The Philippines' first Asia Artist Awards (AAA) showcased performances and moments, and recognition of excellence in music and acting.
Last Dec. 14, the 2023 AAA was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, the first time the country hosted the event.
More than 50 stars graced the awards ceremony including Korean and Filipino artists.
(Photos courtesy of AAA Organizing Committee)
The AAA winners expressed deep appreciation for their fans' love and support. NewJeans, Le Sserafim, Zerobaseone, Boynextdoor, and many more idols visited the Philippines for the first time
Some expressed their anticipation in holding their first concert in the Philippines as they received so much love and support from the fans during the awards ceremony.
EXO’s Suho, reflected on their year of happiness and challenges. Suho won the AAA Best Emotive Award and said, “From now, I’ll continuously stay stable like how I was till now so I can move your emotions. I’ll continuously act and sing well and live well so I won’t be an embarrassing idol.”
Filipino actress Melai Cantiveros, star of Pulp Studios’ first film “Ma’am Chief,” drew laughs with her quips when she accepted her Best Actor Award.
“If someone (questions) why I have (an) award, don't worry. I question too. I just receive an award all my life from my mother and father when they are angry with me. Tonight, my heart is kuan. I think it's because God moves in mysterious ways.” she said
Filipino stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla won the AAA Fabulous Award. Padilla thanked his fans and ended with a peace sign, while Kathryn expressed her gratitude for those supporting Filipino-made series and movies. Other Filipino acts like Ben&Ben, and SB19 also won awards, as did Filipino-Argentinian Chanty and her group Lapillus.
Jung Sung-il, who rose to prominence as Ha Do Yeong in “The Glory,” won his first-ever award, the AAA Scene Stealer. He remarked, “I think the reason why I received an award so late is because there are so many amazing artists.”
(Photos courtesy of AAA Organizing Committee)
Lee Dong-hwi, known for starring in “Reply 1988” and “Extreme Job,” won the AAA Best Actor trophy. He said, “First of all, the Philippines is like a hometown for me. We shot the casino drama ‘Big Bet’ for around two months here in the Philippines. I am very grateful to all heartwarming Filipinos. If not because of you, there’s no casino K-drama.”
Seventeen’s BSS subunit members thanked their collaborator Lee Young-ji as they won the AAA Grand Prize for Album of the Year. They said, “If not for her, we wouldn’t be able to receive this award.” Seungkwan also went down from the stage to give her the trophy.
Zerobaseone dedicated their AAA Best Musician award to their member Ricky, who was unable to make it to the event.
Meanwhile, Stray Kids promised their fans to stay tuned for their “new version” in 2024 when they accepted the AAA Grand Prize for Stage of the Year.
The night was filled with Korean artists saying Tagalog phrases like “kumusta ka,” “salamat,” and “mahal ko kayo.”
Halfway through the show, MC and soloist Kang Daniel turned to the crowd and asked, “Nasisiyahan ba kayo?” showcasing the Koreans' love for their Filipino fans.
In a surprising turn, ATBO’s Won Bin gave his acceptance speech in Tagalog, revealing he grew up in the Philippines before addressing their fans in Tagalog.
The ceremony, which ran for six hours, showcased performances. The show kicked off by WHIB with a “Bang!” followed by SB19 with a medley. &TEAM joined them with a collaborative stage to the P-pop group’s top hit “Gento.”
AKMU, ATBO, DinDin, HORI7ON, Kard, Kingdom, Kim Jaejoong, LUN8, Paul Blanco, STAYC, and Yao Chen followed with exciting performances of their own.
Ash Island, Dreamcatcher, NMIXX, and Tempest brought high-energy stages, as did top Japanese girl group Sakurazaka46.
(Photos courtesy of AAA Organizing Committee)
Kep1er, Kwon Eun Bi, and ONEUS gave theatrical and sultry performances. &TEAM, Boynextdoor, Kang Daniel, Lim Young Woong, and Zerobaseone charmed audiences with their stages. ITZY and THE BOYZ gave edgy, memorable performances, complete with props and pyro.
NewJeans and Le Sserafim got everyone dancing and singing along with their hits. Stray Kids turned up the heat. Seventeen’s BSS closed the awards show with a 12-minute performance that had everything from high energy, stage presence, synchronization, theatricality, and true artistry. Lee Youngji even joined them onstage.
The 2023 Asia Artist Awards ceremony was made possible through the efforts of StarNews, TONZ Entertainment, and Pulp Live World, the Philippines' trailblazer in live Hallyu events.
(Photos courtesy of AAA Organizing Committee)
2023 Asia Artist Awards winners:
● AAA Focus Award
○ HORI7ON
○ LUN8
○ Younghoon (The Boyz)
○ Ahn Dong-gu
● AAA Icon Award
○ Tempest
○ NMIXX
○ Kep1er
○ Cha Joo-young
● AAA Potential Award
○ Lapillus
○ ATBO
○ Yoo Seon-ho
○ Paul Blanco
● AAA Best Creator Award
○ 3RACHA
● AAA Popularity Award
○ Lim Young-woong
○ Sakurazaka46
○ Lee Jun-ho
○ Kim Se-jeong
● AAA Hot Trend Award
○ SB19
○ NewJeans
○ Lee Jun-ho
○ Ahn Hyo-seop
○ Lim Young-woong
● AAA New Wave Award
○ Yaochen
○ Kingdom
○ Ash Island
○ Jaechan
● AAA Emotive Award
○ ONEUS
○ BOYNEXTDOOR
○ &TEAM
○ Suho
● AAA Rookie of the Year
○ ZEROBASEONE
○ Moon Sang-min
○ Lee Eun-saem
● AAA Asia Celebrity Award
○ NewJeans
○ LE SSERAFIM
○ Jang Won-young
○ Kim Seon-ho
○ Kentaro Sakaguchi
● AAA Emotive Award
○ ONEUS
○ BOYNEXTDOOR
○ &TEAM
○ Suho
● AAA Best Choice Award
○ Lee Young-ji
○ KANG DANIEL
○ BOYNEXTDOOR
○ &TEAM
○ NewJeans
○ NMIXX
○ Ben&Ben
○ Dreamcatcher
○ Lim Young-woong
○ DinDin
○ Kim Jae-joong
● AAA Best Acting Performance Award
○ Kim Young-dae
○ Lee Jun-young
○ Moon Ga-young
○ Suho
● AAA Fabulous Award
○ Kathryn Bernardo
○ Daniel Padilla
○ NewJeans
○ Stray Kids
○ Lim Young-woong
● AAA Best Musician Award
○ ZEROBASEONE
○ Sakurazaka46
○ KARD
○ STAYC
○ Kwon Eun-bi
● AAA Scene Stealer Award
● Jung Sung-il
● AAA Best Actor Award
○ Kim Se-jeong
○ Ahn Hyo-seop
○ Lee Dong-hwi
○ Melai Cantiveros-Francisco
○ Lee Jun-hyuk
● AAA Top of K-pop Record Award
○ Kim Jae-joong
● AAA Best Performance Award
○ LE SSERAFIM
● AAA Best Artist Award (Singer)
○ SB19
○ LE SSERAFIM
○ AKMU
○ ITZY
○ IVE
○ The Boyz
● AAA Best Artist Award (Actor)
○ Kentaro Sakaguchi
○ Kim Seon-ho
○ Kim Ji-hoon
● AAA Grand Prize: Fandom of the Year
○ Lim Young-woong
● AAA Grand Prize: Performance of the Year
○ BSS (SEVENTEEN)
● AAA Grand Prize: Stage of the Year
○ Stray Kids
● AAA Grand Prize: Song of the Year
○ NewJeans – “Ditto”
● AAA Grand Prize: Album of the Year
○ SEVENTEEN – "FML"
● AAA Grand Prize: Singer of the Year
○ NewJeans
● AAA Grand Prize: Actor of the Year
○ Lee Jun-ho
(Photos courtesy of AAA Organizing Committee)