The spotlight shifted to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan last December 14, drawing together some of Asia’s most renowned artists and tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans for the highly anticipated 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA). The event, fueled by the support of mobile services provider Smart Communications and Viu, PCCW’s premier pan-regional OTT video streaming service, showcased an impressive lineup that included NEW JEANS, LE SSERAFIM, ZEROBASEONE, NMIXX, BOYNEXTDOOR, Stray Kids, ITZY, THE BOYZ, Kwon Eunbi, Kep1er, SEVENTEEN BSS, SB19, Kim Seon Ho, Ahn Hyeo Seop, and more. This marked a memorable debut for AAA in the Philippines.
K-Pop sensation NewJeans took center stage as the standout winner at the AAA, securing two top honors—Singer of the Year and Song of the Year for their hit “Ditto.” Additionally, they received accolades for Hot Trend, Asia Celebrity, Best Choice, and Fabulous Awards.
SEVENTEEN BSS claimed the Grand Prizes for Album of the Year and Performance of the Year, delivering a mesmerizing finale performance. Korean singer Lim Young-woong achieved a remarkable feat by clinching five awards, including the grand prize for Fandom of the Year.
In the acting realm, Lee Junho received the Actor of the Year award for the second consecutive year, honored for his role in the romantic comedy series “King the Land.” Filipina actress Melai Cantiveros was acknowledged with the AAA Best Actor Award for her portrayal of a policewoman in the film “Mam Chief.” The 2023 AAA in the Philippines left an indelible mark as a truly unforgettable experience.
On the social media front, Filipino fans seized the opportunity to share their thoughts during the Smart-powered event, enabling them to instantly share their favorite moments. TV Host Ryan Bang and Comedienne Melai Cantiveros emerged as top trending topics on social media, with Ryan praised for his hosting skills during the red-carpet show, and Melai gaining attention for her humorous moments during the awards show. Fans were also abuzz when Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo appeared together on stage after receiving the AAA Fabulous Award.
Smart subscribers actively contributed to the online buzz, uploading photos, videos, and stories in real-time across their social media accounts. One Smart subscriber, Rayver Dela Cerna from Marikina City, shared, “This event was truly memorable. It was fantastic to witness our favorite K-pop groups, K-drama stars, and even our Filipino celebrities all in one major event.”
Smart subscribers maximized their AAA experience with exclusive access to exciting perks and activities at the concert. Weeks before the event, Smart Prepaid offered customers the chance to score tickets through points redemption on the Smart App. Additionally, Smart subscribers could redeem tickets by activating a Smart Prepaid eSIM and topping up with Magic Data+ offers at select Smart Stores.
At the event, fans enjoyed a red carpet-themed experience at the Smart Live booth, featuring the Among the Stars photobooth where fans captured their Asia Artist Awards experience. The Smart Live booth also included an AAA-list filter for posting on Instagram and TikTok and gave Smart subscribers a chance to win exclusive prizes by answering trivia questions. Smart also offered free charging throughout the venue to ensure fans remained concert-ready.
Fans also relished the Smart Live outdoor booth at the fanzone area, which had Instagram-ready corners for fans to create their own reels.
Smart subscribers also took advantage of the Smart Prepaid eSIM, the country’s first prepaid eSIM, onsite, providing an enhanced network experience at the Philippine Arena and easy access to value-packed offers like Power All 99.
The AAA now stands as the latest addition to the impressive lineup of Smart Live, giving subscribers access to exclusive perks and privileges at world-class live concerts and events. Prior to the AAA, Smart brought other performers like Harry Styles, K-pop acts SEVENTEEN and TWICE, closer to Filipino fans.
Immerse yourself in the most epic live experiences with Smart, recognized as the Philippines’ Best Mobile Network by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence. To explore Smart Live’s lineup of epic events, visit https://smart.com.ph/Pages/smartlive.
