of Joe’s hit “Multo.” He also serenaded his fans with his latest single, “Parking Lot,” and gave them an up-close-and-personal moment when he went down the stage to vibe with the crowd. Talk about #FangirlMoment! 

The fiery girls of KAIA also lit up the Sony ULT Vibe stage with a string of their hits, such as “YOU DID IT”, “Dalawa,” and “TURN UP”, sending ZAIAs (fandom name) into a frenzy. As if the night couldn’t get any better, rising singer-songwriter Maki took to the stage to perform some of his most popular songs, including the viral “Dilaw,” “Bughaw,” and “Namumula.” 

The OPM trendsetter is known for his color-themed songs that are currently making waves on local and international music charts. During his set, Maki mentioned how Sony collaborates with local artists by giving them the chance to use their equipment, which has helped support their creative and production process. He then proceeded to announce his forthcoming album, “KOLORCOASTER,” which drops on Sept. 19, and performed his latest single, “Kahel na Langit,” as well as his song, “Saan?” before wrapping up the concert. The audience echoed every lyric, singing and vibing along to each number, proving how music’s blend of emotion and sound can truly bring people together. 

Sony Philippines didn’t just give us a great show but also big surprises, having given away several speakers for the attendees, as well as the ultimate karaoke setup to one lucky winner. Safe to say, Sony passed the vibe check, and we can’t wait to see more of how they will elevate the music experience for every Filipino. 

The ULT Power Sound series is now available at a Sony authorized dealer near you and online. For updates, follow Sony Philippines on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. 

It’s only been a couple of months since “Dance with My Mistakes” took over the airwaves with the funky “Misbehave,” following suit not long after, giving Lola Amour fans a reason to hit the replay button on repeat. But we should’ve known that was only the beginning. 

Last July 17, the Filipino band surprised fans and friends from the media with the announcement of their second album, “Love on Loop,” slated to release on Aug. 15. The Beat Manila got to witness this exciting moment as the band held an intimate listening session and exclusive conference at Warner Music Philippines office in Bonifacio Global City — just a few hours before their new single, “The Moment” featuring Kokoro of the Japanese boy band, PSYCHIC FEVER, dropped. 

“It’s been more than a year since we released our last album, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been hard at work,” said Pio Dumayas, the band’s lead vocalist, as he shared how the band has been strengthening their relationships outside of the country from collaborating with foreign artists, making connections, and working with Warner Music in other territories. From this, they were able to conceive their sophomore record with a lineup of songs that were packed with sincere storytelling, relatable themes, and a fresh sound that somehow blends and bends existing genres today.  

“This is an album we worked on last year. We went to Malaysia to write with Hyuk Shin (EXO, SHINee, Justin Bieber) and CUURLEY. This album has eight songs, and each song is a story about an experience with love from a band member. It tackles each stage of love.”

Pio also explained the concept behind the title, which is meant to highlight the “cyclical nature of falling in love, falling out of love, and finding yourself.”

Love at First Listen

One of our favorite things about a full album is the journey. In the age of singles and EPs, nothing hits hard quite like a full record with a bunch of songs that tell a story from start to end. Because that's what music is all about — telling stories and expressing the emotions that happen in between its events. 

“Love on Loop” is basically a collection of love songs — an exploration of love experiences and relationships from the heart-skipping first glances to the devastating heartbreaks and woes of regret. 

The album opens with an instrumental intro that sets the vibe. The tone is funky, a glimpse into the album’s overall mix of genres, composed of retro-inspired sounds. The track then transitions to the first full song, “The Moment,” a song that describes that thrilling rush of meeting someone new, their presence lighting a flame that burns all sorts of questions.

In an exclusive interview with The Beat Manila, we asked the band how the collaboration came about and what it was like working with the Japanese singer.

“Japan’s work ethic is kind of crazy,” commented David Yuhico (Keyboardist). “They’re so honorable. When they say they’ll do something, they’ll do that and three more things! This song was done remotely. We already recorded the song with Pio singing all of the vocals. They liked it and said they wanted to collaborate.”

Jeff Abueg (Saxophonist) also added how Kokoro truly brought his unique texture to the track, while guitarist Zoe Gonzales shared how PSYCHIC FEVER and their team were so accommodating with them despite currently being on tour during the production process. “It’s been really smooth sailing with them. The turnover was quick,” he said.  

Meanwhile, Kokoro also made a guest appearance at the conference via video, where he talked about the collaboration — his first since joining the label — and how he hopes it will be a door for their group to visit the Philippines and meet their fans, as well as expand both the scope of their activities and musical range. 

“It’s a style of singing and atmosphere that I personally haven’t expressed before. Since PSYCHIC FEVER’s songs and this collaboration differ in sound and overall vibe, I think that contrast is something listeners can enjoy,” the J-Pop artist shared. 

As the listening party went on, we got to hear glimpses of the other unreleased tracks. “One Day Away” showcases an up-tempo sound, while “Did My Time” was a track that represented the breakup stage. Pio also described this song as the most challenging to translate into music. 

“That one was a bit harder to write. The persona here is a little resentful; may galit (there’s anger). It’s a topic that we haven’t explored before. We’re trying not to act too angry since it’s not the point of the song. The point is seeing the red flags in retrospect after the relationship. The person this song is about — it was hard to translate his problems. Putting it into writing was challenging.”

Meanwhile, “With You” gave us another genre shift as it presents a more toned-down and tender sound without much instrumentation, leaving Pio’s vocals more exposed. We thought it matched the vulnerability of the song well, which the vocalist shared was inspired by an actual love letter. It’s a song that describes the feeling of longing for someone you have already lost and wanting to get back together with them. 

Rounding up the album alongside previously released singles “Misbehave” and “Dance with My Mistakes” is “Love on Loop,” which is the ribbon that ties it all together, forming a cohesive storyline of love, heartbreak, and finding the strength and courage to start all over again. 

“When we wrote ['Love on Loop], it was not really a point in the story. It’s more of a credit song, the ‘Happily Ever After’ or the beginning of the next story. That’s really what the whole thing is about,” Pio explained.

We also learned an interesting, fun fact about the forthcoming record: how it was actually written within two weeks — nine working days to be exact! When asked how they would describe their music’s evolution from the first album to the next, Pio replied:

“Here, we explored a lot of different recording techniques and workflows. It’s our first time working with a producer for the whole album. It’s a different experience. Yung dating naming album, isang taon naming sinulat. Ito, two weeks lang (We wrote our first album in a year, but this one only took two weeks). In my opinion, it’s a step up from the last album. But I think what hasn’t changed is that 'di mo talaga alam yung genre namin (you still won’t know what our genre is). Every song is a different kind of song. But what has changed is, I guess, the way we’ve been able to construct the songs — the form is much simpler. More digestible.”

“This body of work is the first where we were all in the same room from conception to finishing the songs,” David added. “So we were all onboard and very invested in what we were writing. And we had producers who — you know, their job is to bring out the best in you and cut out your bad ideas. It’s still you, but suddenly you sound 'expensive.'”

And speaking of sounding expensive, it’s noticeable that the band’s second album leans towards a more international vibe, with its entirety written in English. The band had mentioned expanding the scope of their music, but when asked if it had been intentional to make “Love on Loop” an album that caters to a wider musical audience, they answered that it was more of a practical decision.

“The producers we worked with don’t speak Tagalog, and they’re not just there to write music but also there to look at the lyrics and give suggestions,” explained David. “They’re so invested in our music as well that they want to make sure it’s the best. How can they do that if they can’t understand the content?”

Despite this, the band assured that their identity has remained intact and that they’re still a Filipino band first and foremost who want to spread the magic of OPM. The experience of working with a renowned producer has only sharpened their music-making, which has allowed them to create songs more efficiently and with a clearer purpose throughout the process. 

“The thing about a great producer is they bring out the best in you. It’s still a hundred percent you, just the best parts of it. So, it doesn’t really change your identity. It’s more like, 'Oh! Finally, I have these things in mind. I didn’t know that I could do this.' All the things that you wanted to do but you didn’t know how, suddenly they can guide you to get to the sound that you want,” David shared.

“We developed a different mindset, like less is more,” Zoe added on how the band has become more discerning of the things that should be included and cut out from a particular song they’re creating. 

“Love on Loop” is an example of artistic growth, and Lola Amour just demonstrated how musicians can achieve this by simply exploring what’s out there, experimenting, and riding the wave of creative ideas. Fresh, adventurous, and sincere are three words the band used to describe their new album, but if you were to ask us, we’d say elevated — sonically, emotionally, and creatively. We simply can’t wait to hear the album in its full glory — out on all streaming platforms on Aug. 15. 

In the meantime, stay tuned to Lola Amour’s official Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram pages for updates on their album drop and upcoming live performances.