Down to Mars to represent PH in South Korea

The Tourism Department has tapped all-male group Down to Mars to represent the Philippines at the National Day of Korea on July 22, when they make their bid for international recognition by performing three songs – two in English and one in Korean.

This was announced at the group’s album launch and press conference on May 22 at Dolce Bar, Timog Morato, Quezon City.

Down to Mars is made up of half-Japanese Daisuke Hagihara, half-Chinese Kenji Chua, Yheen Valero, Sky Young, Jang Seung and half-Koreans Kiro Rivera and Jeong Won. Because of their mixed ethnic backgrounds, Down to Mars calls itself an “inter-pop” group (as opposed to J-pop or K-pop groups).

Humble beginnings

Talent manager-choreographer Geleen Eugenio discovered the members in 2011, when she saw Jang and Daisuke perform in a segment on GMA 7’s “Party Pilipinas.”

“Tapos tingin ako nang tingin, sabi ko, ano ‘to, ha—may dating,” Geleen shares. She also revealed that she mistook the two for foreigners.

“English ako nang English,” she recalls.

Jang and Daisuke then introduced the other five members of the group and performed for Geleen.

“After two days, they came to me. Tapos nakita ko sila, talagang may dating talaga. Tapos they sang to me. Tapos immediately, naisip ko na na mag-artist center sila. So pumunta kami kay Ma’am Wilma (Galvante, then GMA-7’s SVP for entertainment).”

Geleen now acts as the group’s manager.

The band members have been good friends even before they got together as a group.

“Wala pa po kami sa showbiz, magkakaibigan na po kami,” Daisuke shares.

“Nakatira po kami sa isang bahay. Wala po sa isip namin ang hiwa-hiwalay kasi, ngayon pa lang po, ito na ang na-achieve ng aming grupo,” he adds when asked about the possibility of splitting up, as other groups have done.

The guys add that their group’s name, Down to Mars is inspired by the idiom ‘down-to-earth’, which connotes extreme humility.

First album

Their first TV gig was on May 22, 2011, exactly a year before the press conference and release of their self-titled first album distributed by Poly East Records.

Its five tracks are composed by Kenjie, Jang and Jeongwon. The music video of the carrier single “My Everything” stars Marian Rivera. The band dedicated this and the rest of the tracks -- “Fool’s Paradise,” “Fly,” “Oh Here We Are” and “Nandito Lang Ako” to Galvante, who came to the album launch.

By Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom