...the K-Pop grand prize winner

Philippines' Karla Carreon bags grand prize in K-pop World Festival

By JONATHAN M. HICAP

December 8, 2011

Manila Bulletin

Karla Carreon

MANILA, Philippines – Karla Maye Carreon of the Philippines and a duo from Kazakhstan won the grand prizes in the K-pop World Festival 2011 held on Dec. 7 in Changwon City, South Korea.

They bested 19 other teams from Los Angeles and New York City in United States, Japan, Argentina, Peru, England, Poland, Vietnam, Indonesia, Czech Republic, China, Germany, France, Russia and Chile.

Carreon’s triumph was announced by the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines on Facebook last night.

“This just in! Karla Carreon won the grand prize,” KCC Philippines posted.

Carreon was declared grand champion in the vocalist category and was awarded 5 million won (P191,000).

She told Bulletin Entertainment that she was really surprised when she was declared as champion.

“I feel really happy and surprised because I didn't really expect to win the world wide competition. I was nervous at first because I thought I'd never make it, because the other contestants were so good, they were like K-pop stars themselves,” she said.

Carreon performed the Korean song “Byul (Star)” by Yumi while the team from Kazakhstan performed SHINee’s “Ring Ding Dong.”

The K-pop World Festival 2011 is a talent contest that showcased the winners from local competitions held by different Korean Cultural Centers in various countries.

The competition in Korea was supported by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korean Culture and Information Service and the Presidential Council on Nation Branding.

K-pop stars like MBLAQ, T-ara, Infinite, Sistar, Secret, K.Will, and CNBlue also performed in the festival.

Last October, Carreon won the right to represent the Philippines in the K-pop World Festival when she bagged the first place in the Pinoy K-pop Star contest sponsored by KCC Philippines.

Carreon told Bulletin Entertainment in October, “I started singing when I was three years old, when my mom was listening to Michael Jackson and Bee Gees. She heard me singing their songs in gibberish but surprisingly in tune and that's when she and my family decided to let me take up basic vocal lessons. It was heavy for a three-year-old, but I had fun,” she said.

“I feel so honored and blessed to be representing KCC Philippines in Korea this December. This will be another big shot for me; another experience to last a lifetime,” she said.

This is her third win in a singing contest this year. Before her triumph in the Pinoy K-pop Star contest, she joined the World Championships of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles, California last July where she won four silver medals.

KBS World will air the K-pop World Festival on Dec. 30.