K-pop star visits Jollibee at Lucky Plaza; happily gets recognised by 'fellow Filipinos'

Sandara Park, the K-pop star from 2NE1, recently visited Singapore for the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. While exploring Orchard Road, she stumbled upon Jollibee, the beloved Filipino fast-food chain, and felt a great sense of delight at the unexpected encounter. To express her joy, she took to Twitter in Tagalog, stating her surprise and excitement over finding Jollibee.

Upon entering the restaurant to place her order, Filipino fans, known as "kababayans," recognized her, despite her wearing a mask due to the haze. The singer then proceeded to take a group photo with some of these fans, but did not include it in her tweet. Instead, she shared photos of herself at the Jollibee branch at Lucky Plaza and another in front of a sign displaying the phrase, "Jollibee has the best chicken in Singapore."

Fellow Filipinos from the Philippines showered her with love and affection, acknowledging her as one of their own. One commenter wrote, "The Filipinos really love you so much, no matter what place you go to, they know you," in Tagalog. An X user also praised Sandara Park for proudly tweeting in Tagalog, calling her a true "Pinay."

Some speculated that her recognition might have been due to the location of Jollibee, as she chose Lucky Plaza to eat, which could have led to encountering more Filipinos compared to other locations like Ang Mo Kio or Jurong. Sandara Park, born in 1981, moved to the Philippines with her family in 1994 due to her father's business.

She started her career in the entertainment industry in the Philippines, participating in a talent search show called Star Circle Quest and eventually becoming the runner-up. She went on to star in movies, release songs, and return to Korea in 2007, where she became a member of the K-pop group 2NE1, debuting in 2009. Despite her success in Korea, Sandara Park maintains a strong connection to her second home, the Philippines.