アイドルトーク 1: CHICKEN BLOW THE IDOL

It was March of 2023 when I first got the information from some SEA otaku I knew that there would be a Japanese idol group who would be visiting the country and perform. That time I was kind of tired with pop idols in general but this group piqued my interest because the SEA otakus were really rallying Filipinos on their network to show up for them. I remember previously missing out another idol group who came to the Philippines to perform (it was a Japanese idol group called KissBee) so I thought maybe I can attend this time to make up for that.

Around April I was doing some research on the group (a.k.a. listening to their songs on streaming sites) and I was sold. Rock music is definitely my lane and I became positive that I would like the group and from there I looked forward to see them live.

Around June the group was confirmed for the annual local convention "TOYCON" which was three days for that year (July 7-9). It took a long while to have the schedules confirmed but it worked to my favor eventually. My to-do list for that weekend was:

• Watch the local performers at the TOYCON free stage on the 8th (day)
• Stage performance on the 8th (night) with my dance team at another event
• Watch the idols and possibly buy their merchandise at both free and paid locations of TOYCON on the 9th (day)

In the morning of the 8th, I got news that the idols would also appear at the free stage so I became more excited to see them. With only one song from the group that I religiously knew, I went to the free stage area, met up with my mutuals and enjoyed the show as much as possible.

Spoiler: I did enjoy the group's performance, as well as that of the other group they brought along. I cheered, jumped, booed that one audience who asked an inappropriate question during the interview segment, and at one point was even lifted to "further cheer" for a specific member. I wasn't "locked in" to that member supposedly, but that moment made my pick for favorite member (推しメン) final.

The next day, I was able to watch the group in both free and paid venues. Their energy was astounding, and their songs captivated my emotions. I was able to buy the last packed shirt from their stock (a friend got the display shirt, the actual last piece) aside from a polaroid photo (チェキ) with my chosen favorite member. My most valuable experience on that encounter was me trying to communicate with her with the little knowledge I have on Japanese. At one point, when I was trying to convey that I loved their songs, she mistakenly said "I love you" in English. It was awkward, but it was cute. I was also able to get a flyer with the group's information and had it signed by my favorite member. Since then I became active in following their social media accounts and watched their livestreams in the website SHOWROOM.

Around the end of that month, it was announced that the group would come back to the country for another appearance at a local convention "Best of Anime" on September. That time was like, really good for Filipino fans of Japanese pop idols. I secured my ticket for that convention as early as August so I can see the group perform again, and also to interact with my favorite member once more.

Indeed, I was able to enjoy the convention and met the group again. I was really flattered when they remembered me and I was also able to introduce a mutual to a member he was eyeing prior to the event. This time, I bought two tickets for a polaroid photo so I can interact with my favorite member twice. The first interaction was the usual "long time no see" greetings; I expressed to the best of my abilities that I was glad to see her again. The second interaction was me informing her that my eyeglasses broke, doing her running gag in front of her, which was probably the most out of pocket I've been in a while, and of course, cheering her in her future activities. Also, I was able to get the flyer from TOYCON signed by the other members aside from getting a copy of the updated version of their flyer. My experience on their performance was solid as expected, as the group delivered a high-energy set, which made me like them even more.

A week later, I was watching them on a YouTube livestream of their performance during their Thailand expedition. I was able to continue interacting with them on SHOWROOM until their group anniversary on September. 

Around November, they went back again to the country to perform but this time, the venue was on Cebu. I wasn't able to go to the event where they were because it was too far for me and I was busy organizing my own event. Fortunately, I was able to get a mutual who was going to buy a polaroid photo of my favorite member for me and relay my message for her, so it was still a win in my book.

A few days after, it was announced that my favorite member was quitting the group. Apparently, she had a boyfriend and she chose the guy over her career with the group. I was surprised; wasn't really shocked, just surprised. Then sad. I won't be able to talk with her anymore. How unfortunate. I know other people took the information way different than me, and I wouldn't blame them. For some, it was justified. For others, it was cringe, if not funny. Maybe the reason I didn't react as much as other people did was because I wasn't expecting a deep relationship with my favorite member; I just wanted someone to talk to and she just happens to be my favorite person from the group for that. However, she was gone so this doesn't apply anymore. How unfortunate.

So what happens now, I thought.

I didn't feel comfortable with just switching my favorite member to another, because my experience with each of them is unique and irreplaceable. But I still wanted to support them. I still loved their energy. I still loved their songs. In a sense, I still loved their personality, their heart, their spirit as an idol group so to speak. I was relieved when I saw in their social media that they still carried on. It took a while to be used to them as a three-member group, but I did. 

Fast forward to this year, and I got some information that the group would be back at this year's TOYCON. I made it a point to be able to go. Earlier this year they already visited the country in remote places in Luzon (Palawan, Puerto Princesa) and also in Mindanao (Davao, Tagum) and TOYCON would be their only date in Manila, the place I'm actually able to go to. 

Because of schedule conflicts and limited finances, I was only able to meet the group for a day for this year's TOYCON. Nevertheless, I was glad I went.

Seeing them there was like meeting them again for the first time.

I bought three tickets for a polaroid photo so I can interact with each member. I was able to exchange with them the usual "long time no see" greetings, and I believe I was able to convey my feelings for them, that despite a member being gone, I'm still supporting them and rooting for their success and that I was glad to meet their "new selves". I have no complaints whatsoever with the set I managed to see live, because it was a good mix of their older and newer stuff. 

I felt a sense of relief, I think. After everything, the resolution I came up with was that I like each member equally. I certainly moved on in the context of having a favorite member, but the sense of support I have for チキブロ remains the same. And with them being confirmed for next year's TOYCON, that sense of support won't be gone for a long while.

Thank you for reading. Next time, I'll talk about the other group from TOYCON 2023. Let's meet again sometime.