Asked to pick what song they would dedicate to Filipino Onces, Jihyo chose “21:29,” a heartfelt song Twice wrote while they were in Manila in 2019
When I was told I would be able to talk to Twice, I felt my nervousness shoot to the roof. How do I talk to them? Will they like my questions? How do I make this fun for them?
It turns out that I had no reason to feel nervous. One thing I learned about Twice in those few minutes that I was with them in the same room is that they will make you feel special—and at ease.
K-pop supergroup Twice was in Manila last June 1 for the Twice and Oishi Snacktacular Fan Meet at the Mall of Asia Arena. They met the press hours before the show at the Grand Hyatt in Taguig and we had a one-on-one interview with them right after the press event.
The members of Twice, composed of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, smiled so pleasantly when I entered the room that I felt like I was in heaven.
Debut
The group made their debut on Oct. 20, 2015, with the single “Like Ooh-Ahh,” after winning the survival show Sixteen. Over eight years later, I asked them if there is still anything about the other members that still surprises them.
Dahyun went first, picking Nayeon and saying it’s because there are things about her that she’s still learning every day.
Dahyun also picked Tzuyu. “Even today, I was surprised because she was very pretty,” Dahyun said, earning laughter from her members. I looked at Tzuyu who made a shocked face in reaction to Dahyun.
Sana immediately said that she also picked Tzuyu. “We are seeing more of her comedic side and I find her even funnier than before,” she said. This made all the members laugh again and Tzuyu responded with a nod and a cheeky smile.
It was easy to see how comfortable Twice members are with one another. They banter in a fun way and pay attention to each other.
Onces
The members of Twice are also very attentive to Onces (Twice’s fandom name). When I said my next questions would seek advice for their fans, they all focused back on my question.
I asked them what advice they would give to Onces who want to bounce back from heartbreak. Mina said: “Gain strength from the people surrounding you that support you,” whereas Jihyo’s recommendation was to “eat delicious food and focus on making good memories with the people around you.”
Light-hearted ambience
I also asked Twice what they would advice Onces who want to stay focused on a goal.
“It is important to have a strong resolve and a solid goal. I think with these you will be able to focus and achieve what you want,” Sana said.
When Twice talks to you, they look you straight in the eye like they want your full attention. When I caught the eyes of the members as I moved on to my next question, they automatically smiled at me too, like they were excited to hear what I would ask next.
With this lighthearted ambiance, I asked the girls what Twice song people should listen to if they’re sad.
‘Cheer Up’
For Tzuyu, “Cheer Up” can automatically make anyone smile, while Mina thinks “Feel Special” would be a good song to lift up feelings.
“Feel Special” was also Nayeon’s immediate response when asked what her favorite Twice song was. “The song is very meaningful and the stories of Twice members are in that song,” she said.
Momo’s favorite is their recently released song “I Got You.” She has vivid memories of performing the song in an outdoor venue.
When asked about the future, and what they see themselves doing five years from now, they all made big reactions and started talking among themselves, with some reacting that the future still feels so far away, while some even began computing what year it would be by then. They whispered among themselves, perhaps sharing some inside jokes that I could not catch amid the laughter. The moment felt intimate for me, as if they were imagining how their members would be years from now.
Nayeon was the first one to answer: “I hope I am eating good food and living healthily at that time,” she said with a wide smile. This made her members laugh again.
Momo added: “I hope we are all happy and enjoying what we are doing.”
During the press conference, Jeongyeon and Dahyun also shared that Twice members like to play the Korean game “What If”, wherein they ask each other different questions and scenarios, another sign that they are always curious about their members.
‘So cute’
It is easy to see how fond the members are of one another. Jihyo said when they filmed their Oishi advertisements, they were divided into subgroups so she had time to observe the other members while filming.
“All of them were so cute. Aren’t the members so cute? I still get surprised when I see them because even while working they have fun and act cute towards each other,” she said.
My time with them was proof of this sincere praise from Twice’s leader—I definitely saw what she meant, because the members were all genuinely sweet with each other, even in the littlest of ways.
At the main press conference prior to our interview, the members were very candid and playful too.
Mina and Chaeyoung were asked about their sweetest memories together. “Just the fact that we are together like this is already a sweet moment for us,” Mina said, to which Sana candidly reacted with “Oh wow, oh wow,” echoing the Oishi hashtag and earning laughter from the audience.
What a gift
Chaeyoung, on the other hand, shared a more detailed story from their time in the US, when she and Mina went shopping together and bought teddy bear necklaces that could be split into two. Mina added that it was a gift from Chaeyoung that she cherishes.
Tzuyu, Sana, and Nayeon were asked about the most memorable gifts they’ve received from each other.
For Tzuyu, it’s a pajama set in a very cute packaging that all the members received from Momo, while Nayeon picked the air purifier and humidifier she received from Jeongyeon, which she said helps her breathe easier.
For Sana, it’s the wall clock she received from Mina, which she always sees in her house. “The quality of my lifestyle improves everytime I see that wall clock,” Sana said.
Happy to be back
Twice looked happy to be back in the Philippines. Jihyo shared that she had the chance to vacation here with her family before and that she loved the beaches and enjoyed snorkeling. She also said that she wants to eat halo-halo next time.
Twice also did not hesitate to praise their Filipino Onces.
“The overwhelming love and support of Onces in the Philippines is very memorable to us,” Jeongyeon said.
They also learned new Filipino phrases for their third visit to the Philippines.
Momo said “maganda si Jihyo,” while Dahyun said “baliw” and “salamat po.” Mina learned the expression “ay naku talaga,” complete with a cute action of hitting one’s head.
Twice were also asked what song they would dedicate to Filipino Onces and Jihyo picked their song “21:29”, which is a heartfelt song that conveys the message of the group for their fans. (Fun fact: Twice wrote “21:29” while in Manila for their Twicelights concert in 2019!)
Twice only have the sweetest thoughts and intentions for their fans.
“Even when life is hard and sad, don’t give up. Just be happy, enjoy and reach for your dreams,” Momo said.
When asked what’s next for Twice as a group, Jihyo said that more than the charts and awards, they have also heard that a lot of people receive support and strength from Twice’s music. The challenge for them now is how to keep gifting Onces with fresh music and continue to give them strength.
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