MNL48’s Abby Trinidad represented the Philippines in Japan’s biggest New Year’s Eve music show, the Kōhaku Uta Gassen or the Red and White Song Festival.
MNL48 Abby was invited by Japan’s popular girl group AKB48, the overseas sister group of MNL48, to perform with them at the 70th edition of the annual New Year’s Eve television show aired on NHK World Channel in Shibuya, Tokyo.
The acts were invited to perform based on their popularity. Iconic rockers Kiss, Japan’s pop legends Arashi, and K-pop stars Twice were included in the lineup.
The Red and White Song Festival is a music competition where female artists in the “red” group compete against male artists in the “white” group which eventually won the contest.
The Overseas Sister Groups with AKB48 performed their hit song Koisuru Fortune Cookie with Abby singing a line of the song in Tagalog.
MNL48 Abby with SKE48 Dasu and NMB48/PRODUCE 48 Shiroma Miru sang Koisuru Fortune Cookie in tagalog. Huhu i love it#NHK紅白#MNL48inNHKKouhaku@mnl48official pic.twitter.com/PXHZhW31q2
— ♡ (@allformnl48) December 31, 2019
Netizens showed their appreciation for Abby, including Twitter user @AnnaDacillo1215 who tweeted, “Good luck Abby! All the best!”.
@MNLoveLoveLove noted, “That’s our very own kababayan right there: she’s MNL48 Abby! 😍 Pilipinas, be proud! 🇵🇭”.
Abby posted a picture on her Instagram account with the caption “Proud to be MNL48 member”. She also thanked the organizers, “From the bottom of my heart, Thank you so much for the opportunity❤️”.
MNL48 is an all-girl sing-and-dance group, aged 15-20 years old with 48 members and 13 trainees. They were the first generation of idols in the country, created by Hallohallo Entertainment Inc. (HHE) together with ABS-CBN. MNL48 went on air in It’s Showtime hosted by Anne Curtis, Billy Crawford, and Karylle.
MNL48 Abby or Abelaine Saunar Trinidad in real life is a MNL48 First Generation member. Abby is the third performer from the Philippines to perform in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen stage following Gary Valenciano and the band Smokey Mountain.
Pinoy Ballroom Dancers won gold and silver at the 2019 Asian Dancesport Games in Japan.
Japanese artists had also created a personified flag in Japanese Anime presented as “Rizal” as inspired by the country’s national hero.
A Japanese tourist was recently feted as the Philippines’ 8-millionth tourist.
SEND congratulations in the comments below to MNL48 Abby for raising the Philippine flag in Japan!
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