Dara and 2NE1 in the Philippines

Dara in Albay, latest photo

Just got the news that Dara ( formerly known as Sandara) together with her co-band members of 2NE1 has arrived in the country not for work but for a vacation. They are currently staying at Misibis Bay Resort in Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay. The first four photos are taken from her me2day.net account, an online photo journal.

Misibis Bay Resort in Albay

she wrote a caption regarding the chili ("pepper") in the Bicol.

 I really adore Dara though I'm not into Korean pop. Even from her Star Circle days. She was frank, comical, witty, cute, adorable, charming teen. Now she has transformed herself into a fierce, stylish, and with heaps of feisty girl-power attitude, and is respected for her ability to sing, dance, and entertain audiences.

She may no longer be the bubbly teen Sandara that we used to know but she remains to be close to Filipinos (at least on her part). It's quite striking that after all these years she's still a master of Filipino language, without a trace of Korean accent. She is even more Pinoy than some Pinoy local stars. 

It's nice how despite her being no longer based in the Philippines she still consider Philippines like her second home. I remember one time some few years ago when I unintentionally see their reality show she mentioned to her bandmates that they were popular in the Philippines. I mean of all the countries, she could have mentioned a far developed Japan wherein they are also well-known. A friend of mine who is into Korean pop told me that Dara often mention Philippines and Filipinos in general in that show. See how attached she is to our country even if many Filipinos forget her already. Ok maybe not many. Remember how she received a cold reception on her comeback from 6 months workshop in Korea? Story here. But she never have any bitterness in her heart instead she reinvented herself and triumphed. And came back here like a true-blooded Filipino.

It's really nice of her to come to the Philippines to relax and not just for commercial purposes. 

It's amazing how a foreigner can be so Filipino at heart.

Photos taken during her vacation last January 2011:

photos from push.com.ph

how sweet of her

2NE1 on mag cover in Japan