In 2008, iconic singer Regine Velasquez (often called "Asia's Songbird") starred in the Philippine adaptation of the hit South Korean drama, My Lovely Sam Soon Ako si Kim Samsoon , the series aired on GMA Network from June 30 to October 10, 2008. Series Overview
Casting Regine Velasquez as the titular character was a stroke of genius that redefined her career and offered a refreshing take on the romantic comedy genre. This is a look back at why Kim Sam Soon remains a pivotal moment in Philippine television history and how Regine made the character unmistakably her own.
If you search that phrase on YouTube today, you won't just find clips of My Lovely Sam Soon . You will find fan-made music videos splicing Regine’s live performances (specifically her legendary Songs from the Heart concert) with scenes of Kim Sun- a crying in the rain. kim sam soon regine velasquez
The effect was alchemical.
This sparked debates among purists, but Regine’s performance quickly silenced the critics. She captured the spirit of the weight struggle. She perfectly enacted the late-night binges, the self-loathing in front of the mirror, and the awkwardness of being the "fat friend" in a room full of models. In 2008, iconic singer Regine Velasquez (often called
In the landscape of Philippine television, few genres have been as enduring—and as often criticized—as the "koreanovela" adaptation. In the mid-2000s, local networks scrambled to secure the rights to the most popular K-dramas, reshaping them for the Filipino audience. While many of these adaptations faded into obscurity, one show stood out, not just for its ratings, but for the way it challenged the status quo of the leading lady. That show was GMA-7’s Kim Sam Soon , and at its helm was the Asia’s Songbird herself, Regine Velasquez.
Is Regine Velasquez actually in My Lovely Sam Soon ? No. Does she play a cameo as a singing baker? She does not. If you search that phrase on YouTube today,
They didn't pick a Korean ballad. They didn't pick an unknown local artist.
For the duration of the show’s run on ABS-CBN, Regine Velasquez became synonymous with the character. The network cleverly played the song over montages of Sam Soon struggling at the bakery, fighting with Hyun Bin’s character (Mr. Sam Shik), or crying alone at a bus stop.
The series follows Samsoon as she deals with a broken engagement and a family tragedy before landing a job at a five-star restaurant owned by the snooty (played by Mark Anthony Fernandez ). The two enter a "love contract" where they pretend to be a couple, only to eventually fall in love for real. The Ako si Kim Samsoon cast also included: Ako si Kim Samsoon (TV Series 2008– ) - IMDb