Still Having Their Young: A Decade of Fahrenheit

Taiwan’s HIM International Music, Inc. debuted a boy group named Fahrenheit (Fei Lun Hai) last December 28, 2005. It was composed by Wu Chun, Calvin Chen, Jiro Wang, and Aaron Yan, representing four weather seasons: autumn, spring, summer, and winter respectively. They’ve been dubbed as the predecessors of F4 (recently known as JVKV: Jerry Yan, Van Ness Wu, Ken Zhu, and Vic Zhou which were famous in the phenomenal Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden and changed their group name due to confusion since Japan had its version named Hana Yori Dango).

They acted in series of television dramas: KO One, The X-Family, and Sunshine Girl to name a few. My favorite role of Chun was Jin in Romantic Princess. Love Buffet’s Xing Da Ye was my favorite character played by Calvin. Playing the role 007 in Mysterious Incredible Terminator was my favorite for Aaron. For Jiro, being the superstar Mars in ToGetHer was also my favorite.

Wu Chun as Jin in Romantic Princess 

Calvin Chen as Xing Da Ye in Love Buffet

Jiro Wang as Mars in ToGetHer

Aaron Yan as 007 in Mysterious Incredible Terminator

They also released four albums: Fahrenheit, Two-Sided Fahrenheit, Love You More and More, and Super Hot. For each album, I have my favorites. In their first self-titled debut album, their collaboration with Hebe Tien titled Only Have Feelings For You. Existing For You was my favorite in their second album. Mo Mo, the closing theme song for Jiro’s drama ToGetHer, was my favorite song from their third album. In their fourth album, Sexy Girl was my favorite. Among these four albums, my favorite was Love You More and More because it’s the first album from Fahrenheit that I bought.

They became brand ambassadors of Coca Cola, Taiwan Tourism, C.C. Lemon, and Gatsby Hair Wax. Three members were also entrepreneurs. Calvin and Jiro opened their own apparel businesses named Factorysev7n and MJO respectively. Chun has his own business venture named Fitness Zone in Brunei with majority of the staff were Filipinos. Thru his gym business, he’s been helping the Philippines during calamities such as Sendong (Ondoy) and Haiyan (Yolanda) thru membership promotions and voluntary donations from members and non-members, and then he will send those donations he collected thru authorized Philippine non-profit organizations like Red Cross.

Wu Chun owns Fitness Zone in Brunei

Calvin Chen owns WOW brand in Factorysev7n line

Jiro Wang models his own apparel brand, MJO

Because of this group I met my best friends who were also a fan: Janella Geronimo, Therese Garay, Julie Pulmones, Aileene Saez, and Jaynee Michelle to name a few. We actively participated in Asian Expo event few years ago and had few meet-ups. Even though we rarely meet because of our personal lives, thanks to social media such as Twitter and Facebook, we are able to have a little chitchat.

from left: Aileene, Therese, and Gliselle

from left: Janella, me, Julie

A lot of controversies had happened with the group such as Chun’s departure in the group and Aaron’s revelation that he and Jiro and Calvin were not in good terms, even Chun’s most shocking revelation that he’s already married with children and Calvin’s relationship rumors with actress Joanne Zeng and Korea’s Miss A member Fei. The group had been inactive for years since Chun’s departure, but each member has been active in their solo careers. Chun was an actor in Chinese-produced movies. Calvin was still a TV drama actor and an MTV VJ in Taiwan for his own show title Ri Han Yin Yue Feng (Japan Korea Music Craze). Jiro actively participated in wearing character costumes in cosplay events as Goku in Dragonball and Batman to name a few. Aaron continued his acting career in TV dramas and released solo album The Next Me and other single albums.

Wu Chun with his daughter Nei Nei

Calvin Chen hosting MTV Ri Han Yin Yue Feng

Jiro Wang cosplaying as Dragonball's Son Goku

Aaron Yan's latest EP "Cut"

Even though in a rare time, I’m still able to read some news updates on what’s been happening about them through social media. For ten years, Fahrenheit still have their young. Each member achieved so much in music, film, and TV. We, fans, still consider Chun as part of the group, and still holding that hope for them to be in good terms as friends and to have a reunion soon just like what F4 did (performing in Chinese New Year celebration) few years back.

Fahrenheit's Aaron Yan Turns 27

A cute boy of Fahrenheit became a mature man. Aaron Yan Ya Lun represents winter and has released 2 solo albums.

Aaron Yan as Xing Yi Cheng

I watched his dramas. My favorite role he played was Xing Yi Cheng (in manga: Shinpo Ichi) in the drama Love Buffet. When it comes to love teams, I liked GuiLun the most. He paired with former Hey Girl member GuiGui in the drama Mysterious Incredible Terminator.

with Gui Gui in Mysterious Incredible Terminator

I can't believe that he's all grown-up. He accepts mature roles in the drama that has bed scenes. Well, I'm not used to it, but I guess he's in right age to play those challenging roles.

with Serena Fang in Gloomy Salad Days

I was a Pudding in a short time, from Love Buffet until his first solo album titled The Next Me.

The Next Me -- Japanese album

Though I'm not a Pudding anymore, I wouldn't forget that today is his 27th birthday. I wish him good health, happiness, and continuous success in his career. I'm hoping that he and GuiGui will collaborate again in drama or movie. Also, I'm hoping that he and the rest of Fahrenheit members (including Wu Chun) will reunite again for fifth album.

A BUFFET OF LOVE: a story of how I like, get addicted, and love Love Buffet

May 2009. A press conference was held by GTV. The drama is called Love Buffet or Ai Si Bai Hui starring Joanne Zeng (aka Qiao Qiao), Calvin Chen, and Aaron Yan. I was so excited and they said that they will adapt the manga Parfait Tic by Nanamu Nanaji. It looks like the manga has interesting story between cousins who fell in love with the same girl. So I searched online manga sites to check of they have manga scans of Parfait Tic available. And indeed it has. While I was waiting for this drama to air, I had read first the manga in English.

Though it’s not yet complete, I continued reading this manga because I love the story and the characters. Shinpo Daiya is my most favorite character because while I was reading it, I imagined Calvin acting as Daiya.

Love Buffet had faced a lot of struggles. First one is the 88 Typhoon Murakot last August which many of the filming sets were destroyed by the typhoon; so the production and filming postponed. Two months after, there was news that Calvin and Qiao Qiao had rumored that they were in love because their pictures together has seen in internet sites. Three days before my birthday, Calvin posted a blog in Fahrenciti site regarding that issue. He explained that they were not dating; it’s just a gentleman’s gesture to escort Qiao Qiao in buying something in a store because it was raining. At least he first cleared that issue before Qiao Qiao also cleared the issue in her own Wretch blog. Then the drama also had replaced actors but at least they remained Aaron Yan and Calvin Chen to play the Shinpo cousins. Reen Yu replaced Qiao Qiao to play Fuuko Kameyama, Chen De Xiu of Dong Cheng Wei replaced Derrick He to play Isobe Satoshi, and Cynthia Wang replaced Tracy Zhou to play Akio-senpai. I was so happy that the drama pushed through. Unfortunately I had pity on Aaron and Calvin because they gonna reshot the drama that they had filmed before.

After a year and a half of waiting, finally the drama started airing last 19 December 2010. Two days prior that airing date, they released a pictorial book. I badly wanted that photobook. It’s ok for me if I decided not to buy Fahrenheit: The Beginning photobook; I’m happy and contented if I bought the Love Buffet pictorial book.

Also I was part of the Love Buffet Tagalog subbing team of Viki. The first half of the drama I subbed was a coincidence (as I say) because the assigned parts were my most awaited scenes. Example is Calvin’s bath scene: I was screaming when I watched this part online live stream. (You know why this is one of my favorite scenes.) The second half of the drama is the requested one. I asked the Tagalog moderator if she will assign me in the specific part that I want to sub. Example is Calvin and Reen’s first kissing scene on the street.

A week after Valentines Day, I called my best friend to meet me up at a fast food chain near my school to get the Love Buffet photobook. I paid PhP 450. Thanks to a friend of mine who informed me that she had Love Buffet photobooks. Finally, I already had this photobook. I’m happy. I carry this photobook wherever I go; so anytime I open this photobook, I always see Da Ye’s sunshine smile.

Now that this drama has come to its end, I felt sad but honestly this is my most favorite Taiwanese idol drama. If Xiao Feng has Da Ye in her life, I have Calvin Chen of my life. Even though the person I’m talking about is not the real Calvin but indeed he looks like Calvin, at least I understand that “feelings have to be accepted or rejected, you can’t always get what you want” and “love is like a buffet because of its 5 flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy.”

I would like to thank the following who made Love Buffet possible:

• Nanamu Nanaji – for her manga Parfait Tic that she drew and published. This manga has a nice story.
• The diving force of this drama: director, producer, and screenwriters plus staff – for their hard work in adapting the manga to idol drama
• The cast (most especially Xiu, Cynthia, Reen, Aaron, and Calvin) – for their effort in filming this drama and making it real.

I am not only a fan of Fahrenheit, but because of Love Buffet, I am also a fan of Reen Yu, Nanamu Nanaji, and this drama, of course. I will watch this drama all over again.    

Top 7 Asian Drama Love Teams

Today is Valentines Day! Though I'm still single, I felt in love when I see onscreen couples either on TV or film. So I listed my top 7 team ups in Taiwanese and Korean dramas. 

7. Jiro Wang & Rainie Yang

Fahrenheit’s rocker met a bubbly lady in Taiwanese idol drama ToGetHer. Even though I’m not a fan of its female lead, I still watched the drama and loved her character. It was because of the male lead why I liked the drama even more.

6. Lee Min Ho & Park Min Young

The sweetest MinMin couple in the biggest and most expensive Korean drama called City Hunter had found love each other last year. I wasn’t familiar with its female lead; but when I saw her in Philippine TV this year, she’s very pretty. Though their relationship lasted for six months, I had seen their eyes sparkle in this drama.

5. Calvin Chen & Reen Yu

A guy with sunshine smile and a girl with charming personality collaborated with a scent of magic in Taiwanese drama Love Buffet. Because the male lead is my favorite Fahrenheit member, I liked and loved the female lead when she replied four times in both Facebook and Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter. Thus, their drama was one of my favorite Taiwanese idol dramas I’ve ever seen.

4. Rain & Song Hye Kyo

The most talented Korean superstar and the most beautiful face in Korea made a mark in Korean drama hit Full House. These two were crazy in some funny scenes that viewers loved not only through its characters but also the story itself. I listed them as one of my favorite love teams in Korean dramas.

3. Park Shin Hye & Jung Yong Hwa

They first worked together in Korean drama You’re Beautiful. Because of fans’ demand, they worked again in Heartstrings: classical and modern music bonded by strings in their hearts. Because of this drama, I liked these two individuals on both music and TV scene.

2. Aaron Yan & Gui Gui

One of the most clicked tandems in Taiwan came from idol action drama Mysterious Incredible Terminator. The cutest member in Hey! Girl and the most talented member from Fahrenheit teamed up together and fans wanted to know the real score after they wrapped up the said series. As I became somewhat a fan of this team up, I felt that there’s something going fishy between these two, especially when they posted micro-blogs to each other in the Chinese version of Twitter called Weibo.

1. Wu Chun & Ella Chen

The most romantic pair made in Taiwanese TV from idol drama Hana Kimi that stole fans’ hearts because of their chemistry. Though they didn’t get together in real life, their fans still support them as the former Fahrenheit member continues to prove himself as a movie actor and SHE member will tie a knot with his Malaysian fiancé. Although I wasn’t really their fan, I ranked them first because of their mysterious connection between them from filming to promoting the drama.