KILIG, BUT MAKE IT CLASSICAL

The Cultural Center of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Korean Cultural Center clearly know how to pull heartstrings—both emotional and orchestral.

- CHECHE V. MORAL

After last year's success, "OST Symphony II: K-Drama in Concert" returned on Oct. 25, featuring the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), and proved once again that the language of kilig transcends subtitles.

Held at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura, the concert filled seats and hearts alike. I caught the first of the two shows, where the PPO's strings, brass, and percussion—under the baton of Herminigildo Ranera and joined by guest violinist Mijung Kim—lent grandeur to the songs that have defined our binge-watching years.

It's a clever concept, really taking classical musicians off their usual concert-hall pedestal and dropping them into the emotionally charged world of K-drama soundtracks. Suddenly, the country's premier orchestra isn't just playing Beethoven or Brahms. They're playing our feelings.